The Trust is raising funds to repair and upgrade the facilities after it was given back from the Catholic Church in 2013.
Hawke's Bay
St Therese Hall Whakatu was built in 1957 from a design drafted by Hawkes Bay Architect John Scott. It's origins are based on the Catholic families of Whakatu who raised money and erected a building to hold Sunday Mass. It was gifted to the Catholic Church from those families and welcomed by the communites living in Whakatu. The name given for the building was St Therese's Church of Whakatu and was well used by the community for over thirty years.
In 2004 the Catholic Church ceased to hold Sunday Mass on the site. The St Therese Hall Whakatu Trust was formed by decendants of some of the original families who raised funds in 1957 and have been the guardians of the land and building whilst negotiating with the Catholic Church to have it placed back into the ownership of the Trust.
In September 2013 the St Therese Hall Whakatu Trust and the Catholic Church held a community gathering to finalise the return of the property . The Building was deconsecrated and the Trust is now in a position to upgrade and modernise the facilities on the property for future communities to be used as a place of gathering, education, wholistic health, native plant awareness activities, social recreational activities, community fund raising activities and hall hire.
The Trust has been supporting local families in the Whakatu community Hastings Hawkes' Bay since 2004 whilst it underwent the process of transfer of ownership from the Catholic Church. The Trust has negotiated with the Hastings District Council for licence to occupy adjoining grounds to the Trust property that lead down to the Ngaruroro River Banks. The Trust aims to landscape, plant native trees, make raised vegetable and herb gardens and install a barbeque area for the use of local families and other community organisations.
The Trusts aim is to revitalise the use of the old Catholic Church into a community hub where people can come to and be a part of a tradition of sharing, giving and helping others in the community.
Progress report on fundraising 30 August 2015
Hi everyone we have not only been fundraising on a givealittle we have also been applying for funding applications.so far we have raised $10,130.00
We have sanded and varnished the hall toilet and kitchen floor. We have pulled down fences and begun to rebuild fences. We will be painting the toilets and the walls in the hall. We are still seeking funds for our native garden and plumbing maintenance new kitchen and upgrading of the parking area plus reclading for replacing the asbestos.
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