PROJECTS

The Kiwanis Club of Matamata is a very active club providing time, energy and money to our local community, and to selected district, national and international projects. We have a very dedicated band of members willing to join in all sorts of activities to help others in need.

In addition to projects, each year we provide marshals for the Firth Tower Fun Run and the Christmas Parade. In the past, we have also helped with Pohlen Hospital's Garden Tour and marshalled at various events as they arise e.g. the Truck Festival which raised funds for Pohlen Hospital, also helping with collections e.g. Alzheimers Waikato and Child Cancer and we've manned the gate and car park at the "Shining Light on the Dark" evening at Bedford Park (an evening to promote positive mental health), and helped with sister club projects (e.g. Morrinsville Kiwanis "Kids Day Out").

The main source of our funds comes from battery recycling.

Scroll down to see some of our projects and how and to whom we distribute funds.

TWO ON-GOING PROJECTS

BABY WRAPS

One of our on-going projects is baby wraps. Sally Jenkins has been coordinating this project for over 10 years, and purchases all the wrap material, cotton and Kiwanis labels (each wrap has a label saying it has been donated by Kiwanis). Sally sews most of the blankets but does get help from time to time from other seamstresses outside the club. Once finished, the wraps are dropped off to the Pohlen Hospital Maternity Unit and one is given out to every mother and baby.

KIWANIS BOOK KUBBY

Another of our on-going projects is the Kiwanis Book Kubby. This project only began in late 2019. Book Kubbys can be found all around the world including New Zealand. The Kubbys are stocked with used books (usually fiction) and although aimed at the tourist market or travelling public, can be used by the general public too. The idea is that when you take a book from a Kubby, it gets returned either to that Kubby or another Kubby (e.g. a tourist travelling round New Zealand might take a book from the Matamata Kubby and return it to a Kubby in another town, or take a book from that Kubby and return it to a Kubby in their next destination etc.). It has been interesting to see foreign language titles left in the Kubby (especially German and French) for other tourists to choose from! Our Kubby is located by the Matamata i-SITE and next to the bus shelter so gets a lot of use! Sally Jenkins (pictured right) keeps the Matamata Kiwanis Book Kubby stocked with books.

2024 DONATIONS

During 2024 we have donated:

MONETARY: Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton (benefiting local and district charities), Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle, Matamata District Libraries Reading Programme, Cowboy Challenge (young riders), Matamata Netball Club (U16 Reps tournament expenses), Southside FM (broadcasting fees), Matamata Light Party, sponsorship of a student Lacrosse player, Matamata College Rugby (U15 tournament expenses), Matamata Citizens Advice Bureau (general expenses), Matamata Kayak Club (tournament expenses), Educational and other supplies to Vanuatu (plus help with container expenses), New Zealand South Pacific Kiwanis Project Fund (district and national projects), Heart Kids, Autism NZ, New Zealand Suicide Trust, Great Kiwi Circus (previously Going Bananas supporting the Brain Injured Childrens Trust), Caring Families, Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ, The Leprosy Mission

GOODS: Community Book Kubby (an on-going project), Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets/wraps - an ongoing project), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books: an-ongoing project), Matamata Intermediate School (trip to Vanuatu plus sports equipment to take), Matamata Scouts (tents), drinking fountain for the Tom Grant Drive playground, seat and table for the playground on Banks Road (in association with MPDC), Matamata Community Patrol (jackets)

Our donations of money and goods in 2024 have totalled over $18000.00 !

2023 DONATIONS

During 2023 we have donated:

MONEY:  Heart Kids, Golf Tournament at Walton (benefiting local and district charities), Autism NZ, Educational and other supplies to Vanuatu (help with container expenses), Leprosy Mission NZ, Kids in Need Waikato, Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle, Matamata District Libraries Reading Programmes,  continued sponsorship of a student stockcar driver, Cowboy Challenge (young riders), Christmas in the Park, Matamata College Sports (tournament expenses), Matamata Netball Club (tournament expenses), Napier Flood Appeal (via Napier Kiwanis Club), Southside FM (broadcasting fees), Kindness Collective (pyjamas project), New Zealand South Pacific Kiwanis Project Fund (district and national projects), Matamata Squash Club D Grade Team (tournament expenses), Matamata Scouts: sponsorship of a scout to Jamboree, Matamata Light Party

GOODS:   Community Book Kubby (an on-going project), Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets/wraps - an ongoing project), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books: an-ongoing project) , Matamata Citizens Advice Bureau (phones), Matamata Intermediate School (trip to Vanuatu equipment), Matamata Playcentre (Whare), Matamata College (outdoor table)

Our donations of money and goods in 2023 have totalled over $15000.00 !

