Hutt City honours volunteers
Hutt City Council celebrated the outstanding contribution of volunteers at the annual Hutt City Community Awards at the Town Hall tonight.
The awards bring together the Civic Honours Awards, Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards and Safe City Awards to honour the city’s volunteers.
Mayor Ray Wallace said the awards were an opportunity to recognise and thank volunteers for their part in making the city a strong and caring community.
“We are fortunate to have so many dedicated and community-minded people in our city.
“Their hard work, commitment and selflessness in the service of others provide an inspiration for us all.”
The Civic Honours Awards recognise people who have contributed their time and energy to voluntary services benefiting residents or organisations in Hutt City. Recipients of the Civic Honours Awards presented by Mayor Wallace were:
Eve-Ann Beattie for contributions to community service and social welfare
Prabhi Ravi for services in cultural affairs
Alan W Webb for services in community service, recreation, social welfare and youth activities
“The recipients were truly representative of people who have spent their lives in the service of others,” Mayor Wallace said.
Further awards presented were:
The Safe City Awards
Recognising work done by individuals and organisations to create a safer, more connected community. The winners were:
- Safe City Organisation Award
Guardians Wainuiomata accepted by Pastor Awhina Vailima, lead coordinator of the Guardians who act as a deterrent to anti – social behaviour and support the Wainuiomata community.
- Safe City Individual Award
Phil Hankinson a member of the Stokes Valley Community Patrol, former treasurer of Hutt Safe City Group and now a member of the Trust.
The Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards
Sponsored by Hutt City Council, Wellington Community trust and Wellington International Regional Airport in recognition of voluntary work carried out across Lower Hutt, were also presented. Recipients were:
- Pomare Community House for contributions to the Pomare community (Health and Wellbeing)
- Wall of Wainuiomata Working Group for raising awareness of youth issues within the Wainuiomata community (Arts and Culture)
- Netball Wellington – Hutt Valley Division for support to grass roots netball in Hutt Valley (Sport and Leisure)
- English Language Partners to for providing English language and social support to refugees and migrants (Education and Child/Youth Development)
The Hutt City Supreme Award for an organisation that shines in the community was presented to Pomare Community House.
Mayoral Citation Award
For the first time an award for outstanding youth leadership work was created and two young people received the awards. They were:
- Oliver Cutler for displaying leadership in community service as a member of the Stokes Valley Community Patrol, and
- Amal Abdullahi for displaying leadership in creating opportunities for Lower Hutt students to undergo leadership training.