Faculty of Education

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Conference "Professional Supervision: Common threads, different patterns" 2010

It is with great sadness that we must reflect on the tragic death of Tony Morrison who was to be a keynote speaker at the conference. Tony died in a snowmobile accident in Canada on Saturday 6th February. Tony has been an inspirational colleague, mentor, adviser and friend to many people for many years as he has travelled the world to share his wisdom, skills, capacity for motivation and innovation.  He will be sorely missed by colleagues and friends in New Zealand and we know his legacy of writing and teaching and passion will be honored by those who have benefited by his teaching and into the future by those who will refer to them.

At his funeral in England which took place on Tuesday 23^rd February the following tribute was read out from all of us in Aotearoa:

"We acknowledge and celebrate the life of Tony Morrison and the significant contribution he made to social work in Aotearoa, New Zealand.  
To Tony's whanau (family) we offer our deepest sympathy and acknowledge your loss.

It is with great sadness and disbelief our social work community learnt of the untimely death of Tony Morrison.  Tony's contribution to social work knowledge, skill and practice here was profound.  We have lost a friend, mentor, colleague and a remarkable leader of the social work profession.  Tony is remembered by social workers in Aotearoa, New Zealand as a courageous and generous man, with a wonderful kind heart and ahua (spirit).   

As the news spread throughout our country, there were many conversations in social work agencies about how Tony had influenced practice.  He is remembered for his commitment to quality clinical social work supervision, training, education and to ensuring children and their families receive quality outcomes from social work interventions.
Tony's first visit to NZ was approximately 16 years ago when he attended a child protection conference in Christchurch.  Subsequent to that visit the Chief Executive of Child, Youth and Family, Jackie Pivac met Tony when she was visiting the United Kingdom.  She believed his skills and knowledge would greatly benefit the child protection community at home and the wider social service sector in New Zealand.

Over this time Tony had an immense impact on the knowledge and skills of social workers and their managers in New Zealand.  Tony's passion for social work was infectious and social workers and their managers in New Zealand valued and utilised his skills and knowledge in many areas.  These included the assessment and treatment of child abuse, social work supervision, working together with other multi-disciplinary teams, working with people to effect change and managing the emotional impact of child protection practice.

Tony was fun to be with, he was blessed with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm and a love of the outdoors which he put to good use when visiting us through cycling, tramping, kayaking and swimming.  He was the 'star' of a number of social work conferences down under; his depiction of the 'Marmite Man' will never be forgotten.  While here Tony never did anything by halves and lived life to the full, making the most of every opportunity.
Tony supported and inspired many New Zealand social workers to continue to be enthusiastic and passionate about social work.  The connections and relationships he made here in Aotearoa, New Zealand are enduring and will be maintained beyond the veil.  

We pay tribute and acknowledge a great man, a dedicated and passionate colleague and a very dear friend.  Thank you Tony for sharing your skills, knowledge and zeal for social work you have truly made a difference to the lives of many children and their families in New Zealand through the way you have assisted our social workers to do and be the best they can for the families they work with. Rest in Peace our friend

Whano koe i tō ara
Whano koe i tō haere
Whano koe
I tapuwae nuku, i tapuwae rangi
I tapuwae marea, i tapuwae rongo
Ki ō maunga, ki ō awa
Ki ō tāngata, ki ō takahanga
Kia eke ki te ara tē whāia e te ora  
Haere rā Tony

Translation

Go you on your path
Go you on your journey
Go you by
The physical path, the spiritual path
The path of the many, the path of peace
Go you
To your mountain, to your river
To your people, to your places
Ascend to the path that the living may not go
Rest in peace Tony"

A tribute page for Tony is on the NOTA website www.nota.co.uk

We will have a book of remembrance available for people at the conference to record their acknowledgments and this will be sent to his family in the UK.

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