Night of the stars: Young Star merit award recipients (from left) Sharon McKenzie (19) and Cory Sutherland (18), and Young Stars Supreme Winner Emma Rosevear (18) with Community Spirit Supreme Winner Wax Preston (61), and merit award recipients Netta... : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

NuZtyle: Elaine Witehira, nominated for her work with the NuZtyle dance group, sits with nominator David Mulrooney at last night's Dunedin Stars Awards in anticipation of the announcement of the evening's award recipients. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Open homes: Meriel and Norman Eadie (at right), nominated for opening their doors to students from the Pacific Islands throughout the years relax with their nominator, Faafetai Sopoaga-Ventura and her husband Angelo Ventura. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

In the post: It was the second Dunedin Stars Awards nomination in three years for Northeast Valley postman Kerry Wheeler who brought his 14-year-old daughter Anita along to share in the excitement. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

The front line: Dunedin Stars Award nominees recognised for their work with Youthline Otago at last night's awards ceremony are (from left) Chantelle van den Boom, Olivia Fitzgibbon, Alice Parker and Lani Evans. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Tireless service: Dunedin Stars Award Community Spirit Supreme Award winner Wax Preston, honoured for his years of service to the Dunedin community, with his wife Gretchen Olliver. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Mossbrae's hero: Mossbrae Hospital's Heather Joy Martin appreciated the opportunity to acknowledge Ted Beattie (right) for his years of volunteer service at the Mosgiel care-home by nominating him for the Community Spirit Award. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Keeping busy: Mick and Mary Gascoyne were nominees for the community spirit award for doing nothing more than what they say is "occupational therapy for the aged and infirm" - volunteering countless hours at their grandson's school and former... : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Dancing star: Enjoying the night's proceedings are (from left) Mary Evans and Shinae Rutledge, who nominated Caroline Claver (right) for her long-standing commitment to the Dunedin dance and drama community. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Making it happen: The Star editor Helen Speirs discusses the Dunedin Stars Awards process with Allied Press managing director Julian Smith at the Scotia Restaurant before the awards ceremony. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

School hero: Logan Park High School principal Jane Johnson nominated head boy Zac Wilkinson for the Young Stars award for his sterling efforts to support special needs pupils and his hard work in support of school productions. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Eastern European sounds: Entertaining the crowd at last night's Dunedin Stars Awards were Footspa members (from left) Marcus Turner, Kate Grace, Louise Frampton, Anna Bowen and Sean Manning. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Top brass: Deputy Mayor Syd Brown with Dunedin Area Inspector Dave Campbell at last night's Dunedin Stars Awards. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Sharing spirit of boating: Jared Roddick (left) nominated Port Chalmers School Boating committee chairman Garry Bain for his "tireless" commitment to providing children of many local schools with water confidence and boating skills. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

All for the Sallies: Salvation Army volunteer Alan Dore was nominated by Dorothy Jacobson (right) for the Dunedin Stars Community Spirit Award for his endless amount of service at the Salvation Army's Princes St outlet. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Organic teacher: Karitane Primary School teacher Helen Carter was nominated for her inspirational teachings around the environment. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Sharing the spirit: The Star editor Helen Speirs delivers a speech to acknowledge just some of the 69 people nominated in the 2008 Dunedin Stars Awards as Dunedin Deputy Mayor Syd Brown looks on. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008

Awards crowd: Scotia Restaurant at the Dunedin Railway Station is filled with people as the awards ceremony takes place Wednesday evening. : Meet Dunedin's stars for 2008