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Apprentice Award for Most Developing Potential Over the Year
Kurt Verduyn
Kurt is not a person to wait for something to happen. He got out and ‘door knocked’ to find himself a labouring position, which in time turned into an apprenticeship. Now employed by Central Blue Ltd, Kurt is continuing to show initiative and commitment with his practical and correspondence studies to a very high level.
His employers value Kurt for his team approach, independence and confidence in doing a good job. Kurt has the ability to quickly learn a new task and is confident to continue working with minimal supervision. He communicates well, be it with his employer, other tradesmen or clients. He is safety conscious and never questions wearing safety equipment on a building site.
His community involvement as a volunteer fire fighter is to be commended as is his continued participation in sport, something that many young people stop when entering the work force.
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Apprentice Award for Overall Excellence
Rebecca Fraser
Rebecca started her graphic design apprenticeship with Otago Daily Times Print two and a half years ago, direct from school.
According to her employer, she is a key team member, a joy to teach and customers speak highly of her design skills, attention to detail and delivering to tight deadlines.
Rebecca is proud of her achievements to date and is already looking at ways to add value for her employer with the possibility of doing a diploma in print management once she has completed her apprenticeship.
This is a young person who sets high standards for herself also delivers top quality work.
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Youth Award for Culture
Emma Rankin
Emma participated in a school exchange in 2007 to Pennsylvania USA, an experience that helped her to develop into a mature and confident young woman. In her role as head girl at Cromwell College, Emma has been an inspiration to others with her cheerful, confident and diligent approach to life.
Emma is talented. She writes music, sings, and regularly performs on stage and even performed in concerts while based in the USA. Her talents have not gone unnoticed having co-wrote a song that made the top four in New Zealand for the 2006 ‘Smokefree Rockquest’, and she has recorded two singles.
Emma has the respect of her peers and her community – she is a young person who will take on responsibility and embrace new skills and experiences with enthusiasm. |
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Youth Award for Enterprise
William (Billy) Heron
Within three weeks of moving to the Maniototo, Billy and his family lost everything they owned in a house fire. This did not dampen his strength of character to be an outstanding academic student and contributor to the local community in which he lives.
For a young person who takes great pride in their appearance shaving off their hair is a very real sacrifice. But when Billy became aware of how many people were diagnosed with blood cancers every day, he was motivated enough to shave his hair, raising funds to support the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.
The judges were impressed that at just 15 years of age William has the confidence to share his gifts and talents in a community orientated way.
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Customer Service Award
Cheryl Sinnamon
Cheryl works at the Tarras Country Four Square Supermarket where she has worked for 13 years. She is consistently cheerful and friendly epitomising the values of kindness, and consideration for other’s needs – going the extra mile for locals and visitors alike.
Cheryl ensures that her regular customers and local community needs are met – whether it be by continuing to provide a monthly account option or sourcing new or specifically requested product. The judges all agreed that Cheryl is providing customer service as it should be, strengthened by her local knowldege.
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Tourism Award
Lake Roxburgh Lodge
Twelve years ago Kim and Phil Winterbottom bought the worker’s accommodation for the Roxburgh Power Station. A dedicated effort by them has seen these buildings transformed into an eleven room accommodation lodge and licensed restaurant, in a relaxed garden setting to Qualmark 4 star standard.
Continuing development of the product and adding value to the visitor experience is a key focus for this business. They recognise the importance of developing and cementing relationships and investing in marketing opportunities, as part of their overall business strategy.
Featuring local food and wine in the restaurant, ongoing training and skill development, sustainable environmental practices plus a commitment to being involved with and contributing to the local community were all facets of the business that impressed the judges.
Kim and Phil delight in providing exceptional hospitality and sharing their passion of their surroundings with others.
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Business Excellence Award
Provisions Ltd
Provisions of Central Otago is a successful niche business, highly regarded in New Zealand and overseas for its quality gourmet preserves and baking. The complete product range utilises intensely flavoured, locally grown fruit and produce.
Pauline Murphy and Jane Shaw started Provisions in the Old Cromwell historic precinct in 2004 and have also been instrumental in running the successful Central Otago Farmers Markets at Old Cromwell. Judges were particularly impressed by their innovative, professional product and branding, and their use of local produce for their product range.
Customer satisfaction is important to Provisions at every level of the supply chain. Products reflect the customer and vice versa.
Provisions has the vision and passion to take their business to the next level. It has done so by ensuring their product stands out above the rest for an ever discerning customer base.
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In recognition of their Community Service
Derek Wardell
A relatively new resident and member of the Cromwell Lions Club, Derek, in the last three years has volunteered over 2000 hours of his time co-ordinating and supervising community work offenders in Cromwell. These are people who have been sentenced by the court to do community work and who can be challenging to work with at times.
Derek and his team work tirelessly each Saturday, cutting firewood – some of which is donated to the needy with the rest sold to raise funds for local projects. They have also been involved in various projects such as clearing the lake foreshore, developing walkways and work for the Old Cromwell Town redevelopment to name a few.
As the judges said “The number of hours Derek has volunteered is truly impressive”. |
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Peter Lyon
Not only does Peter operate a large and successful shearing contracting business with his wife Elsie, but he is a generous supporter of community projects.
His contribution to the young people of Central Otago is enormous. For many years he has provided, at no cost, the use of mini vans to transport students far and wide for sporting and cultural events. He has helped with uniforms, travel and accommodation costs for teams. Peter has also helped mentor a number of young people whose lives have become challenging.
Not only that, the New Zealand Merino Shearing competitions and Omakau races would not be the successful events they have become without the efforts of Peter.
Peter considers the needs of the community and generously and discretely gives back to it.
