Eight South Taranaki Community Awards presented at special ceremony

The recipients with mayor Phil Nixon and mayoress Tania Nixon. Photo / Supplied

Eight Community Awards were presented to individuals and organisations by South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon for contributions made to their communities.

The special ceremony was held at Hāwera's Memorial Theatre on Tuesday night.

Sean Trott (Hāwera), Owen Savage (Waverley), Ron Brewer (Ōpunakē) and Fleur Le Bas (Eltham) received individual awards.

Hooper Engineering (Kakaramea), Eltham Lions (Eltham), the Opunake Clifftop Gardens Group (Ōpunakē) and Normanby and District Lions (Hāwera/Normanby) received the group/organisation awards.

Phil says the Community Awards, which are held every two years, is a small way the community can recognise those people who have by personal leadership, dedication and inspiration made a significant contribution to the wellbeing of their communities.

"Whether it's primary school teacher Fleur Le Bas who, has dedicated her time to Eltham's young people at the E-Town Youth Centre for the past eight years, or Sean Trott who has restored more than 1500 servicemen's and women's headstones across the district, or Gary and his team at Hooper Engineering supporting local projects and sporting organisations, all of those honoured tonight have given their time, commitment and often their own money to improve the lives of others and the communities they live in," he says.

"As mayor it's a privilege to be able to present these awards to our quiet achievers who, without a fuss, just get on and make things happen. They thoroughly deserve this recognition for the contributions they have made to the lives of so many people."

Videos of the award recipients can be found on the council's website: www.southtaranaki.com/our-community/south-taranaki-community-awards