Winner of Queenstown Lakes District Youth Community Spirit Award Announced

Eachann Bruce from Mt Aspiring College has been named as the winner of the TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Youth Community Spirit Award.

Run in conjunction with the TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards, the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award recognises secondary school students’ service to the school and the community. The Award is jointly run by TrustPower and the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

Local high schools were asked to recommend two students to be considered for the Award.

To be considered for the TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award students had to have given service to school or community projects, treated others with care and respect and been a good ambassador for the school and the Queenstown Lakes District.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville says Eachann is very committed to his school and community and he selflessly gives his time to many projects and ventures in these areas of his life.

“As well as his many leadership roles, Eachann organises the school notices each morning, encourages high standards of dress and homework amongst his peers and he is very involved in school sports. His enthusiasm for team sports even saw him organise a year 7/8 Rippa Rugby competition and he also coached and referred these teams.

“Out in the community Eachann excels as a rower and these skills combined with his leadership abilities saw him elected as the first student representative on the Wanaka Rowing Club Committee. In this role he mentors younger rowers, over and above his 12 weekly training sessions, and he co-coaches a range of 15 junior students across the 8 week learn to row programme. Eachann is also a touch referee in the Wanaka wide competition.

“However Eachann recalls the highlight of his volunteering year as his involvement in the Kahu Youth Matariki celebrations. In the build up to the event Eachann was involved in collecting fire wood, building the bonfire, setting up tents and workshops, serving the hangi and being a marshal.

Eachann impressed the judges with his passion to give back to a community that in his words has “done him many favours,” says Miss Somerville.

For winning the Award, Eachann will receive a framed certificate and $500 prize money, with $250 going to Eachann personally and $250 being given to a community group of his choice.

Eachann chose to donate the $250 to Kahu Youth.

The TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award will be presented at the TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards, being held tonight, Monday 12 November at the EdgeWater Resort in Wanaka.

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