Volunteer thanked for 25 years of help
By ROMY UDANGA - Manukau Courier
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Hundreds of volunteers and volunteer organisations across Manukau city received a big thank you this week.
They’ve been recognised by their community boards for their contributions to the community.
The awards events were held in conjunction with national Volunteer Awareness Week.
Seventy-six volunteers and 28 organisations turned out in Mangere while 150 volunteers and 39 organisations made it to Otara’s celebration on Monday. Howick and Botany volunteers are also being recognised this week.
The awards are split into five different categories: Leisure, lifetime, youth, learning assistance and the "extra mile" for those who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Ninety-year-old Henriette Alford received a lifetime award for her voluntary work in Mangere.
A founding member of the Mangere Historical Society and its archivist for many years, Ms Alford has spent 25 years encouraging people to gather their memories and record the information for posterity.
Mangere Community Board member Val Payne says Ms Alford "truly deserves" to be recognised for the tremendous work she has done over many decades for the people of Mangere.
"She encouraged the members to write just a chapter about their lives growing up in Mangere and how the area they lived in has changed. They became the basis for several books published by the society that are very popular with the general public.
"She inspired others to write books, gather data and was able to supply the Manukau reference library with many things pertaining to Mangere as it started its time-line and collecting other information.
"She was always available to talk to school and library groups about the history of their area and she encouraged other members to go with her and add their own story."
Manukau mayor Len Brown, who is a "huge supporter" of the volunteer awards, says it’s important that the city takes time out to thank its volunteers.
"Manukau is really lucky to have so many. Without them many clubs and organisations would struggle to keep afloat.
"They are people very devoted to making Manukau an even better place to live.
"They go out of their way to help every day and we are showing our appreciation and applauding their efforts."
Each Manukau ward takes turns to hold volunteer award ceremonies every second year.
Next year the Clevedon, Manurewa, Papatoetoe and Pakuranga wards will be thanking volunteers in their areas.
