Carterton District Council is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Charles Rooking Carter Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding contributions to Carterton’s community, and those people and organisations who help make Carterton a welcoming and vibrant community where we all enjoy living, working, and playing.
The Awards winners and all contributions to our community were celebrated at a ceremony on Saturday [22 June] at Carterton Events Centre.
Carterton’s community came together to acknowledge the contribution of people, groups, and businesses to the District.
Categories included the Carterton Event Centre Volunteer Service Awards for Groups, and for Individuals; the Youth2Work Wairarapa Youth Award; the WCM Legal Entrepreneurship Award; the More FM Environmental & Sustainability Award; the Bay Irrigation Business Award, and the Carterton District Council Supreme Award.
Cimone Grayson received the Supreme Award, also having earned the Carterton Event Centre Volunteer Service Award – Individual honour, recognising a long list of contributions to the Carterton Community.
“Carterton’s a big machine and I’m just one part of it,” she said.
“There are so many incredible people involved in and doing things for our community that we just get on with it and do it. I certainly didn’t expect this level of recognition for doing things that need to be done.”
Hon. Ron Mark, Mayor of Carterton, said he was “blown away” with the high calibre of finalists
“Carterton is consistently punching well above our weight, and the calibre of our finalists proves just proves how special our little District is.”
Carterton District Council created the Awards in 1994 to publicly acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding volunteer work, business innovation, and achievements of members in the community.
Mayor Mark also awarded four Lifetime Achievement Awards to locals and businesses who have given more than 50 years’ contribution to Carterton.
The recipients were Barry Pragnell, Ronny Tankersley, Gordon Taylor, and Pool Construction.
“We were really happy to introduce a new element to our awards tonight to recognise those nominees who have contributed over 50 years voluntary service in our District,” said Mayor Mark.
“We, would like to highlight and thank you for your contributions to the Carterton District community.”
Carterton District Council would like to thank our winners, finalists, and all nominated groups and individuals for the work they do in our District, and to the award sponsors for their generous support.
Charles Rooking Carter Awards 2024 Winners
- Carterton Event Centre Volunteer Service Award – Group: Keep Carterton Beautiful Group
- Carterton Event Centre Volunteer Service Award – Individual: Cimone Grayson
- Youth2Work Wairarapa Youth Award: Jessie Fryer
- WCM Legal Entrepreneurship Award: A Very Carterton Christmas
- More FM Environmental & Sustainability Award: Nelly Kendall-Carpenter
- Bay Irrigation Business Award: Clareville Bakery
- Carterton District Council Supreme Award: Cimone Grayson
About the Lifetime Achivement Winners
Barry has worked with many volunteer groups for many years in Carterton and one individual stands out head and shoulders above them all in terms of the hours and effort he puts in, and the outcomes he achieves for the benefit of our community. He is active an active member of the Keep Carterton Beautiful group. Those that have worked with Barry know how much he contributes; most people would not be aware of the thousands of hours he has put in for the benefit of others. He is a humble hardworking man who does not seek accolades for the work that he does.
Gordon is a member of the Carterton Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was nominated by the Brigade for his outstanding service to Fire Emergency New Zealand, the Carterton Volunteer Fire Brigade, and the Carterton community. Gordon has been a National Waterways champion and has coached the extremely successful Carterton team to four national titles and one Australasia title. Gordon has received a 50-year service medal from the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand, and the Paul Harris Fellowship.
Ronny is one of the unsung heroes of Carterton. She works quietly in the background helping many people and causes, ensuring Carterton keeps ticking along. Always willing to lend a hand and without seeking publicity, Ronny is one of the people whose generosity and community spirit has made Carterton the amazing town it is today. She is always thinking of others and is one of life’s givers.
Pool Construction have been trading in Carterton and its surrounds since 1954. Lou Pomstra settled in Carterton with his wife and young family after emigrating from the Netherlands with 20 pounds sterling to his name, and a will to succeed. With the support of his late wife, he set about setting up a concrete construction business. Many, if not most, of Carterton’s streets or roads have the benefit of foot pathing, kerb, and channelling constructed by Pool Construction.
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Charles Rooking Carter Civic Awards 2024 winners. from left: Lou Newman of A Very Carterton Christmas, Ruth Henry of Keep Carterton Beautiful, Jessie Fryer, Nelly Kendall-Carpenter, Cimone Grayson, Rose Kloeg, and Mike Kloeg of Clareville Bakery.
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Ruth Henry of Keep Carterton Beautiful with Erin Banks of Carterton Events Centre, Hon. Ron Mark, Mayor of Carterton, and Cr Steve Cretney, Deputy Mayor of Carterton.
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Cimone Grayson, second right, with Cr Steve Cretney, Deputy Mayor of Carterton, Erin Banks of Carterton Events Centre, and Hon. Ron Mark.
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Jessie Fryer receiving the Youth2Work Wairarapa Youth Award
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Lou Newman of A Very Carterton Christmas receives the WCM Legal Entrepreneurship Award.
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Nelly Kendall-Carpenter receiving the More FM Environmental & Sustainability Award.
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Mike and Rose Kloeg of Clareville Bakery receive the Bay Irrigation Business Award
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Supreme Award winner Cimone Grayson with Hon. Ron Mark and Deputy Mayor Steve Cretney.
