The Gore District Community Awards were held on Friday night. The Ensign asked the winners four questions.
Josie Robinson
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
It is a bit overwhelming, so many other worthy nominees. It means everything.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
We are in our eighth year.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
I absolutely love what I do. I love the challenges and being true to my core values. I want everyone to eat without numbers and man-made additives.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
Work really hard, establish your core not-negotiable values, find your point of difference and back yourself.
Southern Indoor Charity Dog Trials committee
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
It means a lot to us guys. It shows people in the district are taking notice of what we are doing.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
We’ve done the charity dog trials for seven years.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
One is to promote our sport of dog trials. Two because everyone some way or another is affected by cancer so that is why we have hospice as our charity.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
Don’t put off any ideas to help others for next year. Do it now.
Olivia Crawford
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
Receiving this award is a huge honour and I am so grateful to be recognised for my efforts for the youth council and my school.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
I have been on the Gore District Youth Council since 2017 and been chairwoman since 2021 and have been involved on most school activities since my enrolment in 2016.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
I have enjoyed the learning experience and being able to learn how to communicate in a professional environment. I also enjoy the challenges the role brings, especially with Covid-19 barriers and working with the community and other young people as well as councillors.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
Go for it. We need more motivated young people who have a passion for our community. I don’t even live in the Gore district, but I have a passion for making it a better place for everyone. Even if you’re unsure, have a go.
Dorothy Mullen
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
It has been an unexpected honour to receive this award as the calibre of the nominees was very high.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
It has been over a period of 30 years that I have engaged in services to the elderly in the Gore community. This has included visiting many people in their homes, taking them meals and transporting them to medical appointments. In addition, I have visited elderly care facilities weekly for those who didn’t have families close by. I have been involved in preparing and cooking meals for the Gore District Senior Citizens for 16 years. Over the past 10 years I have also been an active committee member for four community groups.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
I have always been interested in the welfare ofelderly people and being a friend to those who are isolated. It has been a joy to listen to their life stories and build lasting friendships. Cooking their favourite foods and visiting people in their own homes has been my personal ministry.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
I firmly believe that if you are passionate about something you should give it a go. Don’t let age be a barrier. I’m in my 80s and I have lots more to give.
Ira Deans
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi. Engari he toa takitini. My accomplishment has not been achieved by me alone but by many. To me this award is an honour and acknowledgement to those who have walked, guided, supported, and encouraged me from the beginning of my journey to its fruition today.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
My journey began as an 18-year-old when I arrived in Mataura with a friend from the North Island. Joining the Mataura Maori Club in 1963 was the start of me sharing my culture and language with others.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
Ko toku whakapono, ko toku reo rangatira me ona tikanga hoki toku ohoohu. Ko toku whakapono, ko toku reo rangatira hoki oku mapihi maurea. He Maori ahau. My faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, my language and culture are the awakenings to action. My faith, language, culture are the windows to my soul. I am Maori.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
Karawhiua — Go for it. If you are kaingakau (interested in) Maori, able to speak te reo or interested in learning te reo and tikanga (culture and customs), there are options and resources available. There is an urgent need for people with these skills.
Scott Anderson
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
Satisfaction to be recognised for my contribution.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
Fifteen or so years.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
My interest in sound and lighting technology.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
Go for it and don’t let anyone or anything stop you from your dreams.
Erin Howes
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
It’s a privilege and very humbling to receive this award and being recognised in the community. Even more humbling was being recognised by our friends and family that share in our passion for basketball.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
Between us we have contributed around 40 years of coaching and administering the game of basketball in the region. If we were totally honest, both of us have been playing the game since primary school so we have been involved in the game for a very long time.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
It’s very simple. Somebody did it for us when we were playing and now we are doing it for others.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
The most important moments of being part of the game is not really about the basketball played but about the kids and people we reach out to through coaching and the friends we make and the laughs on the way through. Basketball is an inclusive sport and as a region if we can continue to support and nurture the community game and not get too carried away [with] the top-end performance side of things, then the future of the sport will be strong and sustainable.
Maegan and Nicola Mitchell
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
To us, receiving this award from a community that has raised us and supported us means a lot, especially now that we have just released our first single called Find a River. which talks about the role music has played in our life as well as the Topp Twins’ lives.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
We’ve been a part of country music in Gore for our whole lives and for a few years now we have also been involved in the Gore Music Theatre and the St Peter’s Kapa Haka Group.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
Most of our motivation comes from our family and the Gore community who have always been supportive of our musical journey.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
You should surround yourself with people who support you and find a way to be involved in the community of country music. For us, that was singing at the Country Music Club and local rest-homes.
Saffron Hare
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
I wasn’t expecting to receive this award. I felt honoured just being a finalist. When my name was called I was quite surprised. I think the other finalists deserve it just as much as me. This award is great recognition. That will fuel me to keep pursuing my chosen sports, football and basketball, whilst studying at Otago in 2023.
How long have you been taking part in the area you have been recognised for?
From a young age I was playing sports inthe back garden with my older sister and dad. I was eager to be as good as them. I started participating in various sports competitively when I attended Gore Main School. I tried to play as many as I could, one being football, my chosen sport — I started that at the age of 5 after a friend went away onholiday and the Gore Main School team needed a fill-in. I was rung up and haven’t stopped since. I also started playing mini-ball at Gore Main School and that throughout the years it has progressed to basketball. I started mini-ball when I was 7 and also haven’t looked back, I still am actively involved in these sports and you can find me either playing, coaching or reffing them.
What motivates you to take part in this activity?
I’m motivated by the activities football and basketball because I genuinely really enjoy them both because they bring me happiness. These sports have brought challenges but they also have brought me huge success. I’ve met some of my closest friends thanks to them. I love the social aspect of life they have to offer.
What advice do you have for others interested in this activity?
I would suggest for everyone to have a crack at a sport, the benefits of taking part in physical activity explain themselves. Our community has plenty to offer — there is something for everyone.
