Speech
Sir George Elliot Scholarships Award ceremony
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E nga mana, e nga reo, rau rangatira ma me nga rangatahi o Tamaki Makaurau e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa. Distinguished guests, distinguished leaders, the young people of Tamaki Makaurau, warm greetings to you all.
I specifically acknowledge: Hon Sir Ian Barker, Chairman of the Sir George Elliot Charitable Trust – tena koe, the trustees; Steve Cole, Ken Havill and Jane Holloway – tena koutou, and the principals of St Kentigen’s, Western Springs and St Mary’s colleges – also tena koutou.
It is a great pleasure for Janine and me to welcome you all to Government House in Auckland today for the presentation of the Sir George Elliot Scholarships.
Since the time of Sir Michael Hardie Boys in the late 1990s, successive Governors-General have presented these awards at Government House in Auckland. I consider it an honour to maintain this tradition.
Before presenting the scholarships to this year’s three recipients, I would like to speak briefly about Sir George Elliot and the scholarships that bear his name.
By all accounts, Sir George Elliot was an extraordinary man. Born to humble beginnings in Scotland, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1891 and became a successful businessman. A self-made man, he lived through two world wars and two economic depressions in the 1890s and 1930s.
His life experiences clearly impressed upon him the value of education, and the need for those who reap its benefits to contribute to the community.
In addition to his many business interests, which included being Chairman of the Bank of New Zealand for many years, Sir George was involved in a number of community organisations and made numerous substantial, and often anonymous, donations to schools.
Determined that his vision for education would continue on after his death, through his will he bequeathed much of his wealth to a trust to continue his vision.
In keeping with that vision, one of the Trust’s initiatives was the establishment in the late 1990s of the Sir George Elliot Scholarships. They are designed to help young people, who have faced exceptional challenges or have made an exceptional effort, to undertake tertiary education. Almost 40 young people have been awarded scholarships since 1999. The award of the scholarships is underpinned by academic prowess and leadership. However, they also come with an obligation that the recipients will contribute to the well-being of the community.
In considering how I might summarise the achievements of today’s scholarship recipients, I was reminded of the description of Sir George Elliot in a newspaper article when he was knighted in 1923. It outlined, among many aspects of his life, his work as chairman of the Auckland Exhibition, held at the Auckland Domain in 1913. It said: “He held the position with distinction, and the venture was a great success, largely, it is said, through his great personal efforts to make it so.”
That last phrase—great personal efforts to make it so—is what makes these three young people stand out. You have all made great personal efforts and you have all faced great personal challenges. Those challenges include being diagnosed with leukaemia, suffering from hearing loss and chronic migraines to living with cerebral palsy.
You have not, however, allowed adversity to rule your lives. You have overcome the obstacles life has thrown at you and succeeded in your academic studies, in sport, and in contributing to your individual schools and the community.
As Governor-General, I congratulate you on your success in being awarded one of these prestigious scholarships. While the future is in your hands, in keeping with Sir George’s life, I am sure you will hold these scholarships “with distinction” and I trust that the venture, that is your lives, will be “a great success” and that through academic and community service you will “make it so.” Congratulations and well done. Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.