Tuesday, 28 April 2015

One Step Closer

(Community Pathway Partnership)

Many hands make light work
Eight successive years and eight hundred meters later, the Rongomai Park pathway linking Rongomai and Te Irirangi roads is one step closer to completion.

Auckland turned on another fine late summer weekend as the team from Botany East Tamaki Rotary poured concrete to complete another 120m section of pathway. The path provides an important all weather and safe route through the park linking communities from both sides with the new sports grounds.

Through successive councils following the creation of the Auckland Super City, Botany East Tamaki Rotary has worked with the Otara Papatoetoe Local Board to add annual increments of pathway through Rongomai Park. “It’s a great partnership” states Rotaries Mike Jaggs. “The council gets to directly engage Rotary, a community service organization, who in turn volunteer their vocational skills to manage the project and provide the additional manpower. Money saved is then directed back into the Rotary clubs community programs. ”

Many hands on deck make lighter work. With team from Apex Concrete providing the professional direction to ensure the job was completed up to standard. And trucks arriving regularly from local company Bridgeman Concrete, there was little time to rest. The small army of Rotarian’s were also supported by Seth, Casey and Donnie, three family members of a candidate that the club sponsored on the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. “This is one of those great benefits that Rotary can deliver in the community. We support one youth through a leadership course and gained the support of their family putting their time and effort back into improving their local community,” states Jaggs.

Rotary are well known for their leadership programs but this is not all they do. Each year 3 student at three local decile one Primary Schools receive an Usborne Pictorial Dictionary from the club. “More often than not, this is the only book that many of this kids own themselves. Few things are more important than getting a good education and we’re very proud of doing our bit to give these kids a hand up in life,” says Jaggs. “We’ve also assisted this past year to fund three groups of students to Kokako Lodge an outdoor education camp in the Hunua Ranges and fund a growing unit for Trees For Survival at a local school. Youth and education are two big focuses of our Rotary Club.”

Immediate Past President David Houghton passes special thanks to the support team that makes it all happen. “Thanks to the Otara Papatoetoe Local Board, our bobcat driver and Tony Moore and his boxing team, the key partners we engage, Apex Concrete, Steel & Tube and Bridgeman Concrete, it’s a team effort that delivers a lasting legacy for our community.”
 
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