Dunedin Victim Support volunteers graduating from training and receiving service awards were thanked for their work by Mayor Peter Chin.
"If it were not for the tremendous amount of people who do what they do for the benefit of other people, we wouldn't have the community we do have now," he said.
Dunedin and Clutha Area Commander Inspector Dave Campbell also thanked them for the work they did, which sometimes disrupted their lives, was sometimes frightening, but was rewarding and filled in gaps for the police force.
Among those honoured were Gill Bryant, for 10 years' service, and Heather Begg (eight years).
Both became involved in the organisation through emergency services work members of their families did.
They both agreed the best thing about the work was being able to help people through traumatic experiences.
Those who graduated were: Alison Anderson, Annette Williams, Colleen Lyons, Dame Patricia Harrison, Hilary Waddell, Janet Bertram, Nicole Kettings, Amy Rutherford, Byron Sanders, Dawne Terry, Jacob Kambuta, Joss Depree, Lavina Choie, Julie Gilchrist, Kunal Paranjpe, Marcella Churchman, Marcus Wainwright, Phillipa Bain, Pleasance Hansen, Raewyn Booth, Robin Taylor, Sarah McCallion, Terry Taana.
One-year awards: Debbie Hancock, Lisa Cambridge, Annabelle Hay, Phillip Roxborogh, Tania Ashton.
Two-year awards: Ann Taylor, Averil Anderson, Charlotte Janssen, Daphne Payne, Daveen Thomas, Fiona Thomas, Jasmine Ashley, Jeanette Ruri, Sandy Leiataua, Sarah Hook.
