Clutha Wins Supreme Award at 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards

The West Otago Health Trust, representing the Clutha District, has been named Supreme Winner at the prestigious Trustpower National Community Awards.

The Awards were announced on Saturday, 19 March at the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards Dinner, held at the Dunedin Town Hall.

Youth in Emergency YES, a group representing Rotorua Lakes District, was named Runner-Up. A brand new award was also announced and presented to the Murupara Youth Leadership Projects Team, from the Whakatane District, for being identified as a group with strong potential to grow.

The award is appropriately named Whetū Mātaiata, which means ‘morning star’.

The announcement comes after a full day for the 25 teams participating in the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards. Today, each regional team gave an eight minute presentation on their activities or project during four judging sessions held in the auditorium of the historic Otago Boys’ High School. The teams were judged on their presentations and on a 1,000 word summary about each group provided prior to this weekend’s event.

The West Otago Health Trust was represented at the Trustpower National Community Awards by Marianne Parks and Alister Bodie, along with Mayor Bryan Cadogan and Allyson Cadogan.

Youth in Emergency Services YES was represented by Blair Gilbert and Phillip Muldoon, along with Mayor Steve Chadwick.

The Whetū Mātaiata Award winner, Murupara Youth Leadership Projects Team, was represented by Celine Tapara and Ellen-May Slade, along with Mayor Tony Bonne.

SUMMARY ABOUT GROUP

At the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards, all representatives and mayors or council representatives gave an eight minute presentation about their group’s efforts in their community.

The West Otago Health Trust representatives told the participants about their work involving fundraising almost four million dollars for the brand new, community-owned and run West Otago Health Centre.

As 2015 Trustpower National Community Award Supreme Winner, the Trust received a custom-made trophy, $4,000 in prize money, a $1,000 Exult volunteer sector consultancy voucher and a framed certificate. Youth in Emergency Services YES received $2,500 in prize money, a $500 Exult voucher and a framed certificate and as the first recipients of the Whetū Mātaiata Award, the Murupara Youth Leadership Projects Team received an Exult package worth $3,250.

Trustpower Community Relations Coordinator Suzi Luff says the West Otago Health Trust is a great example of a community group taking ownership of an opportunity and developing further.

“Marianne, Alister and their team were determined to keep primary health care accessible in West Otago. The magnitude of what the community has achieved together is incredible,” Suzi said.

“Trustpower is proud to lead the way in recognising, rewarding and celebrating the incredible contribution volunteers make to New Zealand communities.”

“All 25 groups who have participated in the Trustpower National Community Awards this weekend are shining examples of the amazing work volunteers undertake every day in cities and districts all around New Zealand.

“These groups have already won recognition in their regions and we are delighted to be able to showcase their efforts nationally at this weekend’s event,” she said.

The Awards were judged by a panel of independent judges, including Helga Wientjes from Volunteering New Zealand, Malcolm Cameron QSM of the Dunedin-based MalCam Charitable Trust, TVNZ’s Good Sorts presenter Hadyn Jones and Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Honourable Jo Goodhew.

Also involved in the judging process were each of the 25 voluntary groups at the Awards, with the peer voting making up 50% of the final scores. The independent judging panel’s votes accounted for the remaining 50%. The groups were judged on five criteria: volunteer input, use of resources, initiative and creativity, effectiveness of activities, and impact on targeted audiences and/or communities.

ends

© Scoop Media