Monthly Archives: September 2014

The Newtown Residents’ Association has a new President: Claire Pettigrew

September 27, 2014Newsmartinh123

A message from Claire:

Kia Ora! I’m Claire, and I’m looking forward to being your Newtown Residents’ Association President for the next year. Originally from North Canterbury, I moved to Wellington for university and quickly discovered Newtown was a fantastic suburb to be living in!

I’ve recently returned from Europe, and am now studying towards a Masters of Management. I am particularly interested in volunteer management, and mobilizing young people as volunteers. I have a background in youth development and community resilience. I am passionate about disaster risk reduction; I am a Search and Rescue squad member and a Civil Defense volunteer, and have been working to develop the Newtown Community Emergency Response Plan.

Over the next year I am hoping to work towards developing a vision of Newtown as we want to find it in ten years time, and taking the first steps to achieve that vision.

I welcome contact from anyone who would like to get to know me, discuss ideas or give feedback. I can be reached on newtownwellington@gmail.com

Read more about Claire in the September 22nd issue of the Cook Strait News – page 16, and also page 12.

Newtown Community Emergency Response Plan (CRP)

September 27, 2014Consultation, News, Worksmartinh123

The first session of the Community Response Plan process has been held at the Newtown Community Centre. The Community Response Plan is being led by the Newtown Residents’ Association and the Newtown Community Centre in conjunction with the Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office. The first session was attended by over 50 business owners, organisation representatives and community leaders. This was an introductory session that looked at Newtown’s strengths and vulnerabilities. The next session will focus on the details of what role different organisations will play in an emergency. We will keep you posted – or contact Claire at newtownwellington@gmail.com if you would like to know more.

Timebank fundraiser

September 26, 2014Local Events, Newsmartinh123

Aunty & the Star People

An amazing film about an inspirational Wellingtonian who sold her house to set up a school for orphans in Tamil Nadu, India.

Special one off screening at Lighthouse Cinema Cuba
Wednesday 8th October, 6pm . Tickets $25

You are invited to the Wellington Timebank annual film fundraiser. The Wellington Timebank is a great organisation where people exchange skills and knowledge for time credits. Everyone’s time is valued equally, regardless of what skills are exchanged. Read more about it and about the film here: wellingtontimebank.org.nz

Minutes of 2014 Annual General Meeting

September 26, 2014Meetings, Newsmartinh123

The 2014 AGM was held on Monday 15th September . You can download the minutes here. You can also download the NRA Audited Accounts 2014.

There was an important change to the Association Officers – Martin Hanley did not stand for President this year. Instead we welcomed Claire Pettigrew to the role – Claire is our youngest President, and the first woman since Annabel Taylor was President in the 1980s.

Kate Zwartz proposed and James Coyle seconded a vote of thanks to Martin for the work he has done for the Association, which was carried with acclamation.

The following were all elected unopposed:

President: Claire Pettigrew
Vice–presidents: Jeanie McCafferty, Kate Zwartz and James Coyle
Immediate Past President: Martin Hanley
Secretary: Rhona Carson
Treasurer: Peter Frater
Executive Committee: Ken Allen, Carol Comber, Steve Cosgrove , Steve Dunn, Ryan Kerr, Kevin Lethbridge -Membership, Laura Newcombe, Daphne Pilaar, Cheryl Robilliard
Newtown Festival Director: Martin Hanley
Newtown Festival Committee: Anna Kemble Welch, Tom Law, James Coyle, Rhona Carson, Keith Powell
Newtown Festival Review Team: Steve Dunn, Peter Frater, with authority to co-opt others.

Newtown Community Centre Art Workshops

September 16, 2014Local Events, Newsmartinh123

Community Art Workshops are back!

The Newtown Community Centre will be hosting their 5^th annual Community Art Workshops from Monday September 29th till Thursday October 9th

For the past four years, the Centre has organised a series of art workshops with the aim to make art more accessible to the wider community, offering a chance for participants to get creative and learn a new skill in a visual arts practice, at a very affordable rate and in a community friendly environment. The classes are headed by local art and crafters keen to share their time and skills with others in an informal and relaxed setting. The classes are designed to reduce the normal financial barriers, with most if not all materials being provided and entry fee being a koha of the participants’ choosing.

The workshops cover a wide range of arts and crafts, from making your own Native American dreamcatchers and traditional Pervian necklaces to purse making and how to make your own paint from natural clays and oil. See the Newtown Community Centre facebook page and website for the schedule and details for the workshops.

The Centre has always received great feedback from participants who have really enjoyed the opportunity to get creative without having to invest in a costly course or feel out of place at a formal art institution – they hope you can join them this year!

Newtown Community Centre Building to be 100 years old!

September 16, 2014Newsmartinh123

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

The building for the Newtown Community Centre, located on Colombo/Rintoul Streets, was completed and officially opened in February 1915 as a church for the Church of Christ, making next year its 100 birthday! The building was designed by William Gray Young, the same architect for other important Wellington buildings such as The Wellington Railway Station, The Turnbull Library and the Wesley Club in the CBD.

In the early decades, the Church played a significant community role in Newtown, holding social events and offering various workshops/trainings, as well as their regular faith-based services and meetings. In 1970, a fire damaged the building, and it was eventually sold to Wellington City Council who, at the pressure of the local community, converted the building into the community centre which has operated at the site since.

