Another local community hall has undergone something of a transformation – and this time it was Te Uku’s turn to celebrate.
With the paint scarcely dry on the Te Mata Hall restoration, just a 12 kilometre drive away the Te Uku community recently celebrated with an open day for a $40,000-plus upgrade to its own memorial hall.
Coincidentally both historic buildings have been spruced up thanks in no small part to donations from the sale of the old Kauroa Saleyards, once a focal point for farming families in the district.
Te Uku Community Hall now boasts brand-new aluminium windows the length of its far-side wall, and a mould-free ceiling whose clean-up required the erection of some pretty major scaffolding to access its lofty heights. This way the ceiling didn’t need an expensive paint job, hall committee chair Natalie Werner told the Chronicle.
With a colourful mural already brightening up the highway-facing side of the old building – courtesy of a recent Raglan Community Board grant – Natalie said there was now just some “tidying-up” of the gravelled outdoor area to be done. This work would take in a clean-up of the defunct tennis court space.
While it was recognised early on that the cost of a new tennis court would be prohibitive, Natalie said, “We’d still like to do something (there) that can be used by all the community”. At the same time the committee was mindful of not duplicating bike or skate facilities already available across the road at Te Uku School.
After the open day’s karakia and blessing by kaumatua Sean Ellison, longtime locals shared memories of their historic hall which has been a place for celebrations, meetings, sporting events, weddings, funerals and parties for 58 years.
Pastor Roger Peart, who grew up in the district, recalled the hall having been built after many community fundraising efforts including a scrap metal drive. “I can even remember the old hall,” he said.
That original structure, built in 1921 by early European settlers, became borer-ridden over the years and was eventually replaced in 1968 by the current building. This was at least “built to last”, Roger recalled, with its concrete block exterior and steel girders.
The floor had to be “just right” for indoor bowls, level and flat, he explained, with the roof high enough for playing badminton. And the supper room had to open towards the tennis court which was a big part of life back then.
“It’s so good to see this old hall freshened up, being cared for and looked after,” he added. “A community centre to be proud of.”
He reminded those gathered at the open day of the hall’s dual purpose, featuring a rich history with its World War rolls of honour proudly on display inside, but the venue also serving as a focus for social events over the years.
Janet Peart remembered as a young person playing badminton at the hall on Saturday nights. “It was the place to be,” she said. “And my sisters and I had our wedding breakfasts here.”
Mary Parker remembered being welcomed to the district 65 years ago in the original hall. Te Uku has been a “fabulous” place to live, she insisted, with a wonderful community spirit. And her sons had their 21sts at the hall.
Hall committee secretary Natalie Parkes said the facility is used regularly with both table tennis and country dance nights weekly, and Nia dance on Saturday mornings. And hireage is up the past few years, she confirmed.
A Ceilidh or Scottish country dance event was held there, as of old, a couple of years ago, and the fifth annual community pot luck dinner is coming up in the newly refurbished building in July.
Natalie added that as custodians of the community-owned and operated asset, it’s good for the committee to continue to acknowledge the past while also ensuring this historic building remains fit for purpose for generations to come.
