15 May 2007
Corrections Minister Hon Damien O’Connor presented 13 Wellington-based Corrections Officers with well-earned Long Service Awards today, describing their experience, wisdom and ability to judge people and situations as invaluable.
The 11 men and two women share a combined total of 217 years employment with the Public Prison Service - the longest serving of them, Terry Cowley, signed on 35 years ago several weeks after immigrating to New Zealand.
Joining the Minister at the ceremony was Acting General Manager Paul Monk who told the award recipients, their family, friends, and colleagues gathered at Rimutaka Prison that Mr Cowley began his job on a salary of $3041 with fortnightly rent of $3.30 for his prison house.
Since 1971, Mr Cowley has worked in a number of the country’s prisons and has many letters of commendation on his file.
The other 12 recipients included two with 21 years service and 10 who recently reached their 14-year anniversary.
Mr Monk said the wisdom and experience that the 13 men and women brought to Corrections could not underestimated.
"You work in one of the country’s most challenging environments where the dedication of our long serving staff is extremely important," he said.
"Not only is your organisational knowledge and experience invaluable, but you play an important role in ensuring that our policies are effective and that Corrections does its best at all times when working in a challenging environment."
ENDS
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