Thank you, Victor Luca, for reminding us of the valuable and selfless contribution Sandy Milne has made to society and particularly our community.

As a reporter back into the 1980s and the 1990s I was aware of his efforts and his battle to persuade the authorities, including a sceptical medical establishment, to back his call for a hepatitis B immunisation campaign.

Hepatitis B was widespread in the Eastern Bay and Kawerau was a hotspot. It was particularly rife among Māori and Polynesian communities in northern New Zealand.

As a Whakatāne teenager in the 1960s, I contracted the debilitating sickness myself so I had first-hand experience of its effects - jaundiced skin, persistent liver pain, and an exhausting lack of energy. Weeks if not months of rest and a strict low-fat diet were required for recovery.

I had no idea until I read Dr Luca's letter on Wednesday that Sandy had received international medical recognition for his efforts.

I welcome Sandy standing for Whakatāne District Council. At the grand old age of 91, he is truly a legend.

He deserves a seat, although like others I acknowledge that once he gets his teeth into something it becomes tedious and irritating when he doesn't let go.

A few months ago, I had a moan about Sandy in these Beacon letters for unfairly blaming landlord greed for some of our housing problems, but if he can be convinced to get his teeth into the council for its spendthrift ways and those double-digit rates increases of recent years, that Scotsman will definitely get my vote.

Keith Melville