Community board holds last meeting
Two retiring members sign off, celebrations for Dannevirke’s 150 years considered and grants given out
The Dannevirke Community Board held its final meeting before the local body elections on September 5 and wrapped up some of its ongoing activities but left others for the incoming board to handle.
The meeting started early with the awarding of the Wackrow Memorial Award which was co-won by the three candidates.
It then heard a presentation from Ross MacDonald and Dave Murdoch concerning recognition that Scandinavian and in particular Danish settlers arrived to create the town of Dannevirke on October 16, 1872, making October 16, 2022 a day to celebrate 150 years on.
Ross MacDonald was asked to come up with a proposal which formed three parts: A church service at St Johns Anglican Church at 11am on Sunday, October 16.
Then a high tea in the Dannevirke Town Hall at 2pm to which dignitaries from the Danish Consulate, the Tararua mayor, Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty and author of the Dannevirke — The Early Years, Rob McDonald, would be invited along with the public especially those with Danish connections.
This is free but a gold coin donation is welcome. Contact Ross MacDonald to register. A major article in this issue of the Bush Telegraph outlines the growth of the settlement.
The community board was wholeheartedly in favour of the proposal and pledged finance and support for the plan.
The board also agreed to fund from
its Community Grants Scheme:
■ The police $455 to reward all the school traffic patrol children who have kept the pedestrian crossings safe during the year,
■ Norsewood War Memorial Community Centre $1140 to restore and future-proof three memorial windows,
■ Dannevirke Social Darts $410 towards Town Hall Hire for its 50th Jubilee,
■ Dannevirke Spinning and Weaving Club $408 to remove two trees by its cottage in McPhee St.
Leaving for the next board are the issues of:
■ the logging trucks noise issue at
Wimbledon which appears to have got worse since the board made enquiries and representations,
■ a proposal to have murals painted on the Dannevirke subway walls,
■ the completion of the Adelaide Road walkway,
■ running the Christmas Tree Extravaganza challenge
promoting awareness of Creative Community Funding.
Mayor Tracey Collis thanked the board members for their contributions to the welfare of the Northern Ward, especially Ross MacDonald who is retiring after 14 years and Kim Spooner-Taylor who is leaving after six years.