Dawn Johnston Koru Award for Overcoming Adversity in Life
2020 Recipient: Katrina Bungard – Nominated by Murray Burton
“She is dynamic, resourceful, passionate, empathetic and intelligent. She is a high achiever, a community builder and connector. Being a person of significant capacity, her leadership is a proven difference-maker in any challenge presented to her and requiring her expertise.”
This was said by Murray Burton, Principal of Elim Christian College, of tonight’s recipient of the 2020 Dawn Johnston Koru Award. The Koru was chosen by Dawn because it signified new life, positive change, personal growth, symmetry, harmony and hope for the future It was established, to recognise and pay tribute to a local person who despite adversity overcame the obstacles demonstrating a strong desire to assist others.
Katrina Bungard lost her left leg to bone cancer at age 11.
Not yet, even a teenager it could have been devastating. However, early involvement with Canteen, Camp Quality and Koru Care Charities inspired Katrina’s commitment to serving our community. On a mission to give back Katrina began working voluntarily for arange of community groups. At age 13x she was the youngest volunteer at the SPCA Village in Mangere. She freely gave her time advocating for Camp Quality and Canteen and worked voluntarily as a companion to Cancer patients starting her own local Cancer Support Charity Can Care East.
Katrina has a 24 year track record of commitment to her community.
The following is a list of her community roles and experience
- 1. Publicly, elected Howick Local Board member and past Deputy Chairperson
- 2. Publicly elected Counties Manukau District Health Board
- 3. Member Auckland Regional Disability Advisory Committee
- 4. Member Community and Public Health Advisory Committee
- 5. Howick Local Board Community Empowerment Portfolio Lead
- 6. Howick Local Board Arts and Culture Portfolio Lead
- 7. Howick Local Board Planning and Transport Committee member
- 8. Howick Local Board Youth Council Portfolio Lead and Facilitator
- 9. Chairperson MECOSS Manukau East Council of Social Services
- 10. Head of Department at Elim Christian College
- 11. Founder Can- Care East
- 12. Member of Parafed Disability Sports.
- 13. Member of the Amputee Society New Zealand.
- 14. New Zealand Teenage Cancer Patients Society member and volunteer
- 15. Camp Quality National speaking advocate.
Another initiative was the Fruit Trees in Schools project, which she has proudly led. By partnering with Kings Plant Barn in Botany, 24 local schools now manage their own orchards.
The following is a list of Katrina qualifications
- 1. Masters of Educational Leadership –First Class Honours Awarded with Distinction
- 2. Post Graduate Diploma Educational Leadership & Management Awarded with Honours
- 3. Gradate Diploma Arts – Political Studies
- 4. Post Graduate Diploma Arts – Art History
- 5. Bachelor of Teaching
- 6. Bachelor of Fine Arts
- 7. Bachelor of Arts – Anthropology
She was awarded a Ministry of Education Full time study Scholarship.
She is a past 1st place winner Auckland Debating Association Championships. In 2001 the United Nations Association of New Zealand Annual Speech Awards.
University of Auckland Faculty of Law – Knowledge Wave School Debating Award.
As local residents of East Auckland living in Pakuranga, Katrina and Husband Mark have been married for 16 years and have two beautiful boys, Nathan and Samuel.
She was Head of Arts, teaching at Elim Christian College for 10 years and since September 2019 teaching at James Cook High School.
She has had many years of involvement in national politics standing as the National party candidate in 2017.
Your record demonstrates beyond any doubt a heartfelt passion to serve your community with active involvement serving others through a variety of organisations.
I am pleased to nominate you and ask President Cathy to make the presentation of the Dawn Johnston Koru Award for 2020.
2019 Recipient: Gayleen Mackereth | Nominated by Ian Rodger
Citation:
Gayleen was a secondary teacher, and was riding to Howick College on her bike, when someone ran a ‘give way’ sign and hit her very badly. Gayleen spent a week in intensive care, and then a further 2 months in a spinal special care unit. From then on, has required ongoing physio treatments, and is now wheel-chair bound.
