Silver lining for trio at Suburban Club auction
The closure of a long-running Nelson club has a silver lining for another community group.
Solemn members of the Suburban Club went back to its base of 47 years in Tahunanui one last time on Saturday, to attend the auction of the club chattels.
It followed the club’s decision to shut the doors at the end of December.
Dwindling membership increased the financial pressure on the club, forcing the move. The club is in negotiations to use the Nelson Golf Club premises for future events.
But among the buyers at the auction were The Angels Trio, who provide dinners and school lunches for disadvantaged families.
Chanel Faapue and Vera Manawaiti were there to bid on kitchen appliances and utensils, which they will use for their free community dinners.
Faapue said it was ‘‘really sad’’ to see the Suburban Club closing its doors, but she hoped to be able to turn the occasion into one that would help the community.
‘‘It’s sad, but it will benefit a lot of people,’’ she said.
‘‘We’ve already bought all the big pots that we’ll use for the Sunday lunches. At our kitchen, we only ever had one big pot,’’ Faapue said.
The trio weren’t only there for the community kitchen; they bid on appliances for their planned Lovechi Cafe to help them fund their free dinner services.