Rec Centre's first fundraisers recall 'heady days'

November 15th, 2015

On Thursday Brent and Jodi Maru welcomed to the Motueka Recreation Centre a group of women who were influential in getting the Centre started.

A reunion of the Altrusa club members from the years 1981 to 2000 was held at the Centre and 27 of them enjoyed reminiscences of the heady days of fund-raising.

Brent thanked the members, with special mention of the dedication and expertise of Pamela Holyoake (pictured) who coordinated the project right through to its opening in 1986.

He recalled being just a lad at the time when the late Beryl Sturgeon, a keen skater, first put the idea forward as a project for the newly formed group.

Pam said 'we punched above our weight' as the group of fewer than 30 women organised the district's first wine and food festivals, the inaugural one raising $11,000, and the first Sports Awards Dinners. These events brought the community together and raised awareness of the project.

Brent commented on the 'heart' that such activities brought to the community and said that he and Jodi tried to maintain that heart in their visions for the Centre.

Today fund-raising is largely by applying for grants and community involvement has been lost to a large extent. Pamela said that she would like to see a return of community involvement in the Vision Motueka plan for Motueka Library and Community Centre.

Jodi Maru took the group on a tour of the centre with its ongoing developments including a new lift and a 'drop-in' centre for the town's youth. The 'musclemen' in the gym were somewhat bemused by the bevy of elderly ladies peeking in on their exertions.

Drinks and nibbles followed and some there was some hilarity as the photos in the archives revealed the youthful images of thirty years ago and Barbara Atkins kept the group amused with several humorous renditions.

Comment by Leo Hylton-Slater:
[Posted 21 November 2015]

Difficult to imagine how Motueka would be in terms of a better quality of life, without the Rec Centre. So a big THANK YOU! to the many who over the years have developed so excellently this ammenity.

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