2022 DONATIONS

During 2022 we donated:

MONEY: Heart Kids, Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton (benefiting local and district charities), Autism NZ, Going Bananas Show, educational supplies to Vanuatu (help with expenses and a stationery donation for the pupils), Fostering NZ (Caring Families), NZ Suicide Prevention Trust, Leprosy Mission NZ, Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle, Matamata District Libraries Reading Programmes, continued sponsorship of a student stockcar driver, Cowboy Challenge, Matamata Playcentre playground development, Matamata College Netball (travel and accommodation), Kids in Need Waikato, Matamata School dinners, Matamata Citizens Advice Bureau (expenses), Abby McDonald (NZ Volleyball Rep), Alex Mukaka (NZ Boxing Rep), Matamata Netball tournament expenses

GOODS: Community Book Kubby, Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets/wraps - an ongoing project), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books), Matamata Swimming Club pace clock (delayed from last year), Matamata Intermediate School sports equipment, St Josephs School student glasses, Matamata Scouts sleeping bags, Hinuera School reading programme books, Community Patrol car seat covers

Our donations of money and goods in 2022 have totalled over $20000.00 !

During 2021 we donated:

MONEY: Heart Kids, Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton (benefiting local and district charities), Autism NZ, Going Bananas Show, Light Party, Threads Across the Pacific (help with administration and expenses) educational supplies to Vanuatu (help with expenses and a stationery donation for the pupils), Fostering NZ (Caring Families), Brain Injury Trust, NZ Suicide Prevention Trust, Leprosy Mission NZ, Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle, Matamata District Libraries Reading Programmes, Oak Plantantion camellias, Wish 4 Fish Trust, St Johns Appeal, IHC South Waikato (rental fees at the Avantidrome), Laing Swim School (helping needy students), sponsorship of a student stockcar driver, Cowboy Challenge, Matamata Playcentre (water feature)

GOODS: Community Book Kubby, Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets/wraps - an ongoing project), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books), Walton and Wairere Primary Schools Terrific Kids (library books), Matamata Hearing Association (new fridge), Firth Primary School (tricycle for a disabled student), Colouring Books for School, Te Poi Primary School (playground equipment), Matamata Primary School (water fountain adjacent to the scooter track), Matamata Athletics Assn (outdoor sound system), Matamata Primary School (in-class speaker system), Matamata Swimming Club pace clock

Our donations of money and goods in 2021 have totalled over $29000.00 !

2020 DONATIONS

During 2020 we donated:

MONEY: Heart Kids, Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton (benefiting local and district charities), Autism NZ, Going Bananas Show, Threads Across the Pacific (help with administration and expenses) educational supplies to Vanuatu (help with expenses and a stationery donation for the pupils), Fostering NZ, Brain Injury Trust, NZ Suicide Prevention Trust, Kids in Need Waikato, Leprosy Mission NZ, Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle, Matamata District Libraries Summer Reading Programme, Light Party Evening (an alternative to Halloween), Cowboy Challenge Waikato, Matamata Brass Band, Laing Swim School (lessons for needy students), Matamata Community Dinners in Schools programme, Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society, Matamata Patchwork Group (helping with their community quilting project).

GOODS: Community Book Kubby, Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets/wraps - an ongoing project), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books), Walton Primary School Terrific Kids (library books), St Johns Ambulance (washing machine), Rawhiti Kindergarten (sandpit cover), Matamata Hearing Association (flooring repairs).

Our donations of money and goods in 2020, have totalled over $15000.00 !

