WE ARE SUPER PROUD OF OUR CHAIR PERSON

BERYL WILCOX
Friday, 31 December 2021 - Stuff News
MEMBER OF THE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT

A Southland woman recognised in New Year 2022 Honours says it is also an honour for everyone she has worked with during the years.

Beryl Wilcox​ has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit​ for her contribution to community governance in the Southland region for more than 30 years.

“A leader can only be effective with the support and work given and achieved by staff, volunteers and family.

“This honour is as much about them too,” she said.

More than 20 local boards and committees has had Wilcox as a member or chairwoman, all in the fields of education, health, social development and employment.

Wilcox believed everyone had a responsibility to play their part for the community.

She got her strong sense of community service from her dad Wallace Perkins, who was quite ahead of his time according to her.

“I think the most important things for me always growing up was lifelong learning, education and wellbeing and I had a real focus for youth,” she said.

She has always loved the notion of education and its wider sense, which was probably why she has been involved in governance roles many primary, secondary, and tertiary education institutions.

Wilcox regards education as being so important because it provided people with opportunities and chances. Her father also instilled that in her.

Wilcox is the chairwoman of South Alive (a community organisation striving to build a place that engendered pride and empowered its residents) and what she enjoys about governance is the strategic aspects of it.

“You know the fact that you can look at the big picture and then break it down into goals and break it down into targets.

“You just sort of think you’re doing a little, which helps a little ...”

It’s not about what the board wants, but rather what the community wants, and it is the board’s job to figure out how to best reflect that, she said.

“One of the big things here [South Alive] is that it’s a different way of thinking, so here it’s about community led development.”