ANZCO's Local Heroes | Richard (Doc) Morrison
Posted on Monday, 1 September 2025
We're recognising ‘ANZCO's local heroes’ - people who volunteer their time to make an impact in their community. We're chatting to them about what they do, what they've learned, and their advice for anyone who wants to get involved in their community.
Today, meet Richard (Doc) Morrison
Technical Advisor at ANZCO Foods Canterbury
Richard, known as Doc around site, is involved in officiating in track and field athletics, helping to make decisions, and make sure rules are followed. In the past this has also involved being on the committees of two clubs from 1987 to 2019.
He first got involved in track and field athletics when he started competing in athletics as a child. He joined a committee along the way, and after he retired from competing, he started officiating. He says it helps the sport grow, and helps newcomers to the sport start out and develop their skills.
He enjoys that his time helps the sport continue and provide opportunities for people. He's learned that teamwork is best, and to stay humble - big egos can drive people away, including other athletes, committee members, and officials.
He says his work and his volunteering complement each other well - the skills he's learned working with people from a variety of backgrounds in his volunteering, and understanding how they respond to different situations, also helps him in his role at ANZCO. He's found that what he learns through one will influence how he reacts to similar circumstances in the other.
A highlight from his time as a volunteer is when he helped at the World Para Athletic Championships in 2011 - which was the last major event held at QEII in Christchurch before the earthquakes damaged the facility and it closed.
His advice for anyone wanting to help in their local community is to know what your interest is and join an organisation that will help you develop this interest. Check for a local club - most volunteers start small and local, and go further afield as they get more involved.