2019 DONATIONS

During 2019 we donated:

MONEY: Heart Kids, Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton (benefiting local and district charities), Autism NZ, Going Bananas Show, Threads Across the Pacific (help with administration and expenses) educational supplies to Vanuatu (help with expenses and a stationery donation for the pupils), Fostering NZ, Brain Injury Trust, Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle, Matamata District Libraries Summer Reading Programme and bookmarks, sponsorship of a student to Vanuatu, sponsorship of a student to Japan, Matamata Playcentre grounds development, Matamata College Volleyball students to overseas tournaments, Firth Primary School - assisting students to Riding for the Disabled, Matamata College Netball team to a regional tournament, Shining Light on the Dark, Christmas at the Park, sponsorship of a student stock car driver, Light Evening (an alternative to Halloween), Cowboy Challenge Waikato, Matamata Genealogical Society (digitising records)

GOODS: Community Book Kubby, Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets - an ongoing project), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books), special donation of stationery to Vanuatu Schools, Waharoa Historic Cemetery (now completed), Pohlen Hospital (ceiling hoist to assist patients in and out of bed), Firth, Hinuera and Walton Primary Schools Terrific Kids (library books), Wairere School laptops, 3 seats for the Oak Plantation, providing 120 camellia plants adjacent to the Oak Plantation, providing plants for the Walton School native planting project

Our donations of money and goods in 2019, have totalled over $29,550.00 !

(previous years donations are listed after the Waharoa Cemetery article and photos below)

MORE PROJECTS

Since completing the Waharoa Historic Cemetery restoration in 2019, we haven't rested on our laurels! In another partnership with MPDC, we have provided 3 bench seats in the Oak Plantation (beside the i-Site). The seats are made from recycled plastic and the backrest is engraved with the text "Matamata", and images of the Kaimais, a Hobbit Hole, the Firth Tower and Wairere Falls.

And beside the Oak Plantation, we have planted about 130 camellias adjacent to the railway line in order to screen out the background of railway lines and buildings to improve the beauty of the area. This project was suggested by a Matamata resident, Ezra Campbell, who was able to source the plants at a good price! Kiwanis along with Ezra (and husband Craig) and Bryan Turner (MPDC) planted the trees one weekend and came back a couple weeks later to spread mulch around them to hinder weed growth and keep the moisture up during summer.

