Community helpers thanked

SHOCKING STATE: The Hibiscus Coast Community House complex needs urgent repairs.

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Volunteers at the Hibiscus Coast Community House complex have been awarded certificates acknowledging their valuable contribution.

It was attended by many of the volunteers as well as community house staff, the patron for the centre – traditionally the spouse of the current mayor, in this case Penny Webster’s husband Malcolm, community house committee chairwoman Jacki Dawson, and deputy mayor John Kirikiri, who is also on the foodbank committee.

Community organisations often rely heavily on volunteers to stretch tight budgets and provide services. The Hibiscus Coast Community House is no exception, with between 25 and 30 volunteers regularly helping run operations connected to the community house.

Some give two hours a week, while others put in almost a full working week, helping to run the myriad operations from makeshift buildings tucked behind pohutukawa trees at the south end of Orewa Beach, on the corner of Centreway Rd and the coast highway.

The volunteers generally help with the opportunity shop, fundraising and maintenance, and a range of manual work including picking up and sorting furniture and goods, cleaning and mowing the lawns.

There are some areas where suitably qualified volunteers can help with administration and finances, as well as a volunteers’ representative on the management committee.

Permanent staff members like manager Christine Alesbury and volunteer coordinator Belinda Greenwood have nothing but praise for them.

The local area community house also operates from the site. It is booked by various groups, including Child Youth and Family, a counsellor for teens, an ESOL group, Home Builders – Rodney Stopping Violence group, and mental health support groups. Behind this building is the community childcare facility.

In March, the preschool closed after failing to attract a qualified teacher, despite advertising for six months. Now only after-school care is available there.

This Rodney District Council facility with its mix of buildings was originally set up as a temporary venue starting with the community house about 20 years ago, with other buildings added over the years, all now in various states of disrepair.

There have been numerous suggestions and ideas forwarded by various elected councils as to how to upgrade these facilities. Plans were even drawn up at one stage.

The issue of upgrading the complex is back on the Rodney District Council agenda on Thursday, July 10, and the mood is upbeat that the Hibiscus Coast is finally on its way to having a community house complex of which it can be proud.

- © Fairfax NZ News