Rail group finalist in community award

Ormondville Rail Preservation Group is going head to head with voluntary groups and organisations at the Trustpower National Community Awards.

The Awards take place in the Rotorua Lakes region from March 24-26. Ormondville Rail Preservation Group is representing the Tararua District — and was Supreme Winner at the Trustpower Tararua District Community Awards last year.

Joining Ormondville Rail Preservation Group at the National Awards will be representatives from 24 other supreme winner voluntary groups or organisations from around the country.

The Rail Preservation Group will give an eight-minute presentation on what the group has achieved and why they deserve the title.

The winner, runner-up and recipient of the Whetu¯ Ma¯ taiata Award will be announced at an Awards dinner at Blue Baths.

Trustpower Community Relations Representative Teresa Partridge says the Group has put together an inspiring presentation.

“This band of volunteers have invested an incredible amount of time into running this facility and the community has always been at the forefront of what they do whether it is fixing something or sharing their passion for rail with others.”

Paul Mahoney, Val Burr, and Mayor Tracey Collis and her husband Mike will attend.

The winner will take home a custommade trophy, $4000 in prize money, a framed certificate and a $1000 consultancy voucher from one of New Zealand’s leading training providers for the community sector, Exult. The runner up will receive $2500 in prize money, a $500 Exult voucher and a framed certificate. The Whetu¯ Ma¯ taiata Award recipient receives a framed certificate and a consultancy service package from Exult.