Churton Park Community Walkers
Newsletter July 28th 2024
11th Anniversary Function:
As I write this, we are all reflecting on the wonderful evening on Saturday night at the Johnsonville Bowling Club. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and a fitting way to celebrate the 11th anniversary of our club. Thanks to all who attended and also thanks to all those who helped out.
Last week’s walks:
Some excellent walking weather prevailed throughout last week and we saw 13 Pleasure Pacers, 28 Steady Steppers and 20 Fast Footers journey around Petone on Wednesday. Most of them met up later for coffee at Mitre10. On Thursday 6 walkers (plus Red) undertook a 5.2km walk around Churton Park. On Friday 20 walkers strolled over most of the Titahi Bay coastline covering a distance of 13.2km.
Friday Night Drinks etc:
This coming Friday, 2nd August, we return to Sprig and Fern in Tawa for our regular social drinks and a meal. The tables are booked from 5pm. I look forward to seeing you there.
Brian Vincent
Convenor
Our Last Year's Walking Statistics:
(Thanks to Paul Alpe.)
CPCW 11th Anniversary Dinner - July 27th 2024
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It was fantastic to see 70+ people at the dinner which ran like clockwork. Great food courtesy of Dunshea's Deli in Khandallah in a pleasant environment courtesy of the Johnsonville Bowling Club.
If you enjoy the walks on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday or our social events at the Sprig & Fern or the Anniversary Dinner, take a moment to think of the people who make all this happen:
This link will take you to our webpage showing the people behind the walks/events:
Our Committees
Brian Vincent, our CPCW convenor, led a small social committee who planned the anniversary dinner. This included a number of individuals who canvassed sponsors who provided a large number of great gifts which were offered as raffle prizes. Thanks, again, must go to our generous sponsors:
 
The social committee comprised - Brian Vincent, David Pegram, Helen Paterson, Keith Thomas, Rowena Rowe, Paul Alpe and Bill Gaudie.
On the day, many individuals came together to create a great evening:
- tables were covered with tablecloths arranged by Adrienne Holloway; adorned with flowers/foliage from Janice Ingold's obviously bountiful garden; and David Pegram had organised nibbles to enjoy with a pre-dinner drink (or 2!)
- a variety of raffles were on offer and tickets were sold keenly by Graham and Wendy Bentley; the money raised boosts the coffers of CPCW and avoids the need to levy a subscription on members; thanks to Keith Thomas for managing payments for the evening and counting/banking cash
- challenging games were on offer to challenge and frustrate - one mentally challenging as Rowena Rowe tested our ability to recall walks we had enjoyed over the past year; one physically challenging as David Pegram and Wayne Jackson tested our ability with an Olympic Games level trial; congratulations to the winners of these challenges (your Editor was found seriously lacking in skills on both counts!)
- Mike Drain put on his photographer's hat once again to record the event
- Russel Paterson and Paul Alpe organised name badges; Paul had purchased crockery and cutlery to ensure the event went smoothly and at less cost
- Stu Rowe did a wonderful job orchestrating the parking - though there were some challenges as it seemed some attendees must have arrived the night before to secure a carpark!!
- Christine Binns provided the loan of a screen and Peter Nalder provided the loan of a projector to allow us to provide a slideshow
- Pat Vincent wore her mantle of MC with aplomb - as always - ensuring a smooth flow to the evening
- a team made up of Brian & Pat; Graham & Wendy; Paul & Theresa; Russell & Helen; David & Wayne; Barbara & Barry; Rowena & Stu; and Bill & Jane were at the Bowling Club on Saturday afternoon to set up the venue and ensure all was ready for the evening; they also tidied up at the end, including washing dishes and laundering tablecloths.
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Notice:
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Walking Tracks in and around Churton Park
Guest talk by Bradley Schroder and Tim Harkness
7:30 pm, 30th July 2024, Churton Park Community Centre
Dr Bradley Schroder, Open Spaces and Parks Manager for Wellington City Council, and Tim Harkness, Wellington City Council Trails and Reserve Specialist, have agreed to give a guest talk at the Churton Park Community Centre (Kea Hall) from 7:30 pm on Tuesday 30th July.
Their topic is 'Walking tracks in and around Churton Park'. The talk is open to all and free of charge.
This is a good opportunity to learn more about some walking tracks that you may know and about others that you have not yet explored. What is their significance and how do they fit in the larger plan of encouraging us all to get out and explore our special backyard? There's one way to find out. Come along on 30th July and hear for yourself.
Please reply to Brian Alderson who is collating names and numbers: briannz567@gmail.com
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A reminder about walking arrangements:
After everyone has arrived at the starting location, each group should confirm its leader and also nominate a ‘tail-end Charlie’. Please remember the medical kits – there is at least one for each group – and a reminder to take photographs. These allow us to record that day’s walkers in each group. Please forward these by email.
Finally, just a reminder to swap telephone numbers amongst those with whom you travel to the starting point each week. A handy back-up for any late changes to arrangements.
Reminder: Please ensure that you inform your group’s leader if you leave a walk partway through.
Walk Details for Wednesday July 31st 2024.
This Week's Walks: Off to Plimmerton and a bit of Camborne for all three walks this coming Wednesday. All walkers should be at the start point ready to start walking at 9:20am.
PPs: A 4.01km sort of loop with the return repeating a bit of the initial route. The route does include one short climb, otherwise all very flat. You can see the walk here
SSs: A 5.58km loop walk starting in Plimmerton and extending into Camborne and returning to Plimmerton. Part on the coast but on a well formed track, the rest on tracks and footpaths and also over a bridge. It is a walk created by John Holloway, but with a small addition. There are a few climbs but, if remembered correctly, no steps. You can see the walk here
FFs: A 7.83km loop walk up to and along a long ridge and back via an undulating and winding rural road. It is the reverse of a walk we have done a few times before. You can see the walk here and on Plotaroute here
Parking: The parking for all three groups is opposite Palmers Garden World. Please do not park in the Palmers Garden World carpark but use the commuter carpark nearby if any space; otherwise use Ulric Street and Douglas Close. We have managed to find enough parking in the past. Some of the parks may allow for a good pre-walk warm-up.
Coffee: We have told Backyard Café (inside Palmers Garden World) that a number of us will be coming for coffee. Feel free to shift your car into the Palmers Garden World carpark at this point.
Russell Paterson
Website
When you open the website to view your walk have a quick look at the “Home Page” This usually has new images each week showing views from one of our walks.
Cancellation
If the walks are cancelled an email will be sent out as early as possible but definitely before 8:00am.
Walk Schedules
You can look at the walk schedule for July 2024 here
Photos
Walkers - please try and take a photo of each group on walking days and email them to this link. Preferably small size (around 450kb). It has been great to receive a larger number of photos from PPs and SSs - keep them coming, please!
CPCW Photos
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On Wednesday, the group headed out to Petone on a beautiful day and walked various routes around Petone and Alicetown. All were flat - out annual walk without hills!!
Photos of the PPs are courtesy of Brian Vincent:
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And thank you to Hue Ng and Russell Paterson for these photos of the FFs:
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And Paul Alpe sent in this photo of the SSs silhouetted against the skyline:
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Friday's walkers headed out from Onepoto and around and over Whitereia Park, through Titahi Bay and back. Clint took mercy upon them and limited the ascents compared with some of his other recent walks!
Photos are courtesy of Wendy Bentley and Clint Davis:
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