Community contributions acknowledged

 

In a new initiative, Rotary has acknowledged significant community contributions by three worthy recipients.

A special presentation was held at the latest Maungaturoto & Districts Rotary Club meeting on June 16.

The Maungaturoto and Districts Excellence in the Community Award will be held yearly said president Jim Taylor, with recipients described as being “good sorts” in the community.

Terri Donaldson, a resident in Maungaturoto, has been described as ‘a fantastic dynamo, totally committed to the community and willing to assist where she can.’

Terri’s contributions include, organising the monthly Maungaturoto Markets, organising the Christmas parade, is president of the local Residents Association and communicator to the various arms of Kaipara District Council.

She also volunteers for many organisations including the Kauri Museum, Maungaturoto Opportunity Shop, cleans and takes bookings for the Centennial Hall, is a member of the local sports council and coach of the Otamatea High School girls’ rugby team.

Otamatea High School teacher Robyn Bruce has made an outstanding contribution to the youth of the area by undertaking the responsibility of being adult leader for Duke of Edinburgh award programmes. Over her time Robyn has put through in excess of 30 gold awards. At the moment she has approximately 60 young people involved at three levels in bronze, silver and gold where participants are set objectives in volunteering, physical, skills and expedition.

Robyn has also been coaching hockey since 2001 and has taken teams to week-long tournaments since then in various parts of New Zealand. She has also been taking her collegiate hockey team to play in Whangarei and this continues today.

Joanna Roberts has a list of involvement in the Mangawhai community that is truly breathtaking. Joanna was a Kaipara councillor, a past chair of Mangawhai library, chair of the Mangawhai Beach School committee, started the Memo, and now has a regular column in the Mangawhai Focus.

Joanna has opened her garden for the local Plunket Garden Ramble and guided people on the Mangawhai Walking Weekend around her garden.

More recently Joanna’s interest in books has led her to managing the books at the St John’s Op Shop.

She has supported the Mangawhai Historical Society in establishing a Museum by the local hall, including transporting the historic old building to the site. Her commitment has carried through to the new Museum on Molesworth Drive. Among many other positions in the community she was founder and first president of Mangawhai Probus Club.

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GOOD SORTS: From left, Joanna Roberts, Terri Donaldson and Robyn Bruce are the inaugural recipients of the Maungaturoto and Districts Excellence in the Community Awards.