Marlburians given King’s Birthday honours

Three Marlburian stalwarts - Kevin Loe, Glenda Davies and Clem Mellish - have been acknowledged with a King’s Service Medal for services to the community and agriculture, community, and Maori art and music respectively. Kevin, Glenda and Clem were announced as Service Medal recipients as part of the King’s Birthday honours list, which was revealed on Monday.

Kevin Loe, JP
Kevin Loe has contributed to his community of Flaxbourne since the 1970s, having been involved in the Flaxbourne Settlers Association, A&P Association, Heritage Trust, Hilary Crump Trust and Seddon Lions Club, alongside his efforts setting up both the Taimate Water Scheme and Flaxbourne Irrigation Scheme to assist the viability of South Marlborough agriculture.

He considers himself “very lucky” to have grown up in the Flaxbourne district and says that his family passed down the importance of community involvement.
“This award is very humbling and a huge honour - you don’t seek out a prize like this, but it is lovely to be acknowledged for many years of being available and helping in the community at many levels”, says Kevin, who coincidentally received the email at the morning of the opening of the Flaxbourne Heritage Centre.

“The hardest thing of accepting an award is that with all the things I’ve been involved with, there’s been greater strength than me powering them because Ward and Flaxbourne survives on volunteer hours with people bringing their own strengths.

“The sacrifices volunteers make is often not seen and many people are giving up time they haven’t really got or could be better used earning a dollar for themselves.”

Kevin is especially proud of his involvement in the Flaxbourne A&P show which will celebrate a centenary next year, a year he says may be his swansong, as well as turning the Rewi Murray Polo Park into “one of the best grounds in the country for 30 years”, with 100 percent volunteer hours.

However, he’s pleased that many of his involvements have left his home in a better place – especially after the earthquake that devastated and isolated the district.

“The community misses the neutral territory of the East Coast Inn, and the need for such an amenity for food, drink and accommodation comes with the Whale Trail - I don’t think Ward realises quite how impactful it will be when fully operational.

“I was on the Working Committee for the early stages of the Trail, with an ulterior motive to have it help expand the irrigation scheme and add a fibre optic cable with a trail on top,” he reveals.

“We’ve been putting the building blocks in place, the generation behind me have the awesome skills to carry on the good work, and I’m happy to be a sounding board for that good work to continue.”

Clem Mellish
Clem Mellish (Ngāpuhi) has worked as an expert stone carver since the 1980s, with much work in the research, revival and carving of formerly lost taonga pūoro/Māori traditional instruments with the Haumanu group alongside Brian Flintoff, Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns at Onetahua Marae in Golden Bay.
His pounamu and argillite carving has inspired many others to pick up the traditional carving mantle, while having pieces displayed at the British Museum and Te Papa.

“I feel blessed to have known true masters of the carving art, with the legacy continuing on through the Haumanu Collective, as well as master carver Reg Thompsett through my time”, says Clem.

“The honour was very much a surprise and I was very honoured and humbled, and I would like to pass on gratitude to the community, without whom none of this would be possible.

The Havelock local says his motivations come from the support of his late wife Pimmie, the stone he works with, and walking the many tracks of the region.
“Pimmie nurtured my Māoritanga spirit and allowed it to grow and develop here”, he says.

“I marvel at the coolness in the heart of pounamu and pakohe (argillite) as it glistens in the water, and the warmth of a complete piece is beyond words.”
Daughters Jane and Lisa say the connection their father has with the land is unmatched and shown through his carving.

“He has a great love of the native land, spending many hours ambling the many tracks of the area, although not so far these days.

“The sea also surges through his blood, joining the Navy and serving in the Korean War and being one of the forefathers of the mussel farming industry.”

Just like Kevin, Clem says that he is proud to have laid a platform for young, passionate people to build on.

“It fills my heart knowing my works will continue to live through the coming generations, but I ask the next generation to take a moment, feel the stone and it’s spirit will call to you for your purpose.”

Glenda Davies 
Glenda Davies has contributed to the Rai Valley and Havelock for more than 20 years as a Trustee and Chair of the Pelorus Area Health Board Trust (PAHT) and identifying needs in the community.

Glenda’s efforts in setting up a weekly Soup Run to isolated local seniors, the PAHT Community Lounge, assisting with the Havelock Health Expo and Havelock Community Garden to utilise surplus produce and arrange assistance visits.

Mrs Davies was named Marlborough Volunteer of the Year in 2024 for her contributions and has again been acknowledged for her volunteer efforts, however thought the email was a scam at first.

“Volunteering was something that came natural to me as someone who loves people and connecting them, and I felt it was best to give people as many options to connect their own way.

“The goodness of people’s hearts really makes small communities run, because it’s security to continue the work with support from 4 Square Havelock and the Community Garden for soup ingredients, or the many unsung hours from many behind the scenes”.

“The Soup Run is all based in connection, as it means we catch up with some of our most vulnerable locals in their own space and see what needs they may have which has proved incredibly successful now in our third year.

“I’m proud to have achieved setting up the community lounge as a warm inviting space with an open-door policy for all, whether it’s a cup of tea and a chat, or a community group meeting”.

Glenda was especially pleased that fellow Havelock resident Clem was acknowledged for his own efforts.

She says it’s only because of the community around them they each receive that they can be acknowledged this year.

“Clem is just outstanding, an incredible gent that has done and given so much and such a large heart”.

“Everything the PAHT does is circular, with funds coming from donations or our charity shop and returning to our community here which I’m especially proud of that too but it couldn’t be done without my family’s support”.