Groups in running for national awards

The Queenstown Mountain Bike Club will go up against the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust and 23 other voluntary groups or organisations this week in the 2009 TrustPower National Community Awards.

The awards will be held in Nelson/Tasman from Friday to Sunday.

The Queenstown Mountain Bike Club is representing the Queenstown Lakes District, while the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust is representing the Central Otago District Council at the national awards, after being named supreme winner at their respective community awards last year.

At the national final organisations will give eight-minute presentations detailing their achievements and explaining why they deserve the national title.

Groups will also submit 1000-word summaries and will be judged on these and the presentations.

The presentations will take place on Saturday, March 13, at the Nelson School of Music, with the winner and runner-up being announced at an awards dinner that evening at the World of Wearable Arts and Classic Cars Museum.

Queenstown Mountain Bike Club spokesman Karl Menzies said the group was "pretty stoked" to be named representative for its region, and members were excited about meeting the people behind the wide range of projects.

"I think we have a great little presentation that tells a good story about what the club has done," Mr Menzies said.

Mr Menzies and Lance Brown will attend the awards on behalf of the club, with Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes and his wife, Sally.

Attending from the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust will be Roberta Laraman and Martin Anderson, with Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson and his wife, Susan.

The TrustPower National Supreme Award Winner will take home $2500, a framed certificate, a trophy and a prize package valued at $1500 from Foresee Communications.

The runner-up will receive $1500 and a framed certificate.

Nominations for the TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards will open on April 19.