Improved recognition for Cambridge elite
15 April 2016
Cambridge's outstanding achievers - not just in sport - will be more easily identified in future.
Waipa District Council has tweaked the policy that recognises the town's sporting champions to ensure outstanding non-sporting achievers are also celebrated.
Changes to the existing sporting policy have streamlined the criteria and limited how long people can be on the selection panel. The selection process has been made more transparent, with minutes and decisions recorded and publicly available.
Ideas on how best to recognise non-sporting achievers from the town are now being considered. Sports people, trainers and coaches will continue to be recognised by pavers in Duke Street, with outstanding administrators and others identified in Empire Street. Mosaics of Cambridge's champion horses already decorate Victoria St and part of Empire and Duke Streets.
Mayor Jim Mylchreest said it made sense to broaden the criteria to include outstanding non-sporting achievers.
Cambridge is well-known for high-performance sport and its equestrian success but there's a lot more to the town than that. I'm really pleased a broader range of remarkable people will recognised in future.
The refined criteria means nominees must have achieved at an international senior level (not junior or age group) and must be widely recognised for their contribution to their code or profession. Successful nominees must have been born and lived in Cambridge or its environs or achieved their international success while residing in the area. They should also consider themselves from Cambridge.
Five people will sit on the selection panel; the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, the Cambridge Community Board Chair or nominee, a Waipa District Councillor and two community members appointed by the Mayor and Community Board Chair. Individuals may be co-opted short-term for specialist expertise.
With the exception of the Mayor and Board Chair, members will sit on the panel for a maximum term of five years. Similar changes have also been made to the policy governing Te Awamutu's Walk of Fame.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Council's website or picked up from Council offices.
Media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of Council) 027 5077 599