Western News: January 10, 2017

WESTERN NEWS Tuesday January 10 2017 3
News
Retired coroner gets new year honour
• By Georgia O’Connor-Harding
TWENTY-ONE YEARS of
investigating deaths has led to
retired coroner Richard McElrea
being recognised on the New
Year Honours List.
Mr McElrea, 72, of Fendalton,
who was instrumental in
establishing the Coroners’
Council in 1998, was awarded
the Companion of the Queen’s
Service Order.
He said it was a privilege to
work as a coroner, and he was
lucky enough to have worked in
both the old and the new coroner
system which was established in
2007.
Born in Dunedin, Mr McElrea
attended Otago Boys’ High
School before going on to gain
a Bachelor of Arts at Otago
University and a law degree at
Canterbury University.
He became a partner at law
firm Duncan Cotterill in 1970
before being appointed a coroner
for the Canterbury region in
1994.
“It wasn’t something I always
thought I would go into but it is
just an opportunity that arose
and I have had the privilege of
having two careers in the law,”
he said.
In 1998, Mr McElrea helped
HONOURED: Richard McElrea has been recognised in the New
Year Honours List for his work as a coroner and the work he
did to preserve the original explorer bases in Antarctica.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
found and chaired the Coroners’
Council which, he said, was an
important part of the coroner
support system.
“We started having meetings
. . . we worked together to try
and bring about change which
would mean more resources for
corners and that all occurred,”
he said.
After the establishment, the
council began liaising with the
Ministry of Justice and other
coroners from overseas, setting
up a best practice.
As well as his services as a
coroner, Mr McElrea was recognised
for his former role as chair
of the Antarctic Heritage Trust,
which is responsible for the care
of the original explorer bases in
the Ross Dependency region of
the Antarctica.
Before he became a lawyer,
he worked as a New Zealand
Antarctic volunteer in the
1970s.
He continued his interest by
interviewing survivors from
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton’s
Trans-Antarctica expedition of
1914-1917 and co-authored a
book Polar Castaways.
In the mid-1980s as president
of the New Zealand Antarctic
Society, he became involved in
the formation of the Antarctic
Heritage Trust which ensures
EXPLORER:
Mr McElrea
standing in
front of Mt
Erebus at
Cape Royds,
Ross Island,
Antarctica, in
December
1971. Adélie
penguins
can be seen
behind him.
expedition bases and thousands
of artefacts are preserved.
“It is as if I have been there
yesterday, such are the sharpness
of the images one experiences
down there,” he said.
He was one of four residents
from the western area of the city
to be honoured on the list.
Ms Catherine Samantha
Russell, of Riccarton, was recognised
for services to health and
governance, John Harrington
of Burnside, was recognised for
services to youth and Emeritus
Professor John Frederick Burrows,
of Fendalton, for services
to the State.
8047287AA
$
40
T Y R E S
New Tyres -Batteries
Quality Secondhand Tyres
Discounts on sets of tyres
LOOK
Used tyres from
LTD
FREE PICK UP &DELIVERY (in local area)
Ph 348 0626
99 Main South Rd (cnr Watts Rd), Sockburn
8214716AA
All at verycompetitive prices
AA
Discounts
LOOK
New tyres from
$
70
155
5
x 13
One stop shop for
all your dental needs
Warm, friendly & affordable dental care for the whole family...
We provide a full range of modern dental services
and ensure the highest level of care.
ACC Treatment Provider | WINZ Quotes |Student Discounts
Free Dental for Adolescents | Same Day Emergency Treatment
(03) 355 3888
DENTISTS
DAVID
ROWLEY
JENNY
KIM
Merivale Dental Group
welcomes hygienist
Megan Smith to the team
Level 1, 184 Papanui Rd
(opposite Merivale Mall)
www.merivaledental.co.nz
save water
tip#3
A trigger gun
nozzle on
your hose can
prevent
water
wastage.
We want everyone to have a fair
supply of water during summer.
Conserve today, enjoy tomorrow.