The first and most important matter to cover in this report is to thank Alison for all her work as Convenor for the past two years. The first year went very smoothly and during this first year as well as ensuring the walking group was functioning she put a great deal of work into an away trip to the Waikato. However the second year started with Covid 19 and Alison had to deal with the various levels and how on each of these levels the walking group could operate. We even lost access to Simmer on Friday nights and she had to seek out an alternative venue. Both these matters were readily attended to. So on behalf of the walking group I would like to record our thanks for a job well done. Like both the previous two Convenor’s (Bart Jones and Paul Alpe) she leaves the role with a healthy and active group that is still growing in numbers. We understand that Alison will remain as a keen walker.
Another giving up her role is Gay Hoffman who has been plotting out new walks and adding them to our data base on a regular basis for several years and also put a lot of work into organising the away trip to the Chatham Islands. Whilst Gay has stepped down from her committee role we trust that her expertise is not lost to the walking group.
Yet another stepping down is Alister Young. He has looked after the financial side of our functions for quite a few years and now feels it is time to have a break and pass the job on. We look to have a very good replacement in Keith Thomas and he may have been able to get the BNZ to allow the walking group to have an account in its own name, thus removing the need for using private accounts.
Friday “Drinkies”
Thanks for all those who took the time to record their preferences for either Simmer or the Sprig & Fern. The overwhelming result was for the alternative monthly arrangement. Because of Good Friday the Friday “Drinkies” this month are to be on Friday 9th April at the Sprig & Fern which Alison had booked well before we knew Simmer was able to take us again. In May we will return to Simmer.
Alison’s Corner
Alison liked to mention any notable event in the lives of the walkers. Thus we note that the week coming includes the birthdays of Duncan McMillan, Anne Stainer and May Ng. We trust these three and any others we don’t know about enjoy their special day.
The Walks
The weather was marginal on Wednesday and the walks cancelled. The Thursday night walkers waited till the wind dropped and headed out around Churton Park. The group was made up of 2 keen walkers. The Good Friday walk for the Friday group was well attended with some 29 walkers heading up through Bothamley Park and into the hills at the back of Porirua East with this allowing a view of parts of the Transmission Gully project.
Cancellations
To better align with my lifestyle cancellation emails if required will go out a bit later than before but no later than 8:00am. To avoid disappointing those that are happy to walk in marginal conditions from now on the cancellation will be either; a) the walk is cancelled and have a coffee at Simmer; or b) Conditions are marginal and those that still are considering to walk meet at 9:00am to either head off for the walk or if they change their mind, head to Simmer for coffee.
Enjoy your walks.
Russell Paterson
Photos
Here are some photos from last week. Walkers please try and take a photo of each group on walking days and email them to peter@jville.kiwi preferably small size (389kb).
Walk Schedules
You can look at the walk schedule for the rest of April here.