It was a full house for the last Business Excellence Network (BEN) Breakfast of the year on Tuesday 14 November. Sporting icon Dean Barker joined the North Harbour Club to regale and educate the audience on his sailing prowess across many decades and in recent years, his battle with bowel cancer.
Barker shared his rollercoaster sporting experiences and the most important lessons he has learnt along the way.
“You have to enjoy the highs and learn from the lows. Being able to take the good lessons, they translate well into life. The things I enjoy the most are the friendships and the camaraderie that you have with your teammates,” he said.
Awarding excellence in the North Harbour region is a focus of the North Harbour Club with the annual AIMES Awards granting over $200,000 in 2023 to youth excelling in the fields of Arts, Innovation (Science & Technology), Music, Education, Sport, and Service to the Community (AIMES).
Having progressed from junior sailing into the senior ranks with support from his community, Barker had some wise advice for those looking to support and nurture young talent.
“All you can do is provide the mechanism for them to follow their passion and their dreams. There are so many challenges these days so provide a pathway and make it easy for them to get out there and do what they love. New Zealanders lead the way in so many different fields.”
Bellingham Wallace are proud sponsors/supporters of the North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust. To find out more about the Club, visit northharbourclub.co.nz.
