Richie Guy named as an Officer of NZ Order of Merit

Sport Thought with Brent Eastwood

I have spoken a lot in this column about volunteers in sport and how they are the backbone of sport in this country.

They are so often the unseen heroes of our sports clubs, regional sports organisations and (although not many make it this far), our national sports organisations.

So I’m sure it would not have gone unnoticed in Northland sports circles this week the individual recognition of one Mr Richie Guy.

If you have not heard already, Richie was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List as an Officer of NZ Order of Merit.

Richie has given a lifetime of volunteer service to not only rugby, but to sport in general, at a local, regional and national level. Richie was an integral part of the legendary North Auckland side that won the Ranfurly Shield in 1971 and then defended it so many times in that memorable 1972 season. These deeds saw him win All Black honours against the British Lions in 1971.

But it has been his multitude of different skills as a volunteer that has set him apart from others – from club level (where he has held almost every role for his beloved Waipu club), to Chairman of the Northland Rugby Union for many years and then inevitably onto roles within the NZ Rugby Union, culminating in Chairman during the tumultuous years when rugby progressed from a totally amateur game to professional at the top level. That such a good outcome was achieved for NZ rugby in 1996/97 was in no small way due to Richie’s deeds.

He also managed the All Blacks, including the side that famously won the first-ever World Cup in 1987.

Not as well-known is his volunteer role with Sport Northland over the last 20+ years. After his role as Chairman of the Northland Sports Foundation from 1988-91, Richie was elected as Chairman of Sport Northland, a new organisation that resulted from the merging of the Sports Foundation with the Northland Recreation and Sports Trust in 1991.

He held that role until he became Chairman of the NZ Rugby Union in 1995, when he stepped down from the Sport Northland Chairman role due to his national commitments. He was then elected Chairman of Sport Northland again in 1999 and has held that role ever since.

Sport Northland has been very fortunate to have had the experience and skill of Richie at the helm over these years – he is one of the best and most experienced sports chairs in the country, and it has not been by accident that Sport Northland has been one of the leading regional sports trust in NZ during his time leading the organisation.

I for one have been very fortunate to have had Richie as a mentor in sports administration – he is a dedicated sports volunteer, no matter what the level, and even though he is always embarrassed by these things, the Queen’s Birthday honour is just reward for what he given to sport over his lifetime.

Sport Thought with Brent Eastwood

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