From the press room
Dunne: volunteers honoured for decades of hard work – 2010-09-13 11:08:48.651
Eight North Wellington residents were awarded the North Wellington Volunteer Service Award at an Awards Dinner at the Johnsonville Community Centre on Saturday night.
Chairman of the organising committee, Ohariu MP Peter Dunne, advised the 80 family and friends gathered to celebrate the occasion that the eight recipients represented over 180 years of voluntary service in the Northern Suburbs.
The 2010 recipients were:
Jim Galloway (Khandallah Presbyterian Church)
Josephine Lawrence (St Andrews Catholic Church)
Jean Liner (Cantate Choir)
Paul McEnaney (Tawa Rugby Club)
Robert Mayo (Johnsonville lions Club)
Marie Thomson (New Players Theatre Company)
Ash Pointon (Newlands Softball Club)
Sheila Walker (Johnsonville Salvation Army Store)
“The recipients came from a variety of organisations and showed the diversity of community organisations that operate in the Northern Suburbs,” Mr Dunne said, adding that they were all united by a generous commitment to their community.
He spoke of the gratitude that the community feels for the volunteers, saying that the eight recipients were being rightly celebrated and recognised, but that there were many others in the Northern Suburbs who regularly gave their time in the service of others.
“This year the selection of the people to receive the awards was a difficult one and the selection committee again was forced to make some hard decisions because there were so many people who were worthy of recognition,” Mr Dunne said.
Secretary of the Committee, Ray Good, stated that the awards have been presented to residents in the Northern Suburbs since 2001 which was the Year of the Volunteer.
“As far as can be established, the North Wellington Voluntary Services Awards is the only group in the country who continue to present awards annually,” Mr Good said.
At the awards dinner this year, the 100th Award was presented, which shows the high standard that the committee requires prior to accepting nominations.
It was advised during the ceremony that of the 103 awards given out, the gender split was equal between males and female recipients.
Each award recipient receives a badge, plaque and certificate, which details their work in the community.
Mr Dunne also thanked the organising committee for their efforts and told the recipients that they were valuable members of the community and the awards they had received were achieved with a lot of effort and personal sacrifices.
He also thanked the recipients’ family and friends, saying their supported enabled the recipients to do their good work
He acknowledged the support the Committee received this year from Johnsonville Community Centre, the Trust Charitable Foundation and the Johnsonville Charitable Trust.
Ends
Mark Stewart | Press Secretary | Office of Hon Peter Dunne
DDI +64 4 817 6985 | Mb +64 21 243 6985 |
unitedfuture.org.nz
Ray Good – phone 971 36 86