E nga rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei I tenei waa, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai ra ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tinara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
I specifically acknowledge: Emily Bradney, of the British High Commission; Commander Brett Fotheringham, Royal New Zealand Navy; Sir Kim Workman; Paul James, Secretary of Internal Affairs; and David Ivory and Alison Cadman, from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Board.
It’s a pleasure to bring together this cohort of Fellows, past and future from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust – and to join you in celebrating 60 years of an initiative that has been so rewarding and valuable for generations of Fellows – and for New Zealand.
First, let me share with you a message from Jeremy Soames, grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, and Chair of the Churchill Fellowship in the UK:
Following my grandfather’s death in 1965, the people of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand came together to honour his legacy and his belief in the power of the individual – to create a memorial that was forward-looking, practical and deeply human.
I know he would have been immensely proud to see that what unites all Fellows is not background or qualifications – but purpose, potential and a determination to improve the world around you.
The work you carry out today affirms the enduring relevance of the founding vision for the Fellowship.
Let us take pride in the extraordinary legacy of the Fellowship – and let us look forward, with hope and determination, to what the next 60 years will bring.
In his own life, Sir Winston Churchill absolutely exemplified the power of an individual to influence the course of events. In his case – he did so across so many fields of human endeavour.
In addition to being a soldier, war correspondent and wartime Prime Minister, Sir Winston was a prolific artist, a formidable wordsmith, an historian who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature – and an enthusiastic bricklayer, who enjoyed constructing walls in his garden.
Significantly, he didn’t flourish at school, and he didn’t attend university. It’s only appropriate that the fellowship offered in his name should have an egalitarian ethos, and be awarded for a broad spectrum of investigations by people from across our communities.
Sir Winston famously said about the British in the Second World War – including New Zealanders as members of the Commonwealth: “It is the courage, steadfastness, the good sense of ordinary men and women that has brought us through our trials”.
People who are chosen for Churchill Fellowships need some of that courage, steadfastness and good sense – to travel overseas, often a long way from New Zealand – and also to manage on a firm budget and keep to a tight schedule. In addition, they have to keep good notes as they go, to help them to produce a written report of their experiences.
Curiosity is another essential quality for a Fellow – and one that perhaps comes somewhat naturally to New Zealanders. Given our place in an isolated corner of the planet, we are happy to take a few risks in order to see what’s over the horizon.
Our most famous New Zealander, Sir Ed Hillary, maintained he was just a typical New Zealander, and didn’t set out to be extraordinary, but did want to do extraordinary things.
These Fellowships enable New Zealanders – people who Sir Winston might have called ‘ordinary people’ – to do extraordinary things. We are so fortunate to be part of that legacy.
A quick scan of this year’s anniversary booklet reminded me of the incredible range of Fellows’ projects – and how productive they are. Invariably you return home inspired to apply useful, innovative ideas and share them with others.
Again and again, your accounts emphasise how the Fellowship opened doors, changed career pathways, or had far-reaching consequences for you or the sector you work in.
Another theme that stands out is kanohi ki te kanohi – the irreplaceable value of meeting someone face-to-face, being able to see something in operation for yourselves, and having opportunities to explore further and follow up unexpected leads. A zoom call can never be a substitute for those experiences.
The information exchange is often two-way. You have made fruitful connections, and shared your own knowledge, skills and experience with the people you have met. Our Fellows are worthy ambassadors for Aotearoa New Zealand.
I realise I may be somewhat biased in that respect, as my husband, Dr Richard Davies is a Fellow. As it happens, Richard has kindly agreed to share his reflections on his experiences, and I now invite him to speak to you all.