The Clutha District Council Community Awards were reintroduced this year following an end to the TrustPower Individual Community Awards in 2017.
Inspired by a wish to acknowledge "individuals in the community that go above and beyond", the council nominated seven volunteers as inaugural recipients during the ceremony in the council's Balclutha chambers on Thursday.
Nominees were: Finlay Abernethy (services to the Owaka community); Peter McPherson (West Otago and Clutha); Stu Michelle (Waihola and Bruce); Ila Ryan (Balclutha); Chris Shaw (Clutha migrant community); and Dawn Smith and Helen Keen (joint recipients, Owaka).
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan praised the collective contributions of the recipients, describing them as "champions of their communities".
"From supporting new migrants, community gardening, dishing out baking and kindness, rolling up their sleeves to see community projects to fruition and doing their civic duties, tonight's winners are truly worthy of recognition," he said.
"The strength of any rural community is in its volunteers. It's what drives projects, improves wellbeing and ultimately defines the vitality of our towns.
"Volunteering is the most crucial and rewarding involvement a person could have with their community and I am delighted to formally acknowledge the seven recipients of the 2019 Community Awards."
