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Tongariro National Trout Centre Society Take Out Top Award

3 September 2012

Tongariro National Trout Centre Society Take Out Top Award

Tongariro National Trout Centre Society has won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Taupō District Community Awards.

The Awards were announced and presented tonight (Monday 3 September) at a function at the Great Lake Centre, Taupō.

For winning the Supreme Award, Tongariro National Trout Centre Society received a framed certificate, a trophy and $1,500 prize money. Tongariro National Trout Centre Society now has the opportunity to represent the district at the 2012 TrustPower National Community Awards, which are being held in the Far North District in March 2013.

Tongariro National Trout Centre Society also received a $500 radio advertising voucher from local Community Awards supporter Classic Hits. This is exclusive to the Taupō District and it will allow the Supreme Winner to profile its group to the community.

In total, TrustPower has given away over $5,000 to various community groups through tonight’s Awards.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says Tongariro National Trout Centre Society is a volunteer based organisation that provides many different activities and events for the community. The Centre is very popular in the eyes of many children in the district with its Kids Fishing Days, school visits and the Genesis Energy Freshwater Aquarium.

“Fishing for your first trout with a volunteer angler is a big part of Taupō’s local identity. On regular days throughout the school and public holidays the volunteers at Tongariro National Trout Centre hold Kids Fishing Days where children are taught to cast a fly rod and catch trout from the children’s fishing pond.

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The volunteers teach the children, help with administration, weigh the fish, run the BBQ on the day and of course fillet and smoke the children’s catch. Up to 200 children attend each fishing day including many from out of town.

Another special task carried out by these volunteers is taking students on school visits at the Centre. In the last year over 3,000 students visited the learning centre from 66 schools. The programme is run in partnership with the Department of Conservation and its main aim is to raise awareness of the importance and value of the Taupō trout fishery and freshwater conservation in New Zealand. The tour is run by volunteers who show the children wild trout and teach them some of the key aspects that help manage this special natural resource.

The visitor centre is manned by volunteers who normally work four or five days a week. They do front counter duties, help with the children’s activities and walk around and talk to visitors. At the visitor centre you can see a collection of artefacts telling the story of the fresh water fishery.

This centre is an iconic visitor attraction that wouldn’t be possible without these volunteers,” says Mrs Partridge.

The competition for this year’s TrustPower Taupō District Community Awards was strong with 76 entries received for the Awards. .

Other winners at tonight’s TrustPower Taupō District Community Awards were:

Heritage and Environment
Winner: Taupō SPCA
Runner-Up: Pukawa Wildlife Management Trust

Health and Well Being
Winner: St Johns Ambulance Operational Volunteers
Runner-Up: Lake Taupō Hospice
Commendation: Women’s Refuge
Commendation: Taupō Victim Support

Arts and Culture
Winner: Taupō School of Music – Keynotes Children’s Choir
Runner-Up: Taupō Youth Arts Trust

Sport and Leisure
Winner: Great Lake Taupō Hockey Club
Runner-Up: Taupō Association Football Club
Commendation: Tri Sport Taupō

Education and Child/Youth Development
Winner: Riding for Disabled
Runner-Up: Literacy Taupō Inc.

Supreme Winner
Tongariro National Trout Centre Society

TrustPower Youth Community Spirit Award
Joint Winner: Emma Robinson - Taupō Nui-A-Tia College
Joint Winner: Jessica Parker – Tauhara College

Classic Hits Volunteer of the Year Award
Winner: Shirley Murray

Click here for a list of citations for all recipients.

For more information, please visit www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards

ENDS

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