Squah club now debt free

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 390, 11 June 1991, Page 3

Squah club now debt free

The Waimarino Squash Club has paid off its mortgage nine years ahead of time. To celebrate this achievement members held a mortgage burning party on Saturday 8 June.

Among the 150 people present at the function was John Gillett, the first chairman of the Squash Club. Mr Gillett was instrumental in taking out the $25,000 mortgage with Trustbank in 1976. In August 1975 a

group of enthusiasts studied the viability of forming a Squash Racquet Club in the Waimarino. They thought that it would be popular as it could be played by any age group, any time and in any weather.

The steering committee corisisted of John Gillett, Marie and Gary Allerby, Colin Webb, Noel Finlayson, Jim Goldfinch, John and Sandra Eades, Tony Mosaed, Andrew Cornwall, Derek Brown, Darcy Newson, Peter Jones, Trevor Reynolds, Keith Haitana and P Nisbet. In February 1976 a public meeting was held to launch squash in the

Waimarino. Sixty people attended with a further 15 apologies. Andrew Cornwall presented a financial report with an estimated cost of $25,000 for the project and various ways to finance it. A committee was elected to form the Waimarino Squash Racquets Club Incorporated. The original committee was John Gillett, Karen Ritchfield, Marie Allerby, Jim Goldfinch, John Eades, Derek Brown, Darcy Newson, Tony Mosaed, Noel Finlayson and Gary Allerby. Subscriptions were set at $40 a married sub and $10 a junior. In the first three weeks over $7000 was received in subscriptions and debentures. By March there was $10,000 in the building fund. The first sod for the

new building was turned on 24 May and a lot of voluntary labour was involved in the building of the club. The two courts were completed by January 1977. Ninety people attended the official opening on 2 April 1977. Over the years the hard working committees and members have put in a lot of time and effort to keep the club going and it is now well established and growing. "At times it has been a struggle but now with the increased membership it is worth it," said club president Marty McGrath. "This year the lounge and the stairs have been recarpeted and the walls of the courts are to be replastered shortly."