WAHAROA HISTORIC CEMETERY RESTORATION
For many years, the Matamata Kiwanis Club had talked about providing some sort of kiosk/map/plan of the plots at the Matamata Cemetery to help people find grave sites but couldn't come up with anything that would be vandal proof. However, upon talking to Sheree O'Brien (MPDC) in early 2016, she explained that the council would be digitising their cemetery records, and people would be able to go to the cemetery and search for plots via the cemeteries section of the MPDC website on their phones or laptops (which is now a reality). Sheree asked if we would be interested in tidying up the Waharoa Historic Cemetery. This cemetery has graves of many early settlers from around the Matamata and Waharoa districts. It was closed in 1974, and a fire raged through the cemetery around the same time, destroying wooden crosses that marked many of the graves without headstones. The cemetery has been in a state of neglect ever since. In fact we found references from as far back as 1906 lamenting the state of the cemetery! And then again in 1984! Unbeknownst to us, Justin Scelly (our current President) had a family plot at the cemetery (Scelly’s were the first burials at the cemetery in 1879) and had already been doing some work spraying weeds and headstones. As a club, we decided it would be a good ongoing project for us, and after consultation with MPDC via Bryan Turner, we began the restoration in mid 2017. The first tasks were to finish spraying the weeds, spray the headstones (which were black and totally unreadable), and waterblast and paint the fence. With these finished, we turned to removing the weeds, uplifting the weed matting, removing what bark chips were left, then relaying the ground matting (recycling where possible). Instead of using bark again, we decided to use small stone chips. All told, we shovelled and barrowed 56 tonnes of stone chips. The next task was to remove any old stones on top of the graves, and replace them with 4 different types (in a random pattern) - scoria, coarse decorative pebbles, coarse river stones and coarse lime chips. Not all grave tops had stones or could have stones. Our resident genealogists, Heather Bond and Sally Jenkins, have worked very hard reconstructing the layout of the cemetery and identifying where all the graves were and researching who was buried where (as there were no crosses). They have been very successful and nearly all gravesites are identified and named. It has been a huge job as the records were very incomplete with the change many years ago from a County Council to the District Council. But they have been very resourceful scouring old records and newspapers on line, and with some valuable guidance from the Matamata Genealogy Club. There are only three people we know are buried in the cemetery but we don’t know exactly where, so their crosses are in a little group. There is one grave (a child we think) which has “Unknown” on the cross as we have not been able to locate a name. Some crosses only have a name as we have been unable to find dates of death or ages for them. We have been able to provide 44 new crosses with various amounts of information on them depending on what records Heather and Sally could find. This is the first time since at least 1974 that the graves have all been marked. Next we extended the cemetery fence out to the road side so we could construct a track into the cemetery. A gateway was built into the cemetery fence for pedestrian access. Then it was just a matter of clearing the pathway, levelling it and laying down gravel and rolling it. Lastly, a table and seats were installed and some plants will be sited near the seating. Matamata Piako District Council has provided some of the fence paint, some ground sheet, all the stone chips within the cemetery, stone for the entrance path and the spray for the headstones. Kiwanis have provided paint, groundsheet, pegs, wood to fix the fence, wood to completely renew the bottom boards right round the cemetery, the wood for the extension to the road way, all the new crosses and plaques and shared the cost of the new seat and table the new seat and table. Of course we also provided our labour - over 700 hours in total! We would like to thank the following: David Swap (J Swap Contractors – for transporting the metal to site free of charge and providing a roller for the entrance path) Brett and Linda Hodge (Matamata Post and Rails - for donating the small side gate, wood and concrete tiles Williams Jewellery – for giving a discount for the grave plaques Matamata Mitre 10 – donating two pails of paint The Mens Shed – for making all the new crosses at a significant discount Scott Garland – for a discount on the aluminium stanchions for the crosses Department of Corrections – for providing two lots of PD workers to help spread some of the stones over two days Matamata Scouts – who wanted to earn some money by moving stones (they didn’t want a donation!) Descendants of the Tong family for both labour and a substantial monetary donation Bryan Turner (MPDC) for his help and suggestions and smoothing the way for the project
	BEFORE	AFTER
Here are a few more images...   Below are the new pedestrian gate and table and seats.
The project is now finished and a re-dedication took place on March 23rd. If anybody can help identify any of the unknown gravesites, or provide more details on specific graves (dates, ages etc.), please feel free to contact us.

2018 DONATIONS

During 2018 we donated:

MONEY: Heart Kids, NZ Suicide Trust, Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton (benefiting local and district charities), Autism NZ, Going Bananas Show, Threads Across the Pacific (help with expenses) educational supplies to Vanuatu (help with container expenses), Fostering NZ, Brain Injury Trust, Matamata Scouts (in return for helping at the cemetery), sponsorship of a Spirit of Adventure student, Matamata Mens Shed, Christmas in the Park, Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle, Matamata Rangers Retreat, Matamata College (expenses to attend a netball tournament), sponsoring a student to Walsh flying school

GOODS: Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets - an ongoing project), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books), Waharoa Historic Cemetery (an ongoing project in partnership with Matamata Piako District Council), Matamata Citizens Advice Bureau (2 new computers), Pohlen Hospital (air mattress which has individual air compartments to relieve pressure), Firth, Hinuera and Walton Primary Schools Terrific Kids, Matamata Walking and Tramping Club (Personal Locator Beacon), Matamata Hearing Association (3 personal amplifiers), Matamata Toy Library (new computer and borrowing programme)

Our donations of money and goods in 2018 totalled over $23,000.00 !!

2017 DONATIONS

During 2017 we have donated:

MONEY: Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Friendship Circle (for Christmas gifts and expenses), Matamata Piako District Libraries Reading Programme, Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton, Autism NZ, Heart Kids, Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Brain Injured Childrens Trust, Fostering Kids NZ, Thread Across the Pacific (help with expenses) educational supplies to Vanuatu (help with container expenses), Transition Matamata (bottle drive expenses), Matamata Budget Advice (workshops), Christmas in the Park

GOODS: Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets - an ongoing project), Hinuera School (Terrific Kids library books), Walton School (Terrific Kids library books), Firth School (Terrific Kids library books), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books), Matamata College Junior Bowls set (second set), Matamata Intermediate (library books), Matanmata Primary School (Movie Maker software), Threads Across The Pacific (4 sewing machines for Vanuatu), Walton Playcentre (furniture), Matamata Girl Guides (replacement of stolen camp stoves), Matamata Christian School (sports tracksuits), Waharoa Historic Cemetery (in partnership with Matamata Piako District Council)

Our donations of money and goods for 2017 have totalled over $13,250.00 !!!!

