Volunteers’ time to shine
Volunteers from Horowhenua have been recognised for the services they provide to their communities.
The Horowhenua Civic Honours Awards were held on Thursday at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ . Twelve people and two organisations were officially acknowledged and given their awards by Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen.
Horizons Regional councillor Lindsay Burnell was presented with a 50 years’ service award for his service to the Horowhenua AP and I Association. He first became involved with the association through the Young Farmers’ Club.
‘‘It’s an absolutely fantastic honour,’’ Burnell said about his award. ‘‘Volunteers make the district function.’’ The Radio Reading Service received a certificate of recognition, alongside Bob and Jan Saunders, Linda Sherlock and Charles Rudd. The Levin-based service delivers news and information for the sight-impaired.
Radio Reading Service chairman Tom Frewen was pleased to see volunteers Kathryn Taylor, Enid Lowe, Sue Eckworth and Hazel Luskstedt recognised for their contribution.
‘‘It’s a recognition of a combined 80 years of service between them.’’
Civic honours awards were presented to Neil Perfect, John Brown, Peter and Vivien Wright and Murray Forward. Mayoral awards were given to the Save Our Rivers Trust, Anne Hunt and Vivienne Taueki.
Alongside the civic honours, 12 young people received youth excellence scholarships, which acknowledge young people aged between 12 and 14. They were Antonio Matua So’oalo (arts and culture), Shavaun Tohill (arts and culture), Sina Crichton (arts and culture), Jessika Tuhou (community service), Meghan Davenport (community service), Nikki Su (academia), Zoe Carline (academia), Anna Taylor (academia), Shelby Wells (sport), Miniah Summerall (sport), Connor Mitchell (sport) and Shae Gray (sport).