To celebrate the centenary of the building, the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre Trust will be hosting a number of events at the centre in the first half of 2015. A visual timeline of events taking place between 1915 and 2015 will be created, with the main focus being on the Community Centre itself. Other important events which have taken place over this time both globally and in the wider Newtown community will be included, providing a backdrop for the events based at the centre. The timeline will be unveiled at an afternoon celebration at the beautiful Centre’s theatre, to be accompanied by cake (of course!), music and speeches, open to all those involved with the Centre, past and present. Celebrations will continue in the evening, with a musical journey over the past 100 years since WWI.

The Community Centre would love to hear from anyone who would be keen to share any in-depth historical knowledge they may have of the Centre and of Newtown, or from anyone interested in carrying out some research through local archives. You can reach Anna at the Community Centre on 389 4786 or at newtown.community.centre@paradise.net.nz

Seeking memories of Berhampore: from 1915 – 2015

September 13, 2014Newsmartinh123

Do you have memories of Berhampore or Berhampore School that you can share?

Berhampore School is turning 100 in 2015 and a group of parents hope to build a picture not just of the school itself through those 100 years, but also the community of which it is a part.

Berhampore School opened in 1915. Prior to this many Berhampore children went to South Wellington School (South Wellington Intermediate School) and it had become overcrowded. Former Berhampore students recall playing marbles in the driveway, doing handkerchief drills, and drinking curdled school milk. Today the school has a multicultural roll of 235 students and a reputation for inclusivity and community building.

Well-known Berhampore students of the past include writer Robin Hyde and sports commentator Keith Quinn, while playwright Roger Hall was a teacher there.

Stories from the Berhampore community past and present will be compiled into a book which will be sold during centennial celebrations over Labour Weekend 2015 as a fundraiser.

Anyone interested in being interviewed for the book should contact Sadie Coe on 9722270 or berhampore100@gmail.com or c/- Berhampore School, 105 Britomart Street, Berhampore, Wellington 6023

Facebook members can join the Berhampore School Centenary page.

W.C.C. Local Hosts for Newtown

September 13, 2014Newsmartinh123

October 2014 will see the Local Host team branch out into the suburbs for the first time.

Local Hosts are Wellington City Council ‘street ambassadors’, and they are starting their third year of operation in November. Their Team Leader, Gary Haddon, tells us that in the first instance Newtown, Kilbirnie and Miramar will see the team in green walking around the streets during day light hours on a Monday to Friday. A dedicated number of hours will be given to each suburb and the main focus will be on community. This will mean visiting community centres, Community Policing teams, drop-in centres, retailers, cafés and restaurants, libraries and so on. The team will continue observing and reporting on issues such as graffiti, city infrastructure, city safety and continue their relationship with the vulnerable community and service providers.

While they are starting with Newtown, Kilbirnie and Miramar, they will respond to need and visits to suburbs will change accordingly.

You can find out more about Local Hosts on the WCC website.

Next Meeting: Monday 15th September 2014 at 7.30pm

September 7, 2014Meetings, Newsmartinh123

At the Community Hall 71 Daniell Street, at the Constable Street playground

The September Meeting will be the Newtown Residents’ Association AGM

The main items of business for the AGM are the presentation of the Annual Reports and Accounts and the Election of Officers and Executive Members for the next year. If you are interested in becoming involved on the Executive of the Association, or would like to nominate someone else for a position (with their agreement), please let us know (by dropping us a line at newtownwelling@gmail.com). Nominations will also be accepted at the meeting. Please note that nominees and voters need to be financial members – if you haven’t yet paid your 2014/15 subscription bring along your gold coin and sign up at the start of the meeting.

Guest Speakers – details to be advised

In September the Wellington City Council will begin consultation on the Urban Growth Plan and the Long Term Plan. We are inviting WCC representatives to speak to the meeting about these initiatives.

Other items?

You are welcome to email us at newtownwellington@gmail.com if you have suggestions for the agenda.

Map: Location of the Newtown Community Hall, 71 Daniell Street, at the Constable Street playground

(opposite the Mediterranean Warehouse)

Keep Newtown Clean – Saturday 6th September

September 3, 2014Local Events, Newsmartinh123

Meet outside Newtown New World from 9am onwards this Saturday

Newtown has been looking really good, but there has been renewed tagging in the last few weeks, so there is work to be done!

Community feedback has been positive, and volunteers say that each time they walk past a wall they cleaned up they feel proud to be making a difference. This is your chance to join in a positive project! All equipment and materials supplied. Put on some old clothes and come along. There is a free sausage sizzle for volunteers, donated by Newtown New World.

Thank you to the sponsors who make this all happen:

Newtown New World – Sponsors – for the community BBQ, free food and drink

Amadeus Hair – Sponsors – Coordinators

Wellington City Council – Paint and Equipment

SB Maintanence – Contractors – Dave and Liz providing their free time

Colin McLellan – the official photographer

Special thanks goes out to all the volunteers, especially the regulars…well done! And extra special thanks to David Wilcock, who has been coordinating the monthly clean up ever since it started in July 2013.

See you this Saturday rain or shine. And if you can’t make it this month, remember that Keep Newtown Clean happens on the first Saturday of every month.