New Zealand's outstanding recreation industry leaders recognised

Eight organisations and four individuals have been honoured for their outstanding contribution to the parks and recreation industry by the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA).

Presented this week at the NZRA Conference Gala Dinner amid an audience of the leaders of New Zealand's recreation community, NZRA Chief Executive Andrew Leslie stated "the judging panel were impressed with both the quality and level of nominations and those selected represent the best, most successful people, facilities, projects or events in the past year.

"The nominees were all very good, but the winning nominations were outstanding."

Outstanding Awards

The Outstanding Project Award - which recognises the successful development or major redevelopment of a strategy or facility - attracted the most nominations. This category also had the most varied mix of low and high-cost projects, but all projects contributed significant value to communities.

Upper Hutt City Council won the prestigious Outstanding Project Award this year for its programme 'DIScover: Serving customers with disabilties', while Wellington City Council's ASB Sports Centre and Rotorua District Council's 'Youth Spaces Project' received Highly Commended recognition.

Sport Wellington won top honours in the Outstanding Event Award for 'AMI Around the Bays'.

Community Leisure Management won the Outstanding Pool Award for its Glen Innes Aquatic Centre, and Auckland Council accepted the Outstanding Research, Policy & Planning Award for its 'Sports Field Capacity Development Programme'.

Manukau Leisure proudly accepted two awards - the Outstanding Community Recreation Programme for its 'AMP'd Programme' and the Outstanding Recreation Facility Award for its Howick Recreation Centre.

Judges commented that Howick Recreation Centre was "a well performing, vibant centre demonstrating all that is best about recreation facilities - great weekend programmes for preschoolers and parents."

Individual Awards

The four individual awards acknowledged extraordinary people who have motivated others and achieved great success in their field.

The Emerging Recreation Leader of the Year Award recognises significant leadership potential of an individual in the recreation industry.

This year's recipient was Michele Frey, Strategic Planner at Opus International Consultants. Frey is an Accredited Recreation Professional and is very active in restoration and conservation work. She received a planning award in 2003 from the Canterbury Branch of NZ Planning Institute and a Lady

Isaac Nature Conservation Scholarship towards her Masters Qualification. As a strategic planner, she has been involved in a variety of projects including physical activity strategies, regional park strategic framework, and expert evidence and research in recreation.

In May, Frey represented Generate NZ at the International Parks Forum in Adelaide. She is also an accomplished author and has published research.

The winner of the 2011 Ian Galloway Memorial Cup, which recognises excellence and outstanding personal contribution to the wider parks industry, was Walter Miller. Miller is the Parks Operations Manger for the Rotorua District Council, where he has worked for the past 40 years. His input in to the beautification of Rotorua has been immense and he has been responsible for the planning of the beautiful flower bed displays throughout the city which has been a major contributing factor to Rotorua winning New Zealand's best city a record six times. Walter has also been a member of NZRA since it was established in 1992. The Ian Galloway Memorial Cup is in memory the late role model and leader of the parks and recreation industry in New Zealand from the 1960s to the 1980s.

The Mark Mitchell Memorial Trophy recognises excellence and outstanding personal contribution to the wider recreation industry. This year's winner was Georgie Witehira.

For more information go to www.nzrecreation.org.nz/Professional-Services/Awards.asp

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