Richard Joseph - honoured with QSM

On behalf of the Cedars committee, we are so very proud to announce that Richard Joseph, our President, has been honoured with a very prestigious Queen's Service Medal (QSM) in recognition of his services to the Lebanese community.

It is such a well deserved honour for the tireless work, passion, dedication and love that has gone into Richard's Presidency over the past 18 years.  Under his Presidency there were a number of significant leagcies created, including the following:

• Cedars of Lebanon Grove at the Dunedin Botanic Garden consisting of a triumvirate of a 900kg Bronze cedar cone, a genuine Cedrus Lebani tree and a seat made from cedar wood.
•  Two published books – Lebanon’s Children and Scattered Cedars. 
• Dunedin Lebanese Community Digitisation Centre at the Dunedin Public Library.
•  Certified Oral History by a number of members of our community. Copies in the National Library in Wellington, Te Papa, Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin Public Library and various other libraries around NZ together with other DVD’s and other verbal recordings. 
• Plaques strategically placed around areas where the Lebanese community lived and the location of what were our clubrooms as well as St Joseph’s Cathedral.
• Annual flying of the Lebanese flag from the Mayoral balcony of the Dunedin Civic Centre on Lebanon’s Independence Day. 
• “Our Voices” audio/visual at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum.
• Memorabilia reflecting our culture and heritage. 
• The Gathering – an event that was held to celebrate our culture, our heritage and our identity. People came from far reaches of the globe including UK, U.S.A., Kuwait, Australia and all parts of NZ.
• "As Time Goes By” DVD of footage and photos of past generations.
• Cedars of Lebanon Website and Facebook to keep us connected to the world and our diaspora connected with us.

... to name but a few.  Congratulations Richard.  We are all so very proud of you.
 
Article in the ODT here:  https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/queens-birthday-honours-southern-recipients