YMCA Gisborne celebrates

Tuesday, 8 June 2010, 3:30 pm
Press Release: YMCA

YMCA Gisborne celebrates

YMCA members are today celebrating the award of a QSM to the Chief Executive of the Gisborne YMCA, Leigh Gibson. YMCA National Chief Executive Ric Odom said “Leigh was a member of the YMCA Gisborne Board for many years – including serving as its President – before taking over as CEO. This was at a time when the YMCA in Gisborne was in a difficult position. Under her leadership, the YMCA has become financially sustainable and an integral part of the Gisborne community.”

Highlights during Leigh’s tenure include the completion In March 2008 of the new Y-Tamariki Bilingual Community Early Childhood Centre beside the YMCA Memorial Hall at a cost of over $1,000,000.00. It is believed to be one of the first bilingual childhood education centres in the country.

The bilingual childhood centre is only the most recent building project in a long list of YMCA developments in the local area.

In January 2006 the Gisborne YMCA built the Y-Kids Community Early Childhood Centre in Roebuck Road.

In July 2007 the Gisborne YMCA purchased the Kaiti Memorial Hall and surrounding parkland. The parkland is leased to the Gisborne District Council as a recreational reserve. Repairs and alterations to the Kaiti Hall took place in 2008 including the installation of showers for the Y-Fitness Centre, and the development of a small childcare centre and teen parenting classroom. Leigh said the he directors and staff of the Gisborne YMCA are grateful to the Kaiti Hall Association for their commitment to ensuring that the Hall continues to be accessible to everyone in the Kaiti region, and believing that the YMCA values and objectives aligned to their trust deed.
A classroom gifted by the Diocese of Hamilton from the St Mary's school was relocated to the Kaiti land in March 2008 for the development of a playgroup and after school homework study programme.

Most recently the YMCA opened and equipped a community gym in Tokomaru Bay.

Leigh Gibson attributes the success of the Gisborne YMCA to the spirit of partnership embodied in Te Tiriti O Waitangi. “All activities, programmes and initiatives undertaken at the Gisborne YMCA seek to empower participants in a culturally appropriate manner,” she said.

“Currently 55-60% of staff employed by the Gisborne YMCA are Maori, with some programmes having up to 90-95% Maori employees such as the Y Tamariki Bilingual Early Childhood Centre and other services provided at the Kaiti YMCA. The YMCA recognises cultural diversity and that success for Maori is inextricably linked with New Zealand’s success,” said Leigh. All services operated by the YMCA explicitly recognise that as an organisation we accept ownership, leadership and accountability for significantly improving opportunities for Maori throughout our services in Gisborne.”
In creating its strategic plan YMCA identified the main causes of serious health issues for the Gisborne community are linked to poor education, high unemployment and low income. Tairawhiti still experiences higher levels of deprivation than New Zealand as a whole, with almost half (47.5%) of the population living within deciles 9 and 10. There are 11,115 families in the Gisborne community of which 27.5% are one parent families. The median income of $15,000 for Gisborne is the third lowest median income in the country and Tairawhiti shows the largest proportion of youth (0-14 years).

All these profiles are dominated by high rates of Maori with Tairawhiti showing the greatest Maori population for the country (44.4%). These factors and characteristics mean that the affordability and access issues become complex affecting inequalities not only in health but also in recreation and educational opportunities. The YMCA recognises and values the need to reduce inequalities, especially amongst the Maori population in the Gisborne area.

“Our programmes are being designed and will evolve to contribute to the improvement of health and social issues for this community. Because Maori make up almost 50% of this district’s population the YMCA will ensure that programmes and services will use tools to improve Maori responsiveness and equity,” said Leigh.

The Gisborne YMCA was founded in Gisborne in 1880 by James Rosie. Before leaving England James Rosie had worked for a firm of drapers called Hitchcock Williams (relations of George Williams) who had been involved in the establishment of the YMCA in London. The Association was formed in 1903 and incorporated in 1932.

The first Gisborne YMCA headquarters was held in a Methodist schoolroom in 1880.
In 1908 social and sport activities were introduced and six rooms rented in Gladstone Road, Gisborne above Rosie's drapery store. The YMCA was equipped with a billiard table, table tennis table, chess and draught boards.

In late 1909 the YMCA was relocated to the Read's Quay Hall because of overcrowding.
During 1926 funding of $5,000.00 was raised to erect the first YMCA building in Fitzherbert Street.

In 1958 an appeal was launched for $20,000.00 to build the existing stadium on the corner of Roebuck Road and Childers Road. In November 1969 the two storey extension to the YMCA stadium was completed and opened at a cost of $90,000.00 ($32,000.00 gifted by the Williams Trust).

ENDS

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