Entries for the 2016 Trustpower Community Awards are now open.
Find more information on the awards, including entry forms »
The following media release from Trustpower provides further details.
Celebrate your community champions!
Volunteers are the heart and backbone of any community and now, Whakatāne District, it is your chance to recognise volunteers across the board! Whakatāne District residents have the opportunity to recognise the dedication of their local voluntary groups – with entries for the Trustpower Whakatāne District Community Awards now open. Run in partnership with the Whakatāne District Council, these Awards are open to all voluntary groups and organisations working to make the beautiful Whakatāne District a better place to live.
Anyone can enter a voluntary group or organisation for the Trustpower Whakatāne District Community Awards – voluntary groups and organisations can even enter themselves.
Since the Trustpower Whakatāne District Community Awards began in 2012, more than $20,000 has been given away to deserving voluntary groups and organisations, and this year more than $5000 is up for grabs.
Last year 98 entries were received for the Trustpower Whakatāne District Community Awards. Trustpower Community Relations Representative Kathlene Cook was blown away by the response but still believes there are many more voluntary groups out there who deserve recognition for the immense community work they do.
“The Whakatāne District is made up so many smaller communities that are doing massive and incredible things for everyone around them. The volunteer groups in every community power their people, and they deserve some praise and some recognition – something they will never ask for themselves!
"Whakatāne District is filled with so many talented, resourceful, creative, innovative and hardworking voluntary groups who support this community in a multitude of ways. You might think you don’t know any volunteers, but you just have to walk down to the local sports field, into the library, go along to any community event, visit a gallery, or see the many voluntary run transport services zooming by to be in the presence of volunteers and all they bring.
"Many activities, events, projects, programmes, sports, and services are available thanks to this region’s hard working volunteers. But often they are not recognised for the invaluable work they do.
"Through the Trustpower Whakatāne District Community Awards, our aim is that even more groups surface that are doing amazing things for the benefit of the entire community. It is their time to be recognised.
"Now’s your chance to say ‘thank you’ to these volunteers who work hard to improve your community – just by filling out an entry form. It takes just a few minutes of your time to enter a voluntary group, but it will be an enormous boost for the group you are recognising,” says Kathlene.
Entry Forms for the Trustpower Community Awards are available from Council offices or service centres, or they can be completed online or on the Trustpower Community Facebook page. Entry Forms can also be received by calling Kathlene Cook on 0800 871 111.
The awards cover five categories: Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Educational and Child/Youth Development. Category winners receive $500, runners-up receive $250, and the Supreme Winner will take home $1,500 and an all-expenses paid trip to the 2016 Trustpower National Community Awards being held in Rotorua in March 2017. Last year’s Trustpower Whakatāne District Community Awards Supreme Winner was the Murupara Youth Leadership Projects Team, who also took away the new Whetū Mātaiata Award at the National Awards.
Entries for the Trustpower Whakatāne District Community Awards close at 5 pm on Friday, 10 June 2016.