Eleven Waitakians were presented with awards recognising their long-service to their communities at Oamaru Opera House yesterday.
At the awards, Piper Rowan Blair piped in the Mayor, Councillors, Community Board Chairs and award recipients.
Tania Bungard, Mike Harris, John Hore, Phillip Nicolson, Frances Oakes, Alison Simpson, Gilda Sparks, Helen Stead, Ian and Joan Sutherland and Toeafiafi Taiti were presented with their awards by the Mayor Gary Kircher, Deputy Mayor Hana Halalele, Waitaki District Councillors Holding, Blackler, Thomson, Ryan, Hopkins and Linwood and Chair’s of both Waihemo and Ahuriri Community Boards, Heather McGregor and Calum Reid.
The Waitaki Citizens’ Awards are given in recognition of substantial services, usually of a voluntary nature or beyond normal employment, benefiting the Waitaki District and its people.
Any volunteer of any age, or a voluntary organisation which carries out service or work of a substantial (either length of time or intensity of service) nature benefiting the Waitaki district and/or its people, that has not been recognised by a national award or honour for this service – eg a Queen’s Honour – can be nominated for a Citizens’ Award.
The qualifying categories include recreation, youth activities, social welfare, educational services, cultural affairs, religious affairs, community affairs and any other voluntary service which contributes to furthering the vision of the Waitaki district.
Work of a ‘substantial nature’ is defined as short or long term projects or activities that have benefited the district in such a way as to have added to the quality of life of the residents.