Nursing Excellence Honoured - Club Resumes Nursing Awards After Seven-Year Hiatus
 

The Rotary Club of Newmarket held a memorable evening meeting on September 08, 2026, marking the revival of two prestigious nursing awards that had not been presented since 2019. 
The nursing awards segment brought together Lesley Doughty (Deputy Head of School of Nursing, University of Auckland), award recipients Shona Yang and Joy Cairns, and our own Jon Simcock, who shared the history behind these meaningful awards.

Celebrating Nursing Excellence
 

The Importance of Postgraduate Nursing Education

Lesley opened the awards ceremony with a compelling explanation of why postgraduate nursing education matters. These awards, she noted, do far more than recognize academic excellence — they invest in the future of New Zealand's nursing workforce, enabling talented nurses to advance professionally and ultimately deliver better patient care to our communities.
 

Key Statistics
 

•    The School of Nursing has approximately 3,000 students annually
•    Award recipients achieved the highest grades in their respective courses
•    Nurses can spend upwards of 10 years in postgraduate study (certificate → diploma → master's → doctoral programs)
•    Many nurses study part-time while working full-time, creating significant financial challenges
Lesley emphasized the critical need for advanced nursing education in light of New Zealand's nursing shortages, the exodus of nurses seeking overseas opportunities, and the increasingly complex healthcare needs of our aging population. Financial support through awards like these, she stressed, helps reduce barriers to education and strengthens the entire healthcare workforce that serves us all.

2026 Award Recipients: Inspiring Journeys of Service

Shona Yang — Macfarlane Memorial Prize for Biological Science for Clinical Practice

Shona captivated the audience with her unconventional path to nursing. After attending law school and working as a web designer, a medical outreach trip to Vanuatu in her late 20s sparked a profound interest in healing and recovery, ultimately leading her to enrol in nursing school.
Now working at an urgent care clinic, Shona shared how her vision evolved from working in developing countries to serving the New Zealand community where she has lived since immigrating from Korea at age 11. Balancing postgraduate studies with raising two young children, she pursues one paper per year — a sustainable pace that allows her to continue growing professionally while maintaining family commitments.
In her acceptance remarks, Shona expressed deep gratitude, viewing the award as "a gift to pass forward." She pledged that during challenging moments in her nursing career; she will remember this recognition as motivation to continue serving her community and as a reminder that nurses are valued and appreciated.

Joy Cairns — Anne Craig Memorial Prize
 

Joining us via Zoom from Gisborne, Joy Cairns accepted the Anne Craig Memorial Prize for her outstanding work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in palliative care at Tairawhiti Hospital. Like Shona, Joy came to nursing after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education, followed by a Master of Nursing Science at the University of Melbourne.

Joy's commitment to palliative care was cemented during her very first student placement at Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, where she witnessed expert end-of-life care that would shape her entire career. Her professional journey includes:
•    Working at Waipuna Hospice inpatient unit in Tauranga
•    Completing a postgraduate diploma in palliative care through the Donny Trust Scholarship
•    Eight years as a hospital-based Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gisborne (the only palliative care specialist role, as there is no medical palliative care consultant)
•    Recent completion of prescribing papers, expanding her scope of practice

Joy's academic work has immediate practical applications in her community:
•    Developed a risk assessment framework for her organization to ensure equitable clinical care decisions for patients with high-risk behaviours
•    Submitted an abstract to the Oceania and Asia-Pacific Palliative Care Conference in Adelaide examining the experiences of regional and rural patients accessing palliative oncology treatments
•    Currently editing findings for submission to a palliative care journal

Joy plans to use the prize money to attend the Adelaide conference if her abstract is selected, bringing new ideas and perspectives back to her patients and services in Gisborne — a testament to how these awards create ripple effects that benefit entire communities.
 

Honouring Our Club's Legacy
 

Dr Jon Simcock provided moving context about the Macfarlane Memorial Prize, named after Alastair Macfarlane Senior, who served as president of the Rotary Club of Newmarket in 1976. Alastair was a highly respected obstetrician at National Women's Hospital and a dynamic Rotary member remembered for his enthusiasm and exceptional skill as club sergeant. The award honours both Alastair Senior and his son, Alastair Junior, who followed in similar footsteps of service.
The Anne Craig Memorial Prize honours Anne Craig, a devoted nurse whose compassionate care and community support left a lasting legacy.

