New awards to celebrate Rotorua volunteers

FlavAzum Health and Fitness Rotorua were the supreme winners at the TrustPower Spirit of Rotorua Awards last year.

There is a new event hitting Rotorua called the Trustpower Rotorua District Community Awards and it's all about celebrating this region's voluntary groups, community driven individuals and generous youth.

This event encompasses three previously run separate events titled the Trustpower Spirit of Rotorua Community Awards, Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Awards and Rotorua District Community Awards - and entries are now open.

Run in partnership with the Rotorua District Council, the Trustpower Rotorua District Community Awards are open to all voluntary groups and organisations working to make Rotorua a better place to live.

This year more than $5000 is up for grabs and anyone can enter a voluntary group for the awards - voluntary groups and organisations can even enter themselves.

Last year 58 groups were entered for these awards and Trustpower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville is looking forward to seeing the community get on board to recognise more of these local unsung heroes.

"Through this new all-encompassing event Rotorua's hard working voluntary groups, dedicated individual volunteers and selfless students will be celebrated through one very inspiring evening.

"Volunteers are a formidable force of good in the Rotorua community and everyday members benefit from their hard work.

"From the teams that work behind the scenes at community events to the supportive coaches on the side-lines to the tireless fundraising teams; volunteers are in every corner of this region but often they are not recognised for the invaluable work they do."

One of the best ways to demonstrate the importance of volunteering to the Rotorua community is to ensure volunteers' contributions are recognised, valued and accounted for.

This goes for all the hard working individuals out there too who turn up time after time to help out behind scenes of various community events or projects.

Now you have the chance to say thank you to these volunteers who work hard to improve the community - just by filling out an entry form for the Trustpower Rotorua District Community Awards or Rotorua District Civic Awards which recognise individuals who have given at least 15 years of dedicated voluntary service to one or more community sectors and which are also being presented at these awards.

It takes just a few minutes of your time to enter a group or individual but it will make a real difference to the volunteers you are recognising," Miss Somerville said.

Locals have until 5pm on Friday May 2 to get entries in for this year's Trustpower Rotorua District Community Awards or Rotorua District Civic Awards. Entry forms are available from council offices or service centres or entry forms for the Trustpower Rotorua District Community Awards can be completed online at www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards or by calling Jess Somerville on 0800 87 11 11.

The Trustpower Rotorua District Community Awards cover five categories; Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Education and Child/Youth Development.

Category winners receive $500, runners-up receive $250 and the Supreme Winner will take home $1500 and an all-expenses paid trip for two representatives to the 2014 Trustpower National Community Awards. About to represent Rotorua at these awards is FlavAzum Health and Fitness Rotorua.