Cavalcade, wildlife work winners
TWO groups closely associated with animals took top honours at the Trustpower Community Awards in Dunedin last night.
The Owaka Cavalcade Host Town Committee won the supreme award for the Clutha district and the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital took the supreme award for Dunedin.
About 120 people from Dunedin and Clutha gathered at the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum last night to recognise individuals and groups making an impact in their communities.
The supreme winners received a framed certificate, a trophy, and $2000 prize money for winning the supreme award, and would now go on to represent Clutha at the national awards in Tauranga in March.
Dunedin Wildlife Hospital Trust chairman Steve Walker said he was flabbergasted the trust had won.
The award was a testament to the trust’s many volunteers and the thousands of hours they had put in at the hospital, Mr Walker said.
Without their contribution the hospital could not have treated the 40 different native birds since opening in January, he said.
Owaka Cavalcade Host Town Committee members Dawn Smith and Katy Button said the award did not just recognise the work of the committee but also the wider Owaka community who had embraced the event.
Trustpower Community Awards winners: Balclutha Playcentre, Dunedin Street Art Charitable Trust, Buddy Programme South Otago, Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust, Kaitangata Car Show & Run, Pregnancy Help Dunedin, Lawrence Lions Club, Servants Health Centre.
Youth Community Spirit: George Sabonadiere, Dunedin; Bronson Blackbourn, Clutha District.
Supreme winner Dunedin: The Wildlife Hospital Trust; supreme winner Clutha District: The Owaka Cavalcade Host Town Committee Inc.