Historic building given new lease on life
The Val Deakin Dance Theatre was a hive of activity recently during a Taranaki Timebank working bee to give its historic building a well needed makeover.
The theatre’s trust bought the old Methodist Church building in 1981 to give the company a permanent home. Since then the place of prayer has been a hub of dance and creativity that hosted dance classes, small performances, yoga, art exhibitions, and more.
Throughout the weekend timebankers helped the community-oriented dance academy out, some by painting and gardening and others by supplying home-baked treats.
In exchange for the facelift, helpers could come together to experience a one-off dance lesson.
The three-day working bee was the brainchild of the bank’s marketing co-ordinator Anja Niechziol, whose daughters attend classes at the school. During a casual conversation with dancer and theatre trust member Jane Roseman the topic of redecorating the building came up.
‘‘I thought this would be a great way of harnessing the power of our skill and timesharing initiative,’’ Niechziol said.
Timebank Taranaki is a community network of nearly 200 helping hands who use their time as currency. As a time-banker if you ask for help you pay time credit, and if you help you earn time credit, and everyone’s time is of equal value.
The organisation is more than the exchange of services, it is about people helping people and building friendships and trust. This year it focused more on encouraging groups and organisations, as well as individuals, to register for help, Niechziol said.
Tasked as mentor for the project was retired professional painter Peter, who preferred to be known as ‘‘Pete the painter.’’
As a relative newbie to the group, he said he enjoyed working within the Timebank environment.
‘‘Because it is not concerned with money, it releases the stress of the job at hand. It still has to be a good job and I am fussy about my work,’’ he said.
‘‘My budding painting apprentices are strong in enthusiasm, their vibrant energy is infectious,’’ he said.
Roseman who rolled up her painting sleeves too, said the building still had much of its original charm, but it was ‘‘absolutely wonderful to see it rejuvenated.’’