Happy times again for winner

For this year's Nelson Tasman Youth Community Spirit Award winner, the turning point came when she was matched with a four-legged companion.

Nelson College for Girls student Jemma Wastney had taken a break from college after experiencing a bout of depression.

One day she decided she needed to begin making positive steps. An initial step was to volunteer for the Nelson Ark programme, a charitable trust that runs an animal rescue shelter and uses shelter dogs to help rehabilitate and educate people.

She was paired up with a dog that had issues similar to hers, and she found working with the animal helped both of them.

Now, a year later, she has a schedule that would put most people – let alone teenagers – to shame.

The year 13 student somehow manages to juggle her secondary school study with volunteering at the Ark, Students Against Violence Everywhere, Students Against Drink Driving, and being a peer mentor for a year 9 student.

Last night, as she received her award in front of 150 community representatives at the TrustPower Nelson Tasman Community Awards at the Rutherford Hotel, she was amazed at the change in her life in the past year.

"Last July I wasn't at school; now here I am."

Miss Wastney was chosen from six finalists in the Youth Spirit category, selected from high schools across the region.

School counsellor Carolyn Phillips, who nominated Miss Wastney for the award, said she believed what set Jemma apart was her ability to overcome difficulties and still remain open, sensitive and caring about the needs of others.

"What a gift to our community," she said.

Miss Wastney's next challenge after college is training to be a veterinary nurse, with plans to later become a veterinarian.

For winning the award, she received a framed certificate and $500, half of which she will donate to the Nelson Ark.

Other winners at the TrustPower Nelson Tasman Community Awards:

Heritage and Environment – winner: Friends of Flora Inc; runner-up, Friends of Labyrinth Rocks; commendation, Rotary Club of Nelson West.

Health and Wellbeing – winner: Lifeline Nelson Inc; runner-up, Stoke Social Seniors; commendations, Murchison Volunteer Fire Brigade, Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Arts and Culture – winner: Founders Heritage Park Reception Staff; runner-up, Magenta Creative Space Charitable Trust.

Sport and Leisure – winner: Golden Bay Tennis Club; runner-up, Saxton Field Sports Stadium Society; commendations, Golden Bay Swimming Club, Fulton Hogan Basketball League.

Educational and Child/Youth Development – winner: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nelson; runner-up, Q-Youth; commendations, Impact Youth Trust (Takaka), Inspired Productions.

Tasman District Overall Winner: Mapua Community Library.

Nelson City Overall Winner: Nelson Tasman Housing Trust.

- © Fairfax NZ News