Speeches

Mr James Rimmer's Speech

Visiting masters, guests, students family & friends.

It’s in no small way that we pay our respects to Evan & Paul tonight. In fact the event that has unfolded before us this weekend is truly as historical as is the road that has preceded it.

From its earliest humble beginnings in the early 70’s, Taekwon-Do in New Zealand has been fraught with it’s highs & lows. Numerous characters with less than desirable intentions along the way have come & gone, individuals with supposedly all the best intentions in the world have been unearthed for the underhanded aspirations they intended to foster. But one thing has remained true throughout ….. The integrity & commitment of these two fine gentlemen we honour tonight.

The utter vastness of their combined efforts to secure a balanced regime under which we have come to know as ITFNZ….. is nothing short of staggering!

I have had the pleasure of their association & companionship for over 20 years and have witnessed their successes & struggles first hand on numerous occasions.

I reflect back on the late 80’s & early 90’s with immense pride as a student who was keen to share the mantle of responsibility with his instructor as Evan weighed up the dawn of a new day for the ITF. Within New Zealand ….. and a new dawning it was!

With the executive committee out in the cold, the drive & dedication of Evan, Paul, the fledgling Executive of the time, Peter Graham & Viv Holmes included, the support of the remaining ITF. Membership within new zealand & our new found friends in the USTF, the foundation stones were laid & ITFNZ was gradually nurtured into what would eventually, or perhaps inevitably, become the organisation we know today.

ITFNZ is strong, determined, well balanced, organised, focused, respected around the world & more recently world class with a system in place 2nd to none. But this does not happen on it’s own.

Tirelessly what Evan & Paul have worked for in keeping the spirit of the general alive for years are too numerous too mention.

Miramar, Khandallah, Tauranga, New Plymouth, Ee Awamutu, Waikeria, Meadowbank, Brooklyn, Berhampore, North Wellington ….. all these clubs (& I ’m sure others) have either directly or indirectly been influenced by Evan's commitment & teachings over the years as either an instructor or where the family tree of students he has developed have followed in his footsteps….. All the way to the presidential position he now holds which seems so very very appropriate. A true pioneer.

Paul's dedication to the growth & development of ITFNZ is nothing short of phenomenal ….. The technical syllabus, tkd talk, the web-site, committee positions too numerous too mention, stripes 1 to 1, handbooks, hours upon hours beyond the call of duty (that I’m sure Nadia can attest too), introducing New Zealand to the world during one of our first excursions overseas in the early 90’s too colorado, inspiring this speaker, resplendent in flares so huge & denims so tight with a visual feast of amazing Taekwon-Do in a small suburban village hall & I’m sure hundreds of other tasks over the years.

But more importantly than anything ….. more important than rank, or status, or position within this or any other organisation is that they are friends, family men, modest & humble, approachable & genuine, with a good taste in music and great DVD collections ….. Characters who do not summon limelight & stardom ….. Kiwi’s.

The “charter of taekwon-do” quotes:
“Human beings come into the world with simple needs & desires. They need not become avaricious but ought to remain always humble & merciful, never compromise there principles, nor be swayed by selfish motives, to insure freedom & independence of taekwon-do so that it will be passed on in it’s pure form”.

How blessed we are.

Congratulations to you both.

Congratulations to our Masters.

Mr Michael Lowe's Speech

Master Davidson and Master McPhail

My wife and I congratulate you both on reaching this fantastic milestone in your lives; the first two members of ITFNZ to earn the title of Master Instructor. Your skills and knowledge are unsurpassed, but more than that, the title of Master could not have been passed on to two more deserving people. You have not only had some influence over the lives of the many students who have walked on to the dojang floor, but have had and continue to take leadership roles within our ITFNZ organisation.

Tonight you stand before us as heroes; people who in my dictionary are seen as ideals or models. But just to allay any feelings of embarrassment that you may have, I say that this whole gathering of people tonight is full of unsung heroes. There are the parents who in long term, loving relationships bring children into the world and nurture them. There are young men and women who overcome personal difficulties and succeed at school despite them. The entrepreneurial businessmen and women who take big risks for the sake of profit are also heroes. And there are those who practise Taekwon-Do for the challenge of finding out what sort of people they are capable of becoming.

In the words of a popular mpeople song:
You have to search for the hero inside yourself
Search for the secrets you hide
Search for the hero inside yourself
Until you find the key to your life

You have demonstrated a coming of age. You have discovered the wisdom and magic deep down inside yourselves to reach this pinnacle in your Taekwon-Do careers. You have done this not only for yourselves, but I put it that you have also done it for the benefit of our ITFNZ community.

Author Charles Swindoll said, “We need heroes. I mean genuine heroes, authentic men and women who are admired for their achievements, noble qualities, and courage. Such people aren’t afraid to be different. They risk. They stand a cut above. “

And Nelson Mandela once said, “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Young people need role models. Your achievement has shown that ordinary New Zealanders can rise to become the best in their chosen fields through dedication, perseverance and indomitable spirit. They see your physical skills and moral character, and aspire to be like you.

ITFNZ thanks and salutes you both. Savour the moment.

(Mr Michael Lowe was unable to attend the Banquet, but was kind enough to email this speech to the organisers).