Chris Lumsden and Tim Hudson were presented with the St John Order's prestigious Priory Vote of Thanks awards at a ceremony at the Lake Wanaka Centre on Saturday evening.
The pair have raised more than $40,000 between them for St John Wanaka, by way of several fundraising initiatives conducted through their businesses.
Mr Lumsden manages the Wanaka Paper Plus bookstore and during the past six years has been a a supportive backer of St John by way of funding initiatives such as Santa Claus and Christmas promotions, and book launches where a percentage of proceeds have been donated.
Mr Hudson founded his Treble Cone-based Thunderboards ski and snowboard tuning business in 2003 and started a "locals' industry day" at the skifield to raise funds for St John in recognition of first-aid services provided.
The initiative has raised about $30,000.
Mr Hudson, a former general manager at Treble Cone for the 2009 winter, has since joined the St John order as one of its Wanaka volunteers.
St John Wanaka area manager Barbara Roxburgh said the pair had provided outstanding support to the local first-aid organisation, which is reliant on community-provided funding, and their charity initiatives were instrumental in helping buy new equipment, such as a 4WD ambulance last year.
St John Commander and Central Otago national representative Pauline Beattie told a crowd of Wanaka St John supporters on Saturday that the Priory Vote of Thanks awards were "not given lightly".
A maximum of six awards could be presented within a region each year and of the four granted to Central Otago in 2010, two were going to Wanaka supporters, she said.
Wanaka St John paramedic Don McMillan was presented with a sixth gold bar medal to recognise his 42 years of stalwart service providing first-aid support to the Upper Clutha.
Mr McMillan was given a standing ovation by his colleagues.
St John Wanaka awards and presentations, 2010.
Three years of service certificate: Gavin Mason, Brian Cooke, Brian Nimmo, Darren Clay.
Six years of service: Jenni Coop, Shelley Collins, Jo Nimmo, Phill Hunt.
Nine years of service: Lynn Rae.
Sixth bar to service medal (42 years): Don McMillan.
National diploma in ambulance practice: Helen Rule, Jenni Coop, Paul Kummerow, Brian Cooke.
Priory votes of thanks: Chris Lumsden, Tim Hudson.
Cadet age group awards of the year: Madison Fraser, Melanie Telford, Nicholas Mercer, Abbey Swift, and Hannah Gerrard.
Outstanding junior of the the year: Sophie Hodgkiss-Blyth.
Overall cadet of the year: Hannah Gerrard.
