In December of last year, the Otago Community Trust was pleased to provide a $65,000 donation to the Caversham Harrier & Athletic Club to assist them with their clubroom upgrade. The Club renovation comes at a cost of $245,000 and will transform the clubrooms into a more community friendly facility. The Caversham Harrier & Athletic Club drew on financial reserves of $150,000 saved up over close to a 30 year period and benefited from a number of other grants.
Murray Reynolds, Caversham Harrier & Athletic Club President explains that despite being a 200 member strong club, athletic participation is falling away locally and nationally. The club are keen to grow youth membership, encouraging athletes of all ages and abilities. The local sports club is committed to increasing community involvement by renovating its facilities. Members also wanted to remove the stigma they believed was associated with the Athletic Club, moving away from the perceived elitism that many associate with the Club.
The renovations will see the 50 year old building receive an upgrade to the kitchen, changing and meeting areas, along with the development of a new equipment storage area at the rear of the building. Otago Community Trust staff visited the site in late July and renovations were well under way.
Renovations are hoped to be completed by the end of winter.