2016 DONATIONS

During 2016 we have donated:

MONEY: Matamata Kidz Toy Library, Matamata Foodbank, Matamata Community Christmas Dinner, Matamata Friendship Circle (for Christmas gifts), Matamata Piako District Libraries Reading Programme, Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton, Autism NZ, Young Farmers Group (3 boys), Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Star Jam, Alzheimers NZ, Parkinsons NZ, Brain Injured Childrens Trust, Matamata Community Patrol, Fostering Kids NZ.

GOODS: Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets - an ongoing project), Hinuera School (Terrific Kids library books), Walton School (Terrific Kids library books), Firth School (Terrific Kids library books), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books), Matamata Fire Brigade (set of emergency lights - the second set we have donated), Matamata Swimming Club (pace clock), Pohlen Hospital (television for the family room), knitting machines (to be used at local rest homes), Red Cross Matamata (shelving), Matamata College Junior Bowls set, Matamata Playcentre (3x tables), Matamata Intermediate (portable sound system), Threads Across The Pacific (sewing machines for Vanuatu).

Our donations of money and goods for 2016 have so far totalled over $14.000 !!!!

2015 DONATIONS

In 2015 we donated:

MONEY: Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton, Kiwanis Eliminate Programme, sponsorship of a student to Outward Bound, sponsorship of a student to the Globe Theatre (England), Child Cancer, Matamata College (Shakespeare Competition), Matamata Primary (amphitheatre), Autism NZ, Leukemia and Blood Cancer.

GOODS: Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets), Hinuera School (Terrific Kids library books), Walton School (Terrific Kids library books), Pohlen Hospital (advanced shower chair), Vanuatu education project (furniture and books).

Our donations of money and goods for this period totalled over $14,500.00.

2014 DONATIONS

In 2014, we donated:

MONEY: Matamata Friendship Circle (Christmas Party), Matamata Library (Summer reading program), Rawhiti Kindergarten (Wharenui), Plunket Waikato (baby seats), Kiwanis Golf Tournament at Walton, Kiwanis Eliminate Programme, Student Camp donations, Alzheimers Waikato, Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Women in India (anti exploitation program), Matamata Foodbank x2.

GOODS: Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets), Rawhiti Kindergarten (Wharenui), Hinuera School (Terrific Kids books), Plunket Waikato (baby seats), Pohlen Hospital (blood monitor), St Josephs School (computer tablets), Matamata Kids Toy Library (toys), Matamata Intermediate (iPad), Leukemia and Blood Cancer, Vanuatu education project (furniture and books).

Our donations of money and goods for this period totalled over $17,500.00.

2013 DONATIONS

In 2013, we donated:

MONEY: Matamata Friendship Circle (Christmas Party), Matamata Skate Park, Starfish (Youth Services at Matamata Intermediate), Matamata Library Summer Reading Programme, Matamata Foodbank, Kidney Kids, Kiwanis Golf Tournament, Te Poi School (Riding for the Disabled), Orlando Hansen (BMX), Matamata College (drama festival), Kiwianis Eliminate Project (an international Kiwanis project), Westpac Helicopter Trust, Child Cancer (Star of Courage donation), Matamata Intermediate (Doug the Digger programme), New Zealand Suicide Trust.

GOODS: Pohlen Hospital (mobile recliner chairs), Vanuatu (school supplies), Matamata Fire Brigade (portable lights and tripods for use at accident scenes), Firth Primary (Duffy Books), Hinuera School (books on behalf of Terrific Kids), Pohlen Hospital (baby blankets).

Our donations of money and goods for this period totalled over $21,000.00.

BATTERY RECYCLING

Our main source of project money comes from our battery recycling scheme. We are very fortunate to have the support of a large number of Matamata businesses who allow us to collect their used car, truck, tractor and boat batteries. We then put them on pallets, wrap and tie them, and on-sell them to a battery recycler.

