The Times is recognising the many wonderful people in our local east Auckland community who go out of their way to help others with our regular Community Hero award.
If you know someone who’s doing amazing things in our community please email 50 to 100 words describing why they deserves this recognition, highlighting specific actions they’ve taken to benefit our community, with your and their contact details and a high-resolution photo of them if possible to chrish@times.co.nz.
Include details about what they’ve been doing, the impact they’ve made, and how long they’ve been involved in these efforts.
The award is sponsored by New World Howick. Recipients will receive a $50 New World gift card and will be featured in our newspaper and on our website.
This week’s recipient is Billy Davis.
He was nominated by Yu-ting Hsieh, Henna He, and Dave Roberts.
Yu-ting Hsieh says: “I’ve known Billy since May, 2022, and he does a great job serving our community as a volunteer for Howick Pakuranga Community Patrol and Victim Support east Auckland.
“My husband passed away so suddenly after suffering cancer and Billy was showing in the time as a Victim Support [volunteer] on May 1, 2022.
“Billy stayed with me and my daughter through the first rough three months.
“He calls me every Sunday to check up on me, to see how I’m doing, and to ask if there’s anything I need help with.
“It’s a short phone call, but it gives me some comfort to know someone cares about us.
“He’s a positive friend, a good listener and conversations are always guiding me out of my sadness, and he encourages me to do more of the things I love!
“Three months had passed, but he would occasionally call to check on me and invite me to church to pray with him at Christmas.
“I really appreciate all the phone calls he made. He’s like an old friend now, and a precious friend to me, like someone who will always be there for you in one place.”
Henna He says: “Billy has been a regular volunteer raising funds for different charities every year since 2017.
“Because of his encouragement, more people joined the volunteer team including myself.
“I felt his enthusiasm and kindness from working with him. It is our greatest wish to provide services to our local community.”
Dave Roberts says: “Billy really is a super-hero volunteer. He works with Victim Support, the Howick Pakuranga Community Patrol, and I’ve seen him walking his neighbours’ dogs.
“He gave me a hand to put up signs for the election last year and was happy to fix up all the party signs when they were damaged.
“He’s more community-minded and focused than anyone I’ve met.”
