Hawke's Bay Today is calling on readers to nominate someone as the newspaper's Person of the Year? Who we are looking for is simple: # Someone who has made a significant contribution to the Hawke's Bay community in terms of charity, fundraising or other non-profit organisation. #Or someone who hasachieved remarkable success in their chosen business, career or sport. #Or a local who has demonstrated courageous or heroic actions. Last year's winner, Flaxmere Boxing Academy head coach Craig McDougall, was the judges' unanimous choice because of the contribution he had made to the community and youth in particular. Mr McDougall said this week that the award had come as a surprise to him and he had felt exceptionally humbled. "Winning the award proved to me what we are doing is working. People taking the time to put my name down shows they have been impacted positively," he said. Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin said the Person of the Year was one of a number of ways the newspaper sort to give back to the community. The aim of the award was to recognise individual excellence and service to the community. "There are some amazing people doing good deeds in our community and achieving great things. Now is them to to honour them." "We encourage our readers to nominate anyone they believe is worthy of this award, whether or not that person has received recognition before." Mr Austin will be joined on the judging panel by the Deputy Mayor of Napier, Faye White, and the Deputy Mayor of Hastings, Cynthia Bowers. "I am sure that between the three of us we can come up with a worthy winner." ?All nominations can be emailed to editor@hbtoday.co.nz with a few sentences explaining why you have chosen to nominate that person. The winner of Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year 2014 will be announced before Christmas.
