Venkat Raman
A leading surgeon in New York and several other people who have contributed significantly to advancement in various sectors have been featured in the Queen’s New Year Honours List released on December 31, 2014.
The Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest honour is restricted to 20 living people at any time and hence has no new additions.
Knight Grand Companion
Professor Murray Brennan of the Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre based in New York City has been appointed as the ‘Knight Grand Companion,’ the country’s second highest honour for his contributions to Medicine, especially management of patients with soft tissue sarcomas and pancreatic cancer.
He is currently responsible for international programmes at the Centre, including triage of international patients, guidance of the ‘International Observer Programme’ and evaluation of educational and collaborative programmes with other international healthcare providers. He is also the spokesperson for Global Cancer Care delivery.
Dame Grand Companions
Ellen Adrienne Stewart of Christchurch and former Minister of Community and Voluntary
Sector Tariana Turia have been conferred the title of ‘Dame Companion’ for their services respectively to arts and business and Parliament.
Other Recipients
Among the other prominent personalities featured on the Queen’s New Year Honours List are Foreign Minister Murray McCully and former Health Minister Tony Ryall (both becoming Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit).
Many others in the fields of politics, education, community services and other sectors have also been honoured under various categories. We will feature them in due course.
Two Indians
The Ranchhod Group of Companies Chairman Raman Ranchhod of Auckland, Prabodh Kumar Mishra of Lower Hutt (both of Indian origin) and Dr Mustafa Mohammed Farouk (Nigerian by birth) of Hamilton were among the members of our extended community to be featured in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.
Each of them earned a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM), respectively for their services to the community. A detailed report with their comments appears on Page 3 of this issue.
Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae will award medals and certificates to the recipients of various honours at investiture ceremonies to be held early in the year.
