Many are household names for the good work they do. Others are less known but their achievements no less extraordinary or deserving of recognition. But which of those featured on this page deserves the title of Wanganui's Person of the Year? Is there some obvious person who has been omitted?
We want your help in deciding. If you know someone who ought to be considered, contact us with a brief outline of why they are deserving. Nominations for Person of the Year close Friday 17th December at 5pm. Voting closes December 31 at midday.
Robert Martin
Forced to fit the mould of an intellectually retarded person for more than 20 years, Robert Martin decided there was a better way. With huge fortitude, determination and great courage, this Wanganui man changed the world for the intellectually handicapped.
He fought for their independence speaking all over the world including making a keynote address at the United Nations.
He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008.
Potonga Neilson
Kaumatua Potonga Neilson has been a tireless protagonist for the marine environment for more than 60 years, and for regaining the rights of tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) for Maori.
He is a regular writer to the Chronicle with measured debate based in fact from his own upbringing and what he was taught by his old people. Mr Neilson and his wife, Helen, are also the caregivers for their two mokopuna, a preschooler and the other at primary school. He has worked previously with youth at risk and continues to look for solutions for out-of-work rangatahi.
He is the driving force behind the relocation of the Waipapa Marae, at Waitotara, that was twice hit by floodwaters.
Ray Stevens
The Wanganui District councillor and businessman rolls his sleeves up whenever there's a disaster and leads Wanganui's fundraising efforts. To date, he's raised relief money for people affected by the Northland floods, the Australian bushfires, the Samoan tsunami, the Christchurch earthquake and the Pike River Mine disaster.
Shirley-Joy Barrow
The tireless efforts of City Missioner Shirley-Joy Barrow have been a lifesaver to many Wanganui people. Constantly working in a deficit, Shirley-Joy has spent the last six years ensuring that if anyone was broke, homeless, hungry or all three, there was somewhere they could go. In 2006 she established Project Jericho, emergency housing for people who were urgently in need of accommodation.
Earlier this year it looked like the mission might lose some of it's services, and possibly the missioner herself, to the horror of the local community. But services and the missioner remain, while the former chairman of the Christian Social Services Board does not. Someone you can rely on in tough times.
Jack Bullock
When Jack Bullock, 20, was elected to the Wanganui District Council this year he became the youngest councillor in the country.
The son of a Hells Angels gang leader, Jack did his time as co-deputy chair of the council's Youth Committee for two and a half years before running for council. Now chairman of the youth committee, and determined to make Wanganui a more happening place for young people, Jack is proving to be a young man to watch.
Robert Baldwin
A man with a dream, Robert Baldwin loves being on the river and wanted to build a boat that could chug the length of the Whanganui, just like in the halcyon Hatrick days of the early 1900s.
He had a lot of boating experience but not much commercial backing. Many believed he couldn't do it.
But Baldy, as he is known, worked steadily on, and Adventurer II was launched in January.
In June it managed the journey of 144 nautical miles for the first time in 82 years, to be met by ecstatic crowds in Taumarunui.
Jo Ockey
She nearly went spare organising this year's 10th anniversary festival for the Whanganui Artists' Open Studios event. Confirmation of funding was late, artists can be notoriously fickle and the country was in recession.
Jo Ockey put in many an extra hour, danced at the launch, was unfailingly kind and enthusiastic - and exhausted by the end of it.
Having had eight months to recover, she's ready to do it all again next year.
Frances Anscombe
This young Wanganui mum singlehandedly made the rounds of businesses throughout the city to help a single mother and her severely disabled son who were burgled. The help Ms Anscombe managed to bring to the devastated mum and her boy was remarkable and inspired the people of Wanganui.
Marty Vreede
Whanganui UCOL senior lecturer Marty Vreede has inspired hundreds of students with his cheerful and approachable teaching style. This year he won the Prime Minister's Supreme Award for teaching, and was one of 11 given a Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award.
He and Graham Hall started the Central Print Council of Aotearoa New Zealand for past students of the Quay School of the Arts. It's so popular that it now has members from one end of New Zealand to the other, and two exhibitions a year.
