School fundraises for new multisport turf

With the rising costs of transport it makes sense to practise sport as close to home as possible, according to teacher Chrissina Loader, one of a fiveperson committee spearheading a fundraiser for a multi-sport facility at Dannevirke High School.

Every week DHS hockey teams travel to play on the turf at Palmerston North and practice on the turf in Pahiatua at its multisport facility. Total cost for three teams is $7000, and the committee believes a multipurpose surface called Tiger Turf installed on the tennis courts next to the gymnasium at school would at least halve the cost.

This turf is ideal for other sports like tennis, basketball, netball and even football, marked out for each of these purposes.

At the same time Dannevirke High School’s pool is in need of major repairs. Built in the 1940s the pool has been and still is a popular place for students to enjoy the summer, particularly at lunchtimes when the pool is crowded.

Sixty-plus years on and the pool needs a new filtration system, resurfacing and general maintenance. While the Wai Splash facility is available, its use is complicated by the high school day divided into one-hour periods and the perennial problem of transport cost.

“The pool is in a bad condition at the moment,” Principal Dr de Villiers says. “There have been a number of number-eight wire DIY jobs done over the years by parents and teachers but it now needs professional work.”

All up the cost of the pool repairs and multi-purpose surface is $250,000. The school has begun a fund-raising campaign to reach the target, hoping it could be reached within a year. Already fundraising has raised approximately 20 per cent.

The school has launched a Give a Little page — givealittle.co.nz/cause/ fundraising — hoping that many ex-pupils will think fondly of those hot lunchtimes spent in the pool and contribute.

“We only need $10-20 from a proportion and we will be there in no time,” says Chrissina.

Teacher Brodie Smith says other fundraisers include a quiz evening on September 9 in the school hall. A golf tournament is planned when the weather improves, and other activities are planned.

The summer swimming season is coming and a huge influx of hockey players is expected from the Friday night primary league next winter.