The Sun
Wednesday June 7, 2017
9
Honours for Service to community locals gets Beryl honoured
Three other Marlborough-based people were honoured by the Queen on Monday. They were: Fairhall man Des Ashton and Picton’s Sue Edwards who both receive a ONZM, and Lake Grassmere farmer Doug Avery who receives an MNZM. Des Ashton received his honour for services to the New Zealand Defence Force and aviation. He was the Defence Ministry’s deputy secretary acquisition from 2008 to 2016, during which time he had responsibility for delivering one of the largest Defence acquisition programmes in New Zealand. This covered 16 projects at various stages of development with a combined final contract value of NZ $3.5 billion. Sue Edwards received her honour for services to synchronised swimming. Sue has held many different administrative positions within synchronised swimming in New Zealand and has also had an active career as a judge and referee for national and international competitions, officiating at Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and numerous New Zealand domestic competitions. She is one of only five International Swimming Federation judge educators in the world. Doug Avery received his honour for services to agriculture and mental health. He has successfully adopted land use techniques to drought-proof his farm and has spoken to audiences around New Zealand, Australia and Argentina about his new farming systems that provide a basis for sustainable environmental and financial growth. Doug is best-known as a spokesperson for mental health issues within the farming community and frequently shares his personal experiences with audiences around New Zealand.
By Glenise Dreaver Beryl Bowers’ Queen’s Service Medal citation states she has undertaken ‘an extensive amount of voluntary work in Picton and the wider Marlborough community’. Beryl just says ‘I like to keep busy’. The first letter advising her of the recommendation arrived in April. It was a complete surprise. “I read the first paragraph and went to find Cliff. ‘I’ve had this letter...’. “Cliff read it right through and said ‘You realise you’re not supposed to tell anyone about this. Not even me.’.” Three letters followed with more detail. The last, from the Prime Minister, left her feeling less guilty. “Well, someone’s told him haven’t they?” Beryl is well known as the founder, now chairperson and organiser of the Picton Maritime Festival Trust. She also leads the team organising the annual Picton Christmas Parade. For those roles, she was awarded a Kiwibank Local Hero Award in 2015. That year, she was also given a special award from Queen Charlotte College for organising two of their reunions, and for supporting several of their overseas trips as a chaperone at her own expense.
After marriage and before St John had a presence, she organised the roster for the local Volunteer Ambulance. Qualifying as a first responder, she continued serving with the Volunteer Ambulance for several years. She helped establish the Picton Creche, now known as the Picton Community Early Learning Centre and the Picton Play Centre. Despite no previous experience Beryl took on, and thoroughly enjoyed, the roles of instructor and chaperone for the Picton Marching Club. She came through Girl Guide ranks to become Provincial Commissioner and served on the Board of Trustees for Picton School and for Queen Charlotte College as chair. Her citation naturally does not include any details of her busy personal life. She not only brought up her own family here, and supported Cliff in his plumbing business and as a borough and district councillor, but worked as a teacher after gaining her teacher’s qualification over several years of distance education. She is now a member of Picton’s Smart and Connected group and in her spare time sings with Vicky Gardener’s A Capella Belles, who meet weekly in the Anglican Church Beryl Bowers with the letters about her royal honour. Hall.
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