Editorial: Unsung heroes deserve plaudits

Supreme Winner at the 2015 Trustpower Rotorua Lakes Community Awards were Youth in Emergency Services, (from left) are Trustpower's Graeme Purches, Julie Hill, Blair Gilbert and Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick The Hits' Paul Hickey and Phil Muldoon.

It's a safe bet that the vast majority of volunteers in our community are not doing it for accolades or recognition.

Which is lucky, as the hours of dedication and hard work they put in to helping others can go largely unnoticed by all except those directly involved.

But every now and then we as a community get to say thanks and give these otherwise unsung heroes a moment in the spotlight.

Last night was one of those moments, with the Trustpower Rotorua Lakes Community Awards being handed out. The finalists, selected from a record 62 entries, came from a range of sectors but are united in their efforts to make Rotorua a better, cleaner, healthier, happier and more educated place.

The supreme winners, the Youth in Emergency Services programme, is a deserving winner. Since it was piloted in Rotorua more than two years ago, we have reported on its progress and the impact it's had on participants.

The young people involved gain self-esteem, leadership skills and a sense of caring for others as well as first hand experience of what the various emergency services actually do. The skills they gain can help them into the workforce.

The community benefits from the volunteer work the young people do, while those running the programme no doubt get satisfaction from seeing the young people enter the programme and come out the other side. It's a real win-win.

Well done to all our volunteers and in particular last night's category winners.

Over the coming weeks we plan to shine that spotlight on a few more of you. It's the least we can do.