Behind the scenes with...the Wednesday Work Group
Every week for the past ten years, a small but dedicated group of volunteers have met at the Operations Shed on a Wednesday morning.
They come from all walks of life: an airline pilot; a former optometrist; an ex-civil servant; a retired radio broadcaster. Most are retired. Many have been involved from the outset. But what they all share in common is a passionate belief in the Trust’s vision and a strong determination to make it succeed.
The Wednesday Work Group is one of the longest-established of the Trust’s 26 volunteer groups. It came together by accident – evolving from a weekly volunteer group that managed odd jobs like weeding and general maintenance. ‘We used to bring our own tools’ said long-time group member Bob Cameron. ‘There was no workshop or anything! So I used to load my car up to make sure we had everything we needed.’ Now the group have access to a full range of tools and a proper workshop. Even so, with needs as diverse as Karori Sanctuary Trust has, resourcefulness is a necessity. One week they could be making weta hotels, the next week building a shed. And if they don’t know how to do it? ‘Where there’s a will there’s a way’ said Bob. Creative problem seems to be solving is a particular speciality of the group. It takes certain level of creativity to turn a child’s pushchair into a bird feeding trolley!
The group will turn their hands to almost anything. Regular activities include making the wooden tracking tunnels, ice-cream tub bait stations and nest boxes that pop up in every corner of the sanctuary. General maintenance work like clearing the culverts along Lake Road and sweeping the boardwalks are always on the list. Today’s tasks? Painting the new annex at #31 and designing a storing device for the night tour torches.
There is a strong sense of camaraderie in the group. The social aspect is as important as the volunteering. Numbers vary from week to week, but every Wednesday without fail for the past ten years someone from the group has shown up.
The Trust would like to thank (from left to right) Peter Lapsley, Alan Rhodes, Tony Harcourt, Peter Hodge, Richard Northmore & Bob Cameron. Also thanks to absent members Alan Perry, Mick Baker and Martin Murray. And, in memory, to long-serving volunteer Hermann Gieck, who died in 2009.
If you are interested in joining the Wednesday Work Group email us or call 04 920 9200.