History book funds kids

With the sale of the last of the books, the History Book Committee that was formed by Waipukurau Rotary to help produce Waipukurau — the History of a Country Town has wound down and along with it the Education Trust that was formed to distribute the funds from the books’ sale.

The trust was set up to distribute the funds “for the benefit of the children of CHB” and in the years since its publication in 2000 the book’s proceeds have helped fund projects that included the Optimist Yachting venture at Back Paddock Lakes.

The last of the funds, $4050, was donated recently to the Camp Wakarara outdoor education centre and will be used to directly benefit the children who use the facility.

Camp Wakarara Committee chair Graeme Annear says the funds will probably be used for upgrading and repair of the camping equipment and tents as well as the “constant work” needed on the well-used obstacle course.

“The old hall needs heating as well and we hope to put in a freestanding stove.”

The camp — originally Wakarara School — is used by school groups not just from CHB but also from Palmerston North and the Manawatu¯ .

“We also have non-school groups like Scouts and Search and Rescue as well as family groups that come for a weekend.”

Making the hand-over, History Book Committee chair Peter Fleming said the writing and production of the book had been a millennium project for Waipukurau Rotary, with Rotary members and local historians doing endless hours of research as well as interviewing people, sourcing photographs, reading proofs and working with the author Pat Parsons.

Copies are in the Waipawa and Waipukurau libraries and were distributed to CHB schools.