Nominations have opened for the 2009 TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards.
The awards, run in conjunction with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, are open to all voluntary groups and organisations working for the benefit of the district.
Residents are being encouraged to nominate voluntary groups helping keep community spirit alive.
It is the 10th year the awards have been held in the district and TrustPower has given away more than $47,000 in prize money to voluntary groups during that time.
This year more than $5000 is available.
TrustPower community relations manager Melanie Gray said there was a huge number of volunteers who contributed time, effort and energy to strengthen the community. This was a chance to turn the spotlight on those who normally worked behind the scenes.
Anyone could nominate a voluntary group or organisation for the awards - groups could even nominate themselves.
Last year, 27 nominations were received, but there were many more groups still to be recognised, she said.
"Everyone knows a deserving voluntary organisation that makes an outstanding contribution to their community.
"Nominating a voluntary group for the awards will only take five minutes of your time but it will provide a huge boost for the volunteers you are recognising," Miss Gray said.
The awards cover five categories - Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Educational and Child/Youth Development.
Category winners receive $500, runners-up receive $250 and the supreme winner will take home $1500 and an all-expenses paid trip to the TrustPower National Community Awards, being held in the Nelson and Tasman districts in March 2010.
Nomination forms for the TrustPower Community Awards are available from the council offices or service centre.
Nomination forms can also be downloaded from www. TrustPower.co.nz/communitycentre.
Nominations close July 17.
