The inspiring work of 14 West Harbour residents and groups was celebrated in style at the West Harbour Community Awards.
Organised by West Harbour Community Board members Jacque Ruston and Duncan Eddy, and sponsored by the board, last Wednesday’s awards ceremony at Port Chalmers Pioneer Hall was attended by about 60 people. The event was run under Alert Level 2 guidelines.
The awards recipients were nominated by members of their own community and feted at the ceremony, receiving certificates presented by Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins.
Those attending also enjoyed a special supper, catered by local firm His & Hers Catering.
The 14 community heroes were long-standing Port Otago unionist Phil Adams, Otago Harbour champion Warren Lewis, Long Beach community leader Edna Wheeler, Iona Church clock caretaker Mark Cameron, long-standing Purakaunui Amenities Society president Jude Newton, Ravensbourne community champion Jarrod Hodson, anti-litter advocate Kilda Northcott, Port Chalmers Community Market stalwart Roger Blok and volunteer Aaron Blok, market organiser and promoter Margy Hoskins, Charlotte Parallel and the Anteroom Trust, the Terra Nova Sea Scouts and Cubs for their clean-up work at Back Beach, dog poo campaigner Antonia Wood, and Koputai After School Care volunteer administrator Rachel Lissaman.
West Harbour Community Awards co-organiser Jacque Ruston said the event had been excellent, and that it was great to have the chance to acknowledge the contributions of these ‘‘local heroes’’.
Co-organiser Duncan Eddy said it was inspiring to celebrate the mahi of the award recipients.
‘‘It’s staggering to reflect on how much some people contribute — what at a bunch of legends,’’ he said.
Ms Ruston said the event was also an opportunity to ‘‘shout out’’ to the many local organisations and businesses that had soldiered on in difficult times.
These included the Port Chalmers Four Square and On the Spot dairy, for keeping the town supplied during lockdowns, Port Chalmers Pharmacy for opening as a vaccination centre, and to the Stop-Go sign workers on SH88, who had kept drivers entertained while they waited at road works.
