Sevens tourney organisers take supreme award

Queenstown's Sevens with Altitude Committee won the supreme award at the 2012 TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards at Edgewater in Wanaka last night.

For nine years, the committee has organised the annual player-focused National Rugby Sevens tournament in Queenstown, liaising with 26 provincial unions, various suppliers, pub charities, local bodies and more than 100 volunteers on the event logistics.

The supreme award win earned the committee a framed certificate, a trophy and $1500 prize money, plus the chance to represent the region at the 2012 TrustPower National Community Awards, in the Far North district in March 2013.

TrustPower community relations representative Jess Somerville said the energy and enthusiasm the committee put into each tournament was inspiring.

"This is a very large-scale event with many variables to consider. The fact that it is also so beneficial to the local community in terms of the visiting numbers and fundraising opportunities for local sports and community groups is also fantastic," she said.

"This group have also worked hard to raise the profile of this tournament and, as you can imagine, planning happens throughout the year. It's a huge credit to all that are involved but particularly the seven gems who drive this competition."

Other category winners at the awards were: Heritage and Environment: Wakatipu Community Maritime Preservation Society; Health and Well Being: joint winners Arrowtown police station volunteers and St John Wakatipu; Arts and Culture: Festival of Colour; Sport and Leisure: Bike Wanaka; Educational and Child/Youth Development: Altrusa International Club Queenstown; Youth Community Spirit: Eachann Bruce from Mt Aspiring College.

TrustPower gave away a total of $5250 to community groups at the awards, which are run in conjunction with the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

This year's awards attracted 36 separate entries, the largest number ever received.