Leading from the front issuu

”How can you retire from caring? That’s Pat’s dilemma and a
win for the community each time he changes his mind”.
HOW DO YOU
RETIRE FROM
CARING?
PAT’S 80TH,
SEPTEMBER 2006
At a Civic Award presentation that coincided
with his 80th birthday Pat was honoured by
the Napier City Council on behalf of all those
who have benefited from his mahi, and for
making and continuing to make a difference.
Some of his closest colleagues reflected on
Pat’s contributions and his unique modus
operandi and their speeches acknowledged
that he was about to retire. Wrong call! By
this stage he’s threatened retirement several
times, usually when he’s finding the speed of
change required to create that kinder, fairer
city he’s so passionate about, way too slow.
But how can you retire from caring? That’s
Pat’s dilemma and a win for the community
each time he changes his mind.
In the introduction to the presentations, Pat
was told: “They say that what goes around
comes around, you get back what you put out,
and you reap what you sow. For decades now
Pat Magill has given himself, heart, body and
soul to the task of making our fair city a better
place for all its citizens.
“Now the people of Napier say thank you to
Pat, for his tireless work — building, strengthening
and connecting our community at the
grassroots level. Our city is a better place because
of Pat’s tireless service to seeking solutions
for Napier’s social problems.”
Above: Pat is awarded an OBE by Sir Keith Holyoake in 1978, for his
services to the community — he was national president of the YMCA
at the time. Catherine accompanies Pat throughout the proud and
humbling occasion; Millie guards the medal for years, safely deposited
under her mattress.
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Awards, travel, parties – fun, fun, fun!