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Orewa Lions is pulling out all the stops and has set a date this summer for bringing back its popular Big Dig event.
The event, which is a major fundraiser for the Lions, will also be revamped with some additional ‘bells and whistles’.
The Big Dig has been held for 34 years. It involves hiding prize tickets in the sand on Orewa Beach for children to dig up – a formula that has drawn thousands of locals and holidaymakers to Orewa.
Last summer the event was cancelled and its long-term future was in doubt due to insufficient volunteer manpower, declining sponsorship and a misunderstanding over Council fees.
Orewa Lions president Mandy Hebben says that all these issues can be successfully resolved this time around, and the timing of the event has made things easier for the club’s volunteers.
At a meeting last month, the Orewa Lions settled on Saturday, January 21 for the next event, and the first stages of the resource consent process are underway.
“We want to change it up a bit and have more than just the dig going on,” Mandy says.
New furnishings are in the pipeline for Orewa Beach Reserve after Orewa Lions made this the focus for their centenary project.
Next year, Lions internationally celebrates 100 years of service to the community and all clubs have been asked to come up with a centennial project.
Orewa Lions are working with Hibiscus & Bays Local Board chair Julia Parfitt, prison carvers and Northland Kauri to put up new benches and tables on Orewa Reserve.
The furniture will replace planter boxes installed on the reserve, (opposite BP Petrol station) in 1982, also by Lions.
The boxes have become rundown as Council has told Orewa Lions there is no budget to maintain them.
The new kauri furniture, featuring beach themed carvings and an inscription, will be maintained by Lions.
The organisation hopes to have the tables and benches in place by this summer, but there are a number of potential hurdles and as long as they are there by the Lions centenary next June, the group will be happy.
