2011 NHWA Award Winners

Recipients of the 2011 Neighbourhood Watch Australasia Awards

The 2011 nominations where received and co–ordinated by our Secretary Ingrid Stonhill. The nominations were checked and distributed to our convening panel for consideration and judging against the criteria. We would like to thank our judging panel Mr Ken Mildred, NHWA Inaugural President, Mr Bernie Durkin, Vice President, Mrs Margaret Pearson and Mr Malcolm Grant.

This year we are pleased to announce that the winners are:

The Neighbourhood Watch Australasia 2011 Police Commissioners Award is awarded to:

Mr Pat Creasey, New Zealand.

Pat has shown his passion for building stronger more resilient communities in his role as a Crime Prevention Officer in the New Zealand Police from 1993 – 2001 and then as the Co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Support Canterbury from 2001 – 2010. While co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Support Pat has grown the aim of neighbourhood support from one of mainly crime reduction to one where residents are now encouraged to know their neighbours, to be aware of the strengths and needs in their own street and to be more able to work together in the case of the civil defence emergency or pandemic.

During his time as co-ordinator the number of established neighbourhood support groups in Christchurch has grown to over 2000. With an average of 10 households per group there are approximately over 20,000 households actively involved in neighbourhood support groups.

Pat has contributed to the vision of a safer City through his involvement with the Safer Christchurch Committee.

The Neighbourhood Watch Australasia 2011 Malcolm Grant OAM Volunteer’s Award is awarded to:

Mr Atul Garg Western Australia

Mr Garg has held various positions of volunteer, Street representative, Suburb Manager and City volunteer Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator from 1995 to-date. His current role involves engaging voluntary activity with about 600 NHW volunteers and about the same number of additional program supporters. He is currently responsible for coordination and management of Neighbourhood Watch activities in all 18 suburbs in the City of Melville. These include strategic planning, organising and chairing meetings of volunteer Suburb Managers, WA Police representatives, and representatives of the City of Melville, arranging barbeques, recruiting and coordinating/training volunteers, seeking guidance from WA Police, Neighbourhood Watch State Office, and media liaison for publishing and promoting information towards building a safer community.

Under Mr Garg’s leadership, the City of Melville NHW Team enjoys tremendous support and goodwill within the City of Melville. During the last 12 months the group has been extremely vibrant and committed. The volunteers come from different backgrounds and age groups. They bring lots of different skills and knowledge to the group. Under his guidance he has achieved significant results for the NHW Team.

 

If you know a NHW member whose contribution is outstanding then make sure you contact your State/Territory or New Zealand co-ordinator to nominate them for the 2012 NHWA Awards.