Tim Beveridge: The school principal who deserves the New Year's Honours - Holiday Breakfast

In a few days' time, on New Year’s Eve, we’re going to learn who the recipients of the New Year’s Honours will be.

So, I thought I’d get in early, so it doesn’t look like I’m undermining any of the fine New Zealanders who have been chosen for those honours.

Before then, I want to highlight a couple of New Zealanders who, for different reasons, are worthy of recognition as outstanding contributors to our country.

My first choice is someone who might not be widely known to many of you—although she popped up in the media spotlight a week or two ago when the New Zealand Herald wrote about her retirement from a prominent New Zealand school after a 40+ year career in education.

That person is the retiring principal of Baradene College, Sandy Pasley.

Now, I’m not entirely sure Sandy would want to be singled out, so in making these comments, I’m also begging her forgiveness while at the same time acknowledging the years of dedication and hard work she has put into her role as an educator. From my own personal experience, Sandy at once impressed me when we first met as someone with a great deal of empathy and compassion for her students.

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