Together making a difference

Coastguard Lake Taupo¯ has taken out top honours at the district’s biggest annual celebration of volunteers - the Trustpower Community Awards.

Voluntary groups from around the district gathered with representatives from Trustpower, the Taupo¯ District Council, and the Great Lake Centre, to hear how 13-groups and one student are making an impact within our community.

Trustpower Community Relations Representative Alice Boyd said that Coastguard Lake Taupo¯ stood out because of the impact and extent to which their volunteers go to.

‘‘The work they do is so incredibly important to the Taupo¯ community,’’ she said.

‘‘With a big beautiful lake being a focal point in the area, it’s pretty apt that the Supreme Winner is a group of volunteers who give over 60,000 hours of their time each year protecting people on the waterways within the Greater Taupo¯ region.’’

She said Coastguard Lake Taupo¯ helps people in distress 24/7, 365 days a year, and also contributed nearly 400 hours in the past year to community events such as the New Zealand Ironman, Across the Lake Swim, the Bomb Comp, and the Christmas Parade to name a few.

Coastguard Lake Taupo¯ took to Facebook to thank Trustpower for their award.

‘‘Trustpower Community awards night was a nice confirmation of all the work that our volunteers do. A massive thank you to Trustpower for the award.

‘‘Our team are amazing and the hours that are put in are huge - Administration, IMT, maintenance, trainers, committee, on water teams and trainees and behind all of them the quiet and wonderful support our families give us.’’

Coastguard Lake Taupo¯ received a framed certificate, a trophy, a radio advertising voucher from The Hits Taupo¯ , and $1500 prize money.

The voluntary group will go on to represent the Taupo¯ District at the 2017 Trustpower National Community Awards in the Queenstown Lakes area next April.

The Awards were presented at a function last night, 11 September, at the Great Lake Centre.