Outstanding individuals recognised with Mayoral Awards

Mayor Rick Cooper formally recognised the recipients of the Mayoral Civic Awards at an official ceremony held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday night.

22 people received awards for outstanding voluntary work in our community. The recipients were: Richard Balm of Bike Taupo, Daphne Cotton of Daphne’s Historical Archives, Lesley Fleming, organiser of the Mizuno Half Marathon, Rosemary Gordon of the La Leche League, Chris Johnston, deputy chairman of Town Centre Taupo, John Kelso of the Voluntary Fire Brigade in Mangakino, Turangi Gardeners Rosie Small and Alison Cosgrove, Christine Russell of the Tauhara College PTA, ex music teacher Maureen Potter, youth sports campaigner Chris Smith, Geoff Hall, Richard Klein, and Grant & Vicki Townley of the Taupo Motorcycle Club, Betty Wheeler of the Friends of the Taupo Library, Eda Terry of Grey Power, Don Ryder of the Taupo and District Pipe Band, Gaye Vartiainen of Wairakei Residents Association, and Dave Comber, Peter McFarlane, and Debbie Robertson of LandSAR (Search and Rescue).

The Civic Awards are a way of formally recognising those individuals and groups that make an enormous contribution to our community, tirelessly doing unpaid work to improve community wellbeing, and achieving outstanding results.

The awards took a break in 2008, so this year there were over two years worth of volunteers’ achievements to consider. On this year’s judging panel were Mayor Rick Cooper, and previous mayors Joan Williamson-Orr and Clayton Stent.

“We were inundated with nominations this year, from all over the district, and from all kinds of voluntary groups. I think it’s a real tribute to the quality of our community volunteers, and goes to show that their work doesn’t go unnoticed,” said the Mayor.

The Mayor wishes to thank all those involved, including those that took the time to send in a nomination, and especially all those who were nominated for an award.