We are planning to develop the park over the coming years in phases, beginning with adding tracks and plantings, and may undertake further developments beyond these first 3 phases, such as viewing platforms, shelters and seating.
We are planning to develop the park over the coming years in phases, beginning with adding tracks and plantings, and may undertake further developments beyond these first 3 phases, such as viewing platforms, shelters and seating.
Planted were: Cabbage Tree (6), Ngaio (4), Kowhai (6), Mahoe (6), Mapou (4), Lancewood (6), Totara (4) & Mingimingi (18). For the first time, plantings were done at Rotary Park (Sheil Hill) as the West Harbour site used for the past ten years has reached capacity.
Recently David Mehrtens, son of former member Geoff Mehrtens and ex Dunedin North Rotarian, was visiting the cemetery and recalled that his father had been involved in the project 25 years ago. He noticed that moss and lichen was beginning to obscure the inscriptions, and as a representative for "Wet and Forget" he offered to donate product and to loan sprayers etc if Rotary could provide 2 or 3 members to help him give them a tidy-up.
So on Saturday, five members of the Community Projects group spent two hours applying an initial spray to the two memorials, three "waypoint" markers, the grave itself, a "Trees For Babies" plaque found almost hidden at the edge of plantings done in 2010, and the grave of an ancestor of a random stranger who agreed to take a group photo for us!
They gained popularity in the 1950s and 60s, as sliced bread became more common in New Zealand, becoming a fundraiser for Schools and Sports Groups.
Recently the Community Projects group of our club decided to make and sell Cheese Rolls to raise funds for the redevelopment of Rotary Park.
Orders for 477 dozen rolls were received (5,724 rolls), requiring 275 loaves of bread, 82 kg cheese, 8 kg onion soup mix and 1 kg mustard powder.
Twenty club members, partners, friends and family members were involved in the making, spread over a full day Saturday and Sunday morning.
Net profit was of the order of $1,200 which will be split between The Rotary Foundation (10%) and Rotary Park Redevelopment (90%).
As an aside, the end crusts from the bread were collected by Dunedin Craft Distillers and will be used in the production of Gin!!