Locals rally for Naenae paintathon
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
WHEN shops need to be painted, the community rallies to the cause. That’s just what is happening in Naenae, where nearly 50 local volunteers have already offered their support for Big Splash Naenae, an initiative that aims to paint 20 shops in 12 hours.
Pictured right is Hutt City Council Retail Co-ordinator Joanna van Walraven and local artist/volunteer Dan Mills grab a brush in anticipation of Big Splash Naenae, the Naenae shop “paintathon”.
The community initiative is planned for this Saturday (November 8 – rain day the following Saturday). Hutt City Council Retail Co-ordinator Joanna van Walraven says volunteers have been quick to help out, but even more are needed.
“The more volunteers we have the easier it will be,” Joanna says. “We especially want tradespeople such as painters, but anyone is welcome to come along and help out with cleaning or general work.”
For health and safety, volunteers need to register, which they can do on the day. Local company Resene Paints is supplying much of the paint and colour scheme advice, New World Naenae is providing drinks, Leisure Active coffee and tea, Brian Ross is co-ordinating work on the day and supplying equipment, and JT Property Wash is helping with water blasting. The Breeze radio station will be providing entertainment and there will be a Leisure Active bouncy castle and a sausage sizzle. Local personality Billy Graham has made a big contribution by helping to recruit
volunteers.
“The Naenae shops need a good spruce-up, and we thought the paintathon would be a great way to get the community together to create something positive,” Joanna says. “Even if people are not able to help out, we’d love them to come down to the shopping centre to lend their support. The shops are very much the heart of their community – it’s important that everyone can join in and have a good time while making a difference in Naenae.”