HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE
17 September 2014

Service to others recognised with Civic Honour Awards

Judy Bishop, Vijay Chhika, Joan Hewson and Patricia Frances were last night recognised with Hutt City’s highest commendation – a Civic Honor Award.

The Awards, drawn from community nominations and presented by Mayor Ray Wallace, reward people who have made a significant voluntary contribution to their local communities and Lower Hutt organisations.

Judy Bishop has used her financial management skills since the 1970s to benefit organisations like East Harbour Plunket and East Harbour Red Cross. She’s known as a person who, ‘enhances the lives of the people in her community’ with her leadership of the Eastern Bays Support Group and East Harbour Women’s Club. In the wider Hutt community she has fundraised for Te Omanga Hospice for over 10 years.

Vijay Chhika has risen to the top of his chosen sport, Taekwondo, but continues to share his expertise freely with his community. He is the current president of the Taekwondo Union of New Zealand and has been inducted into both the New Zealand and Australian Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He shares his passion as a teacher and mentor at Capital City Taekwondo Club in Avalon and through other sports ventures like hockey and as a founding member of the Hutt Valley Indian Sports Club.

When Joan Hewson joins a group she commits fully – for the betterment of the club and the community it serves. She has volunteered extensively, for Rotary since 1981 and for Petone Rugby and Cricket and Britannia House Friends for over 30 years – in hands-on roles and in governance positions.

Since 1981 Patricia Frances has served her community as a Justice of the Peace and was made a life member of the Hutt Valley and Districts JPs Association for her services. Loyal is a word that best describes Patricia – she is a long-term member and former board member of the Catholic Women’s League and Lower Hutt Probus Club. She collects for charities, happily transports church members and is well-known for her classical and jazz piano repertoire at local rest homes.

Recipients of Hutt City Civic Honor Awards receive a badge, medallion and certificate to commemorate their accomplishments.

The full list of winners are:

2014 CIVIC AWARDS
Voluntary Community Service Award
Judy Bishop
Vijay Chhika
Joan Hewson
Patricia Frances

Youth Services Award
Teuila Sagaga

The 2014 Community Awards were also announced on Tuesday 16 September. Those winners were:

2014 HUTT CITY WELLINGTON AIRPORT REGIONAL COMMUNITY AWARDS
Recognising the valuable contributions made by volunteers and their organisations in Hutt City.

Supreme Award Winner
The Common Unity Project Aotearoa

Sport and leisure
Sailability

Wainuiomata Boxing Club – runner up

Health and wellbeing
The Common Unity Project Aotearoa

Heart Kids – runner up

NZ Council of Victim Support Groups– runner up

Arts and culture
Faultline Chorus

Tumeke Taita – runner up

Heritage and environment
Friends of Waiwhetu Stream

Education and child/youth development
Volunteer Hutt – Youth Programme

Naenae Youth Charitable Trust – runner up

SAFE CITY AWARDS
Recognising outstanding individuals and organisations whose contributions to crime prevention have helped create a safer city.

Alcohol Harm Minimisation
The Safe City Ambassadors

Organisation
Taita Foodbank

Individual
Sue Phillips, CCTV

Area Commander Award
Sergeant Geoff Blake, the New Zealand Police

ENDS

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