Latest news with #CluthaLeader
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Our community champions
The Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust and Committee are presented the Supreme Award at the Clutha Community Service Awards at TPŌMA last week by members of the Clutha District Council. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The Clutha District Council announced the winners of the 2025 Clutha Community Service Awards last Wednesday to honour the groups and individuals who go above and beyond to make a positive difference in their community. Presented at Te Pou Ō Mata-Au, Clutha District War Memorial and Community Centre (TPŌMA), the Supreme Award went to Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust and Committee. "This a great opportunity for our district to acknowledge the passion and pride people put into their community," Mayor Bryan Cadogan said. "Communities are defined by their champions who drive projects and make real differences that we all benefit from." Formed in 2016, the Hub Charitable Trust and Committee were formed with "a goal to develop a place to celebrate local identity and heritage, and bring people together to connect, grow, and thrive". The resulting TPŌMA civic centre is "a facility that pays tribute to the past while boldly embracing the future". Other groups acknowledged for their contribution this year included Clutha Budget Advisory Service, Lawrence Creative Arts, Tapanui Toy Library and Milton Area Promotions. Local individuals recognised for dedication and commitment to their communities included Benji Perry, Jess Paul, Geoff Blackmore and Elizabeth Jenkinson. Year 13 students who demonstrated "great volunteer mahi" were recognised with Youth Spirit award, given this year to Annaliese Bisset and Maddie Grinton. "The awards remind us of the remarkable generosity, dedication, and heart that exists within our communities," council's community support and development adviser Lilly Paterson said. "It was a privilege to celebrate the individuals, students, and groups whose tireless volunteer work often goes unnoticed, yet has such a lasting impact. These are the people who make Clutha a stronger, more connected place to live — and we are proud to acknowledge and thank them," Ms Paterson said. Each community group winner received $1000, and the supreme winner received an additional $2000. Keep reading future editions of the Clutha Leader for a closer look at this year's hard-working winners and details of their impact on the area.
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Local Legend: Big River Educare
PHOTO: NICK BROOK The first place winner of theSilver Fern farms Matariki special is Balclutha early childhood education centre Big River Educare. Centre manager Phillipa Geary and educator Hayley Te Wao — holding the lamb leg roast — supervise some of their class around a well sunk and sealed Matariki hangi. Some of the centre's dad-experts — Rym Geary, Tyler Bichan and Joe Te Wao — prepared a colossal feed for about about 150 children, teachers, friends and whanau of the centre and an astronomical art festival and evening starlight walk around the fairy-light lit centre were organised for the epic celebration. Silver Fern Farms Finegand fired out five of the premium roasts to help local groups celebrate Aotearoa's own midwinter festival, check next week's Clutha Leader for the other four hard working winners.
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Rewarding small acts of kindness
Silver Fern Farms team members (from left) Japi Sulaiman, Bronwyn Cairns, Katherine Bardaje, Hayden Lamond and Rhoda Delaney agree every act of kindness deserves a Local Legend reward. PHOTOS: NICK BROOK Has your neighbour dropped off firewood, mowed your berm or brought in your wheelie bins? Perhaps you know someone who cooked for the after-match function, swept your chimney or cleaned out your roof gutters? "We've been delighted with the Local Legends featured in the Clutha Leader every week, but nominees don't have to be in the thick of volunteering or charity to collect it," Silver Fern Farms Finegand site manager Bronwyn Cairns said. "Small acts of kindness happen every day without any expectation of reward, and we thought of the Local Legend as a way to just highlight and encourage that beautiful community spirit." A Kiwi country lamb roast is the perfect opportunity for friends and whanau to come together, share kai and make lasting memories together, especially with our darker winter days coming in, so Silver Fern Farms and the Clutha Leader also want to hear your plans for Matariki, which is coming up on June 20. "We have five lamb leg roasts to give away for the ideas we think best share the real spirit of Matariki," MsCairns said. So come together, Cluthans: show you know real heroes don't wear capes. Keep paying the good turns forward and keep sending the names and contact numbers of your everyday heroes to with a few words explaining why they are your Local Legend.
