Services to swimming recognised at SNZ annual general meeting

Sixteen members of the swimming community were yesterday recognised for their services to the sport at the annual general meeting of Swimming New Zealand.

Service Awards recognise individuals who have actively supported the sport for 12 or more years while the Honours Awards acknowledge those who have continued to provide outstanding service for 10 or more years after receiving a Service Award.

Two Honours Awards were presented yesterday. They went to Swimming New Zealand President Lesley Huckins and Northland’s Richard Dunkerton.

Huckins (Canterbury West Coast) has been involved in swimming in New Zealand for more than 30 years. She has three times been named as the Swimming New Zealand Official of the Year and currently represents New Zealand on the FINA Technical Swimming Committee while also officiating at a number of international and national meets.

Dunkerton has been involved in swimming for over 40 years holding a number of roles on club and regional committees, including as president of the Bay of Islands and Bream Bay swimming clubs. He has also been regional team manager, officiated at many Northland meets and is currently coaching at Bream Bay.

The Service Awards went to Teresa Stanley (Auckland), Thomas Ansorg (Auckland), Fiona Paignton (Bay of Plenty), Ellen Sherwood (Bay of Plenty), Gavin Ion (Waikato), Celia Honiss (Northland), Ross Gillespie (Northland), Paul Matson (Wellington), Barbara Ryan (Wellington), David Prattley (Canterbury West Coast), Joanne Russell (Canterbury West Coast), Brigitte Mahan (Canterbury West Coast), Minoo Ghadiali (Counties Manukau) and Alan Hale (Otago).