The Board’s Community Service Awards were held on 2 July at the Papanui RSA. The awards are to formally acknowledge the voluntary work people have done over the years within the Shirley and Papanui wards. This local recognition scheme is different from the Council’s Civic Awards which recognise voluntary service benefiting the City of Christchurch as a whole.

The people who received the Board’s awards have been contributing to community well being in a wide range of pursuits — dedicated gardeners, assisting with bowling club, starting a community learning centre, helping with Brooklands gala day and running a commuity café.

Nominations are invited from the public each year to recognise groups or individuals who have provided significant voluntary service benefiting residents or organisations in the Shirley and Papanui Community Board areas.