Army’s People of the Year

Burnham Social Worker awarded NZDF Civilian of the Year

A man who was a driving force behind social workers becoming a permanent part of the military is the New Zealand Defence Force Civilian of the Year.

Liam Cunnah provides professional clinical social work services to personnel at Burnham Military Camp as well as their whānau and, in his spare time, the wider Canterbury community.

He was part of a trial to introduce social workers to the NZDF four years ago – a trial which led to them becoming permanent employees. Mr Cunnah said the importance of providing this service to personnel could not be underestimated.

“We live in an ever-changing and unpredictable world which can place significant pressures on soldiers and their families.

“As the types of issues become more complex in their presentation, a more holistic approach to wellness support and management is required, and this is where social work comes into its own.” Mr Cunnah said the trusting relationship built between local Command teams and the social work service was crucial.

“Without this, I would not be in the position I am to have been nominated and chosen as a recipient of this special award,” he said.

“As someone who prefers to be behind the scenes promoting the successes of others, this is an unfamiliar yet humbling experience to be receiving this award.

“The success of the Burnham Social Work service has been supported and enhanced by the exceptional work of my fellow colleagues within the Burnham Integrated Wellness team.”

Mr Cunnah last year undertook Postgraduate study in Family Therapy, as well as having studied Gottman Couples Therapy this year. CPL Hullen deployed in January 2020 as a Force Health Protection Technician (FHPT) in support of Operation Australian Bushfires. His role was to provide close environmental health support to the NZDF force element located on Kangaroo Island. This was a sole charge position, reporting to a Force Health Protection Officer (FHPO) located in Adelaide.

During this operation, CPL Hullen discovered and prevented three threats to human health in relation to the drinking water and food provided to them.

He raised this with the commander on the ground, immediately implemented measures to reduce the risk, and then provided training to personnel to remedy the issues.

While the judging panel was impressed with all the finalists in this category, CPL Hullen’s achievements stood out for several reasons. The judges noted that CPL Hullen operated autonomously in a daunting environment, especially considering his rank; he demonstrated courage by raising health and safety issues with his superiors; he also realised the magnitude of potential impact of not taking proactive initiative, and his interventions had an immediate, tangible outcome for his comrades on Kangaroo Island.

Liam Cunnah

“I chose to do this as it was a need that I identified around the everchanging relationship challenges faced by soldiers and their dependants,” he said.

“As social workers we are innately driven by our desire to promote and enhance the self-determination and empowerment of both our clients and often the wider organisations that we are employed by.”

Mr Cunnah also supported the wider Canterbury community in his own time by providing clinical input as a board member for Salisbury Street Foundation, a rehabilitation centre that aims to reintegrate serious offenders back into the community.

His citation said his dedication to the work he did within the community demonstrated that he was an outstanding ambassador for

Safety winner protects welfare of 600 during Australian bushfires

Army medic CPL Lewis Hullen is the 2020 NZDF Safety Person of the Year.

the NZDF. CPL Hullen’s actions were exemplary and have won the recognition of his command and peers. His nomination, submitted by Major Ron Christmas, provides further insight into how CPL Hullen’s actions have demonstrated our core NZDF values and excellence in health and safety.

He displayed confidence and courage in bringing these matters to the attention of superiors in a timely and professional manner. His efforts meant he was able to protect the health of 600 personnel, and prevented significant impact to the mission of the NZDF and ADF.

Beyond the above specific examples, CPL Hullen was proactive in hazard ID and risk assessment in an environment that had significant perceived risk. His technical reporting chain trusted his assessments and he was able to provide accurate and timely information that allowed the FHPO to advise higher command as to the true nature of the risks that NZDF personnel had been exposed to.

Warrant Officer Class Two Sean Cassidy spends all day teaching college students, and most of his spare time training soldiers. He has been named Reservist of the Year.

Dunedin-based secondary school teacher Sean Cassidy says his military knowledge and experience is invaluable in his civilian career.

Warrant Officer Class Two Cassidy is senior trainer of B Company, 2/4 RNZIR. He teaches physical education, outdoor education and the health curriculum at King’s High School in Dunedin.

The judging panel selected WO2 Cassidy for his selfless and consistent commitment to go above and beyond for B Company and in the local community. Judges said he was a strong and positive influencer, and a key member of B Company’s leadership team. He was also instrumental in developing new concepts for training and planning, working around the restrictions imposed under Covid-19 higher alert levels.

WO2 Cassidy says he feels honoured to receive the award. He has been a Reservist since 1990.

“I had a gap year before attending University and the recruiter held an information evening in Cromwell. I went along to see what it was about as a couple for friends had already joined the Regular Force Cadet School.

“The opportunities, variety and flexibility offered was a good fit for my intended career path at that time (attending Otago University). Secondly, the experiences with attending training activities, exercises, courses, meeting and working with people with diverse backgrounds was something I have always enjoyed. The highlight for me has been putting these skills I have developed both in the NZDF and my civilian career and utilising them on operational deployments.”

WO2 Sean Cassidy

In his Reservist role he plans, implements and mentors training, and is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating sub unit training activities. His employer, he says, has provided him with substantial support over the last 19 years of his employment.

“The school is very keen to utilise the value added skills the NZ Army provides via the numerous courses, exercises and community activities that I have attended and supported during this time. An example of this is providing assistance to the school’s Anzac services, running fitness sessions for several sports teams and Year 13 leadership activities encompassing skills gained from my military experiences.