Sandy Fage
New Zealand's recession has swamped the Wanganui Budget Advisory Service with clients. Through it all co-ordinator Sandy Fage has remained unfussed and simply worked extra hours handing out sage advice to clients.
Having been through a marriage break-up herself, she knows what it is like to pinch pennies. She's very organised, and her advice is sensible and prolific - it has pulled many a household back from the brink of financial ruin.
Annette Main
She was elected Wanganui's first woman mayor and promised a different style of leadership to the previous regime. She ended a 12-year stint on Horizons regional council and continues as the driving force behind the Whanagnui River Market.
Lyn Jones
At 84 Lyn Jones has been a volunteer for more than 10 years at Wanganui Prison. He is a man who really cares. He sits every week with inmates to talk, listen and teach them to read. They call him the taonga (treasure) of the prison.
Mark Christensen
For several years Wanganui people have benefited from accountant Mark Christensen's passion for alternative health and horticulture - through bounteous giveaways of apple trees, heritage tomato plants and now many varieties of climbing beans.
Giving up one day of paid work a week, and with the help of a dedicated group, Mr Christensen has collected old and neglected food plants and seeds, lovingly propagated and experimented with them, and seen them planted on roadsides, marae, kohanga, schools and in many private gardens.
Shannon-Renarta Jury
The small, but positive, actions of Shannon-Renarta Jury, 20, are sure to one day add up to something big. A straight-up nice guy, Shannon doesn't drink, smoke or do drugs and is the one who will attend a party to make sure everyone gets home okay. He's been known to pick up strangers, drunk or otherwise, and drive them home at night, or walk with people who are walking alone. Dedicated to helping other young people out, he's a member of the Wanganui District Council's youth committee and is studying to be a youth worker.
Erin Bartrum
Erin Bartrum, 41 has suffered from cystic fibrosis all her life and has never let it beat her. It nearly did last year when she had a double lung transplant. But Erin fought for her life for six months and won the long, long painful battle.
Barb Hammond
The Aramoho-Wanganui rowing member (six years) is married to Garth with three children, one of whom is Ben, a member of the national rowing eight. Another is Candice, an emerging endurance athlete.
Barb is a Canadian native who made New Zealand her home 27 years ago while holidaying here. A tireless worker for the Aramoho club, she did all the paperwork in raising $200,000 for alterations at the club rooms.
Perhaps her biggest coup was convincing the Canadian rowing team to train in Wanganui for the world champs at Karapiro.
Bronwyn Paul
Bronwyn Paul has led the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce for four years - its first woman president. During that time, she's put about 20 hours a week of her own time into the role, being out two to three nights a week.
Her work has had results - numbers at Business After Five functions have gone from about 12 to at least 40. The annual business awards have become more popular and membership has grown by at least a third.
Ms Paul was also on the chamber's executive for 10 years.
She is the chairwoman of the local St John Ambulance and helps raise funds for Brass Wanganui.
John Maihi
John Maihi's wife Gina says he's so busy that she has to make an appointment to see him.
Mr Maihi has been the kaiwhakahaere (chairman) of Wanganui's Tupoho hapu for more than 20 years and now works part-time as Maori liaison officer at Wanganui District Council.
He also chairs Te Puna Matauranga o Whanganui, his tribe's education authority, and the Maori development organisation Nga Tai o Te Awa and is one of the deputy chairpeople for the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board.
He's often asked to speak on behalf of Tupoho and constantly called on to open and close official events, say karakia (prayers) and give blessings.
Mike Bates
Nominated by a member of the public for his service, passion, positiveness and enthusiasm to the Wanganui Community in the 30 years he was in business here.
His dedication to keep the many staff he had working for him came at his own personal cost.
Trevor Gibson
He is one of the captains of the PS Waimarie and a coastguard tutor. He is involved with almost anything that has to do with boating on the Whanganui and there is hardly a riverboat he has not been on.
He is teaching people about safety on the river and always out there to improve things.
He is an inspiration for many and certainly deserves to be recognised for it.
Rod Trott
The rowing stalwart was also involved with the re-opening of the Calliope, the former Sea Cadets building on the river bank.
He has been an indefatigable supporter of rowing, secretary of the Whanganui River Institute Trust, and campaigner on river safety, especially the safety of young people.
Until recently he was President of the Wanganui Cycling club, remaining highly active in that sport as well other activities such as Cemetery Circuit and vintage motor bikes.
Clive Solomon
While most of the other candidates have assisted people in the community at a social, cultural or civic level, have any of them stood publicly to retain health services in Wanganui, asks the person who put forward the Wanganui surgeon.
A representative on both the WDHB and District Council.
Rae Glockling
She works for Akoranga Childcare centre and according to the nomination is an outstandingly loving person and extremely gifted with children. She approaches every child with equal love and care.
She must have changed millions of nappies yet she approaches each with reverence.
Rae makes children special, she slows down and completely engages with them on a quite profound level and she also loves them.
The depth of the love she exhibits for them is palpable. Her constituents don't generally have voices that are understood just yet.
Bob Gibson
One of the main movers behind September 3 being designated Merchant Navy Day, he also works hard for veterans from all campaigns. A licensed boxing referee, he goes out of his way to promote the sport in a safe and responsible way.
A man who is always busy helping someone but is never too busy to lend a sympathetic ear.
Wendy Pettigrew
Wendy has worked tirelessly in Wanganui to record, preserve and teach the history of our city and surrounding district.
Her work is largely unpaid, yet she dedicates her time to this passion and thereby provides us with a gift of the past for the future. Every year, Wendy undertakes numerous guided tours of our architectural treasures, stained glass windows and our old town cemetery.
She is instrumental in writing promotional brochures, historical reports and applying for funds to preserve many of our unique treasures and is active during the Whanganui Summer Programme, Artists Open Studios and Glass Festival to name just a few.
Mike Webber
Mike has retired as a working optometrist but that hasn't dimmed his hands-on work with charity groups working in poorer nations. He is known for his work with agencies such as Rose Charities NZ at eye clinics in Cambodia and other areas.
He has also held the post of chairman of Wanganui Eye and Medical Care Trust which last year donated a CT scanner to Wanganui Hospital.
Paul Brooks
Paul is one of Wanganui's unrecognised assets whose passion for people always comes through his Midweek. He is dedicated to bring the community news, views and truth. His energy and dedication to deliver the Midweek each week is appreciated. He recently saluted the public of Wanganui and I'm sure that the public salutes him equally.
Rei Hendry
Rei has been teaching children's art for 43 years. Her passion for art has inspired children in Wanganui at her Art House after-school lessons. Some of those children have gone on to become art teachers; sharing the passion of their first art teacher. She is now an art consultant to schools. Mrs Hendry is also a keen member of the Wanganui Trotting Club.
Gary Reid
Gary has been the fieldworker/advocate at the Wanganui People's Centre for the past 11 years. He was one of the instigators of the project. He has provided all kinds of support for people on benefits dealing with WINZ and other Government agencies. Many people in the community have benefited from his experience and assistance in helping them sort out their problems.
Ron Cheatley
Wanganui's Mr Cycling is a five times Olympic coach and life member of cycling NZ. This year he was seen on TV screens offering expert comment on the many cycling events at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. He is also a strong supporter in moves to base a cycling centre of excellence in the River City.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Tell us who you think deserves the title of Wanganui's Person of the year. Write the name of the person on the back of an envelope and deliver to Person of the year, Wanganui Chronicle, PO Box 433. Or text name to 021 1721 408. Email your selection to editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz with Person of the year in the subject line. One vote per person please. Nominations for Person of the Year close Friday 17th December. Voting closes December 31 at midday.
Note: Michael Laws has requested his name be removed from contention. Any votes for him will be invalid.
Many are household names for the good work they do. Others are less known but their achievements no less extraordinary or deserving of recognition. But which of those featured on this page deserves the title of Wanganui's Person of the Year? Is there some obvious person who has been omitted?
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