Ronald (Ron) Craddock, QSM, Auckland
For services to the Manukau Volunteer Coastguard. Mr Ron Craddock is Commodore of the Manukau Volunteer Coastguard, and is known as one of the foremost experts on the Manukau Harbour and its surrounds. For nearly 20 years, Mr Craddock has been on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a volunteer coastguard. He was instrumental in ensuring that the Papakura Coastguard did not close down, and in creating the current four coastguard regions from the previous 67 units. In 2009 he was badly injured during a rescue mission, and although now land-bound, he trains skippers, raises funds, raises safety awareness, and spends long hours maintaining the rescue boat. He also worked for the Tag Out Trust between 2000 and 2006. This organisation, which is part of the Waitakere City Council, aims to remove graffiti quickly from properties. Mr Craddock is now a voluntary trustee of the Tag Out Trust.