Tribute to Sir Eion Edgar

SIR EION EDGAR: 30 January 1945–14 June 2021

Diabetes NZ mourns the loss of Sir Eion Edgar. A leader, advocate, and philanthropist, he had been the patron of our organisation since 2011.

Sir Eion Edgar did not have diabetes himself and didn’t have any close family members with the condition. Nonetheless, it was a cause that captured his heart.

On becoming patron of Diabetes NZ he said, ‘My frustration is that other conditions, such as cancer and heart attacks, get good funding. But because diabetes mainly affects lower socio-economic groups, we don’t get that kind of support. That’s why we need to raise its profile.’

Sir Eion’s interest in diabetes began in 1999, when he was the first person asked to join a new Diabetes Business Group set up by Paul Bowe, then VicePresident of Diabetes NZ.

This interest led Sir Eion and his wife Jan, Lady Edgar, to fund the first University of Otago Leading Thinkers initiative – a Chair in Diabetic Medicine awarded to Professor Jim Mann. As a result, the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research (EDOR) was formed. It was later strengthened by the creation of a second Leading Thinkers Chair in Early Childhood Obesity, held by Professor Rachael Taylor, the current Director of EDOR.

As well as his philanthropic support, Sir Eion played an active role in the life of the Centre. He was chair of the EDOR advisory board, which met several times a year. He also attended and gave the opening addresses at many of the large public events organised by the Centre.

‘Sir Eion was incredibly proud of the Centre’s achievements,’ says Professor Taylor.

Founding EDOR Director, Professor Jim Mann says the Centre remains committed to excellence in research and honouring the legacy of a man who saw a need and didn’t hesitate to help. ‘We remain indebted to Sir Eion’s drive and enthusiasm to support and fund health research. He was committed to doing what he could to improve the lives of his fellow New Zealanders,’ says Professor Mann. ‘He was a truly inspiring person.’

WORK WITH DIABETES NZ

Sir Eion was an active and generous supporter of Diabetes NZ. In 2018, he raised $74,000 for diabetes in the Fitbit MoveMeant Challenge. Thanks to the many and various shoulders he tapped, the countless phone calls he made, and the emails he sent, he took the grand total raised by all the competitors to more than $81,000.

In a huge effort, Sir Eion also racked up 150,438 steps, wearing out one pair of trainers and spending late nights trekking the streets to squeeze in the extra steps and reach his goal. He competed in the MoveMeant Challenge twice more after that, working with Diabetes NZ to raise more than $263,000 in the three years he competed.

In 2020, his formidable networks, his many friendships, and the respect he had earned in the many groups and organisations he was involved with played a large part in the success of the Challengers Dinner, which raised nearly half a million dollars for Diabetes NZ.

Chief Executive of Diabetes NZ Heather Verry says, ‘We are all so grateful for his work for the cause of diabetes in New Zealand. The funds he raised will go towards continuing to provide a high level of support for our community. He was an unflagging advocate for better awareness and funding for diabetes care, particularly in those communities hardest hit by this very serious condition.’

Sir Eion himself said, ‘I am passionate about trying to raise the profile of diabetes or “the silent assassin”, as I call it. I think we have to work hard as an organisation to raise the profile of diabetes, so more people are prepared to talk about it and to give to us if they decide they want to help a worthy project.’

Catherine Taylor, Diabetes NZ Board Chair, says, ‘Every time I was with Sir Eion, his enthusiasm for supporting people with diabetes and his constant striving to do more to support the work of Diabetes NZ was infectious. This energy extended to everyone who came into contact with him as he helped our organisation grow and develop. To have been able to work alongside such a person was an immense privilege. We have lost a true friend and supporter.'

A LIFE WELL LIVED

Sir Eion was named New Zealand’s Visionary Leader at the Top 200 Companies awards in 2007, knighted in 2009, received the Senior New Zealander of the Year award in 2010, and was made a Distinguished Fellow by the Institute of Directors in April this year.

He was a Trustee of the Halberg Trust and the Skeggs Foundation, as well as Patron of ShelterBox New Zealand and the Wakatipu Trails Trust. He held directorships of several New Zealand companies and was chair of The Central Lakes Trust, the Queenstown Resort College, and the Winter Games Charitable Trust. In addition to funding EDOR, the Edgar family also gave $1 million each to the Edgar Sports Centre in Dunedin and the Edgar Olympic Foundation.

Sir Eion’s legacy is visible in The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report, released earlier this year by Diabetes NZ, the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research, He Oranga Hauora – Healthier Lives, and Tony and Heather Falkenstein.

Sir Eion passed away surrounded by family at his home in Queenstown, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December.

From left: Dr Cherie Stayner, Professor Jim Mann, Professor Rachael Taylor, Sir Eion Edgar, and Associate Professor Kirsten Coppell.