Monday April 15, 2013
7
Seven years of hard work rewarded
From left, Island Bay Natural Heritage trustees Max Beauchamp and Jennifer Bennett, city councillor Paul Eagle and Wellington Mayor Celia WadeBrown plant a kowhai tree in the Paekawakawa Reserve.
By Johnathan Basile (Massey journalism student) Island Bay’s Paekawakawa Reserve has opened after almost seven years of hard work and community-led involvement. Almost 200 members of the public attended the April 7 ceremony on the 1.5 hectares of bush, located behind 46A Derwent Street. Island Bay Natural Heritage Charitable Trust co-chairperson Jennifer Bennett says Paekawakawa would not have been possible without a huge community effort with weeding, planting and fundraising. “The response from the community is phenomenal and I’d like to thank everyone, especially the volunteers, for their efforts. “The main track into the reserve is finished, which makes it more open and accessible.” The trust purchased the land from a developer, who intended to establish town houses, in 2006. But after selling two houses on the land, the trust still needed to find a further $105,000, Mrs Bennett says.
Community fundraising and donations covered some of the costs, but it was an offer from philanthropist and economist Gareth Morgan and his wife Jo that made the difference - the Morgan’s provided an interest-free loan of $68,000 and donated the final $14,000. “[The loan] was a desperate measure really because we didn’t have the money and it was very kind of them to gift that last amount,” Mrs Bennett says. A Wellington City Council grant late last year helped with the construction of the 200 metre track leading into the reserve, as well as an earlier grant for weed and pest control. Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, who opened the reserve, says Paekawakawa will be convenient for locals. “With some other reserves you have to travel a long way to get to but this is right in the heart of the community.” More trees are due to be planted over winter.
New clinic for aches and pains Kilbirnie Osteopaths have opened a new clinic in Miramar due to an expanding client base. Osteopath Catherine Gollan says the new East Wellington clinic has had “tons” of bookings since opening last Monday. Patients can alternate between the the Miramar and Kilbirnie clinics at their convenience. Catherine says when she started practicing in Wellington in 1988, there were only three UK-trained osteopaths in Wellington and not
many people knew what osteopaths did. Interest was so great she had TV cameras visiting her clinic, she says. “It was such a big deal.” The clinic refers to local GPs, acupuncturists, and is a ACC treatment provider. “We treat all aches and pains from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet,” says Catherine. “We’re the conservative treatment end of musculo-skeletal problems.” Kilbirnie Osteopaths employs
three staff, but demand is so high they are currently looking to hire an extra full-time osteopath. The new clinic is open every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 127 B Park Rd. Osteopaths Catherine Gollan, Anya Schumacher work at both clinics and Alana Stevenson works in the Kilbirnie Clinic. For more information call the Miramar clinic on 891 1090 or Kilbirnie on 973 8758.
WELLINGTON ROCKS! EARTHQUAKE BUILDING SAFETY EXPO WELLINGTON TOWN HALL WELLINGTON.GOVT.NZ 499 4444
Osteopath Catherine Gollan treats a patient at her new clinic in Miramar.
HOMEOWNERS – FIND OUT HOW TO QUAKE-PROOF YOUR HOME. FREE ENTRY FRIDAY 26 APRIL 12 NOON–7PM
SATURDAY 27 APRIL
9AM–4PM