HISTORY OF THE CENTRE

Originally a school

The Kawhatau Outdoor Centre was originally the Kawhatau Valley school and teachers residence. Due to the declining role, the school closed in December 1985 and under the Education Department ruling at the time there had to be a 2 year stand down and if there wasn't an increase in eligible children by then the buildings and land were to to be sold by tender.

Taihape Rotary Club

Around this time, the Taihape Rotary club were looking for a project that would be of some benefit to the district. Their President at the time, the late Mr Bob Blight (who happened to be married to an ex-pupil of the school and whose family lived up the Valley), came up with the idea that the complex should be taken over by the Rotary Club and converted into an outdoor education centre to be used by schools and the public at large. Bobs enthusiasm quickly spread

to the other Rotary club members who decided to go all out to make this happen, but there was a problem. The Rotary club didn't have any money to buy the complex.

Education Department

They say that where there's a will, there's a way - Bobs determination persisted and he made an appointment with the head of the Education Department in Wellington. A delegation of Taihape Rotary Club members travelled to Wellington and after some hard bargaining and good, sound rural negotiations, arrived at an agreement for the Rotary Club to have a long term lease of the property at a peppercorn rental.

JBS Dudding Trust

Money then had to be raised to make the necessary alterations that were going to be required. Successful applications were made to the DuddingTrust, Powerco and the Lotteries Board with the JBS Dudding Trust being the major contributor. The Centre is proud to note that the JBS Dudding Trust continues to support us, most recently contributing funding towards modification of bathrooms and general building maintenance.

Longburn Freezing Works

An ex-accomodation block from the closed Longburn Freezing Works was purchased and transported on to the site. The roof was too high to fit under the railway electrification wires and had to be removed and then rebuilt along with other alterations to make the block fit the Centres accommodation needs. The teachers house was extended, all by voluntary labour, to make the existing dining room area. A drying room and heating block were also built and joined to the dormitory block. Subsequent deckings,verandah and concrete playing areas were added to complete the existing 60 bed complex.

Official Opening

The official opening took place on 10th March 1991 by Lydia Bradey, the first woman to climb Mt Everest without supplemental oxygen. Also present was the District President of Rotary Donald Speirs, Rotarians from other areas, representatives from charities that had supported us and the local residents.

Local Volunteers

Taihape Rotary realised that the day to day running of the complex was going to be too much for them to handle on their own so a Board of Trustees was established with representatives from the local schools, Kawhatau local residents and Education Board as members. The complex is now successfully run by a combined committee of local volunteers.