A former president of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and current member of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board and the National Health Board, Marion Guy, has been awarded NZNO’s top honour.

Guy, a long-time practice nurse and emergency department nurse at Tauranga Hospital, served as NZNO’s president for two terms, from 2003 to 2009, and is the latest recipient of NZNO’s Award of Honour. The award is for making an outstanding contribution to nursing nationally and internationally and was presented to Guy at NZNO’s annual conference on Wednesday 15 September attended by 300 delegates. Guy is also a member of the board of the International Council of Nurses.

Before her assuming the presidency of NZNO, Guy was chair of the organisation’s practice nurses’ group and was instrumental in developing important relationships with the New Zealand College of GPs. She also promoted the idea of a united body for nurses working in the community. Her vision has culminated in the formation of NZNO’s College of Primary Health Care Nurses which includes practice, public health, district, rural health, sexual health, prison nurses and Family Planning nurses. It also covers nurses who work for Māori and iwi health providers and nurses who work with children and young people.

In this year’s New Year’s Honours’ list, Guy was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for her contribution to nursing.

She lives in Tauranga.

ENDS