Three Nelson-based Hato Hone St John staff have been awarded with Order of St John honours.
Nelson and Tasman Bays area committee member, Andrea Staufer, and St John South Island Regional Trust Board member, Cam Fraei, were appointed Officers of the Order by St John Chancellor, John Whitehead, at Christchurch’s Transitional Cardboard Cathedral in early May.
Nelson Marlborough area operations manager, Anne-Maree Harris, was made a Member of the Order at the same investiture ceremony.
Andrea received her honour for providing “significant leadership” in the St John youth programme and taking on multiple leadership roles locally, nationally and internationally.
Hato Hone St John says through Andrea’s work and community connections, the Nelson and Tasman Bays area committee could provide improved community support.
“Her ongoing commitment to St John has been invaluable, as she has been an amazing advocate who has shared her skills, knowledge and practicality throughout St John,” it has stated.
Andrea, who oversees the local St John community activities and services, including the 3 Steps for Life training programme, says her honour was “pretty cool”.
The Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough public health nurse kickstarted her St John career as a 10-year-old in its cadet programme in 1995, and has gone on to hold numerous roles in the youth programme since 2003.
The 39-year-old considers managing a team which represented New Zealand at the St John International Youth Festival and Competition in South Africa in 2020 as one of her zeniths.
“Everything that I do, it’s about giving back to the community, so I think that’s what people appreciate the most,” she explains. “A lot of the St John volunteers and staff come from different backgrounds and have different interests, and it’s great to know that you feel part of a wider St John family when you get to work with and meet lots of new people.”
St John says Officer of the Order recipient Cam Fraei is a valued member of the South Island Regional Trust Board, on which he chairs the strategic planning group and the finance sub-committee.
“He has worked diligently to achieve the successful amalgamation of Nelson, Motueka and Golden Bay area committees into Nelson Bays area committee,” it says.
“The new area committee is providing a number of important health initiatives into the Nelson community.
“Cam gives countless hours to both area and region, has opened up communication and broken down barriers, allowing all areas of St John to benefit.”
Anne-Maree supports the direction of the organisation to address the gender imbalance amongst its leaders.
“She is an active member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, holding the women’s portfolio,” it says.
“Anne-Maree has found, and will continue to find, opportunities within the organisation to champion, influence and help drive change, and has championed pay parity, gender equality, diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.”
