Nominees? hold tight for North Wellington Volunteer Service Awards announcement
To date more than 70 locals? have been recognised by the unique award ceremony. Nominations for the North Wellington Volunteer Service Awards have now closed and 10 worthy locals? are in the running for awards?. Newlands resident Ray Good organises the event, which he says is probably the last community based volunteer awards in the country. ?There were other groups? that established local awards, a lot of councils? do civic awards but I think we are the only community one left in the country. ?It?s a big honour to be recognised for working in the community. Mr Good received an award himself a few years ago for service to the community The group will now decide how many awards will be handed out at the ceremony scheduled for the end of August. They look at the ?facts and figures? of those nominated, of whom some have been volunteering in the community for five to 30 years. Ohariu MP Peter Dunne says, ?Too often, we patronise the work of our community volunteers through celebratory cups of tea and little else, but these awards, which are unique in New Zealand, go well beyond that?. ?It is a tangible and lasting way of recognising our unsung community heroes,? he says. The annual awards are open to those working in recognised voluntary agencies or community groups and clubs working in the Northern Suburbs from Crofton Downs to Tawa, and who have given at least five years voluntary service for the organisation concerned and have been nominated by that organisation. The awards are supported by the Johnsonville Community Centre, the Johnsonville Licensing Trust, and the Police. ?Each North Wellington Voluntary Service Awards recipient receives not only a commemorative plaque and lapel badge, but also a special citation of their achievements,? Mr Dunne says.
