Congratulations to Catalyst IT and the New Zealand Open Source Society for launching the New Zealand Open Source Awards!
It’s an excellent branding opportunity for Catalyst, community-building opportunity for NZOSS, and outreach opportunity for the entire NZ Open Source community and industry. They haven’t done it by half either — seven award categories, very slick website, and a pool of influential judges… many of whom should be standing for the awards themselves! Ah, the sacrifices of leadership…
And, our dear sheep-loving, cross-Tasman friends, you have the pleasure of kicking us in the arse again. 🙂
What do we have here in Australia?
Linux Australia has the Rusty Wrench Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Open Source Community, which I initiated specifically to reward those whose contributions may not be as readily or widely recognised as great feats of technology.
AUUG once had Open Source Awards, but they appear to be about as relevant and active as AUUG itself at the moment. (Hey, as long as they do not purport to represent FLOSS interests, they are welcome to their apparently lengthy and painful demise…)
So, we do not currently recognise Open Source achievements across the board with an award such as the NZOSA.
I would be very happy for the Rusty Wrench Award to become one of a small collection of awards, supported by Open Source Industry Australia and Linux Australia (particularly once they change their name to something more representative), to recognise Australian Open Source excellence in technology, industry and community.
Looks like I have my work cut out for me… Proposal sent to LA and OSIA. 🙂
There’s also Karen’s people’s choice thingie that I got last year.