Christchurch’s largest circulating free weekly paper
Free
proudly Christchurch owned
THURSDAY APRIL 4 2013
• St Martin’s library reopens in fresh location • New president for Canterbury A&P Association
Canterbury graduate a global leader P8-9
Bugged by tree loss P3
Easter rugby action photos P12
Four decades on
Now and then: Left, Living Springs in 2013. Above from top: A feast in the camp’s early days, kayaking on Lyttelton Harbour and go karting. Photos: CTV and Living Springs
Samantha Early | samantha@mainlandpress.co.nz
IT’S difficult to imagine Governors Bay without Living Springs, the camping, conference, function and adventure facility that is now celebrating its 40th birthday. The vision for the facility originated with Christchurch couple Peter and Anne Morrow, who were looking for a site to hold church camps. They sold their family home in St Albans to make the first instalment on the Port Hills property, but ran into difficulties. They ended up teaming up with another couple, David and Eddi Down, who had a similar vision to establish a camp. The Living Springs Trust was established as a legal entity on May 15, 1973. Living Springs chief executive officer Denis Aldridge said reaching 40 years was a great achievement. Though it was a struggle to get Living Springs established, it’s now ideally placed to make a major contribution to Christchurch,
Mr Aldridge said. “There’s a lot of organisations like ours that start with a tremendous sense of vision and purpose and enthusiasm, people giving everything for them, which is exactly what happened here, but to keep that going 40, years that’s where the big challenge is.” Mr Aldridge said Living Springs had stuck true to its purpose and people leave the camp feeling refreshed, invigorated and renewed. “It’s always had this pulse of life about it right from the early days and it’s still got that.” He said they want to be relevant to the city and play their part in the city’s earthquake rebuild. “We’re not there with hammers and nails in that sense but we are part of the rebuild of the people of Christchurch. Over Easter we
Fujitsu Heatpumps priced From an amazing $1999!!!
Call for a FREE no obligation assessment and quotation
had the Red Cross here working with quake-affected families.” Post-earthquakes, Living Springs, which suffered minimal damage, has been a lifeline for many community and sporting groups. For the past two years it has hosted Cholmondeley, which provides respite care to children whose families are facing tough times, and will do so until Cholmondeley’s earthquake-destroyed facility is rebuilt. The pool is used for kayak clubs and learn-to-swim classes, with businesses working on the rebuild using it as a place to do staff inductions. Future plans include making a level sports field and a second tier of accommodation. “We are engaging with the city and communities of the city in ways we never had before and long may it continue.”
Ray White
Introducing…
Prier Manson Real Estate Ltd REAA2008
Ray White Citywide Property Management
pH 377 0034
Six Year Warranty
15 MONTHS INTEREST FREE AND DERFERRED Fully INSTAllED
or 0800 800 750
don’t miss out! * Installation is back to back with up 5 meter pipe run electrical run up to three meters, in home assessment recommended
www.dimockheatpumps.co.nz • Email: sales@dimocks.net.nz 6/105 Coleridge St, Sydenham, Christchurch
* Conditions apply. Normal lending criteria, booking fee and annual account fee applies. Limited stock.
Doug Nicol
Ray Hastie
Rylee Bassett
Local experts — Citywide knowledge For complete Property Management and Rental Service right across the city call Ray White Citywide Phone: 03 331 6755 or visit: www.propertymanagementchristchurch.com
“We are where you are”