Media release, for immediate release, 21 March 2013

Countdown Begins To National Community Awards
Queenstown Lakes And Central Otago Groups Prepare To Tackle The Country’s Best

In just a couple of days the Sevens with Altitude and the Central Otago Ecological Trust will be going head to head with the country’s best and brightest voluntary groups and organisations at the TrustPower National Community Awards.

The 2012 TrustPower National Community Awards are being held in the Far North District from 22 - 24 March 2013.

Sevens with Altitude is representing the Queenstown Lakes District at the National Community Awards, while the Central Otago Ecological Trust is representing the Central Otago District. The two groups both won the Supreme Award at the regional TrustPower Community Awards.

Joining the two groups at the National Community Awards will be representatives from 22 other voluntary groups or organisations from around the country that were named Supreme Winner at their regional TrustPower Community Awards.

At the National Community Awards, Sevens with Altitude and the Central Otago Ecological Trust will each give an eight minute presentation on what the group has achieved and why they deserve the title of TrustPower National Community Awards Supreme Winner. The groups will be judged on that presentation, along with a 1,000 word summary of the organisation.

The presentations will take place on Saturday 24 March at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri, with the Winner and Runner-Up being announced at an Awards dinner that evening being held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville says both groups have spent many hours preparing what are sure to be fantastic presentations for the TrustPower National Community Awards.

“The Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago communities should be really proud of what Sevens with Altitude and the Central Otago Ecological Trust have achieved and contributed to their communities. They will make wonderful ambassadors for your communities at the TrustPower National Community Awards,” says Miss Somerville.

Attending the National Community Awards from Sevens with Altitude is Craig Ferguson and Brad Patterson, along with Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa Van Uden and her partner Peter Laurenson. Representing the Alexandra Lions Club will be Grant Norbury and Tom Lamb, along with Central Otago District Mayor Tony Lepper.

The TrustPower National Community Awards Supreme Winner will take home $2,500, a framed certificate, a trophy and a $500 voucher from Exult, a leading and specialist training provider for the community sector. The Runner Up will receive $1,500, a framed certificate and a $200 voucher from Exult.

Meanwhile, entries are now open for the 2013 TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards. (Entries for the TrustPower Queenstown Lakes Community Awards open later this year.) Anyone can enter a group for the Awards and all voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations are eligible to be entered. The Supreme Winner of the 2013 TrustPower Central Otago District Community Awards will go to the TrustPower National Community Awards in March 2014.

ENDS

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