Rugby grounds revamp spurred by centenary

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 577, 14 March 1995, Page 7

Rugby grounds revamp spurred by centenary

Plans to renovate the Ohakune Karioi Rugby and Sports Club rooms at Rochfort park were brought forward to coincide with this weekend's centenary celebrations. That

means a lot of hard work this v club volunteers to get things shi

shape. The renovations are to be done ~ in two stages, with the first being to open up the upstairs area fo use as a lounge/bar. The structun work had been completed by Fr day and decorating work remain

to be done on the weekend and week. A bar has been instalh toilets upstairs.

History comes with the nev scheme, with the bar coming fi donated by Mike Wihape.

The stairs have come from the old Golden Acre Hotel (formerly the Waimarino Hotel) in Raetihi, demolished last year. The wide stairs give more open access to the lounge,

running up beside the new mezzanine area. Stage Two of the work will see the ceiling of the downstairs bar area rai sed and the beams exposed to match

s. Also, a covered deck is to m the upstairs lounge.

rk being carried out now innew coolstore downstairs, a teer tap stand and a new secur system installed.

Support for the project has ime from Benchmark, Horne rothers and Mcllroy plumbrs as well as Alistair Gray. The playing fields have also been the subject of a great

deal of work. Turn to Page 13

Rugby renovations

From Page 7 A new practice field has been constructed, alongside the main field. This involved moving a fence about 10 metres in one corner, into adjacent farm paddock, and removing a number of trees. Drainage work had to be carried out in the whole area. New lights are also part of the project, not only on new poles for the practice field but for the main field. New quartz halogen lights are to be fitted which will give very good lighting to both fields. The money for the lights has come from the Ruapehu Di'strict Council Ohakune reserves contributions fund. Rex Oliver was the main man in getting the new lights organised. Errol Sue and Sue Joe & Sons have donated time and equipment for the field work, with help from Tom Hough and Ted Wills. Telecom provided a digger and operator. The new field means the club will be able to practice more often without wear on the main field. 'The main field gets cut up too much in the winter so by Saturday it can be a quagmire," said committee member Karl Christiansen. He stressed that the club is not just about rugby and that all sports that want to use the clubrooms are welcome to approach the club. He said there are plans to put in a cricket wicket for next summer.