The knowledge and experience of Corrections staff has been recognised in long service awards ceremonies in several centres around the country.
Probation and Offender Services award ceremonies took place in Manukau, Auckland, Waitemata and Wanganui last September and October and at Hawke’s Bay Prison in December.
“By recognising long service, we can demonstrate that knowledge and experience are valued and that positive individual contributions are appreciated in what can be a challenging environment,” says Manukau Area Manager Grace Smit.
Grace presented awards to 36 staff at a ceremony at the Papakura Community Work Centre.
Mervyn Smith was recognised for 30 years service at the Auckland area awards ceremony.
Mervyn began as an assistant warden at the then Pitt Street Periodic Detention centre in 1974 and now works as a Community Work Supervisor at the New Lynn Community Work Centre.
“Merv has received excellent feedback from community agencies who have been impressed with the projects he has supervised throughout his 30-plus years of service to Corrections,” says Northern Regional Manager Astrid Kalders who presented the award to Mervyn and his fellow long-serving colleagues.
Palmerston North Service Centre Administration Officer Yvonne Leonard-Jones’ long service was noted in the September edition of Corrections News and she has since been awarded for 44 years service.
Yvonne joined Corrections straight from school in 1961 as a shorthand typist for the Palmerston North Community probation Service (CPS) office. The office then comprised a manager, a lone probation officer and herself. These days 20-plus CPS staff work from the office.
Staff at Hawke’s Bay Prison were rewarded for their long service at a ceremony at the Prison in December. Chief Executive Barry Matthews presented the awards to 28 staff members.
Wayne Paki, Bill Waihi and Joseph Murray - each now in his 30th year of service - all started working for the Department in 1977.
“The basics of the job have remained much the same - searching cells and prisoners and doing muster checks - but over the years I’ve gone from being a prison warder, prison guard, prison officer, unit officer and today I am a Corrections Officer,” says Bill.
Bill recalls when prisoners were not allowed to have TVs or radios in their cells so movies were shown every two weeks by a staff member. Prisoners used a potty for a toilet and emptied it every morning at unlock.
“I still enjoy working with a large cross section of people from gang members to lawyers, accountants, doctors and the average guy who makes me wonder how he ended up in prison,” Bill adds.
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ISSN 1178-8453