Waimarino citizenship award suggested

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 623, 13 February 1996, Page 2

Waimarino citizenship award suggested

Members of the family of the late Ruby Parker are to be asked their views on extending the Raetihi Citizen's Award to take in the whole of the W aimarino. Council administrative assistant Alice Ferguson suggested in a report on the establishment of a Waimarino award presented to the Waimarino Community Board at their last meeting that the Waimarino community was

"not wide enough to warrant two separate awards". The board decided that before they make any recommendation that the Parker family should be consulted. There was some debate on the rules for the award, with board member Bob Peck objecting to the need fornominees' nationality to be noted on the application form and the exclusion of people who have received

some other award. He said even if someone had received an award such as the Queens Service Medal, there should be scope for them to be recognised locally.

Board member Doug Bennett said the idea behind the award was to recognise those who had made a significant community contribution but who had not been honoured already.

"If a person gets a higher award then their efforts have already been recognised. Member Gary Rawnsley said it was important to have flexibility and that the rule was not necessary.