COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY GYMNASIUM OPENED BY MINISTER

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

COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY GYMNASIUM OPENED BY MINISTER

The $400,000 Ruapehu College and Community Gymnasium was officaily opened on Friday 5 August by King Country MP Mr Jim Bolger. He was introduced by College principal Mr Mike Warbrick. Speaking to pupils and staff of the College and more than fifty special and invited guests, Mr Bolger congratulated all those involved in the project which was "a direct result of community involvement and which will prove to be a considerable boon to the school and the district." He said that acknowledgement for Ruapehu College's non-standard gymnasium must go to the Board of Governors who had raised nearly $50,000 to finance the additions and extensions. Mr Jim Goldfinch, chairman of the Ruapehu College Board of Govenors thanked the community for its support and explained that the idea for a new gymnasium was first mooted in 1978 . . . "and just snowballed from there." An Auckland architect, Mr Terry Patterson, who is currently responsible for about ten different gymnasiums around the country, was commissioned to design the Ruapehu College facility which was to incorporate special features such as club storerooms, health and weight training rooms, a dismounting pit and, as.a

recognition of Ohakune's climate, underfloor heating. The new gymnasium with its 30.5m x 18.2m main floor area is now of international gymnastic and indoor court standards. The main contractors for the project were a local firm, Horne Bros of Ohakune, which started building in early 1982. Another guest speaker, the Mayor of Ohakune, Mr Bill Taylor, said that this occasion was one of great significance for the school and the whole community. He said it was already evident that it will be used well, widely and wisely and added that the Ohakune Borough is proud to be associated with this college and community project. Among the 50 or so guests attending the opening were: the Rev Bob Peck, Mayor of Raetihi, Mr Bruce Berry, Chairman of the Waimarino County Council, Col. Bruce Meldrum, Commander of the A.T.G. and chairman of the Waiouru Community Advisory Committee, Trevor Watt, Senior Inspector of Schools, Peggy Frew, local representative for the Wanganui Education Board, Ken Holmes, Principal of Raetihi Primary School, Major Gordon Stevenson, Director of the QEII Army Museum, Ian Horne, the principal contractor and many others.