Gary Dickson, of Wanaka, QSO, for services to search and rescue
Gary Dickson has contributed more than 30 years of voluntary service to Search and Rescue (SAR) organisations. He is the Communications Advisor and Alpine Rescue Leader for Wanaka SAR. He was an advisor to Land SAR New Zealand and President of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association. He represented New Zealand at the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) and the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). He facilitated Land SAR New Zealand’s membership into the ICAR and has developed qualification standards for the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association. He developed Wanaka SAR from a group of casual volunteers to one of the most professional volunteer alpine cliff rescue teams in New Zealand. Mr Dickson has personally been involved in more than 200 rescue operations.