Celebration for Lawrence Gymkhana Club

3 Jan 2020

Funding Stories

It is always wonderful to see community projects which have taken a lot of hard mahi / work come to fruition. Our Waitahuna based trustee Bridget Tweed attended the opening of the Ablution Block for the Lawrence Gymkhana Club last weekend and was blown away by the community spirit displayed.

Bridget highlighted that it was a very emotional ceremony, dedicated to the late Kura Kenny. Ku, a life member of the Lawrence Gymkhana Club, passed away last year after a long battle with cancer. As a tribute to Kura, three trees were planted by her family at the grounds. The ribbon was cut by Kura's husband, Graham Kenny and friend Barry Guthrie - both life members of the Gymkhana Club. Kura's family sung a beautiful Waiata to acknowledge the opening of the new facilities.

It is testament to the strength of the Lawrence community that the facility has now been redeveloped. It took the local community two years to put together the funding for it. Otago Community Trust was pleased to lend a helping hand to the funding via a $50,000 grant in late 2018. However, help was readily on hand via a large number of local contractors and people who helped the club in many different ways.

A great article on the official opening can also be found via the ODT link below:

Gymkhana club holds triple celebration — and no-one fell off