Southland Mayor Rob Scott offered the award for his or her contribution to music and leisure at a ceremony at Tokanui on Sunday.

Waihopai Toetoe Community Board chairwoman Pam Yorke mentioned the Hayes had amassed a outstanding array of musical achievements since first performing within the Niagara Hall and at Progress Valley cattle gross sales a few years in the past.

The neighborhood board and Southland District Council had been proud to recognise the Hayes as excellent residents they usually had been very deserving of a neighborhood service award, Mrs Yorke mentioned.

“As a family they always lead the way in providing music for our social occasions — always happy to include friends,” she mentioned.

The Hayes household had been a part of the Progress Valley farming neighborhood for greater than 50 years

and ran the Muddy Waters Festival at Tokanui for 10 years.

“The Hayes family have been the backbone of this southern area’s community music, which is such an uplifting experience for the locals.”

In 1981, family members grew to become properly often called the Possum Pickers and had been named New Zealand Country Music Entertainers of the Year in 1983.

“Words appear inadequate to reward this household because it nonetheless occurs at present within the youthful technology. From bush picnics to shearing sheds, native barbecues to music festivals, and the extra formal events.’’

In 2009 the primary Niagara Falls Bluegrass Festival was held in Niagara, an occasion Mr Hayes and the Progress Valley Possum Pickers had been instrumental in organising.

“Steven is a humble man of few words. However, when he starts to play his fiddle it does the talking.”

In 2016, he was voted Southland Entertainer of the Year and recorded his first solo album, Catlins Fiddler, in 2018. The album was described as “alternative country with bluegrass running through it”.

The album was a household mission, Mrs Hayes performing backing vocals and taking part in the accordion, son Lachie harmonising and daughter Kelsi taking part in tenor banjo.

“Locally our community have been privileged to enjoy their entertainment year after year — hoedowns for all occasions. We have had Irish nights, Scottish nights, Easter Bonnets and more,” Mrs Yorke mentioned.

— Staff reporter