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Last modified: 29 Jul 2020 10:47am

A Rolleston youth worker has taken out the inaugural People’s Choice honour at the 2018 Selwyn Awards.

Courtney Forrest, from the Youth South West Trust (Hope Trust), won the award which was voted on by Selwyn residents.

He was one of 10 Selwyn businesses, groups and individuals who were recognised for their excellence at the Selwyn Awards Gala Dinner, held at the Lincoln Event Centre on Saturday evening, 4 August.

More than 330 people celebrated the success of the region at the event, which also featured a range of entertainment, food and beverages originating from Selwyn.

Nearly 2,400 votes were cast for the People’s Choice Award, which was introduced for the first time this year. Mayor Sam Broughton says it’s great to see the community supporting local people working for the good of Selwyn. “We have so many amazing people in Selwyn giving up their time to help others, building thriving businesses which support our district’s economy, and working to improve our environment and community wellbeing,” he says. “I am very proud of all our winners, as well as the other runners up and nominees – it just shows what a wealth of talent and creativity we have in Selwyn.”

The award winners are:

People’s Choice:

Courtney Forrest – After volunteering as a youth worker, Courtney moved to a full-time paid role with the Youth South West Trust (Hope Trust). From 2012 to 2017, Courtney developed the youth programme in Rolleston, to a level which required additional professional youth workers and community volunteers. In 2018 he developed infrastructure for greater expansion within Rolleston and wider Selwyn. Courtney is the full time youth worker and team leader for Rolleston School and Rolleston College.

  • First runner up: Quickenberry Guesthouse
  • Second runner up: Busy Bumbles LTD

Arts, Culture and Heritage:

Church Property Trustees – The Trustees have one of largest portfolios of heritage listed buildings in New Zealand.  56 of its 77 listed buildings were damaged during the Canterbury earthquakes. Church Property Trustees has developed innovative answers to extremely complex repair issues.  The Recovery Team have developed unique skills in relation to heritage conservation and implemented unique solutions as demonstrated by the work on St Paul's in Tai Tapu.

  • First runner up: Hororata Community Trust
  • Second runner up: Ellesmere College Whānau Committee

Community Services:

Chris Allan – Is passionate about helping our community and has dedicated the past thirteen years to working with the vulnerable and under-privileged young people of Canterbury and Vanuatu.

  • First runner up: Robyn Searle
  • Second runner up: Allan Thorne

Environmental:

Lesley Barlow and Stephen Clarke – The recently retired visual arts teachers, have taken their passion for the environment and education from the classroom to the community. In 2010 they took over a patch of Council land proposing to return it to its pre-European state. Since taking over the land they have built a nursery, as well as gifting all excess trees to a range of other projects.

  • First runner up: Plastic Straws Suck
  • Second runner up: Matt Stanford and Lou Drage

Innovation Excellence:

Plastic Straws Suck – The family combination of Nathan (father), Tui (daughter) and Mana (son) Martin, came together after Tui decided she wanted to make a difference reducing plastic use, after completing a school project at Lincoln Primary. So the eight-year-old decided to enlist her family to help rid Lincoln of plastic straws. Their vision is to have the village plastic straw-free by 2020, and learn about business and social enterprise along the way.

  • First runner up: The Lincoln Pantry
  • Second runner up: Recycle Recreate

Large Business:

Eurofins ELS – Working with councils across New Zealand testing drinking water supplies, as well as supporting them if public health emergencies strike. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017, Eurofins ELS donated $1.6 million globally, as well as $40,000 to causes around Selwyn District.

  • First runner up: Global Bus Ventures (NZ) Limited
  • Second runner up: Selwyn Kids Limited

Small Business:

Busy Bumbles LTD ­– The largest provider of innovative, family centric before and after school programs and holiday programs in the Selwyn District.  Its purpose is to create a place of security, happiness and trust where parents can send the most important thing in their lives - their children. Busy Bumbles programs contribute towards a child’s educational and personal development - enhancing and working in harmony with the school curriculum they already know.

  • First runner up: Jones Road Auto
  • Second runner up: Brenna Sincock Hearing

Sport:

Selwyn Sports Trust – Established in 2013 to promote and support participation in sport and recreation in the Selwyn District, Selwyn Sports Trust is an independent charitable trust.

  • First runner up: Belinda Jones
  • Second runner up: Lyndal Marshall

Tourism:

Hororata Night Glow –staged by the Hororata Community Trust and supported by Ballooning Canterbury, this event captured imagination of everyone attending.  Hot air balloons lit up the night sky surrounded by an autumn festival with a diverse range of food, music and entertainment. Visitors walked inside a cold inflated balloon, fired a balloons burner and learn the science behind hot air balloons. The event created a lasting impression leaving people wanting more.

  • First runner up: Quickenberry Guesthouse
  • Second runner up: Taste of Life Tours

Young Achiever:

Caelan Thomas – Caelan is passionate about theatre and has been involved in the arts in Selwyn over a number of years.  He has been involved with the Kirwee Players, shows in Halswell, Ashburton and took on the Musical Director’s role for the Selwyn Community Choir at Darfield in 2017.

  • First runner up: Ryley Griffiths