Cruising in her famous $6 Ford Laser
Challange Waimak in Kaiapoi has raised $1500 for Graham Hewertson, in a charity car raffle won by Sharon Peters.
The total included $600 from raffle tickets, $400 from donations and $500 from Challenge Waimak owner Mark Wales.
Hewertson was well known around the North Canterbury town for collecting roadside rubbish from Chaneys Corner to Kaiapoi, but Hewertson himself is reclusive and ‘‘a man of few words’’ Wales said.
Challenge Waimak had purchased Hewertson’s 1986 Ford Laser after he was unable to renew his license. The garage raffled it off to raise money for Hewertson, in recognition of his often overlooked work.
Hewertson had used the car to collect the rubbish, but since selling it, continued his collections on foot.
‘‘It’s been really humbling seeing the amount of support there is for Graham and what he’s done. And continues to do,’’ Wales said.
The garage provided a full warrant service while Repco Kaiapoi provided CV joints and Jet Boat Base provided a tank of fuel.
Although he called on him on Thursday, Hewertson was ‘‘nowhere to be found’’, Wales said.
He and workshop manager Geoff Hale said they spoke to Hewertson on Friday, and he was thankful for the effort they put in.
Winner Sharon Peters, of Christchurch, had family ties to Kaiapoi and considered herself part of the community. Peters bought three of the $2 raffle tickets after seeing an article about the raffle.
After taking it for ‘‘a wee drive’’ and buying new windscreen wipers, Peters found she was famous in Kaiapoi.
People were honking their horns as she passed and her whole family knew the car as it was a Kaiapoi icon, she said.
She did not expect to win and had only entered as she wanted to support Hewertson and the Challenge Waimak team. ’’I’d seen him [Hewertson] around a lot, collecting rubbish and I thought ‘good on him’. I’m very pleased I won, it made my day.’’
She said Challenge Waimak were amazing to run the charity raffle. ’’That’s what it’s all about, community spirit.’’
The car had original parts, including hub caps and a tape deck, Peters said, but she did not know what she would do with it. ‘‘I quite like it, it’s growing on me.’’