Sister Valmae Flannigan, of Wellington
Sister Valmae Flannigan, of Wellington, received the Queen's Service Medal for services to education. Sister Flannigan is a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy and was a teacher at primary and secondary schools throughout New Zealand for more than 50 years. She was Principal for 21 years in three secondary schools, the last being St Mary's College which she guided though Tomorrow’s Schools and the introduction of Sixth Form Certificate. In 1996 she became the Catholic Archdiocesan Archivist and Librarian, a position she continues to hold, and has written three histories about the Sisters of Mercy and their work in New Zealand. Sister Flannigan continues to take an active interest in education, and assists students prepare for the O’Shea Shield, an inter-college debating, oratory and public speaking competition.