14.03.06
Cornwall celebrates its amazing women

The finalists for the first Cornwall Women of Achievement Awards were welcomed at an evening of glitz, glamour and celebration at the Eden Project last Wednesday night. Over 150 people, many from local organisations and businesses turned out to celebrate their colleagues, family and friends who had made it to the final.

The organisers received an amazing response in all the nine categories and judges were hard pressed to decide upon a winner from nearly 160 nominations that were received from Saltash all the way to the Isles of Scilly. The women, nominated by the people of Cornwall highlighted the immense wealth of talent, dedication and commitment to communities, to others and to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Nine category winners went away with the beautiful specially commissioned awards created by Falmouth based artist Shelagh Spear.

The overall winner was Sandra Calvert, Active Community Co-ordinator for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary who also won the Community and Public service category. Sandra said: "Winning my category was wonderful in itself – but to be honoured with the overall title was something else. It really means something because all of the women who were nominated have done something with their lives and achieved goals."

Sandra's interest and enthusiasm in community engagement and crime prevention drove her to increase the number of Neighbourhood Watch schemes in her own locale and involved her working closely with the local police to identify areas in need of assistance. Her enthusiasm in this field has involved over 15 years of working with and for communities in Cornwall, done in a full-time voluntary capacity for almost 12 years, even turning part of her own home into a crime-reduction information drop-in centre.

The awards will be taking place again next year.

For further information about the Cornwall Women of Achievement Awards please contact Rachael Clayton of Ashley Events on 01579 370991 or email: sue@ashley-pr.co.uk.

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership, was on the judging panel for the Cornwall Women of Achievement Awards.

Editor's notes:

Winners 2006:

Agriculture, food & fishing
Catherine Mead, Director, Lynher Dairies Cheese

Health
Denise Samuels, Director of Nursing & Therapies, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust

Creative Industries
Emma Rice, Artistic Director, Kneehigh Theatre Company

Media & Communication
Genevra Halstead, Editor, Cornwall 24 and Vitality Matters

Young Woman
Jessica Cook, Disability Sports Development Officer, Cornwall Disability Forum

Business
Ellen Winser, National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Chairman of Air Southwest

Community & Public Service
Mrs Sandra Calvert, Active Community Co-ordinator, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary

Education & Training
Mrs Jenny Rudge, Chief Executive, Connexions Devon & Cornwall

Sports & Leisure
Pat Smith, Bosinver Farm Cottages, Cartwheel Farm & Rural Tourism

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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