Vol. 35, No. 33, August 29, 2019 52 Ingestre Street, Wanganui. Phone 345 3666 or 345 3655, fax 345 2644, email [email protected] Rotary about to complete four year plus revamp of Bushy Park BY DOUG DAVIDSON Funding for a part-time educator is being sought at Back in 2015, the Rotary Club of Wanganui North present. recognised that Bushy Park was in dire need of sup- The Rotary project be- port and an upgrade of its infrastructure. gan with the building of In case you haven’t been Island Robin, the saddle- the wetland boardwalk to Bushy Park recently, it back and the stitchbird or and amphitheatre which is a 98 hectare area in- Hihi. The Park has been can sit up to 60 students corporating a remnant of ranked as “one of Austral- for school visits. This was mature lowland forest, a asia’s Top 25 Restoration largely funded by named beautiful wetland and a Projects.” wetland boardwalk planks grand historic Edwardian It is also an important at $55 a plank, raising homestead – and only a outdoor education class- $20,000. The club also had 25 minute drive north of room for schools from ƿ Whanganui. It is free to Whanganui and the dis- were matched by a Dis- visit and enjoy. trict, currently hosting up trict Matching grant. The A 4.8km Xcluder pest to 3000 students a year. walk and amphitheatre proof fence was installed Other than Forest Man- was opened by the Gov- around the park and it ager, Mandy Brooke, ernor General at the time, successfully protects an Bushy Park is totally run Sir Gerry Mataparae. abundant native bird life by volunteers, including The next step was build- including the rare North the education programme. ing new and upgrading 1.5kms of forest tracks laid in shell rock. Fortu- nately one of the Rotary North members is Wilf Outside the new front entrance – Rotary members Wilf Emmett, Graeme Foster, Cranleigh Emmett who was able to and Bryce Connybeer bring in some large ma- and 1000 years old and is carpa milled on site and a cost of around $15,000, to make sure you know chinery to help the vol- 43 metres in height with a giant shade sail, tane the stable was converted where Bushy Park is, unteer workers from the a girth that exceeds 11 whakapiripiri, was in- into a visitor centre and new highway signage is club. metres. A new viewing stalled just as you enter heritage display. A visitor being installed and there Within the park is a platform for Ratanui was the forest, as a gathering kiosk has been set up next is an easy to follow map large northern rata named completed. point for student groups. to the parking area. A new before you get started on Ratanui (‘Big Rata’) esti- Forest seating and tables The project kept rolling on series of visitor pamphlets the tracks. mated to be between 500 were made from macro- with a new entrance gate at will be available. Just Continued on page 2 RIVER CITY PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019 - 1 Check out what’s Rotary about to complete four year plus in this week’s RCP They might be an age- revamp of Bushy Park ing group but the mem- bers of Rotary can still Continued from page 1 funding committee was perform wonders. Their In the process of clean- formed for Bushy Park contribution to revamp- ing out the stables, they and raised, Cranleigh ing Bushy Park is re- unveiled a horse drawn says, “A staggering markable and much of wagon, had it restored $1.1million from Trusts, the credit has to be given and it will take pride of lotteries and a benefactor to the driving force be- place in the Heritage as well as other sources, hind the project – Cran- Display. to renew the toilet block, leigh Chainey. (See our Funding also came by build an implement shed front page article). grants from the Eleanor and volunteer room, build This issue has a num- Burgess Trust, a Rotary a soon to be opened state- ber of examples of the "# of-the art Visitor Centre, role of volunteers in The funds add up to Heritage Display and a our community. Helen $120,000 not to mention complete renovation of the hundreds of volunteer the exterior of the historic Bourne is retiring after Doug Davidson, 10 years at Citizens Ad- hours. Cranleigh Chainey stables and homestead.” journalist@ led the Rotary com- Cranleigh adds this vice Bureau (page 3), rivercitypress.co.nz volunteers at Kowhai- mittee dedicated to the project “is one of the nui (page 40), the Air- There are four pages (18 project and helped inspire largest recent hands-on port runway fundraiser ƽ the Rotarian and non- projects within Rotary (page 30), a poetry and Day which is the major Rotarian volunteers. They District 9940, which cov- jazz