NZ honours for our own |
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Te Awamutu residents Peter Posa and Avis Peterson received awards in Queen’s Birthday Honours. Legendary Kiwi guitarist Peter Posa is made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entertainment for over six decades. Mr Posa has been a musician ever since he picked up a guitar at the age of five. For most of his life he was an Aucklander, but now in semiretirement in rural Te Awamutu is gaining a new lease on life - and still earning praise and awards for his musicianship. Concerts are few and far between now - but only because they take a toll on a man who still has after effects from a bad accident. However, when he is enticed to get on stage the magic is still evident. His influence is international and he is recognised as a live performer throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands while his recorded work has an even further reach. Mr Posa is a veteran of over 20 albums and gained early success in the 1960’s with his recordings of ‘White Rabbit’ and ‘Wheels’. In 2003 he was in a studio with a small family band recording a country album for his record company. The double album ‘My Pick’ became a favourite of USA National Traditional Country Music Association president Bob Everhart, who took it home a couple of years after its release. Consequently the album won the 2007 Rural Roots Music Commissions Musician of the Year Award and Mr Posa was inducted into Americas Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame. Mr Posa is delighted to be recognised in his own country and looks forward to playing for music fans here in the near future. Avis Peterson, a Queen’s Service Medal recipient for services to the community, epitomises the phrase ‘quiet achiever. Mrs Peterson has preferred to let her actions do the talking - a member and key contributor to Women’s Institute for 45 years and of New Zealand Red Cross for 42 years. She has been a volunteer at Te Awamutu i-SITE Information Centre for 28 years (having moved here 31 years ago). She has served as vice-president, president (12 years) and conference delegate for Te Awamutu Women’s Institute and was awarded the Good Service Badge. Mrs Peterson has also been a member of King Country Federation of the Women’s Institute for 30 years and has been president, treasurer and federation correspondence secretary. Originally from Dunedin, she joined Women’s Institute’s Urewhenua branch in 1963 when her husband Stan became principal at Upper Takaka School. Mrs Peterson says her late husband was a huge supporter of her community contributions. She thoroughly enjoyed the company of the country women, practising for annual theatrical competitions and the chance to serve — something she still enjoys 45 years later. When her husband became principal at Eyrewell Forest School, Mrs Peterson helped with Red Cross appeal collections and joined North Canterbury Branch of Red Cross. She has served in numerous capacities with Red Cross’ Te Awamutu Branch in her time here. Mrs Peterson has been a member of Te Awamutu Senior Citizens for 10 years and is part of a choir which regularly entertains at rest homes. |
