Media Release, for immediate release, Friday 30 March 2012

Time To Acknowledge Far North’s Local Heroes

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

Entries for the TrustPower Far North Community Awards open on Monday 2 April. The Awards, which are run in conjunction with the Far North District Council, are open to all voluntary groups and organisations working to make the Far North a better place to live.

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

Last year 63 groups were entered into the TrustPower Far North Community Awards, and TrustPower Community Relations Coordinator Suzi Luff believes there are many more voluntary groups out there who deserve recognition

“The Far North has something special going on, it’s a resourceful part of the country. Through the TrustPower Far North 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 and dedicated volunteers. But often they are not recognised for the invaluable work they do.

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 five minutes of your time to enter a voluntary group but it will make a real difference to the volunteers you are recognising,” says Miss Luff.

Entry Forms for the TrustPower Community Awards are available from the Council offices or service centres or can be downloaded from www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards. Entry Forms can also be received by calling Suzi Luff 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, runners-up receive $250 and the Supreme Winner will take home $1,500 and will attend the 2012 TrustPower National Community Awards being held in the Far North in March 2013.

The 2012 TrustPower National Community Awards will bring 160 people from around the country to the Far North District for New Zealand’s largest recognition programme for voluntary groups and organisations. The participants will be representatives from 24 other regional Supreme Winner groups who will be accompanied by representatives from councils across New Zealand.

The TrustPower National Community Awards will showcase the region to the participants from March 22-24, 2013.

Since the TrustPower Community Awards started in the Far North District in 2009, $19,000 has been awarded to deserving voluntary groups and organisations. This year a further $5,500 is up for grabs.

Entries for the TrustPower Far North Community Awards close on Friday 1 June.
ends

© Scoop Media