Old building... new business

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 11, 16 August 1983, Page 4

Old building... new business

Not only has a recent new business in Ohakune extended the range of retail shopping available in town but it has also improved the environmental streetscape by modernising one of Clyde Streets oldest buildings. Sports Country opened 3. To offer a seasonal ski-

tor business last month with a reception for many local residents and overseas visitors at which Dave Scott, in an impromptu welcoming speech described Ohakune (somewhat extravagently perhaps) as "the centre of New Zealand and the recreation centre of the South Pacific"! Murray Macneil, manager of Sports Country started work on the old building, formerly a garage, engineering and blacksmith's shop, in early April and worked full time with the help of friends to get the premises ready in time. Murray thanked the local community for their support and said that it wasn't possible to visualise the changes and improvements that had been made to the appearance of the old building in the last couple of months. ' The shop originally set out to achieve 3 objectives: 1. To provide an all-year retail facility selling new and second-hand sports and ski equipment. 2. To offer a year-round rental service for all types of sports equipment.

hire facility. Because of recent developments, only the first two of these objectives is capable of achievement under the present circumstances. By providing the secondhand sports equipment retail facility Sports Country was seeking to offer an alternative to the higher prices of new equipment which, for some families with growing children, has to be updated every year. Another aim was to offer an alternative to renting equipment, said Murray who has three part-time staff, Mary Eich, Joss Peacock and Dennis Butler, helping out. Judging by the favourable response from the number of people who come in to have a look round and then comment encouragingly, the demai^ for such a service is oJ| viously there, he said. In order to help stock the shop for the August school holidays he invites anyone with second-hand or unused equipment in good condition to bring it into Sports Country this week.