A Vision for Science Education: The Wero Science Hub

From Hospitality to Social Enterprise

David Comery, CEO of Waka Pacific Trust, brought an infectious enthusiasm to his presentation about the proposed Wero Science Hub. David shared his remarkable transition from a 40-year career in the hotel industry to leading this social enterprise eight years ago. Under his stewardship, the organization has doubled its revenues, forward bookings, and schools programs — proof that business acumen combined with social purpose can achieve extraordinary results.

A Model of "Public Good Enterprise"

David described Wero Pacific Trust's innovative operating model as a "public good enterprise" — running commercial ventures to fund free and subsidised community programs. The approach is elegantly simple: charge schools that can afford programs (such as King's College) premium rates, while providing free access to schools with limited budgets (such as Manurewa High).

Current Community Impact (2025-2026)

• 86,000 children participated in programs annually

• 65,000 children at the event center paid nothing for events

• 50% of children using climbing facilities paid nothing

• $1.5 million in audited community gifting last year

• Independent Impact Lab study showed $3.30 return for every dollar invested

The trust's programs include partnerships with Manukau Symphony Orchestra, Royal New Zealand Ballet, National Symphony Orchestra, and various arts, drama, dance, and circus groups. Remarkably, the trust even provides transportation for schools that cannot afford it, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent children from accessing enriching experiences.

The Whitewater Park program addresses a critical safety issue: drowning statistics among Polynesian and Māori males aged 18-24 on West Coast beaches and rivers are appalling. By having students experience swimming in moving water within a controlled environment, the program builds awareness of water dangers that could save lives in the future.

The Science Hub Vision: Hands-On Learning for All

David unveiled plans for a groundbreaking 7,500 square metre facility, with 5,000 square metres dedicated to exhibition space and 2,500 square metres for lobbies and support areas. This hub will be a fully interactive, hands-on science facility — fundamentally different from traditional museums like MoTAT.

Key Differentiators

• No "Do Not Touch" signs

• No glass cabinets or roped-off exhibits

• Fully interactive and engaging experiences

• Ever-evolving exhibits through corporate partnerships

Addressing New Zealand's STEM Crisis

New Zealand currently lacks any hands-on science hub, despite such facilities thriving in major cities worldwide — from the Exploratorium in San Francisco to Questacon in Canberra. Meanwhile, our country faces alarming STEM education challenges:

• Less than 37% of students who begin engineering degrees complete them (vs. 56% international average)

• Low STEM subject participation rates among students

• Limited exposure to science and technology for most students, especially those outside private schools

David shared a powerful insight from Stephen Templer, CEO of Engineering New Zealand: an architecturally impressive building is crucial because it will make students put away their mobile phones and truly engage — something that lectures and information alone cannot achieve.

An Architectural Landmark

The building design draws inspiration from pāua shell architecture — symbolically significant in Māori culture as the "warrior of the sea" with prized flesh and treasured shell. This architecturally significant structure will be visible from State Highways 1 and 20, positioned near the Puhinui stream between the existing event center and whitewater park.

David envisions students from across New Zealand traveling to Auckland to experience the Science Hub alongside other attractions such as Kelly Tarlton's, Auckland Zoo, and MoTAT. Student accommodation is planned as part of the development, making multi-day educational visits accessible and affordable.

Connecting Learning to Careers

Planned galleries will showcase robotics, AI, and various science domains. A particularly innovative feature will be rotating exhibitions from New Zealand corporations — Fonterra, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, and others — connecting scientific learning directly to career pathways. This addresses the perennial student question, "When will I ever use this?" by demonstrating real-world applications and career opportunities.

AUT has already committed to involvement, particularly through their nursing school and health sciences programs at the Manukau campus.

An Ambitious but Achievable Goal

Funding Strategy:

• Corporate New Zealand (David anticipates strong 2027 economic growth)

• International funders (UN, World Bank, including a Beijing invitation for potential Chinese funding)

• New Zealand philanthropists

• Lotteries (inspired by UK's whole lotteries dedicated to the Eden Project)

• New Zealand government for ongoing operational funding (not capital)

David's strategy involves collecting letters of support from major organizations — BNZ, Goodman Property, Chamber of Commerce, Sir Ashley Bloomfield, and others — before approaching government ministers. This approach builds credibility and demonstrates broad community backing for this transformative project.

A Proven Track Record

The Wako Pacific Trust's previous projects demonstrate their capability to deliver:

• Event center (opened 2005)

• Whitewater park (opened 2016)

Wero Climb (opened 2025, completed after 77 funding presentations resulting in 17 sponsors contributing $3.5 million)

• All projects delivered on time, on budget, fully funded with no debt

• Replacement value of existing assets: ~$150 million