Abbey Musical Theatre takes out top prize at Trustpower Awards

Volunteers put in nearly 21,000 hours on the Mamma Mia! for Abbey Musical Theatre

The Winner Takes It All is an Abba song from the musical Mamma Mia!

A submission based on a local production of the Globe Awardwinning musical last year has won Abbey Musical Theatre Palmerston North’s Supreme Trustpower Community Award.

Presented in the Convention Centre on Tuesday night, the awards acknowledged the work and time volunteers dedicate to making their community a better place.

Sixty or so volunteers put in nearly 21,000 hours on the Mamma Mia! production for Abbey Musical Theatre to collect the $1500 trophy and to represent the region at the national awards in Rotorua in March.

The theatre group was also the Arts and Culture winner, with Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History the runner-up.

The Youth Spirit Award went to Joel Fleet-stephenson, of Palmerston North Boys’ High. The deputy chair of the Palmerston North Youth Council led his school’s World Vision Fight For Syria fundraising campaign, netting $12,000. Youth Spirit finalists were Indiya Malthus-henman of Freyberg High and Isabella Stephens from St Peter’s College.

The Heritage and Environment Award went to Human Aid Focus NZ for salvaging recyclable timber. Runner-up was RECAP Resilience and Engagement of the Community of Ashhurst and Pohangina, with a commendation to the Pit Park People.

REACH Roslyn won the Health and Wellbeing category for its work in Roslyn School and for the Wacky Water Day, with Red Cross runner-up and commendations to Just Zilch, Menzshed Manawatu, Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society and Sands Manawatuhorowhenua. Arapuke Trails Group took out the Sports and Leisure section for developing a mountain-biking trail in Arapuke Forest Park, with Manawatu Striders the runner-up.

The Education and Child/ Youth Development award went to Big Brothers Big Sisters for its role in mentoring young people, with joint runners-up Pacific Educators and Social Socks, and a commendation to Plant to Plate.