This last year has been another successful year and much was achieved.
We finished the work on the river track on the Cambridge side of the river thanks in great part to the Corrections Department. The year September 2004 to September 2005 we have had 70 teams working. On some Saturdays we have had up to 3 teams. Each of these teams has required a Tree Trust volunteer to be present we have organised the work and materials. The average size of a team is 8, at 7 hours work for each team that is almost 4000 hours of work they have done for us. We are particularly thankful to them.
The quality of our trees this year was good mostly in PB 5,s and 8's and 2700 trees were planted out in several places, mostly along the Poets track.
Cambridge High school was late this planting this year, but the weather has been kind and the trees they planted below Fletcher Place are growing well. We took the opportunity to walk the High school students along the re-built river walkway.
On the negative side, the trees we planted in the Green Belt years ago in Lamb St were ripped out of the ground by the contractor who built the Polo ground. Most of these have died. A lack of planning and co-ordination the reason.
Funds this year have been forthcoming from the following:
Waipa District Council: $12967 (Mostly for Trees)
Lions Club : $5394 ( For the walking track)
Trust Waikato: $5000
Cambridge Rotary: $1200
Hewett Trust $800
Cambridge Community Board: $500
Jumble Around $500
Selectrix (The fun walk) $500
Trust Power $250
St Peters School $200
The following also made donations:
BR and BA Dean
Federated Farmers
Cambridge Garden Day Club:
Cambridge Garden Evening Club:
Penny Cooke
Rotomana Stud
Grumpy Signs
Mc Graths
AR Reid and Family
JAR Ryan Ltd
Ross Todd Motors
NZ Post
Gus and Rae Wackrow
Walsh Motors
Walton B and M
My special thanks to not only those who have contributed financially but those of you who have freely given of their time. Without all your contributions the year would not have been as successful as it was.
The Truck has been a great asset despite some problems mechanically it is now running well and being utilized extensively. It is also good to see it driven around town and being seen by the people of Cambridge, many positive reports of it have been passed on during the year.
The website "ticks along" getting about 60 visits per day. We spent some money donated by Trust Waikato to put one of our educational publications on it during the year. It is now available to anyone who wishes to visit the site and has saved us money in producing more paper copies of it.
We have dug heavily into our resources this year and reduced our savings by a third.
We have spent a considerable amount of money on paid labour for weeding, spraying and nursery work this year.
The track network has cost a lot of money and resources, but with it nearly all complete we can enjoy our endeavours.
Ross Morgan is standing down as Treasurer after 15 years and was a Foundation member of the Trust. He has made an outstanding contribution managing the money; the erection of the building in Thornton Rd is a monument to Ross. Thanks for your work.
My focus for this coming year is the formation of a long term plan by Council for Cambridge, what is happening at Lake Te Ko Utu and how we as a group can help, and the completion of the walking track network along the riverbank.
