Hard work recognised in Honours List
01 Feb 2021
College featured once again in the 2021 New Year Honours with two Old Boys being celebrated. Dr David William Kerr (7446) was made Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to health and business, and Donald William Mackenzie (6419) became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to athletics and the community.
David Kerr worked in General Practice in Christchurch from 1976–2008 and in 1992 was instrumental in the establishment of Pegasus Medical Group, a not-for-profit charitable organisation and budget holding group which provides services to most general practices in Canterbury. He chaired the group for six years and was Clinical Leader Mental Health from 2002–2012. He was a driver of the Health Pathways information system, which streamlines the referral process and helps GPs interact with hospital-based specialists. He was a director of PHARMAC and its Deputy Chair from 2010–2017. He has been chairman of Ryman Health Care Ltd since 1999, now one of the top five companies in New Zealand.
Don Mackenzie has officiated for Athletics Canterbury for 50 years and continues to do so at the annual New Zealand Track and Field Championships. He has officiated at international athletic events such as the World Games for the Deaf, World Masters Games and Pacific Conference Games and was Technical Manager at both the 1974 and 1990 Commonwealth Games. A long-standing member of Athletics New Zealand Rules Committee, he was Athletics New Zealand president from 1991–1992 and was made a life member of Athletics New Zealand in 2006. Using his civil engineering skills, he made a major contribution to the design and construction of the all-weather track laid at Queen Elizabeth II Stadium for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. Since the earthquakes he has helped the elderly with earthquake issues and assisted the Anglican Parish of Fendalton and other Anglican churches. He has chaired the St Barnabas Community Fun Day since its inception in 2012 and chairs the St Barnabas Fair Committee. He also manages and is one of our hard working College Guides.
