Media Release

8 April 2013

Call for Civic Honour Award Nominations

Whangarei District Council is seeking nominations for the 2013 Civic Honours Awards to recognise the contribution of citizens who have served the community through a sustained voluntary effort over a number of years. The closing date for nominations is 4pm, Friday 17 May 2013.

The Civic Honours recognise people who, by their personal leadership, inspiration, sacrifice or devotion to a cause, have made a significant contribution to the community wellbeing of the District.

Past recipients have come from a wide range of interest areas and their contributions have included fire-fighting, conservation, Kohanga Reo, music teaching, surf lifesaving and hockey coaching, raising funds for the SPCA, caring for or representing the elderly, reading for the blind, umpiring, scouting and caring for seafarers – the list is long and varied.

Each potential recipient must be nominated by at least two people who must put together as much information as they can to show how and why their nominee is a strong candidate. This helps District councillors on the Civic Honours Selection Panel to take into account as much information as possible while selecting the recipients.

Usually up to four recipients are named and an award ceremony is held at the Council Chambers to recognise and celebrate the efforts of the winners.

Chairman of the selection panel, Councillor Shelley Deeming, said the awards are one of the most satisfying jobs for a District councillor.

“Every year the civic award nominations highlight the number of people in our community who just roll up their sleeves and get on with the job without any expectation of reward or recognition. In fact the award recipients frequently need persuasion to accept the recognition they so richly deserve.

“The Civic Award ceremony is a highlight of council’s year with the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate more of our districts valuable unsung heroes in front of their friends, families and the community they so willingly serve”.

Selection Process:

Selection panel will meet on 11 June

Council will approve recipients on 27 June

Ceremony will be held on 21 August.

For more information or for a nomination form please contact our Community Funding Officer on 430 4200 or go to www.wdc.govt.nz and type civic awards in the search field or collect a form from our customer service centres at Forum North or Ruakaka.
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