Mary Gray was awarded Life Membership in 2008.
Since coming to New Zealand in 1970 Mary Gray has made an enormous contribution to two particular objectives of the New Zealand China Friendship Society: she has taken leadership roles in our organization and, as a distinguished language teacher, she has promoted the study of Chinese language and culture throughout New Zealand.
Mary joined the New Zealand China Friendship Society in 1979. She has been a sterling contributor to Wellington Branch activities in many ways, too numerous to list.
Mary then spent four and half years from 1987 to 1991 teaching English to Chinese students at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou.
Soon after returning to New Zealand, in 1992, Mary was elected to the National Executive of our Society. In 1994 she was elected to the office of National President and served actively for two years until 1996. Mary remained Past President of the Society until 2003.
During all of this time Mary was extremely active in the development of Chinese language teaching throughout New Zealand. She helped start the New Zealand Chinese Language Association to promote the study of Chinese language and culture in New Zealand schools and universities. Mary was President from 1996 to 2005.
