16 August 2006

Supreme winner endorses awards

Supreme award winners Keep Waitakere Beautiful (KWB) encourage all Waitakere community groups to get their nominations in for the 2006 Infratil-Waitakere Community Awards before entries close on September 4.

KWB took out the supreme award at the inaugural awards last year, after winning the heritage and environment category. They are not entering the awards this year to 'let someone else have a go.'

Project Manager Moira Kennedy travelled with Councillor Judy Lawley to the 2005 TrustPower National Community Awards held in Greymouth and says the experience was humbling.

"Participation was a truly humbling and remarkable experience. There were more than 100 people there, overflowing with passion and great energy for their projects, some with no or very little funding from their local bodies," she says.

"It made me even more proud to be a New Zealander, to know that there were so many decent, kind, hardworking, salt-of-the-earth people who want to help others and who don't seek attention or recognition for themselves.

I would warmly recommend any volunteer organisation in Waitakere City to enter the Awards - it's a fabulous experience. As well as having the opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and project concepts with others from all around the country, it's great fun too!"

Aimed at "Powering Volunteers All Across New Zealand" the TrustPower National Awards featured 21 finalist groups across a true cross section of society - children's after-school programmes, hospice volunteers, soroptimists, eventing, environmental restoration projects, neighbourhood support, vintage museums and alcohol and drug support services.

To enter fill out an entry form online at www.waitakere.govt.nz or get one from your local library or contact 839 0400 to be posted a hard copy. Entries close September 4.

This year's winners will represent Waitakere at the national awards to be held in Taupo.

ENDS

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