9 December
Corrections staff, family and friends gathered in Hastings today to celebrate the long service and good conduct of staff from Hawkes Bay Prison.
Twenty-three custodial and non-custodial staff were recognised for 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 years of continuous service to the Department.
Acting Central Regional Manager Paul Vlaanderen believes the awards are important in recognising the excellent contribution that Corrections’ staff make to their communities.
“The hard work that Corrections staff do is often hidden from the public by a prison’s walls. But their efforts ensure a secure and humane environment for offenders while also providing them with training and support to reduce re-offending.
“They play a significant part in making our communities safer, and it is very important that this is recognised,” says Mr Vlaanderen.
“Despite working in a very demanding job and what can be a volatile environment our staff find their work extremely interesting and rewarding. No two days are the same working in a prison.
“It is a real pleasure to celebrate staff whose passion and dedication has remained strong over such a long period of time.
“These awards also give us the opportunity to thank the families of our staff as their support is invaluable to our recipients. It is pleasing that so many family members have attended today’s ceremony to celebrate their loved ones.
Three staff members received awards today for service of 21 years or more. Assistant Prison Manager Yvonne Fuller, Senior Corrections Officer Wayne Steedman and Staff and Payroll Clerk Gayle Lowe all received awards for 21, 28 and 35 years respectively.
Yvonne was part of the first and only all female Corrections Officer training course the Department held in 1987. These women were some of the Department’s first female Corrections Officers and some graduates, like Yvonne, continue to work for the Department.
Wayne and Gayle have both had long and varied careers with the Department. Wayne spent the majority of his career to date at Wanganui Prison.
Gayle has held many positions with the Department throughout her long career and prior to coming to the Department Galye’s public service career began with the National Library.
Paul Vlaanderen says these staff and all of today’s recipients continually demonstrate Corrections’ core PRIDE values – Professionalism, Responsiveness, Integrity, Diversity, Effectiveness and Efficiency.
“The strength of any organisation lies in its people. I want to recognise these recipients and congratulate them on their hard work.”
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