Waipukurau Rotary Club

Grants from the A.W. Parsons Trust are now open for application

The Public Trust has announced that applications are open for grants from the AW Parson’s Trust.

The Trust was established following Mr Parsons death in July 1953. The Trust’s income was originally derived from the Sheep and Beef farm in Waipukurau. In 2025 the Public Trust made the decision to sell the farm and invest the proceeds.

Applications are now open and forms are available through the Waipukurau Rotary Club and from the Public Trust or online at

www.publictrust.co.nz/grants/estate-of-alfred-william-parsons/

In order to be eligible to apply for funding from the Trust organisations need to be one of the following:

A registered charity or incorporated society based in or supporting people within the Waipukurau District. (By definition this is the boundaries of the old Waipukurau District Council.)

A school based in the Waipukurau District

The late Alfred William Parson’s Will expressed the wish that when Trustee’s made grants from his trust, consideration would be given to organisations that provide support and assistance to people experiencing financial hardship who are unable to adequately support themselves and their family, as well as to organisations that contribute to the wellbeing and development of young people.

As trustee, Public Trust’s role is to ensure Parsons’ legacy continues to deliver real benefit to the Waipukurau community by supporting local people, particularly youth and those in financial need.

Community Collaboration Delivers for the Local Food Basket

A great community outcome has been achieved through a combined effort by Waipukurau Rotary and several local businesses, making life safer and easier for the team at the local Food Basket.

Until recently, staff faced a difficult task, pushing loaded trolleys carrying tonnes of food products each week along a muddy dirt accessway to reach the chiller.

The Food Basket approached Waipukurau Rotary for funding to construct a safe, accessible concrete pathway from the car park to the rear entrance.

After discussing the request, Rotary members decided the best approach was to coordinate local businesses and bring together the skills, equipment and materials needed to get the job done.

Work was completed last week, with a fantastic response from the local business community.

Matt Morison of Morison Building undertook the formwork and concrete cutting, as well as coordinating the work of the other contractors.

Shaun Holtham of Holtham Earthworks used his digger to level the site and spread the aggregate, while Hamish Schwass of the BCITO Apprenticeship Centre carried out the concrete placement.

Alastair Ormond of 2Store generously supplied the steel reinforcing mesh. Higgins provided the aggregate free of charge and discounted the concrete, with Waipukurau Rotary covering the cost of the concrete.

Warwick Ashby also lent a hand, using his small truck to remove the excavated soil so it could be replaced with AP40 aggregate.

The result is a practical improvement that will make a real difference to the Food Basket team, providing safer and easier access for the movement of food and a secure base for the freezer trailer. The pathway can accommodate a delivery van to deliver directly to the chiller.

This is community spirit in action. Waipukurau Rotary extends its sincere thanks to everyone involved for their generous contribution of time, skills, equipment and materials. By working together, the group has delivered a valuable outcome for a local organisation and the wider community it serves.

A special thanks also goes to Rotarians Ted Hindmarsh, Don Cooper and Ian Walker for their help in making this community project a success.