Friday, March 16

Team of 250 at Marae DIY

Normanby's Ngarongo Marae is looking as good as ever after the completion of a three-day makeover during Taranaki Anniversary weekend.

As part of Maori Television's Marae DIY show, around 250 volunteers from Ngati Ruanui, Ngaruahine and others were on site for the upgrade, which created a new entrance, sheltered walkway, lawns, tussock embankment and gave established buildings a spruce-up.

Marae trustees chairman Clive Tongaawhikau said the love and the passion of the people who had returned to the Marae was coming through.

"We get together on equal terms and celebrate."

The design team from the show instructed the volunteers on putting the plans together.

Work was finished by around 11am on Sunday for the welcoming, blessing and kapa haka performance before a court yard full of people.

A camera crew filmed all the activity and the episode will be shown on Maori Television in June. JARED SMITH- SOUTH TARANAKI STAR
Last updated 09:38 15/03/2012

Marae
JARED SMITH
Beautiful finish: Helpers at the Ngarongo Marae after its makeover completion on Sunday.

Hawera JP's rare honour

It's pretty rare to be awarded a Paul Harris Fellow and exceptionally so if you are not a Rotary Club member.

Hawera Justice of the Peace Ross Corrigan, a non-Rotarian, received the prestigious award which recognises and thanks a person living up to the ideals of Rotary.

It is for people who through voluntary service have made a difference in their community and the lives of others.

The 76-year-old was surprised and elated when approached by Hawera Rotary member Doug Hutchison to see if he would accept the award. a

A true Kiwi bloke, Mr Corrigan doesn't think himself worthy.

"I never expected that as a non-rotarian," he says.

"I feel very humble about it actually, it's nice to be recognised."

Mr Corrigan has a rich history of volunteer work in South Taranaki.

He has been made a life member of the Egmont A&P Association, the Egmont Sheep Dog Trial Club and the Mt Egmont Alpine Club. He has been chairman of the West Coast Settlement Lessees' Association, the Hawera Presbyterian Men's parish, the Federated Farmers Sharemilker Employers' Section and the president of the Hawera Historical Society.

He was the director of Hawera Co-operative Dairy Factory Company Limited and built the first ever mobile starting barrier for trotting races in the southern hemisphere.

Being involved in the Egmont A&P Association since the early 1950s has always just made sense, Mr Corrigan says.

"At that time being a member of the show was probably the most important community gathering," Mr Corrigan says.

"It was a focal point. My father and grandfather had both been very much involved with A and P."

While not as busy as he once was, he still works daily on his farm shifting cattle and regularly fulfills duties as a Justice of the Peace.

Mr Corrigan was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow on February 20 at a ceremony held in the Hawera Club.

He joins Chester Borrows and Val Tarrant as a non-Rotary member with the award.


- © Fairfax NZ News

PETRA FINER- SOUTH TARANAKI STAR
Last updated 10:04 15/03/2012

PETRA FINER
Work rewarded: Ross Corrigan is now a Paul Harris Fellow.
South Taranaki Star