WOODCHOPS

The other main source of project money in past years has been from woodchops. We purchased our own woodsplitter and seem to have no trouble finding trees to knock over! We always get a good turnout of members to help with chainsawing, splitting, loading and delivering.

Please read on to find out about some of our projects.........

VANUATU EDUCATION PROJECT
and
THREADS ACROSS THE PACIFIC

POHLEN HOSPITAL

Each year, as well as our on-going baby blanket project, we donate a piece of equipment to Pohlen Hospital. Over the last few years, we have donated a special hospital bed, 3 mobile recliner chairs, a baby heart monitor, and a blood transfusion machine. We also donated an advanced shower chair ($3400) to provide the best possible care for patients receiving palliative or end of life care which will minimise waiting times and ensure patients comfort and dignity at all times. Pictured (l to r): Allan Fairweather, Dianne Sinclair, Russell Sinclair (all Kiwanis), Liz Atherton (Pohlen Foundation), Gio (staff), Lady Margaret Spring (Chair, Pohlen Foundation), Lorraine (staff) and Garry King (Kiwanis).

TERRIFIC KIDS

Terrific Kids is an initiative introduced by Kiwanis International with the word TERRIFIC an acronym meaning Thoughtful Enthusiastic Respectful Responsible Inclusive Friendly Inquisitive Capable. Once a term, certificates are presented to children in participating schools in recognition of personal achievement in areas such as character development, positive self-esteem and perseverance. Each term, the school also receives $100 worth of library books donated in the students' names who were awarded certificates. Walton School has joined the programme and held their first presentations earlier this year. Pictured above are Principal Jeremy Kurth and students from Walton School who recently received certificates from Matamata Kiwanians Jim Kyle, Linda Patchett and Daph Wade. As well as Walton School, Wairere and Firth Primary Schools also participate in this programme. Pictured above are students from Hinuera School who recently received certificates from Matamata Kiwanians Dianne Sinclair, Ron Moles, Russell Sinclair and Daph Wade.

MATAMATA FIRE BRIGADE

We donated money to the Matamata Fire Brigade to enable the purchase of two portable lights (with tripod stands) for use at accident scenes etc. The advantages of the portable lights are they can be easily transported close to an accident scene (e.g. over a bank, down a slope etc.) without the need for power cords snaking all over the place, and with long life batteries, they do not need a generator meaning less noise on site, allowing easier communication among the firemen and women. The Matamata Fire Brigade invited us to an evening where they demonstrated the jaws of life on a car wreck. They began by demonstrating lights using a generator and then showed us the portable lights in use where they could be moved to any position in or around the car wreck. We are particularly pleased to support the fantastic work the Matamata Fire Brigade do around our town and district.

DOUG THE DIGGER

Doug The Digger visited Matamata Intermediate for a careers day courtesy of funding from the Matamata Kiwanis Club. The one day programme focused on the value of education and how they can help in your career. Students had the opportunity for hands-on experience on a digger and a compactor and learnt about safety, safety checks, wearing the correct safety gear, listening, following instructions, being drug free and basic machinery maintenance. Students from the nearby Waikato Digger School (based at the Totaroaroa Road Quarry) were on hand to help Intermediate students and share their experiences. Perhaps some of the pupils may make their career in this industry!

KIWANIS MAGNOLIA GROVE

Nearly 25 years ago, the Kiwanis Club of Matamata planted a large number of magnolias in what is now known as the Neil Algar Reserve. At last a sign has been erected acknowledging our contribution. Pictured (l to r): Hugh Vercoe (Mayor - MPDC), Tom Troughton (Kiwanis President) and Ron Moles (Master Gardener).

Each summer, along with the Morrinsville Kiwanis Club, our Club provides funding for the Kiwanis Summer Reading Programme - Reading is Fantastic - run by the Matamata Piako District Libraries covering Matamata, Morrinsville and Te Aroha.

It is a family oriented reading incentive programme for children from five to pre-teen run in the three libraries over the summer school holidays, with a focus on encouraging literacy. Children register for the programme and then check in three times to report on their reading.

At each reporting session children are rewarded with a small novelty incentive, culminating in an end of programme day out with activities and presentations.