Community Volunteer Awards 2023
From services to sport, through to identifying forgotten WWI soldiers; thirteen people were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Rangitīkei district at the inaugural Community Volunteer Awards on Thursday 23 March.
The following awards were presented at the Awards Evening:
- Helen Cooper - for service to the Bulls community for over 40 years including the Volunteer Fire Brigade, Bulls Museum and Floral Art Committee.
- Joe Byford & Don Tantrum (joint award) - for service to the Taihape community, in particular the Mount Stewart restoration and Hautapu River Park work.
- Les Thurston (posthumous) - for service to the Taihape community including Mount Stewart Reserve, honoured with the Les Thurston Tower.
- Graeme Bradley - for service to the Rangitīkei District through the St Johns shuttle service.
- Don Hatfull - for service to the Hunterville community.
- Felix Bell - for lifelong service to Rangitīkei Netball.
- Danelle Whakatihi - for service to Bulls Junior and Senior Sports Clubs.
- Barry Rankin - for service in identifying forgotten WWI & II soldiers who died at Lake Alice Hospital and were interred in unmarked graves at Mt View Cemetery in Marton.
- Lucy Skou - for services to Marton; most notably the Marton Playground Te Ahuru Mowai and other Marton community projects including the Tutaepororo Trail, Marton Pump Track and Marton Community Christmas Tree.
- David Smith & Greg Carlyon (joint award) - for service on the Tutaenui Stream Restoration Project,
Also recognised at the event was the recipient of the Mayor’s Recognition Award, awarded posthumously to John Beresford Swan Dudding for the significant financial support he provided to the district over the last few decades.
Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu – Tiny treasures are of great value.
