The golden touch

29 September 2013

Twelve South Auckland schools and sporting organisations went home with their own pot of gold this week after Auckland Airport announced the winners of its 2013 Gold Medal awards.

In their fourth year, the awards are aimed at supporting programmes that focus on developing healthy young people in the Auckland region through sport and fitness.

More than 100 schools, clubs and organisations applied for assistance from the $30,000 sporting fund as part of this year’s awards, something that made choosing just 12 winners very difficult. The applications were judged according to four priorities: promoting a winning philosophy; focusing on promoting health and wellbeing; a need for essential sporting equipment; and helping to improve the abilities of their members.

Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood says it’s fantastic to be able to contribute to the region in this way.

“We have seen great results from our previous Gold Medal Awards, with all of our winners experiencing very real benefits from our donations.”

The 2013 Gold Medal Award winners are:

• Manurewa South School for sport uniforms for the students to wear at interschool events.
• Mangere East Primary School for two all-weather concrete table tennis tables.
• Rosehill Special School for flights to Dunedin for their basketball team to compete in the Special Olympics National Games.
• Orewa Surf Life Saving Club for six training boards for the junior members.
• Shuriken Mixed Martial Arts for boxing gloves and boxing bags for Youthline classes.
• Tu Kura Kaupapa Maori o Manurewa for swimming lessons and transport for all students aged 5-13 years.
• East Tamaki Primary School for two portable netball hoops and one portable basketball hoop.
• Roscommon School for a sporting uniform for the junior Rippa Rugby team to wear to the National Champs in Wellington.
• Manukau Outriggers Canoe Club for 35 life jackets for junior members.
• Aorere College for a crossfit training programme for students with high BMIs.
• Homai Primary School for the painting and fit out of the school pool to get it back up and running for community use.
• Otahuhu Rugby Football Club for hit shields and tackle bags for the junior teams.