At a ceremony at the Bass and Flinders Centre, George Town, The Examiner's general manager, Phil Leersen, acknowledged 91 innovative community groups who had entered the awards over the past four years.

He said all of this year's record 28 entrants were outstanding and full of passion, purpose and enthusiasm.

The Examiner always celebrates its birthday - this year the newspaper turned 168 - on the day of the award.

"The Examiner's mission statement is to produce a quality newspaper that builds its community," Mr Leersen said.

"How better to support our purpose than take it to the communities we serve and recognise people building their community?"

The editor of The Examiner, Fiona Reynolds, and Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne were among the 100 guests who attended.

The award received entries from Scamander and Deloraine to Beaconsfield and Fingal.

The high standard made it difficult for judges and prominent Northern Tasmanians Professor Nigel Forteath, Joan Walters and Elizabeth Daly to pick a winner.

Legerwood Hall committee president Cindy Walsh said her heart was pounding and she was taken aback when it was announced they had won.

"I couldn't believe it because everybody was a deserving winner," she said.

The judges were impressed that the committee had carved wooden statues to recognise the sacrifice of seven soldiers from the town who died in World War I.

"We have a copy of a scroll that says `Let their names never be forgotten', and we are proud that through what we have done they will be remembered," Mrs Walsh said.

The Examiner's promotions manager, Danny Gibson, said that the Legerwood Hall and Reserves Committee overcame many obstacles to create the Legerwood Memorial Park.

"It has given the community a great sense of pride in their town," Mr Gibson said.

"Now people from all over the world visit the park."

The Smart Communities Award runner-up was the Meander Valley media arts facility, Studio Be, and Ian Howard accepted the accolade.

Studio Be gives the community access to learn about new technologies and modern media to advance its future.

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