Hostellers' 'home away from home'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 5, 1 July 1986, Page 5

Hostellers' 'home away from home'

A youth hostel which a home away from home wi(h a real family atmosphere is the aim of the new joint managers at Ohakune's youth hostel I ois and Arnold Woodmass who took up their duties recently. Lois and Arnold have come from two years as assistant managers at the Rotorua Youth Hostel. There they created a warm and homely atmosphere cven though that hostel with 59 beds is twice the size of Ohakune's. j They both love hostel life and enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and from many different places. I "Some youth hostel managers prefer to be separate except for the business | jspect but we like to be part ofeverything, we don't like toshut off," said Lois. They originally come from Shannon but left there many years ago to see more of New Zealand. They lived | fn a caravan for se veral years ,n Rotorua and Clive and helped out from time to time mthe Rotorua motor camp. They also spent two years in Australia. [ Lois and Arnold have sevengrown up children, the [oldest 35 and the youngest 121. They have also fostered many children over the [years, including two permanents who still call them Mum and Dad.

Now they are looking forward to being Mum and Dad to the many youth hostellers visiting Ohakune. "Most hostellers are the same age as our children. They get homesick when they are far from home, they get ill, and they all need friends when they are not well," said Lois. Arnold was well-known in Rotorua for his 13 bikes which were available for hire. Hostellers who know him will be glad to know that his bikes have come with them to Ohakune. Arnold is excited about living in the brisk, healthy

atmosphere of the Waimarino and in fact gave up a full-time job to come here. He and Lois expect to be doing a little maintenance around the hostel over the coming months and in the meantime are laying new lino with the help of English hosteller Anna Mills. Anna plans to stav here for the ski season and hopes to find work. They point out that the youth hostel offers probably the cheapest accommodation in this region. It is possible to join the association on arrival at the hostel, or at any Westpac bank.