Inlet Garden work celebrated and acknowledged

May 10th, 2015
[Story by David Armstrong, photos by Danielle]

Richard Kempthorne presents Bob Cooke with a certificate of achievement and a bottle of Bob's favourite tipple.

Ten years of visionary work clearing scrub and restoring the Inlet Gardens by Keep Motueka Beautiful were celebrated by about 50 people yesterday.

The event, part of the future-looking Motueka 2030 programme, focused on the various projects that KMB has undertaken, and particularly on the leadership provided by Bob Cooke on the Inlet projects.

Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne attended to make a small presentation to Bob, outlining the dedicated work he has led for much of the past 10 years in developing the Adopt-a-Plot scheme and building the Inlet walkway loop.

The celebration included some tree planting by volunteers and a display of photos taken around the gardens area at various stages from its state in 2004 as a rubbish dump and sawdust heap.

All people attending were taken back to see the photos of the early days, and amazed to see how much things had changed for the better.

In his thank-you comments, Bob made special mention to the men from the Corrections Department who over the years have worked off community service at the gardens, providing huge numbers of man-hours in labour.

Rotary put on a sausage sizzle, and the Community Gardens provided a delicious pumpkin soup made from garden produce. The community gardens, which are adjacent to the Adopt-a-Plot gardens, is coming up to its fifth birthday and took part in Saturday's event.

Most people attending took part in a "walking quiz", searching for answers to questions about facts around both gardens' development as well as recognition of various plants in the area.

The quiz winners were Glen Penson (a $50 gift voucher from Mitre 10), Will Humano and Samuel James (both taking home a Mitre 10 Spade valued at $33).

Perfect weather conditions allowed the visitors to wander and admire the gardens, and see which parts are being further developed.

Part of the visiting group enjoying the sausage sizzle.

Comment by Coralie Smith:
[Posted 11 May 2015]

I was sorry to have missed this but so pleased Bob Cooke has been acknowledged for his leadership and work at the gardens. I try and visit every week and more often if I can.The Community Gardens are another success story.

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