Friday, 14 December 2018 - 3:44pm |
Southern

Southland Dog Section present very first Our People Award

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Our People Award
Our People Award

The Southland Dog Section has presented the very first Our People Award to 13-year-old Baily Bennet, for her support and contribution to cancer research.

Bailey was surprised by the Dog Section at school yesterday (December 13) when she was presented with the award in front of her classmates. 

The Our People Award is an initiative to promote and celebrate positivity and kindness in the community says Constable Jono Airy.

“The initiative is aimed at school aged children. We contacted most schools in the Southland region, asking them to nominate someone they knew who had done something especially kind or thoughtful and provide us with a bit of a story about why they thought that person was deserving of recognition.”

After reviewing the nominations the Dog Section team agreed on the winner.

Bailey is from Tuatapere in Western Southland. When two of her family members were diagnosed with cancer, she decided she wanted to show her support to them and do what she could to contribute to cancer research.

She decided to shave off her long red hair and did so in front of her peers at a school assembly.

“Her mum tried to talk her out of it warning her she may get bullied, but Bailey felt so strongly about supporting the people she cared about she committed to it,” says Constable Airey.

Bailey also managed to raise $3500 which went towards cancer research.

“We spoke to Bailey and her classmates about our values as Police officers, highlighting that our main focus is helping others. 

We also spoke about our dog training methods and the use of positive reinforcement. Students then got a chance to meet a Police dog,” says Constable Airey.

“It’s awesome to be able to celebrate Bailey’s act of kindness and it was awesome to see how blown away Bailey and her teachers and classmates were with our recognition of this.”

Bailey received a trophy and a pack of LEGO, kindly donated by LEGO NZ.

Constable Airey hopes the award will become an annual event and that it grows in profile.

“We see it as a great way to both connect with our community here in Southland and to promote kindness and positivity.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

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Our People Award
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Our People Award
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