Advocates, social heroes, and leaders in their communities - Victoria Andrews, Louisa Eades and Judith Thacker have been recognised with Civic Awards for their outstanding service to the Banks Peninsula.

The awards are presented annually to honour those who go above and beyond for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula with 20 recipients in 2023.

Recipients are nominated and selected for work that has added to the quality of life of our residents.

“It is a privilege as a city to be able to recognise those special people and organisations who have done extraordinary things to make Christchurch and Banks Peninsula such an amazing place to be,” Civic Award Committee Chair Councillor Yani Johanson says.

“What makes us unique is the wonderful people we have who work for the good of others to improve the wellbeing of our community, our environment, and our economy. These people and groups are our greatest assets.”

Cr Johanson says we are able as a Council to acknowledge and appreciate their contribution to our society by awarding them Civic Awards.

“Congratulations to all those who have received an award and thank you to all those who have supported their nominations and to their families who have also supported the wonderful and tireless work they do.”

Victoria Andrews

For some four decades Victoria has been a forceful advocate for the heritage of Akaroa and the surrounding district.

A long-serving member of the Akaroa Civic Trust, she has never been afraid to look authority in the eye, always willing to take on bureaucracy where rules are being flouted, as in the landmark case heard in the Environment Court involving a local landowner and a proposed development that breached the coastal plan.

Victoria always researches her material most thoroughly, and her advocacy is always extremely balanced and well-informed. She has been deeply involved, with the Civic Trust, with matters of heritage and preservation, and has given decades of support to community institutions such as the Akaroa Museum.

She, with other members of the Civic Trust, has made countless trips to the Christchurch City Council to make submissions on all manner of things, from wastewater to the maintenance of sea walls, from freedom camping to traffic management, not to mention the vexed subject of mass tourism and the cruise ship debate.

An articulate advocate for her community, and a fearless fighter for the cause, her dedication has won her the highest regard and deepest respect of the Akaroa community.

Louisa Eades

Louisa is one of the founding members of the Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust that was established in 2015 to save the historic and much-loved Governors Bay Jetty which was damaged beyond repair and closed following the Canterbury earthquakes. For the past eight years she has single-mindedly and tirelessly addressed her duties as Secretary and Treasurer to this end.

Like any large-scale project and particularly one involving construction, there have been any number of setbacks, delays, and challenges along the way; but Louisa has consistently kept cool, calm and collected, continually encouraging the trustees and the community to keep the project alive.

Louisa has organised fund-raising events (the community has had to raise 50% of the multimillion-dollar cost of the project), community workshops and social gatherings to support the Trust’s work. She has made deputations to the City Council and won the support of Councillors.

As a result of her labours and determination Governors Bay now has its beloved jetty back. Brand new, bigger, better, and built to modern standards; a place for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, splashing about, or simply for walking and being close to nature and the water.

It has taken a community to rebuild the jetty, but it took one person to be the cornerstone and driving force of that community effort.

Judith Thacker

Judith married into the Thacker clan of Okains Bay in 1965 and for the almost six decades since has maintained a whole-hearted commitment to the community of Okains Bay in general and the Okains Bay Museum in particular.

She has played a significant role in the formation of the Kāhui Korowai, further developing the Museum’s rich cultural heritage. In 2016, when visited by curators from Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, the Museum was honoured with the sobriquet of the ‘Te Papa of Canterbury’, for the kaitiaki of taonga of both national and international importance. All in large part due to her good offices.

As an inaugural member of the Board of the Okains Bay Enhancement Society she has been deeply involved in the restoration and maintenance of the historic buildings of the Okains Bay settlement – the church, the store, the cocksfooting shed and others.

Her efforts were key to the on-going development of the camping ground, and the large-scale planting of native species there to remediate the massive damage caused by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Her leadership, planning and enthusiasm have been, and continue to be, exceptional.