Media Release, for immediate release, Monday 4 February 2013

Entries Open For Central Otago District Community Awards

The once a year opportunity to celebrate and recognise local volunteers has arrived in the Central Otago District.

Entries for the TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards open today Monday 4 February. The Awards, which are run in partnership with the Central Otago District Council, are open to all voluntary groups and organisations working to make Central Otago a better place to live.

Since the TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards began in 1999 more than $61,000.00 has been given away to deserving voluntary groups and organisations. This year more than $5000 is up for grabs.

Anyone can enter a voluntary group or organisation for the TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards – voluntary groups and organisations can even enter themselves.

Central Otago District Mayor Tony Lepper says entering a group for the TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards is a very significant way of rewarding people for the time and effort that they put into making this a remarkable place to live.

“The Community Awards are our annual celebration of the fantastic contribution made by volunteers in our community and a true indicator of the hundreds of people working under the radar to make the Central Otago District the great place it is,” says Mayor Lepper.

Last year 25 groups were entered for the TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards. TrustPower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville believes there are still many more voluntary groups out there who deserve recognition.

“Central Otago is a resourceful part of the country with a great sense of community. Through the TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards every year, more groups surface that are doing amazing things for the benefit of the entire community.

Many activities, events, projects, programmes, sports, and services are provided thanks to the region’s hard working volunteers. But often they are not recognised for the invaluable work they do.

A great example of this is the number of celebrations that pay tribute to the regions unique gold mining history that have been organised by community groups.

Now you have the chance to say ‘thank you’ to these volunteers who work hard to improve the 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 make a real difference to the volunteers you are recognising,” says Miss Somerville.

Entry Forms for the TrustPower Community Awards are available from the Council offices or service centres or can be completed online at www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards. Entry Forms can also be received by calling Jess Somerville on 0800 87 11 11.

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. 00, runners-up receive $250.00 and the Supreme Winner will take home $1,500 and an all-expenses paid trip to the 2013 TrustPower National Community Awards. Last year’s TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards Supreme Winner was Central Otago Ecological Trust, who will be representing the region at the National Community Awards in March this year.

Entries for the TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards close at 5pm on Friday 5 April 2013.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>