Given her determination to overcome her disability, she can drive herself, with the aid of a special car, and with a wheel-chair modification, and some assistance at either end of the journey.
Gayleen has demonstrated her resilience over the years, by determination not to let her incapacity get her down, just keeps going with whatever is required of her, be it as Chairperson for Ratepayers & Residents Association and their various agendas; research through the exhaustive Auckland Council plans and documents; meetings with the council representatives; research and correspondence with the Council regarding the long-term saga of Stockade Hill and Council Plan Change 3 & 4.
Gayleen demonstrates her compassion towards others by assisting people wherever possible from within the bounds of her capability. She mentors her students in many ways. She teaches a number of students via online tuition in French, German and Spanish. In the past she has assisted schools with her teaching of languages either in those schools, or in remote parts of New Zealand or outer NZ islands. She also taught online to a school in Strasbourg. A good number of hours go into her preparation and teaching lessons. Gayleen enjoys her students, and it is a credit to her that so many of her past students keep in touch with her.
Gayleen also belongs to the Auckland Geological Society, and whenever possible, will take her 6 wheeler wheel-chair on field trips.
Also belongs to U3A.
Gayleen is so very appreciative of all the help and assistance that her husband Don gives her. He has enabled Gayleen to travel to Australia and Europe, and she does require a fair amount of equipment to go with her!
She does her swimming and physio exercises, plus tall walker to try and keep somewhat mobile in the upper body. She used to do Riding for the Disabled, but this organisation has changed direction, and the horses are now smaller, which is a pity from Gayleen’s perspective.
Gayleen tries her best to assist in the community, be it the HRRA, Stockade Hill; the many, many submissions to council, plus the endless hours of research and writing papers to council; not to mention her teaching.
I believe that Gayleen has shown that she has overcome adversity with sheer determination. She knows what life has dealt to her, lives with extreme pain, and battles tiredness, but she puts on a brave face and she just gets on with it and lives with her disabilities.
2018 Recipients: Alan and Delwyn Breslau | Nominated by Ian & Beverley Handisides
Citation:
Alan Breslau, a chemical engineer, was a passenger on an ill-fated flight in 1963.The plane flew into a tornado on take-off at Rochester, New York killing 10 of the 43 passengers. A result of which he suffered 45% full thickness burns losing the top of his head, his nose , an eye, an ear a thumb and a few fingers. Alan spent the next 5 years in hospital undergoing 52 surgeries and accumulating a medical file 30cm thick.
Alan went on to establish the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and the annual World Burn Congress which brings together Burn survivors, their families, medical and fire service professionals from all over the world. These have been held every year since. It has to be one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring events held on the planet.
Over the 55 years since Alan’s accident, he has developed many concepts and theories to help disfigured people cope with the many problems and challenges facing them in their day to day lives. Alan never fails to inspire all who meet him.
It was at the very first congress that Alan and Delwyn met, fell in love and after a 5 year long distance courtship, they married. They both derive great pleasure and satisfaction from having the opportunity to work together to help burn survivors which has now become their combined lifetime passion.
In 1993, Delwyn emigrated to the United States becoming The Phoenix Society associate director. In this capacity established the first summer camp for burned children in Pennyslvania, Camp Susquehanna, co-ordinating and co-directing it for 10 years. During 20 years of involvement with the burn community, Delwyn gave over 350 public presentations and numerous television, radio and media interviews throughout the U.S., Australia, China and New Zealand.
Delwyn and Alan retired from theirdirectorships of the Phoenix Society in 1997. The Society subsequently established an award in their honour which they have been able to present each year on the Banquet Night at the Annual World Burn Congress.
The Alan and Delwyn Breslau Award is the highest distinction the Phoenix Society can bestow.
Alan and Delwyn emigrated to New Zealand in 2003 at which time it was an honour for them to accept the invitation to become patrons of the Trust.
It is both an auspicious and Joyous occasion to have Dawn Johnston present tonight and in whose name the award is given.