We all know there are some incredibly generous, community-minded people in Mid Canterbury.

Every day there are countless people getting stuck in to keep this great patch of ours ticking over.

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, we here at the Guardian thought it was time to celebrate those community champions.

That's why we're launching the Heart of Ashburton Awards.

The awards will highlight those people in Mid Canterbury who selflessly give up their time to help others, who give back to their community, and who make this a fantastic place to live.

This is where we need you, our community, to get involved.

Nominations are now open, and we want as many as possible.

While there are some fantastic, high achieving and high profile people doing amazing things in our patch, I'm sure there are a huge number of dedicated community heroes flying under the radar.

It would be great to recognise those people, and share their stories with the community.

Here's how it will all work: nominations are now open, and will close on December 3. They can be emailed in to the Guardian, or you can fill out the form in today's Guardian and either drop it into us, or post it to us.

Make sure to put the name of the person you're nominating, and why you think they should be one of our winners.

We've created six categories to recognise a range of areas.

The Braided Rivers Trust Volunteer of the Year will recognise someone who gives up their time for a good cause (or several good causes). Rangitata MP-elect James Meager's Act of Kindness award will celebrate someone who has done just that this year.

The Ashburton Club & MSA's Sports Personality is aimed at highlighting someone who puts in the hard yakka for one of our sporting codes, from helping out at sport club fundraisers to volunteering as an administrator.

Advance Ashburton's Junior Achiever will highlight our community champions under the age of 19, while the Cartrights Insurance and Mortgage Brokers Lifetime Achievement award recognises someone who has served our community for a long time.

And the Jeff Donaldson PGG Wrightsons Rural Champion award celebrates one of our hardworking farming heroes.

The awards have already received great support from our fantastic local sponsors, who are just as keen as the Guardian to recognise some deserving locals.

A panel of judges will then consider all of the nominations and pick the winners. They will then pick a Supreme Winner from the six winners.

So make sure you get your nominations in, and keep an eye out for a special edition of the Guardian in late December announcing our winners and sharing their stories.

All the details

What: Heart of Ashburton community awards

When: Nominations close December 3

How to nominate: Either email the person's name and why you think they should win to [email protected] , or fill in the nomination form in today's Guardian and either drop it in, or post it to us at 161 Burnett St Ashburton.

Categories:

- Braided Rivers Trust Volunteer of the Year

- Rangitata MP-elect James Meager's Act of Kindness award

- Ashburton Club & MSA Sports Personality

- Advance Ashburton's Junior Achiever (under 19)

- Cartrights Insurance and Mortgage Brokers Lifetime Achievement award

- Jeff Donaldson PGG Wrightsons Rural Champion

By Daisy Hudson