Tsunami heroes to get medals
Published: December 27, 2005
More than 150 New Zealanders who toiled in tsunami-struck countries during the past year will receive a special service medal.
Among the 163 Kiwis honoured with the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Asian Tsunami) for their efforts after the Boxing Day tsunami are 37 non-military or police personnel, including aid workers.
Not all were aware of the honour before it was announced today.
Tracey Edginton, 34, who works for Save The Children in Sri Lanka, learned of it when contacted by The Dominion Post yesterday.
“Oh, wow. I had absolutely no idea . . . I was informed a few weeks ago to fill in some (forms) but I didn’t think they were going to make any decisions for a while. It’s a complete surprise.”
Ms Edginton said it was “all hands to the deck” after the tsunami. “I went down (to Sri Lanka’s south coast) on the first aid trucks. We just did what had to be done.”
Water engineers Dave Neru and Les Collins were seconded to aid agency Oxfam to restore sanitation and water services in the Indonesian province of Aceh, the area hardest hit by the tsunami. They stayed for a month and have continued to act as advisers for the reconstruction effort. [The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God in the Tsunami?]
Mr Neru, 34, of Wellington, said he was “absolutely rapt” to be acknowledged for his work.
Forty-seven police staff received the honour for their work identifying bodies in Thailand.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the medal recognised “the special service of those New Zealanders who undertook often harrowing tasks in dangerous conditions”.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: