IT guru deserves rewards

At a time when so many seem motivated by the almighty dollar and making a buck, it is refreshing to see someone driven by a grander vision.

For Ed Minnell, simply seeing the difference his work makes is part of the reward for sharing his IT expertise with local low-decile schools.

As he says, he likes knowing he's making a difference. It must be doubly fulfilling to later be remembered and greeted by youngsters he helped while they were at primary school.

Now if Mr Minnell was the type, he'd be selling his skills to the highest bidder and enjoying the life of relative luxury that might result. But no, he gains greater satisfaction from helping those who most certainly could not pay true market rates for the service he provides.

Now Mr Minnell will get his reward for more than a decade of selfless toil after he was yesterday named New Zealand's IT superhero.

The win means he will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Florida and a visit to the Kennedy Space Centre.

It says a fair bit about him to learn that the $500 he won for an office shout - he is a sole operator - will be shared with the schools where he works.

Mr Minnell beat out more than 2000 nominations for the top prize and, based on the nomination and what voters said, he was thoroughly deserving of the award.

It is unlikely that he will revel for long over his new-found status, rather he will likely be busy helping others come to grips with technology.

Somewhere along the way he is going to have to make time for a well-deserved holiday, possibly his first in a very long time. That it is the trip of a lifetime is apt.

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