1 December 2021

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Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated

wednesday 1 december 2021

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$3.6m bequest for charity Sara Hollyman Editor

sara@topsouthmedia.co.nz

A man who is remembered by those who knew him as being a people person with a kind heart has left a legacy that the region will benefit from for years to come. Nelson man Leon Page left his $3.6m estate to Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust and St John Nelson – each charity receiving $1.8m. Leon died just over a year ago and his estate is due to be released to the charities in the coming weeks. Executor of his will, Craig Morice, says Leon recognised the value that both services provided, after spending much of his life farming in Golden Bay. “He told me when we talked that as an ex Golden Bay farmer he recognised the value of that rescue helicopter to the bay’s residents and how many lives that helicopter has saved getting over the Tākaka Hill in a hurry, and also the amazing work that St John do. “Leon knew that he wanted to leave a substantial sum of money that would make a difference to those two charities.” NMRHT manager Paula Mud-

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dle says the bequeathment was a total suprise. “One day Leon popped into the hangar, he wanted to borrow a charity box for a rhododendron club fundraiser. He stayed for a cuppa and the crew put him in the helicopter, he ended up staying for about three hours,” Paula says. She says Leon’s wish is for the $1.8m to go into the endowment fund which will see the trust get to their $5m in five year target. “Due to loss of funds through cancellations with Covid-19 it’s so important to have that nest egg, it will end up being our major funding source.” She says Leon wanted the Golden Bay community to be looked after as he knew how important the helicopter service was. “The crew here very affectionatly refer to the Golden Bay trip as ‘the milk run’ as we seem to be over there every other day.” Mario and Theresa Dellabarca first met Leon when he purchased a home from their family in Di Pierri Way in 2001. Over the 20-year-period Theresa says Leon became like a family member, joining them for Christmas, birthdays and special occasions.

Simon Robertson hands the lost war medals medals back to Hamish Campbell, Alan Le Grand Campbell’s youngest son. Photo: Jo Kent.

Medals find their way back home Jo Kent A haul of prestigious war medals that were found in a Napier dump have been reunited locally with the only known descendent of their owner, just days after Nelson Week-

ly launched an appeal. The quest for descendants of the Nelsonian Alan Le Grand Campbell, to whom six WW1 and WW2 medals were awarded, eventually lead to the discovery of a living Donald James Campbell. This is

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despite official RSA records showing him as buried at Marsden Cemetery alongside his father. Alan’s youngest son is now 91, lives locally and was surprised to hear

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1 December 2021 by Top South Media - Issuu