Welly Awards (Wellingtonian of the Year) 2011
Last night, at the Amora Hotel, Father Des Britten was announced as the Wellingtonian of the Year for 2011. Father Des Britten retired in July after being at the helm of the Wellington City Mission for 18 years. He took over the mission in 1994 and ever since has fed hundreds of people a week, while boosting staff numbers from 7 to 30.
While there can only be one Wellingtonian of the Year special mention must go to those who took out the top award in each of the 9 categories.
The Honours List
BUSINESS
Sir Graeme Harrison
Graeme Harrison built a billion dollar business – Anzco Foods – from nothing in 1984. Today Anzco employs 3,000 people, has assets of over $500 million and revenue of $1.2 billion.
YOUTH
Henare Mihaere
Henare Mihaere is Musical Director of the St Patrick’s College Chorus, doing well at the International Youth Chorus Contest in Las Vegas and is national Youth Coordinator for the New Zealand Association of Barbershop Singers.
SPORT
Conrad Smith
Conrad was unable to attend the award ceremony as he was taking a well deserved break after doing a great job at centre for the All Blacks. He is also a Wellington lawyer and plays for the two Wellington rugby teams the Hurricanes and the Wellington Lions.
ENVIRONMENT
Lisa Argilla
Lisa Argilla is the Manager of Veterinary Science at Wellington Zoo. She’s a keen advocate for the Zoo’s animals and is probably best known for nursing Happy Feet back to health (and then pushing him into the ocean).
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Father Des Britten
Des Britten recently retired as Wellington City Missioner after 18 years of extending a helping hand and providing sustenance, both physical and spiritual, to those in need.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Graham Le Gros
Professor Graham Le Gros, Director of the Malaghan Institute, is a leading researcher in the field of immunology. He’s spent more than 25 years investigating the nitty gritty of asthma, allergies and parasitic diseases.
EDUCATION
Prue Kelly
Prue Kelly is retiring from her job as principal of Wellington High School, after 17 years. Her compassionate, no-nonsense approach to education and young people has won her many admirers as as many awards.
ARTS
Suzie Moncrieff
Suzie Moncrieff has taken a great idea to an even greater cultural phenomenon. The Brancott Estate World of Wearable Art Awards has been wowing the socks off Wellingtonians and visitors since 2005 – 50,000 of them this year.
GOVERNMENT
Jim Stuart-Black
Jim Stuart-Black is the New Zealand Fire Service’s National Manager for Special Operations, who ran the recent search and rescue ops in Christchurch. And if need be, he’s ready and able to do it all again, anywhere.
