Community Service Award for Sandra Earwaker

Tokanui honours Sandra Earwaker’s huge contribution

Tokanui turned out to honour the staggering service of Sandra Earwaker.

Mrs Earwaker is a tireless and passionate advocate for her community and has been heavily involved behind the scenes in nearly every aspect of life in her area for many years. She continues to lead the way in working to make her community a better place.

She was presented with a Southland District Council/Waihopai Toetoe Community Board Community Service Award by Southland District Mayor Rob Scott at a function at the Tokanui Golf Course on Saturday 23 March.

Mrs Earwaker has been involved in many local groups as a volunteer, committee member or coach, and rarely misses an opportunity to lend a hand in working bees, or assist with fundraising and catering.

Some of the community groups she has been involved in are Tokanui Plunket, Playcentre, Toy Library, Toi Tois Guides and Scouts, the Tokanui Netball Club, Home and School, Toe Toes Community Pool, the Tokanui Memorial Hall, Enwood Hostel Parents Association and the Menzies Netball Centre.

Mrs Earwaker has been a driving force in Tokanui’s community swimming pool since 1997. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty, most of those years in the role of secretary. She takes pride in having the pool ready for the coming season, organises maintenance, working bees, supplies, carries out water testing and manages cleaning teams. She also takes responsibility for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met and gets the community on board to help fundraise or provide help when required.

She has been involved in running the Tokanui Memorial Hall since 2004, being responsible for hall bookings and ensuring that all required jobs are done.

Mrs Earwaker’s contribution has enabled key facilities to keep ticking over, ensuring access for the future.

She was part of the organising committee for the Tokanui School’s 125th jubilee, including the Tokanui, Fortrose, Otara and Quarry Hills areas. As a result of her involvement she wrote a book titled From There to Here.

Mrs Earwaker consistently has the community in her thoughts and is always brainstorming ways to improve and sustain local community historical events and resources.

In 2020, Mrs Earwaker and her husband Selwyn were named among the KiwiBank Local Heroes for services to their community.