The Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group was last night announced the supreme winner of the annual awards.
TrustPower community relations representative Melanie Tavendale said the group and its volunteers, called Team Cromwell, had run the Summer Series for the past 19 years.
They organised the annual Cromwell half-marathon, the Pub to Pub Bannockburn Gutbuster, the Bannockburn MTB Classic, the Lake Dunstan Triathlon/Duathlon, the Lake Dunstan Cycle Challenge and the Carricktown Crusher MTB event.
"Team Cromwell has developed into a smooth operation that runs these events in a professional and efficient manner.
The time put into the Summer Series is incredible," she said.
Each event involved considerable planning.
Team Cromwell also helped Sport Central and the Central Otago Multisport Club with staffing at various other local events, she said.
The promotions group also ran the national cherry stone-spitting championships.
For winning the supreme award, the group received $1500 prizemoney and will represent Central Otago at the national community awards in Tauranga in March.
The award's heritage and environment section winner, the Central Otago Ecological Trust, focuses on the endangered Otago skinks.
The community-led conservation group has reintroduced Otago skinks back into the wild and also constructed a breeding facility that is open for public viewing.
Health and wellbeing winners, the Omakau Volunteer Fire Brigade First Response unit, provides emergency medical care in the district until ambulances arrive.
It takes about 30 minutes before ambulances reach the area from Ranfurly or Alexandra and the first response unit attends up to 40 calls a year.
Clyde Wine and Food Harvest Festival organisers, Promote Dunstan, won the sport and leisure section.
The festival has been held for nine years and attracts more than 5000 visitors to Clyde on Easter Sunday.
The Central Otago Victim Support group won the educational and child youth development category.
It has 36 volunteers who work closely with the police, offering victims practical advice and emotional support.
Winners
TrustPower Central Otago district award winners:
Supreme award: Cromwell and District Promotions Group
Heritage and Environment: Central Otago Ecological Trust
Health and Well Being: Omakau Volunteer Fire Brigade First Response Unit
Sport and Leisure: Promote Dunstan
Educational and Child/Youth Development:Central Otago Victim Support
Youth Spirit Award: Breiana Bennetts, of Roxburgh Area School
