Howick and Pakuranga Times

Winners of this year's Howick Show CASE awards from left, Grant McIntosh, Shona Pickup, David Mason (behind), Gair McRae and Nathaneal Gray. Times photo Michelle Hyslop

HOWICK Show CASE awards were named at a special function on Tuesday night.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Howick in conjunction with the Howick Village Association, Uxbridge – Howick’s Creative Centre and Howick Community Board, the awards recognised those who make a standout contribution to the community.

Thanks to generous sponsors each received a plaque and $1000 cash.

And the winners are...

Howick Community Board Citizen of the Year – Shona Pickup.

Shona says she’s humbled by the honour and accepted on behalf of the 25,000 plus volunteers who work tirelessly in Manukau.

For several years she was club captain of Howick Tennis Club and she still runs intermediate tennis on Monday nights and the kids think she’s great.

Each year she organises an auction to raise money for the South Auckland Hospice, where she volunteers every week. She also drives cancer patients to chemotherapy and stays with them during their treatments.

Shona is also the local coordinator of the annual Breast Cancer pink ribbon collection, which involved organising collectors and picking up boxes of pink ribbons.

Always willing to help those in need she’s also participated in Variety gold heart collections and organised auctions for Our Lady Star of the Sea school and Sacred Heart College.

“God has given me a gift and I love what I do every day,” says the vivacious winner.

HSBC Business Person of the Year – Grant McIntosh, McIntosh Timber Laminates

As managing director for this local company, the Howick resident continues a family business started by his grandfather in the 1930s.

He has led the company in many successes in both technical innovation and its Glue Laminated Timber (Glulam) market, the company experiencing impressive design and export sales.

Among the international projects featuring its Glulam are the Ritz Carlton and the Grand Hyatt hotels in Dubai, Morrison Printing Inks in Wellington, Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and Fale Pasifika.

Mr McIntosh paid tribute to his staff, some of whom he had worked with for more than 20 years. “Without them it would be impossible to do what we do.

“In many cases we are like family and many of our staff live in this community.”

John and Valerie Roy Employee of the Year – David Mason, Howick College.

An outdoor education teacher at the school since 2003, David became head of department within six months and has never looked back.

Under his leadership outdoor education classes have increased from one to three and demand for his courses exceed spots available.

His extraordinary commitment to his job in and outside of school hours ensures his students have the maximum outdoor opportunities. Last year he organised a total of 35 trips, in a 40-week school year, including rock climbing, tramping around Mt Taranaki, mountain biking in Rotorua, canoeing and caving.

His students recognise the extra mile he goes for them from paying for those extra things on trips or to make special equipment for them to enjoy – while also using it as a learning tool for senior students.

And it’s not just about enjoying the outdoors, it’s about students learning knew skills in a safe environment where they can be physically challenged as well as learning to make good choices in critical situations.

“Dave is modest about what he does but is superbly qualified, highly regarded among his peers and has a knack of extracting from ordinary students, the extraordinary,” said his nominator.

David Mason says it is great to work in a place where outdoor education is seen as a standalone subject.

“It’s about encouraging students’ personal development and developing the right attitudes which I’m sure are fine attributes to future employers.”

Monterey Art Gallery Arts Administrator of the Year – Gair McRae, Howick Children’s Youth Theatre.

For 25 years Gair McRae has been at the forefront of the local arts community – having established HCYT to provide a useful and rewarding activity for young people through continued emphasis on social and creative drama.

Gair has led the delivery of high quality learning, skills and pleasure to young people in Howick and surrounding areas.

The pride, professionalism and dedication in its public performances are evidence of the work Gair inspires and leads. Less visible but most important are the skills children have gained such as respect of others, confidence and self-discipline.

“The contribution Gair McRae makes requires considerable dedication of time and energy and is not without financial sacrifice. She has coached, taught and led thousands of young people to achive more than they might have otherwise but for her direct efforts,” her nominators said.

Rotary Club of Howick Young Person of the Year – Nathaneal Gray, Macleans College.

His CV is exhausting to read. Nathaneal is a gifted all rounded person with exceptional leadership qualities.

He achived high distinction in Australasian English, Mathematics and computing competitions, and scored 94 per cent for AS English Literature and 90 per cent in A-Level maths in last year’s Cambridge exam.

A school prefect, Rutherford House cultural captain, leader of the German club and responsible for establishing and maintaining the house’s website, Nathaneal organises many events at the school.

A talented debater, he was in the Auckland debating which won the national championships last year and is reserve for the national team competing in Wales later this year.

He’s leader of the senior concert band, a member of the stage band and sung in the barbershop boys’ chorus.

On top of this he has acted in several school productions and this year won an award for his role of King Lear at the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.

He’s also sound technician for the Clevedon Youth Group, assists with Kids Club Sunday School and is working towards a silver Duke of Edinburgh award.