Just a way of life

Barrie Foster has been doing his community service bit around the Amberley community for decades.

It’s so ingrained, he was gobsmacked when he received a Community Service Award last year for his efforts.

“I didn’t realise how much I had done, I just kind of do it. So I was very proud,” he reflected.

The semi-retired electrician is in his eightieth year, and has lived in the town since he was five years-old.

For Barrie, sport has always been a way of life. He began playing senior rugby for Amberley Rugby Club at 16 years-old, on the blindside. In the mid-1970s when he stopped playing, he coached the senior side for a couple of years.

He was also on the committee, and at one point his membership elevated him to the role of President.

He was also always helping out on the scene with local cricket, netball and tennis which either he or his two daughters played.

This included managing one of his daughter’s North Canterbury rep netball teams, which he really enjoyed.

“They were all good kids. They’ll still come up and have a chat now.”

To add another to the list, in his earlier years Barrie was a member of the Amberley Volunteer Fire Brigade for a decade.

Because getting involved in the community and helping out was just what people did, and for the most part it meant spending more time with your sports friends.

“You simply did it because everyone else was, you just joined in.”

Barrie joined Amberley Lions on 2 May 1978 when it first formed, and again held the role of President for a tenure. He is still an active Lions member.

“It was a different outlook on life altogether,” said Barrie, noticing that less people have time for community work now.

“Volunteering and working keeps my brain going.”

At the ceremony last year, Barrie was really impressed with the number of young people in Hurunui getting involved in community service.

“It gave me a really good feeling,” he said.

Nominations for this year’s Community Service Awards are open now, and close on Monday 4 May 2026.

For more information, please visit https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/community/awards-and-f...