My Life Story

It takes a bit to faze Mary May. The hardy 89-year-old, once a Scurr, was raised deep in the Cardrona Valley, no electricity until after she’d left home to work in Wānaka in 1956.

Arrowtown Fire Chief Murray Forward would pretty much do anything for his community. In almost 30 years in the volunteer brigade, much of that at the helm, Murray’s been on hand at countless community fundraising events, even dancing naked on-stage, all in aid of a good cause, fireman’s helmet appropriately positioned of course.

She’s been at the top of hotel management starting a 40-year career overseas at just 23, also at the helm in governance for tourism nationally and some leading Kiwi companies, all not bad for a girl from Mount Nicholas Station.

From highland dancing to the pipes for delighted tourists and flashing her frilly knickers to the cancan, to singing her heart out in a chorus, former seasoned Arrowtown performer Carolyn Crum is in her happy place on stage.

He may have arrived in the south having never seen ice but after 30 years here Niel Frear’s spent much of his time rink side at the helm while Queenstown’s produced some of New Zealand’s best Ice Blacks and the Southern Stampede’s soared to victory.

Lindsay Reid has never been one to get rattled, despite a teaching and principal’s career that spanned 33 years across Otago, even landing him temporarily on the Chatham Islands.

Destined to be a leader, he was appointed ‘Sergeant Major’ for his Greymouth High School Cadets in 1959 “in charge of training the kids”. By 2001, albeit on a somewhat grander scale, former Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes was pretty much doing the same.

She’s breathed new life into Arrowtown’s ANZAC commemorations, flashed her frilly knickers during countless knee highs, and as an award-winning hair stylist Rosemary Chalmers has got it cut and dried.

One of New Zealand’s leading Queenstown skiers in the 1970s, Fraser Skinner soon discovered a niche for organising events, from his Winter Classic Ski Race and Winter Festival Mardi Gras to that first hairy, fishnet-clad stocking emerging from the stretch limo in the inaugural 70’s Drag Race.

City-raised Gloria McKeich arrived in Queenstown in 1967 – a young mum with a two-year-old and a baby, to discover “one doctor, one hospital, one newspaper outlet and no public transport”.

He’s rubbed shoulders internationally with horse racing greats, shouted the head of the CIA and FBI a few late-night quiets in his upmarket Arthur’s Point restaurant, even harboured undercover hobbits with hairy feet while hosting a private Peter Jackson unveiling.

She does a mean Southland cheese roll, but retired nurse Elaine Wells is probably best known locally for her compassionate heart and pitching in in the community wherever she can to get the job done.

While other 50-something mums endure night sweats at home after a long day at work, longtime Queenstown dance teacher Theresa Swain is out working up a night sweat of a different kind, moonlighting as a drag queen and nightclub DJ.

Some people make more of an impact backstage than centre stage and Queenstown sound and lighting legend Mike Brettell is one of those people.

A community fundraising powerhouse and dedicated volunteer, no task is beneath local nurse Tracy McLean from decisions in the charitable trust boardroom to cleaning loos.

Rachel Rose is just one of those people who’s always putting her hand up to help. She may have studied politics in her homeland of England, and worked in IT, but she soon discovered it was people she loved most, and helping them.

A Queenstown architect for almost 50 years and Queenstown Lakes District councillor for nine, Gillian Macleod also juggled motherhood - four kids, and multiple voluntary roles, amid the many meetings.

He may not have taken out the official ‘Queenstown Top Bloke’ crown, but Junior Apolosi - one of the iconic contest’s most celebrated contestants, wins the unofficial title hands down, according to his mates.

It only took 11 years for retired engineer Mark Hosie to make his mark in his beloved Arrowtown, celebrated recently for his role in motivating the local troops to victory in the battle to retain the quaint, historic town’s gold-rush era charm.

He was one of Queenstown most loved hospitality characters, everybody’s mate, during his 30 years owning and running the then Chico’s Restaurant and Nightclub – a popular, late night Queenstown venue.