2012 Council of Elders Committee

Dr Michael Hills - Chairman

Dr Hills has held many positions of leadership at the University of Waikato, including membership of the University Council, the Academic Board and the Arts and Social Sciences Board of Studies.  He is internationally recognised for his work in researching and teaching cross-cultural psychology, social psychology, and the psychological and social impact of having a disability. For his work, Dr Hills was presented with a Golden Jubilee special Award for long-term service and awarded life membership of the New Zealand Psychological Society. In addition he was made a life member of the Epilepsy Association of New Zealand and an Ambassador for Epilepsy by the International Bureau for Epilepsy. In 2002 he was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his service to persons with epilepsy and the community. The University made Michael an Honorary Fellow on his retirement in 2006.

Huw Evans - Vice Chairman

Huw settled in Hamilton in 1977 after working on construction projects throughout New Zealand.  He is married to June and they have three children and five granddaughters who all live in Hamilton and keep them both very busy. Huw retired from full time employment in 2004 having worked in the electricity and information technology sectors for over 40 years. Huw is currently the Registrar of the Waikato JPs Association Inc, where he has the responsibility of overseeing over 600 JPs in the Waikato with over 300 of them based in Hamilton. Huw is passionate about Hamilton and his role on the Council of Elders. He is keen to see the Council of Elders represent, and be a voice for, the people of the City of Hamilton, not just the over 60s.

Peggy Koopman-Boyden - Chair Community Subcommittee

Peggy Koopman-Boyden is currently a Professor of Social Gerontology (part-time), previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Waikato, with a career in social science research and teaching, management, and public policy and planning. Peggy is particularly interested in matters relating to older people, with over 30 years of academic research and lecturing, and contributing to New Zealand’s policies and plans for older people. She chairs the Age WISE Advisory Committee to the Waikato District Health Board and is a member of the St Peter’s Trust Board, Cambridge. Other interests include choral singing, short-story writing and grandchildren. Peggy has been involved in a number of national advisory groups to do with public policy and health policy in particular (cervical screening, HIV/AIDs and health research). For her work in the community, Peggy has been awarded a Life Membership of Age Concern (Canterbury) (1995), and a CNZM for ‘services to the elderly’ (1997). Peggy enjoys contributing to the Council of Elders by commenting on annual and other plans of the Hamilton City Council and by providing research and information on older people in New Zealand and internationally.
 

Amanda Bradley - photo to come

Amanda was born in Yorkshire, UK and trained as a nurse at The General Infirmary at Leeds and then as a midwife, also at Leeds and as a psychiatric nurse in Bedlam, UK. Amanda came to New Zealand in 1964 and worked in Waikato, both in the community and at the hospital. From 1966-1968, she ran an orphanage and pediatric sugical unit for the Salvation Army in South India. Amanda returned to New Zealand, where she worked as a public health nurse until 1972. She took her BA at Victoria University, after which time she lectured tertiary students in pscyho-social health from 1976 at Massey Uiversity. Amanda was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Scholarship to take her MSc at Edinburgh University, after which time she returned to lecturing in Wellington until 1999, when she became a priest. Amanda was Priest Assistant to St Peter's Katikati Parish, then, in 2005, Priest Assistant to the Bishop of Waikato, for whom she still works. Amanda fostered seven abused children for 18 years and adopted some of them. Amanda attends Hemi Tapu Church Frankton, part of the Maori Pastorate of Te Manawa o Te Wheke, as well as the Cathedral Chuch of St Peter Hamilton at times. She volunteers on a couple of boards, has various interests and, she hopes, many friends.

Maxine Hodgson - photo to come

Maxine was elected on to the Council of Elders at the 2011 AGM. She is a registered social worker and child advocate and has been working in the field for more than 40 years. Maxine has worked and raised her family in Hamilton city. She is involved in a wide range of community groups and acts as an advisor to many.    

Tony Howard

Elected at the 2011 AGM - profile and photo to come

Margaret Gault

Margaret is a retired school teacher who spends a lot of her time as a volunteer at the Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau. She has been actively involved for 20 years which has resulted in her having a keen knowledge of ‘what goes on in the city’. In the last seven years she has been a member of the Trust Board at the Waikato Christian Social Services Village. Margaret is keen to enhance Hamilton’s CBD and encourage people to shop there. She is interested in retaining historic buildings, making the most of the Waikato River and making the city accessible for Senior Citizens.