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Glen Christiansen
Glen manages Central Otago’s largest accommodation complex, the Golden Gate Lodge and is also a husband and father of two (and a half) young children. He still somehow finds the time to contribute significantly to his community and Central Otago.
Glen is on the board of Tourism Cromwell; on the Central Otago Tourism Strategy steering committee and Cromwell Community Plan working group; a member of Community In Action – working with the youth worker trust and ‘at risk’ youth; on the group for Community Organisation Grants scheme; Wanaka Chamber of Commerce; and a committee member of the Cromwell Rugby Club and Cromwell Sports Club.
He has initiated and led projects that make a difference – such as ‘fishing with the boy’s’ and community ‘clean ups’. Glen by nature has the knack of going the extra mile to make things happen.
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Ruth McNamara
‘Recycling’ may well be the new hot topic, but if it were not for Ruth Central Otago may still be playing catch-up. Without her commitment toward researching and establishing a working model, Central Otago WasteBusters may not be the successful community recycling operation it is today.
Ruth has done the hard yards, and continues to do so. She spends most of her time at WasteBusters and will do anything, but what is special about Ruth is her ability to organise all the volunteers needed to sort, package, drive trucks, press and everything else – for every day of the year.
Give a busy person a job and know it will get done is true when talking of Ruth. Over the years she has contributed greatly to her church community, St Johns, Salvation Army’s Nika Kids Club, and also her friends and neighbours.
Ruth goes the ‘extra mile’ and through her thoughtful and caring acts makes a difference to her community.
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In recognition for their Outstanding Community Service
Heather Benson
In many of our communities there are ‘unsung heroes’ who do not actively seek recognition or reward, Heather Benson is one of these special people, a quiet achiever.
For over 40 years she has voluntarily contributed her time and energy to Waipiata and the wider Maniototo communities.
In the early days Heather was involved with Plunket often doing huge miles collecting for them and other charitable organisations. She was the Waipiata Presbyterian Parish resident Sunday School teacher, and from 1972 to today is the sole executor / secretary and Librarian of the Waipiata – Hamiltons Library. The Waipiata Community Development Committee, Waipiata War Memorial Hall Committee, Waipiata Women’s Club, Maniototo Community Library and the Ranfurly Art Deco Gallery are just some of the other groups she has contributed significantly to over many years.
A tireless worker, Heather fought for the survival of trees planted to beautify the township, carrying 20 litre containers of water from her home to tend the trees which are now a special feature of the main street of Waipiata. She is there when things need to get done.
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John Gibson
John is a person who has contributed enormously to his community all his whole adult life. He is hugely motivated to do the best for Patearoa and for Central Otago as a whole. A trustee of the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust since its inception, John has worked tirelessly to make the Rail Trail the success it is today. The ‘Gibson Grate, those strategically located seats with a view, and kiosks for passport stamps are all examples of John using his practical skills to ‘make it happen’.
He has been involved across all aspects of community life – from community board level to Lions clubs, school committees and the Maniototo Beautifying Society. His passion and knowledge of plants is freely shared to the benefit of the local reserves, organisations and individuals. He is an authority on dry stone walling, holding many workshops over the years and supervising the refurbishment of the historic Hamiltons Cemetery.
There are so many projects that John has made significant contributions to, many of which will ensure that his community and Central Otago benefit far into the future.
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John (Jock) Scott
There are many aspects of John Scott’s life that reflect his proud Scottish heritage and his love of the Maniototo.
He is a driving force behind the growing popularity of curling in the Maniototo. He is chairman of the Maniototo [outdoor] Ice Rink, taking a hands-on approach to all aspects of rink management, operation and planning – often spending whole nights laying the ice sheet. He was construction committee chairman for the Indoor Curling Rink – organising a major voluntary input for the base excavation, compaction and freezer pipe laying. His next major project has seen the construction of the Naseby Ice Luge, yet another hands-on project building the world’s first artificially assisted ‘natural luge’.
Jock’s longest community involvement is probably with the Maniototo pipe band, where he is pipe major, pipe tutor and president. His enthusiasm and passion for the band continues to see new members join, ensuring the bands future for years to come.
Jock is always there for a community activity, never looking for honour or glory. He gives freely of time and resources, and has the ability to bring others along on the journey.
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Special Award
John McCraw
“To know where we go, we need to know where we have come from, our past needs to be embedded in our culture.” John McCraw
John has played a vital role in the preservation of knowledge and understanding of Alexandra and Districts history.
John first came to live in Alexandra in 1948 as a DSIR scientist where he lived for 15 years and developed a passion for the region’s history. His love of this place saw him return to Central Otago on his retirement in 1988 when he was concerned to see that much of the region’s history was at risk of being lost. He has since researched and written five books which provide an accurate and informative record of our rich history.
John freely shares his research and knowledge, saying “What is the good of research if it is not shared with others”. John deserves a huge thanks for his work – it’s a lifetime achievement.
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Brand Ambassador Award
Amie Pont
As team leader at Burn 729am Radio in Ranfurly, Amie saw the opportunity of integrating the brand principles into the work of the radio station. For Amie the Brand Story DVD became an important tool at their staff meetings so they could be constantly reminded of how they could raise the bar in all that they do.
Making the profile of the ‘World of Difference’ visible has been part of Amie’s goals. Not only is it incorporated in their signage, and stationery but they have their own tag-line on the ‘World of Difference’ t-shirts that they wear with pride every day.
Monitoring progress is important to Amie. Each new initiative of Burn 729am, Amie measures against the brand principles and for its contribution to the wider community.
Amie does not just pay lip service to the brand and its principles; she is lives them and inspires other to do so too.
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