Cash-strapped Guides rescued by Rotary

The Orewa Guide Den in Centreway Road was in need of significant repairs and eventually the cash-strapped organisation appealed to Rotary for help.

In 2015, an engineer’s report stated that the den was in very poor repair and needed rebuilding from the foundations up.

At the time national Guide headquarters were unsure about the long-term future of the building, and since then Covid-19 further reduced the income needed for repairs.

Local coordinator Barbara Hamer says last year fees were waived in term 2 and reduced in term 3 while a lot of Guiding activities went online.

“This is a loss of $510,000, which Guiding NZ considers a worthwhile investment in our community,” Barbara says. “But it will affect us for the forseeable future, which is why we’re excited to have Rotary help us with repairs.”

The Rotary Clubs of Orewa and Orewa-Millwater responded to Barbara’s call for help towards the end of last year, including approaching local professionals who donated their services – including Total Security Group, Bunnings, Electric Works and Laser Plumbing. Former Guide leader Karyn Sands donated new security lighting.

Rotarians then rolled their sleeves up and got to work replacing timber and repairing a door. They also cleaned the guttering, fixed the fence and noticeboard and installed shelving.

Barbara says she can’t thank everyone involved enough.

She says both Orewa and Stanmore Bay Guide halls are old and need a lot of TLC.

“We really need the parents of the children who use the dens to organise a working bee from time to time to do things like keep the gutters clear,” she says.

Back stories: September 16, 2015.