Conservationists Recognised in Queen's Birthday List

Forest and Bird, Issue 309, 1 August 2003, Page 8

Conservationists Recognised in Queen's

Birthday List

ne of Forest and Bird’s () best-known teams of activists, Ann and Basil Graeme, both received the Queen’s Service Medal for Public Services in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Dedicated environmentalists for many years, they have contributed both locally (in the Bay of Plenty where they live in Tauranga) and nationally, to the goals of protecting the environment and particularly native flora and fauna. Ann Meredith Graeme is coordinator of Forest and Bird’s Kiwi Conservation Clubs, and editor of its magazine. She is

also a regular contributor of the ‘In The Field’ column in Forest & Bird besides writing frequent features on a voluntary basis, often with her husband. Basil Stanley Lindsay Graeme was at one time the Forest and Bird field officer for the central North Island particularly involved in trying to save native forests from conversion into pines, and to saving kokako. He has also chaired the Bay of Plenty Conservation Board and has just stood down from the national executive of the Society.

Margaret Anne Bayfield of Wellington who has been active in the North Taranaki branch of Forest and Bird (see her article on page 4, this issue) also received the Queen’s Service Medal for Public Service. She has made a significant contribution to the environment both in Taranaki and nationally. Her public service includes having chaired the Taranaki/Wanganui Conservation Board, service on the New Zealand Conservation Authority, and chairing the Queen Elizabth II National Trust. She has also been coordinator for the Taranaki Tree Trust which funds and facilitates the protection of native forest, wetlands and river margins. Other honours for people who have been active in the environment include: The Hon James Kenneth McLay Qso was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation. A former National cabinet minister and briefly in 1984 Deputy Prime Minister, Jim McLay received the award in recognition of his service as the New Zealand Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission from 1994-2003. He played a significant role in

the work of the commission and the conservation of whales particularly in the South Pacific and devoted a great deal of his own time and resources to the issues. The Hon Justice Anthony Arthur Travers Ellis was also awarded the CNZM for services as a judge of the High Court. A distinguished life member of Forest and Bird, he was national president of the Society from 1976-1984, before his appointment to the Bench. Emeritus Professor Kevin Francis O'Connor was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the environment and agriculture. The foundation Professor of Range Management at Lincoln University he has made a large contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the South Island high country. Warren Hastings Snow of Auckland was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the environment and the community. He has been broadly involved in establishing community recycling schemes and developing products made from waste. He was involved in setting up the Zero Waste system of recycling.