Yacht Club Bouyed By Meridian Community Fund

Media Release for immediate use 20 May 2009

Yacht Club Bouyed By Support Of Meridian Community Fund

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Kids enjoy sailing Optimist boats on Lake Te Anau

Future sailing stars from Manapouri and Te Anau will be in safe hands thanks to a grant from the Meridian Manaporui Te Anau Community Fund for a new coaching boat.

The Marakura Yacht Club is one of four community groups to receive a share of more than $28,000 of funding from the latest round of allocations.

Club Vice Commodore Iain Campbell says the new coaching boat will provide instructors with a stable platform to teach local kids how to sail.

“The Marakura Yacht Club is a family orientated club which relies heavily on the generosity of others,” he says. “We are grateful to the Meridian Community Fund for the $5500 it has given us and Ewan Allan Honda for their support because we rely on donations and community support for new equipment.

“The new vessel will allow us to move quickly and safely around the kids to offer them advice or assistance. Many kids continue sailing into their teenage years and attend regional and national events. The new teaching boat will mean we can teach larger groups and hopefully encourage more young people to be safe on the water and enjoy Manapouri and Te Anau’s beautiful lakes,” he added.

The Marakura Yacht Club was established in the 1970s and has 28 junior members. The club is also used by Te Anau School for its sports days, and by the Te Anau Scouts and Girl Guides for water safety initiatives.

Alan Seay, chairperson of the Meridian Manapouri Te Anau Community Fund, says the ‘learn to sail’ project is exactly the kind of initiative the Fund was set up to support.

“The Meridian Community Funds were set up with this kind of project in mind,” he says. “New Zealanders have always been keen to make the most of our fantastic lakes and rivers and Lake Te Anau is certainly a spectacular one. It is vital for the instructors to have the equipment they need to ensure the safety of kids who are out on the water giving it a go.”

The Meridian Manapouri Community Fund is to the value of $500, 000 over three years. A panel of community members and Meridian staff work together to help decide which local initiatives are supported.

Applications for consideration in the next round of funding must be submitted by 2 July 2009.

To find out more about the Meridian Community Funds visit http://www.meridian.co.nz

Latest Meridian Manapouri Te Anau Community Fund recipients

Marakura Yacht Club
$5,500 granted to enable the Marakura Yacht Club to purchase a coaching boat to assist in teaching local children to sail.

Manapouri Community Swimming Pool
$15,615 granted to enable the Manapouri Community Swimming Pool Committee to heat the pool with a solar strip collector, pump and controller, and cover and reel.

Te Anau Rugby Club
$3,500 granted to enable the Te Anau Rugby Club to purchase 90 fleeces for its junior teams.

Manapouri Weedbusters
$3,800 granted to enable Manapouri Weedbusters to purchase spray packs, weed killers, tools and plants of the following items to assist with their work at Frasers Beach.

ENDS

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