Tony Hanning says it is an privilege to accept a King’s Birthday Honour for services to education and the community.  

"There’s that element of surprise, because you’re not expecting it," Mr Hanning said. "It is an honour and a recognition of the things that are important to me. "As much as the personal involvement, community service and education are two things dear to my heart."  

Mr Hanning has contributed to Catholic education and community organisations in Otago and Southland for decades. He started as a teacher in the state system, but with his children attending Catholic schools, he became involved in the parent-teacher movement of the day. That led on to a long history of contributing to the sector. Mr Hanning is a past chairman of the Dunedin Diocese Catholic Education Council. In 1981, he was appointed as director of Catholic Education of the Dunedin Diocese, a position he held until 2019. He played an important role in the rationalisation and integration of Otago and Southland schools into the state school system.  

He has been a member of Lions Club International for more than 45 years, serving in many club, district and national positions. He served as international director from 1998 to 2000, representing New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands on the international board.

For more than 25 years he was involved with Camp Quality New Zealand, providing camps for children living with cancer. He was Camp Quality South secretary in the 1990s and in 2009 , after helping rebuild the committee, served as camp manager then regional manager. He helped organise the annual summer camps in Queenstown, involving fundraising and sponsorship for accommodation, meals and entertainment to provide this event free to children and companions.

Mr Hanning was made a life member of Camp Quality New Zealand in 2018. 

He was awarded the Papal Knighthood to the Order of Saint Gregory the Great in 2007.

Otago Daily Times article

5 June 2023