One-hundred-and-fifty-four people from a variety of sectors including education, sport, health, and science have been honoured.
Arch Jelley s reaction to being made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) sums up the athletics super coach to a tee. “I was totally surprised and wondered who on earth could have nominated an 98-year-old coach who hasn’t been coaching runners for the past few years, but is now coaching bridge players,” the ever modest Jelley told
Stuff.
Athletics super coach Arch Jelley, left, with former Olympic runner John Walker in 2009. Jelley, a former Athletics New Zealand president who coached Olympic gold medallist Sir John Walker, received the honour for services to athletics and bridge.