Team of the Year Award
Winner: Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust Peer Support Volunteers
The Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust Peer Supporters team is passionate about mental health in Otago.
Clients can make an appointment or just drop in and spend time with a highly skilled volunteer who is trained and prepared to help people through various scenarios of mental health distress or crisis.
In the past 12 months the team has facilitated 480 peer support sessions. This is 120 more than the previous year. The Peer Supporters have stepped up and gone above and beyond to meet the rising demand for mental health care.
Hours of volunteer time is spent in rigorous training and supervision sessions, client follow ups, staffing the Crisis Café for complex health situations and helping with events, marketing and governance.
Many of the team have lived experience with mental health challenges and come from a place of deep understanding. They bring a strong desire to share their journey for the purpose of helping others with their struggles.
Highly Commended: Good Bitches Baking Dunedin Chapter
For the Good Bitches Baking Dunedin Chapter the simplicity of baked treats for people in crisis is deceptive in terms of its impact.
The team of volunteers produce baking for a wide range of community partner organisations who in turn distribute them to people having a tough time. In June alone 80 boxes were distributed each containing 8-30 pieces of baking joy.
The Good Bitches kaupapa is simple – spreading kindness through the mechanism of baking. The recipients of their baking gain a moment of respite and sweetness and a sense of being wrapped in the comfort of care and community.
Finalist: Club Enliven Volunteer Drivers
Club Enliven Drivers enable members to attend the Presbyterian Support Otago’s Club Enliven Programme run for the elderly. Without them there would be no programme.
For some members of the Club this is their only outing of the week and look forward immensely to the journey and engaging and interacting with their driver. It is enriching for both parties
The drivers turn up every week and take their role very seriously, delivering their passengers safely and happily to their destination. They are committed, compassionate and caring.
The impact of the volunteer drivers also benefits the wider community. Regular attendance at the programme means a higher degree of success for members living at home, less reliance on other services and peace of mind for family members.
Leader of Volunteers Awards
Winner: Moira Parker
Moira Parker has been recruiting, training and leading teams of Otago Peninsula conservation volunteers for over 41 years. STOP (Save the Otago Peninsula), the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and The Otago Catchment Group to name a few, have benefited from Moira’s passion to get feet on the ground for the conservation cause. This nomination acknowledges her dedication as a conservation warrior.
Highly Commended: Claudine Toleafoa
The always happy Head Volunteer and Assistant Coach at the Dunedin Riding for the Disabled’s Claudine Toelofa is nominated for the incredible bonds she has created with her students, volunteers and horses. She is encouraging, helpful and not afraid to pick up poo. She is a very well loved member of the team.
Finalist: Juanita Willems
Over the last ten years Juanita Willems and her team at Foster Hope Otago have delivered thousands of foster children with essential items and Christmas gifts. Juanita leads by example, never asking anyone to do something she wouldn’t do. Her volunteers are welcomed, supported and acknowledged. This nomination recognises the exceptional value she brings as a skilled and respected coordinator and leader.
Resilience Volunteer Award
Winner: Nick Chisholm
For Nick Chisolm helping others is his unpaid job. Suffering a stroke on the rugby field and being diagnosed with locked in syndrome saw Nick fight back to achieve incredible physical results. Founding Iron Warriors, a group who regularly meet and train at Skyfit24 Gym was his way of helping others who have sustained strokes or brain injuries. Pure inspiration, he is committed to helping people live their best lives.
Highly Commended: Telagi Papau
Through rain, hail and hot sunshine Telagi Papau is the epitome of resilience. Volunteering at the Otago Farmers Market Telagi turns up week after week and keeps visitors honest about their rubbish disposal. Educating people on what rubbish goes where, expertly sorting and generally keeping the market clean. No matter what the weather Telagi will be there – engaging and educating market goers.
Finalist: Emmerson-Leigh Morgan
Emmerson-Leigh Morgan has suffered grief herself but with resilience and love she has channelled this into making a heartwarming difference in her community. Her charity, set up to honour the memory of her baby daughter, has given cuddle cots to the Queen Mary and Dunedin Hospitals. She visits children in hospital, helps friends deliver Emergency Department kiddy cots and supports Babyloss awareness week. She visited a client as part of the Age Concern Visiting Service for 4 years, becoming like family and giving an abundance of love.
Finalist: Juanita Willems (featured above)
Rising Start Award
Winner: Eleanor Dunn
Eleanor Dunn is a full time medical student and works part time but still finds time to make immense contributions to her community. From the Student Army to the Leslie Groves Retirement Village over 10 local community groups are benefited by her enthusiasm and dedication to volunteering. This nomination recognises her strong commitment to improving the lives of others.
Highly Commended: Josiah Edwin
Josiah Edwin is a star volunteer because he goes above and beyond for two important community entities. This nomination recognises his unstinting willingness to donate countless hours out of his busy life as a Peer Supporter for the Life Matters Suicide Trust and as founder and President of the Medical Research Students Association. In both organisations he is already known as a leader, team worker, communicator and initiator.
Finalist: James Sutherland
23 year old University student James Sutherland volunteers for numerous community organisations. At different times he might be found chairing a meeting at the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust, planting trees for conservation or restoring military graves. James is nominated for his quiet commitment to making the world a better place.
