Scout groups in Taihape are thankful for
offenders’ hard work to get their hall into shape
Offenders sentenced to community work have been getting stuck into two projects in the close-knit community of Taihape – the renovation of the local Scout hall, and the completion of a six-year project to get the railway turntable reinstated.
The scout hall was in serious need of repair, and although parents made a good start on the painting, work and family commitments eventually ground the renovations to a halt.
Community Work Supervisor Katrina Beamsley, heard about their plight and offered to help. Before long offenders had completely transformed the hall, giving it a fresh coat of paint, making much needed repairs to the exterior and clearing up the grounds. They also mow the lawns regularly.
Steve Bradley, whose two sons use the hall for their scout meetings, runs a busy engineering business, and was grateful when community work parties from the area took over.
“They turned up and did what they needed to do, no problems”, he says. “They seemed to enjoy it too – because the hall is used so often they wanted to do the job well.”
Taihape will also benefit from work which offenders have been doing on the railway turntable, which will now allow steam trains to travel to the town.
The offenders have been working on the project, managed by the Taihape Rotary Club, for the past six years. Recent work has included the painting and sanding of the turntable which was finally reinstated in July.
“It means great things for Taihape,” says Project Manager Colin Baird.
“Excursion trains can now come here – previously they couldn’t turn 
around. It will bring people and business into the town.”
The Feilding Goodwill Train, carrying school children, made a special trip to Taihape on 31 July and used the turntable for the first time. A barbeque lunch and presentation by a local kapa haka group marked the event.
“It was only possible because the turntable was ready on time, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the community work parties,” says Colin.
Project Manager Colin Baird from the Taihape Rotary Club and Probation Officer Diedre Thomson with the turntable before its installation.
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ISSN 1178-1327