​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Contact

Search

Community Service Awards

Nominations and Applications for the 2026 awards closed on Sunday 24 May 2026.

The Clutha District Community Service Awards is an annual event recognising groups, individuals, and a year 13 student in the community who are doing great volunteer work for the Clutha District.

Winning recipients in each of the Community Group areas will receive $1,000 and the Supreme Winner of that group will receive an additional $2,000.

The recipient of the Youth Community Spirit Award will receive $750.

The awards are in three categories:

Individual awards: people can nominate an unsung hero in the Clutha community.

Youth Spirit Award: for a year 13 student who has greatly contributed to their school and community during their time as a student. Anyone can enter a student for a Youth Spirit Award (including the student themselves). The award is open to all Year 13 students, and multiple entries from the same school will be accepted.

Community Group Awards: For community groups that have achieved a special project in the past 12 months of benefit to our district under one of the following categories (can self-nominate):

  • Heritage & Environment - improve and revitalise the local environment, culture or heritage.
  • Health & Wellbeing - to provide services that enhance the health and social wellbeing of people.
  • Arts & Culture - enhance and increase participation in arts and creative leisure activities or improve community culture.
  • Leisure & Recreation - increase participation and/or enjoyment in physical leisure activities and recreational pursuits or provide support to participants.
  • Educational & Child/ Youth Development - improve and enhance the education of the community, or the educational or social development of children and youth.

The awards are presented annually at a formal ceremony.

For more information, please contact Council on 0800 801 350 or help.desk@cluthadc.govt.nz .

The awards (previously the Trustpower Community Awards which were disestablished in 2018), have been picked up by the Clutha District Council and will continue as the Clutha District Community Service Awards.

2026 Awards

Our Clutha District Community Service Awards for 2026 were held at the Kaitangata Community Centre on Thursday, 18 June 2026.

Recognition was given to the following award winners:

Supreme Winner: Kaka Point Community Group

Individual awards: Joel Crook, Jeannine Basquin, Kirsty Nichol, Nathan White, Sue Harrex, Pam Hunter, Iosfa Setu, Salu Ta'avili

Youth Spirit Award: Jorja Andrews, Rashaun Melvin, Bella Paterson.

Community Group Awards:

  • Arts & Culture Award - Knit & Yarn
  • Leisure & Recreation - Kaka Point Community Group

2025 Award recipients

Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust and Committee, Benji Perry, Jess Paul, Geoff Blackmore, Elizabeth Jenkinson

Annaliese Bisset, Maddie Grinton, Lawrence Creative Arts, Milton Area Promotions, Clutha Budget Advisory Service, Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust & Committee, Tapanui Toy Library.

Click here to read more about the work that these deserving recipients have been doing in our communities.

2024 Award recipients

Clutha Gold Cycle Trail Extension Committee, Rachel & Ash Prasad, Kevin Sutton, Anna Harrex of the Lawrence Area School, Ollie Shore of South Otago High School, Papatowai Forest Heritage Trust, Milton Elder Care Trust, Special Olympics South Otago Trust (combined winners), Lawrence Domain Volunteer Group, Balclutha Primary School Whanau & School Committee. Click here to read more.

2023 Award recipients

Evan Dick, Edward Fitzgerald, Pam Keddell, Jill Wallace, Graham Walker, Hans Van Der Linden, Sven Captjin, Te Whare Puawai o Tokomairaro Inc, Lovells Flat Women’s Institute, Tokomairaro Toy Library, Tokomairaro Junior Netball Club, West Otago Rural Kids and Waihola Looking Forward.

2022 Award recipients

Nathan Baldwin, Simon Cleverley, Francis Parker, Murray Paterson, Arthur White (posthumous), Dale Wyber, Mari Chacapna, Blessed Box Charitable Trust, Clutha Budget Advisory Support and Clutha Parks Trust.

2021 Award recipients

Lawrence Skate Park committee, Murray Harris and Marilyn Redditt were presented with Clutha District Council Community Awards for 2020 formally acknowledging their community service to the district.The Youth Community Spirit Award was awarded to Sophie Ruffell.

2020 Awards recipients

Gay Bloxham, Gloria McHutchon, Janet Noah, Joyce Beck, Kerry and Jeff Seymour were presented with Clutha District Council Community Awards for 2020 formally acknowledging their community service to the district.

The Youth Community Spirit Award was awarded to Annabelle Philps and Sydney Robertson.

2019 Awards recipients

Finlay Abernethy, Peter McPherson, Stu Michelle, Ila Ryan, Chris Shaw, Dawn Smith and Helen Keen were presented with Clutha District Council Community Awards for the 2019 year.

Share this

Share this page

Sharing...