fundraiser for Brain fundraiser for the local would come out at least ers the lower half of the Injury Association (page Cancer Society. once, sometimes twice a North Island. Our club is 24) and a family Kite A new award has been week. proud to be involved in Day organised by anoth- launched. It is for a Re- Fellow Rotarian and the Bushy Park up- er Rotary group – Day- cycling Champion. It past Bushy Park Board % break Rotary (page 9). will be monthly and the member for six years, education, promote the Hard at work – Rotary members Bryce Connybeer, Graeme Foster, There are two arti- winner will receive a $50 Dennis McGowan says of forest and its birdlife Robin Paul and Colin Slaughter cles on the work of the voucher to spend at Caro- Cranleigh, “Without his and preserve the heritage Whanganui Community line’s Boatshed. Nomina- passion, determination buildings. But best of all that we had.” ƾ!! with the Mayor, Hamish Foundation – one on tions can be sent to the and perseverance, the were the working bees, The Visitor Centre and Minister of Conserva- McDouall on Saturday, [ ƽ!- project would never have comradery and the fun Heritage Display will be tion, Eugenie Sage, along September 14. (page 6) and the other cling Centre will also be succeeded. on three organisations observing ‘people doing “Bushy Park owes [ the right thing for the en- Cranleigh a big debt of from Foundation grants vironment’ (page 8). gratitude.” Choir Director needed for Grassroot singers (page 5). - Doug Davidson At the same time a Rotary led six person The Grassroot Sing- ers are excited that their Director, Sue Thorby, has taken a new leap in her #' to join the Gypsies. Well !' seven month musical tour throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand with the Original Gypsy Fair, performing in Whanganui on 1st and 2nd February 2020. But this means the Grassroots Singers needs a new Director. “We all love singing”, said Lyn Pearson, “learning new songs and parts and The Duncan Pavilion – the home of joyful singing generally having fun with music. That, after all is persuaded Sue to become many songs from around this friendly group of why we joined this choir.” a Musical Director, soon the world and Aotearoa, welcoming people. And, The Grassroot Singers * including Negro Spiritu- of course, practicing at choir was started after people happy to join als, songs by Fleetwood home during the week.” Rhona Vickoce and Ruth them for one evening a Mac and Queen, as well If you’re interested Tidemann did a CES week, during term time, as the odd Sea Shanty. in directing the singing course two years ago at the Duncan Pavilion in All in three or four part of this group of joyful led by Sue. And they % harmony with little or no singers they'd love to wanted more. They had wonderful acoustics. accompaniment. Some- hear from you. There is a been in choirs before and This choir has learnt thing some of them have remuneration. never done before. There also continues Marion Rainforth says, to be a committee of “I especially enjoyed the members to support the end of each term concerts, group and negotiate with singing for members’ the Director and handle birthday parties, the things like money, book- Need a Feijoabulous Festival and ings and sweeping the UCOL Family Day.” \# Jo Anne Chyrton said :; this was one way we joining this group as the dentist? “spread the joy we gain Director or a new singer from our singing. The oth- contact rhonavickoce@ er is just going to weekly gmail.com or phone practices and singing with 022369561. Make an appointment today 06 345 3222 Visit us at Victoria House 1a Rutland Street, Wanganui 2 - RIVER CITY PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019 Your chance to run on the airport runway - spot prizes up for grabs The Runway Mile ";! '' 2019 is being held on ;;%|#=<# Crystal Water. Sunday, September Spot prizes will be Y!};- 8 at the Airport with - able from Sport Whan- [ '~% between 9.30 and there will be 1st, 2nd iSite on Taupo Quay, <#=<;#: { '" will be open from 9am "# >! to 12 noon and the :'* `' Airport Control Tower " or may be downloaded Cab will be open to |{%<<< from the Sport Whan- ";<; been donated by Air ganui Website www. through to 3pm. The Chathams, Sanitarium, ##* " Jane Winstone Retire- Y Whanganui Heritage ment Village, Wanganui 5.00pm on Wednes- Month programme and >%~'% day, September 4 and will be a fundraiser for ?>'%[! may be left at Sport the refurbishment of the Norman, Bark and Boul- ]' Tower. %?M- ~%! The Control Tower >%Y;! #^# is a listed heritage Whanganui Airport runway 3 Theatre, Rutland Arms 545, Whanganui.