Countdown on to Celebrate Waipa’s Volunteers

Local community groups have just a few more days to ensure they are part of Waipa’s biggest celebration of voluntary groups.

Entries for the TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards are closing at 5 pm on Friday 23 March. The Awards, run in conjunction with the Waipa District Council, recognise and reward voluntary groups and organisations for the outstanding contribution they make to their community.

The voluntary group named this year’s Supreme Winner at the TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards will attend the next TrustPower National Community Awards, being held in March 2013.

Typically across the five categories, TrustPower and the Council receive around 45 entries for the Waipa Community Awards.

TrustPower Community Relations Coordinator Suzi Luff would like to see more groups involved in the awards this year as she believes the work volunteers carry out in Waipa is invaluable, and that entering them into the TrustPower Community Awards is a good way to thank them for their efforts.

“Volunteers in Waipa dedicate thousands of hours to this community, you need to give just two minutes of your time to ensure they get the recognition they deserve,” says Miss Luff.

The awards cover five categories; Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Educational and Child/Youth Development. The category winners receive $500 and runners up take home $250. The Supreme Winner receives $1,500 and the opportunity to attend, at no cost, the National Community Awards.

Last year’s Supreme Winner was the Cambridge Tree Trust. This group will be representing the Waipa region at the National Community Awards being held in the Ashburton district next week.

Anyone can enter a group or organisation for the TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards – voluntary groups and organisations can even enter themselves. But act now because entries close on Friday 23 March.

Entry Forms for the TrustPower Community Awards are available from the Council offices or service centre, they can be downloaded from www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards, or you can call Community Relations on 0800 87 11 11.

The Awards will be presented at a function on Monday 30 April.

© Scoop Media