Noel Gregory - Chair Environment Subcommittee

Noel trained as a builder where his first employers favorite phrase was “do it once, do it right”. From building he went on to sharemilking in the Te Awamutu area during which time he was involved with the Chairmanship of the Te Awamutu Intermediate and College PTA for three years, plus leadership in the local church. In the early 80’s Noel and his family moved to Hamilton where he took up a position of Purchasing Officer for a large Livestock Exporting company and then back to the building, painting and decorating industry. He is a resident of the Hilda Ross Retirement Village where he was given the chain of office as mayor of the village. Noel organises weekly snooker games, competitions and bbqs for various groups. He is still involved in church work and is a committee member of the Hamilton Citizens and Ratepayers Association. Noel has served two terms on the Council of Elders and was re-elected at the 2010 AGM.  He believes, that “together we can all do our share, he has enjoyed his term on the Council of Elders, and encourages Hamilton residents over the age of 60 years to join in 2013.

Ruth Van der Sluis

Ruth came to New Zealand from Denmark, and her husband Melis, from the Netherlands, in the early 1950’s. They love Hamilton and have lived here more than fifty years, recently celebrating their Golden Wedding. Having trained as a teacher in New Zealand, Ruth has taught in a number of Hamilton schools as well as being actively involved in the community. At the University of Waikato, Ruth gained her post graduate diploma for Second Language Teaching and understands the special needs of people who come here from other countries. These last fifteen years, Ruth has been a highly successful Real Estate Agent receiving the prestigious Lugton’s Life Membership and Legend Award. Ruth and Melis have two children, six grandchildren, and attend the Hamilton Central Baptist Church. As a positive, pro-active woman, Ruth is passionate about what she takes on and would like to contribute further to the growth and wellbeing of Hamilton.

Auk Ter Veen

Auk and his wife Baukje immigrated to New Zealand from Holland in 1971. He was an insurance advisory consultant from 1972 - 1991, during this time he and his wife also ran a animal boarding enterprise in Newstead until 1996. He retired in 1996 but has kept himself with other ventures, most recently being a bus driver for the Hamilton Christian School. He is enjoying his second term on the Council of Elders as he believes Hamilton is a beautful city and one which deserves a lot of attention.

John Bates

John has been married to Kay for 32 years and they have lived in Hamilton since 1986.  John is a retired Locomotive Engineer and in 1989 took early retirement and redundancy after 35 years service with the N.Z.R. He has worked in a number of Locomotive depots around the country including, Auckland, Helensville, Penrose, Morrinsville, Taumarunui, Wellington, New Plymouth and Te Rapa.  John has had a large involvement in his community. He was a founding member of the Te Rapa Probus Club. Some years ago, John and Kay worked on the Westbpac Resuce Helicopter train trips to New Plymouth, helping to raise money for Waikato Life Saving Services.  He has been a member and Vice President of two Solo Parent Support clubs in Auckland, and he and Kay successfully ran a Bed and Breakfast business in Ohaupo for 7 years. John continues his community involvement by being a committee member of the Waikato Railway Society and of the Hamilton Citizens and Ratepayers Association. John is enjoying his seond term as a member of the Council of Elders.

Carole Irwin is a grandmother and a retired primary school teacher. She currently lives in Dinsdale and has resided in Hamilton for over 35 years. She has many interests, including walking and tramping, travel, reading, square dancing, church activities and Probus. Carol is on the board of Powertalk, fomerly Toastmistress and she is president of the Hamilton Friendship Force. She spends some of her time doing voluntary work in Dinsdale, at an op shop and assisting in a group providing activities for the elderly. Carole is proud of our city and the many amenities that we have for both residents and visitors. She is concerned about Council's current financial position but is passionate about retaining the current services and amenities.

Roger Loveless

Roger is an Access Co-ordinator at CCS Disability Action Waikato, which involves working with councils, architects and engineers to ensure the built environment is barrier free to the disabled community. He is a long time resident of Hamilton, retired from the electric power industry in 2009 and is a council member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Roger lives with his wife Mary and has two sons and three grandchildren. He believes that the more the boundaries are pushed, the easier it will be for disabled people to fully participate in society. Roger strongly believes that Hamilton, as a rapidly expanding city, needs a long term vision for a society far less dependent on the motor car and with a safe, accessible and co-ordinated transport infrastructure suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.  

Gurbaksh (George) Belling

George farmed in the Waikato for 50 years and has had a variety of business interests, including commercial property, roading construction, valuation economics, cropping, transport and hospitality. George has also served as a sworn member of the civil defence police, chariman of Federated Farmers National Party, member of Toastmasters Cambridge, coached secondary school rugby teams and been involved with the Cambridge Resthaven Hospital Retirement Village Trust, the Waikato Heart Trust, Scout committee and PTAs. George was elected for a three year term at the 2010 AGM.

Barbru Bahan Singh

Elected at the 2010 AGM - profile and photo to come

Contact

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Hannah Banks

Social Development Advisor

Community Development Unit
Level 4, Council Offices
Garden Place
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6665

Fax: 838 6751

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