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Cambridge Tree Trust scoops top award

Thursday 5 May 2011, 7:49AM

By TrustPower

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CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge Tree Trust has won the Supreme Award at the 2011 TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards.

The Awards were announced and presented on Monday 2 May at a function at the Cambridge Town Hall.

For winning the Supreme Award, Cambridge Tree Trust received a framed certificate, a trophy and $1,500 prize money. Cambridge Tree Trust now has the opportunity to represent the district at the 2011 TrustPower National Community Awards, which are being held in Ashburton District in March 2012.

Cambridge Tree Trust also won a six month subscription to Fundraising in New Zealand magazine, New Zealand's only monthly publication dedicated to all things fundraising.

In total, TrustPower handed out over $5,000 to various community groups through the night’s Awards.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Suzi Luff says Cambridge Tree has built a legacy for the town of Cambridge and the Waipa District with its 20 years of achievements.

“The Trust has made it its business to maintain and improve Cambridge gardens, parks and environment with many of the plantings seen around the town a credit to the Cambridge Tree Trust.

With over 100 members and a core gang of up to 18 volunteers who meet weekly, they are forever planting and maintaining river banks, wasteland and greenbelts and creating walking tracks. Ninety percent of what this Trust plants is grown in the Trust’s nursery so the volunteers have this work to factor in too.

The Trust knows that educating local youth about caring for the environment will ensure a strong conservation of the work done already and the work to come. School groups get involved through work at the nursery, the Trust’s education centre or planting projects.

Add to this the Trust’s latest development - the recently opened Lola Silcock Park. The Trust took it upon itself to develop what was steep and weedy wasteland on a river terrace into a people friendly park complete with recreational areas of lawn, river vistas, walking tracks, trees, shrubs and seating.

Thanks to the Trust, this park will become an icon of the Waipa District.

It’s clear that amazing things happen when these volunteers turn up with tools to weed, prune or mulch!” says Miss Luff.

The competition for this year’s TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards was strong with 36 groups nominated for the Awards.

Other winners at the TrustPower Waipa District Community Awards were:

Heritage and Environment
Winner: Lower Mangapiko Streamcare Group Inc.
Runner-Up: Lake Cameron Care Group

Health and Well Being
Winner: Te Awamutu Home Support Services
Runner-Up: Waipa/Waitomo Victim Support

Arts and Culture
Winner: Senior Singers
Runner-Up: Rosetown Choristers

Sport and Leisure
Winner: Cambridge Football Club – Junior Section
Runner-Up: Special Olympics Te Awamutu
Commendation: Te Awamutu BMX Club

Educationl and Child/Youth Development
Winner: The Altrusa Club of Te Awamutu
Runner-Up: Rotary Club of Kihikihi
Commendation: Waipa King Country Life Education Trust