This year’s Waimate District Civic Award function was held at the Waimate Event Centre on Wednesday evening, 12 February to celebrate and recognise the work of volunteers across the district.
These Awards have been held for the past 16 years, recognising 64 adults, 11 young people and 10 groups for outstanding community service in that time.
Mayor Craig Rowley described this year’s recipients as ‘community heroes’. He thanked them and said their service is important and worthy of recognition. “We know this is just the tip of the iceberg, there are plenty more worthy recipients in our community”.
‘’It is important that we recognise them, if only to give the people that benefit from their work the opportunity to acknowledge and thank them publicly’’ Mayor Rowley said in his speech. “Many work quietly, unrecognised, behind the scenes, keeping our community active and alive. I believe that’s what makes a community thrive.”
The Mayor said that he is proud of the volunteering community in the Waimate District. “As the older volunteers step down and hand over the reins, I encourage more people to get involved with volunteering and continue this enriching tradition in the district.”
Mavis Andrew, Barry O’Neill, Vince Thompson and Raewyn Williams were this year’s Individual Civic Award Recipients, with the Youth Civic Award going to Georgia Soper. For the first time ever, there are two winners for the group/organisation category; Waimate Trackways and the Waimate Highland Pipe Band.
