Vanessa is top volunteer

Masterton volunteer Vanessa Maxwell has been named the Best Overall Community Person of the Year.

Ms Maxwell, Tainui, has worked as a volunteer at the Wairarapa Community Centre in Perry St since its opening at the beginning of last year. She had previously worked as a volunteer for the Heart Foundation and Autism NZ Wairarapa.

The 39-year-old had been referred as a centre volunteer by her CCS case manager Helen Murphy, alongside Emma Pike, who has since moved on to work with the Wairarapa DHB. Sandy Ryan, Wairarapa Community Centre trustee and manager of Masterton Safe and Healthy Community Council, said she had nominated Ms Maxwell for the Mitre 10 Mega and More FM Volunteer of the Year Award.

Ms Maxwell was this year taken on as a part-time office administrator and relieving manager at the centre, which is home to 13 community groups and agencies. "She is just so competent and she's so deserving. She just needed the opportunity," Ms Ryan said.

There were four divisions of the awards, which also included farming, sports and neighbour categories, and Ms Maxwell was this week presented with the overall award.

The prize as volunteer of the year includes a $100 supermarket voucher and a bottle of wine, and the overall prize includes dinner for two and a night at the White Swan in Greytown.

Ms Maxwell said she was surprised and proud to have won the pair of awards. She thanked Mitre 10 Mega and More FM for the awards, Mrs Ryan for her nomination, and Mrs Murphy for her reference to volunteer at the centre.

"I've just grown so much from it, my confidence has grown so much. Thank you, everybody, for your involvement and support."