“There is mutual benefit between King’s High and myself. The Army provides me with skill sets that are not readily available in civilian organisations, particularly at little or no cost to the school (except my time). I am also able to use these skills readily at school, and always to the benefit to the students I teach. Another relationship spinoff is via recruiting. Students are often querying me on advice about Defence as a career option and I am able point them in the right direction in regards to qualifications, skills and fitness required to gain the trade they are aspiring to in the NZDF.”

Army Major recognised for work on inclusive culture

Army Officer Major Tim Ewing-Jarvie’s leadership style and commitment to including and empowering his Company has helped him win this year’s New Zealand Defence Force Squadron Leader Peter Rule Inclusion Award.

Russian- and Ukrainian- speaking CPL Derepa worked at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch, as part of the New Zealand Defence Force’s support to the Covid-19 response.

He was born in Ukraine and moved to New Zealand with his family as a teenager more than 20 years ago.

Based in Wellington, he was sent to Christchurch to work in the hotels as interpreter and coordinator assistant for when the Russian mariners arrived in late October. The award is for outstanding and positive contributions to diversity and inclusion by NZDF personnel, and goes to someone who demonstrates inclusive practices and attitudes, and values diversity and inclusion.

Burnham-based Major EwingJarvie, of Delta Company, said it was an honour to be part of the legacy of Squadron Leader Rule, a pilot who had a distinguished career with the Royal New Zealand Air Force before he was forced out because of his sexuality.

Major Ewing-Jarvie said he had had friends who had been persecuted or disadvantaged because of their sexuality, gender or perspective, “so I’m happy to be part of an ongoing discussion around organisational change”.

His citation noted that over his two-year tenure in charge of Delta Company there had been a remarkable change in members’ sense of belonging and inclusion, and to their drive and focus.

“The face of the infantry is changing. Delta Company is

Warrant Officer Class Two

Dore-Wright has lived throughout

New Zealand since joining the

Army in 1996 but has been based in Ashhurst for the past eight years, allowing him and wife Janet to get involved in the community.

“Volunteering is important as it gives me the opportunity to connect with and help members of the community in Ashhurst and the surrounding areas,” the instructor said.

“Being in the military helps with the different areas I volunteer in. I really enjoy a challenge and being a volunteer firefighter can put you in some testing positions.

My military service has given me the ability to look at situations from a different perspective and take charge when required.

“And volunteering also assists with my military career. Taking CPL Derepa said not many of the mariners at the Sudima spoke any English so being able to communicate with them was invaluable.

“It was easy and straightforward communicating with them. Initially they were very surprised that I spoke their language and were very happy to know that I was available if required to translate.

“They were very appreciative and grateful especially when it came to medical check-ups and medical transfers/checks, as they knew comprised of first generation personnel from about 15 countries,” Major Ewing-Jarvie said.

“We’ve had women in both officer and enlisted positions, and members of the LGBTQI+ community serving openly. Within our ranks have been atheists, Christians, Muslims and representations across a broad spectrum of spiritual and philosophical beliefs.”

But Major Ewing-Jarvie said inclusivity was about more than just including people of different sexualities and genders; it was about different ways of thinking around such things as making mistakes.

“The Company command team spent time talking with all ranks, describing the outcomes and purposes we wanted. We were careful to build an environment which was a safe place to make controlled mistakes.

“Making mistakes ultimately generates trust and cohesion, which does require social facades to break down. We were setting out to create both cohesion and high experience from different situations and challenges working with young people in the community adds to my tool box of skills required for my job as an instructor.”

WO2 Dore-Wright said one of his greatest passions was football, which he had played for both the Army and NZDF teams before an injury led him to step into more of a coaching role.

“Coaching my eldest son’s school team got me into coaching and this year I have been the assistant coach to the Marist reserves men’s team,”

WO2 Dore-Wright credited wife Janet for being able to volunteer as much as he did.

“She balances her work commitments, our kids and all the other family day-to-day activities,” he said.

Mrs Dore-Wright also helped alongside her husband at what was being done and why.

“It also helped as it broke down the language barrier and the mariners were assured their questions and concerns were addressed,” he said.

It had been a different but also great experience working at the MIQF, he said.

“It has been great to be helpful from an interpreter side, and also to see how different agencies are working together to manage the MIQFs for those returning to New Zealand.”

MAJ Tim Ewing-Jarvie

performance in our team. Good teams have a strong sense of belonging. Inclusion and respect for diversity just come from there.”

Major Ewing-Jarvie said he

Firefighter, football coach and father takes NZDF Volunteer of Year award

Linton soldier Ed Dore-Wright’s commitment to his community as a firefighter, football coach and RSA member have led to him being awarded the New Zealand Defence Force Volunteer of the Year 2020.

2nd Regional Training Wing senior

felt uncomfortable accepting the Returned and Services Association (RSA), making volunteering a family affair.

“Janet joined the Ashhurst RSA Woman’s committee and Welfare Committee and encouraged me to join. We are both now on the Ashhurst RSA Executive and Welfare committees and Janet is also the treasurer.

“At a time when organisations can struggle to get volunteers it was important to me to inject younger thinking and the influence of a current serving member of the military into the RSA. But the biggest reward is knowing that your local RSA efforts have helped the community and veterans in need.” the recognition for outcomes and initiatives which ultimately belonged to his team, but it was great to be a

WO2 Ed Dore-Wright

MULTI-TASKING AT THE CHRISTCHURCH MIQF

Army dental hygienist Corporal Anatoliy Derepa has helped to bridge the language gap with Russian mariners at a Managed Isolation and Quarantine Facilities (MIQF) in Christchurch.

part of celebrating success.

CPL Derepa, then a Lance Corporal, photographed some years ago receiving his Distinguished Service Decoration from the Governor General, Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae.