Malcam Charitable Trust founder Malcolm Cameron (67), of
Dunedin, who is a finalist in the Countdown Senior New
Zealander of the Year award. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Everyone thinks Malcolm Cameron's selection as a finalist
in the Countdown Senior New Zealander of the Year award is
great, except him.
The Malcam Charitable Trust founder is more than modest about
his achievements. His selection for the award, which is
designed to recognise those aged 60 and over who make a
positive contribution to the country, had made him
"uncomfortable".
When the letter arrived saying he had been nominated he felt
honoured, but "binned it", not giving it another thought
until emails arrived informing him he was a finalist.
"The whole world thinks it's great, except me. I like to keep
below the parapet. I think we are a team. Everything is done
as a team," he said.
Mr Cameron started the trust, which provides life skills and
work experience programmes to disadvantaged youth, 17 years
ago, after being made redundant from his job as a youth
worker.
He believed people were being "far too politically correct
about youth", and felt he could "easily identify with young
people who were not succeeding at school."
"I can stand in these kids' shoes. I got sent as a
fourth-former to spend a year with my grandmother and some
maiden aunts to get me to scholastically improve myself. It
was like ... [competing with] thunder. It didn't work.
"I wouldn't describe myself as a tearaway, but I've got an
ADHD personality - my CV looks like the yellow pages for a
small town, really. I set targets and once I've achieved
them, I'm gone. The target I set myself was that the trust
would not be needed by 2004, but I failed miserably."
Along with Malcam, Mr Cameron has been involved in the launch
and or development of about 60 other programmes and trusts,
including Conservation Corps, which had been going for 17
years, the Logan Park Services Academy, which had been
running for 13 years, the Restore Recycling Emporium, and 4
Trades.
"I'm a huge multi-tasker. I'm only comfortable when I'm
working on 10 to 12 things at a time.
"I've got a wife who gave me the freedom to fly. She is my
hero," he said.
Work still started at 5am each day, 6am on weekends, and Mr
Cameron was often working until 10pm, with no chance of
stopping "until I die".
"It's like riding a bike. If I stop pedalling, I fall off the
bike. If I don't work, I get sick."
He was now focused on youth employment and was "realistic
enough" to understand partners of the trust would have to
create those jobs through social enterprise and hopefully
connect them to capitalism.
Other finalists in the award are Pat Magill, of Napier, and
Don Mckenzie, of Waiheke Island.
Tony Brady, of Oamaru, is a semifinalist for his involvement
in various economic, social and environmental organisations
and schemes in his community.
The winner will be announced in Auckland on February 16.
ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
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