Celebrating volunteers behind scenes

This week, the hard work of community groups and organisations will be in the spotlight.

Thirty different groups from Ka¯ piti, Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua and Wellington City will be celebrating their successes at an awards ceremony at Te Papa, for the 15th annual Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.

Last year, Porirua-based music charity Virtuoso Strings Orchestra scooped the supreme prize for the Wellington region.

‘‘It’s a phenomenal feeling and a phenomenal boost to all the volunteers and the students and the community that put in so much,’’ founder Liz Sneyd said.

The charity received $5000 in prize money, which went straight back into the music programme.

‘‘The money was the icing on the cake but it’s that morale boost that we got that said others believe what you’re doing.’’

Wellington Airport brand and innovation manager Jo Maxwell has been working throughout the year with councils and the Wellington Community Trust to select the winners from each region in six categories: Arts and Culture, Education and Child/ Youth Development, Health and Wellbeing, Heritage and Environment, Sport and Leisure as well as a rising star award.

Those finalists will come together on Thursday evening for the overall winners of each category, as well as one supreme winner, to be chosen.

Maxwell said the awards were about celebrating volunteers and the work that they do.

‘‘They’re doing it because they’re passionate about it, not for the awards, but it is nice for your work to be recognised.’’

‘‘You get to meet all these amazing groups and find out what’s going on in the community you might not know about. It’s shining a light on what they’re doing.’’

This year’s supreme winner receives $5000 in prizemoney, a marble, copper and pounamu sculpture to hold for the year and will also represent the Wellington region at the Trustpower National Awards early next year.

The judging for Thursday is done by a panel of regional mayors or their representatives, Maxwell and a representative from the Wellington Community Trust. The previous year’s supreme winner is also invited to help with the judging.

1.

What word preceded Wedding, Room and Rabbit in the titles of hit tunes?

2.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a disorder that affects which part of the body?

3.

Complete the title of a popular coming-of-age comedy movie from 1982: Fast Times At….

4.

California’s Sonoma Valley is famous for what?

5.

What organisation was established at Anakiwa, in the Marlborough Sounds, in 1962?

6.

Englishman Bradley Walsh hosts what popular TV game show?

7.

The term overburden is used in connection with what: forestry, farming or mining?

8.

In Greek mythology, how did Odysseus resist the call of the Sirens?

9.

What British landscape artist painted some of his most famous works on the River Stour?

10.

Hypoglycaemia is a risk for people with what medical condition?