Wellington’s local heroes up for accolades

Quick-thinking teenagers, brave first-aiders, resolute pedestrian advocates and a very special 6-year-old are just a few of the remarkable Wellingtonians who will be honoured for going above-and-beyond to help keep their fellow Capital residents safe.

The 2014 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards and Safety in the City Awards will be held at 5.30pm Thursday 4 September at the St James Theatre, and will mark a decade of celebrating safety and community-mindedness in Wellington. This year the Wellington City Council, the Wellington Police and Wellington Airport are having a joint celebration of our local heroes.

The event will encompass the Wellington Airport Community awards, the WCC Safety in the City awards and the Royal Humane Society awards. Two police officers will be receiving a Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society which recognises outstanding acts of bravery where rescuers have put themselves at personal risk to save someone in dangerous circumstances.

The aim of Safety in the City is to recognise deserving recipients: people who were in the right place at the right time to save lives, or have worked tirelessly—often with little recognition—to keep Wellington and Wellingtonians safe.

This year’s nominations include an exceptional young man who swam for hours in freezing water to try and save another’s life, two teenagers who managed a bus incident on Manners, a senior woman who went to the aid of an injured cyclist, and some of our most dedicated local volunteers and safety advocates.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will be joined by Wellington Police Area Commander Inspector Chris Scahill to present the awards. The event will be hosted by Councillor Paul Eagle.
This year’s winners will join the ranks of other celebrated Wellingtonians such as the police officer and surfer who rescued a man washed off the rocks in Lyall Bay last year, the Strathmore neighbours who intervened in a murder in 2012, and other tireless citizens who went above and beyond to help a stranger or a neighbour.

Wellington Airport joins the Wellington Community Trust and Wellington City Council each year to recognise voluntary organisations that do so much to make our community a better place. These awards provide a way for people in the community to say thank you, as well as allowing those within the organisation to nominate their group to receive a reward for all their hard work.

The following categories will be awarded on Thursday night - Art & Culture, Education & Child/Youth Development, Health & Wellbeing, Heritage & Environment, Sport & Leisure and the Wellington Region Supreme Winner. The winners will go on to attend the Supreme Awards night in November.

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