Speech
Child Cancer Foundation Life Membership Award presentation
Ladies and Gentlemen, I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (Sign)
Specifically I greet you: Life Membership Award recipient, Kay Morris; Patron of the Child Cancer Foundation, Lady Blundell; Chairman of the Child Cancer Foundation Board, Denis Kirkcaldie, and Jane Kirkcaldie; Chief Executive of the Foundation, Jim Barclay, other Life Members present today, Distinguished Guests otherwise, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Susan and I warmly welcome you to Government House, Auckland.
We are pleased to host the Child Cancer Foundation this afternoon and to present Kay Morris with a Life Membership Award in recognition of her exceptional service to the Foundation from 1997-2002.
Before handing over to Dennis Kirkcaldie to read the citation, I would like to briefly recount a personal story that was brought to my attention not long ago, about Kay and her relationship to my family.
About 50 years ago my father, Dr Mutyala Satyanand, suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Greenlane Hospital, where he was under Kay's care. During his time in her care, a friendship developed and Kay was soon referring to my father as "Saty", while my father called Kay "Nurse save my life!"
Kay was apparently never quite sure how to take this nickname—was it a compliment or an outright order? Nevertheless, this was an early sign of the caring and friendly nature that has come to epitomise Kay's career in health.
Many years later, in 1997, Kay was appointed Executive Director of the Child Cancer Foundation. It is her contribution in this role we are specifically recognising this afternoon.
As her citation will demonstrate, Kay possesses leadership qualities in abundance. Like many strong leaders, she has given to others but has also shown she is open to learn from those she has led.
As expressed in the following Maori proverb:
"Ma mua ka kite a muri, ma muri ka Ora a mua.
Those who lead give sight to those who follow; those behind give life to those ahead."
Over six highly productive years, Kay demonstrated leadership and commitment to the Foundation. She significantly improved the services and support on offer to cancer patients and their families and is a worthy recipient of this Life Membership.
I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages. May I close by speaking in Maori issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa