Young athletes, administrators, volunteers and budding ecologists were among those celebrated at this year’s Gore District Community Awards.
About 400 people were at the annual gala dinner this evening (Friday 26 October) to support their friends and family.
The Community Awards are the Gore District Council’s flagship event. Started 12 years ago, they are a way of saying ‘thank you’ to those who have made an impact on the community, or applaud the achievements of those who have excelled in their chosen field.
This year’s awards attracted 53 nominees across the 10 categories.
Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks said the calibre of nominees was once again impressive – “the dedication and innovation across all categories is quite inspiring.
“The community awards resonates with so many and confirms the fact our District’s strength is in our people,” Mr Hicks said.
Each year the Community Awards brings together people from all sectors of the community and 2018 was no different with nominees ranging from teenagers to volunteers in their 80s.
The Civic Award was won by Kay Lawton, best known to many in the community as Nani K. She is well-known in many spheres – as a shearing contractor, work with the church and sharing her knowledge of Maori traditions with the next generation.
Guest speaker was Ian Taylor, of Animation Research Limited in Dunedin, who revolutionised digital animation of television sports coverage and presented the recent proposal for the Dunedin waterfront.
The full list of this year’s recipients is:
CIVIC AWARD
Kay Lawton
MAINLAND MINERALS ENVIRONMENT AWARD
Winner: Hokonui Tramping Club
Runner-up: Gore High School “Science Around Us” and “Class 90: Young Reporters”
ANDERSON LLOYD CONTRIBUTION TO ARTS AND CULTURE AWARD
Jeff and Margie Rea
MLT SERVICES TO SPORT AWARD
Liz Maclean – hockey
EASTERN SOUTHLAND JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON AWARD
Mikairi Beauchamp-Moore – athletics and hockey
SPORT SOUTHLAND COMMUNITY COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Vicky Weller – netball
GORE MUSICAL THEATRE EMERGING PERFORMING ARTIST AWARD
Campbell Heads
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF GORE WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Julie Mitchell
JD SOUNESS YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD
Georgia Thomson
THE ENSIGN CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Winner: Amore
Peoples’ Choice: Harrison’s Supplies Ltd