Hastings Women’s Rest relocates during building renovations

The Hastings Women’s Rest building in Civic Square has been closed to the public while a remodelling project is undertaken.

Hastings District Council has contracted Waipukurau Construction to undertake the building renovations that includes the installation of a new roof, insulation, electrical wiring, painting, and flooring. In addition to Councils building maintenance work, the Heretaunga Women’s Centre Incorporated Society has raised funds to undertake some minor interior alterations to the reception area, office and kitchen and to install new lighting and heating. It also intends to update the buildings furniture, curtains and signage.

Hastings District Deputy Mayor Cynthia Bowers says “The Women’s Rest is a Category 1 heritage building constructed in the early 1920’s. It was the first purpose built women’s rest rooms in Australasia. The building is well recognised as part of the Hastings historic landscape and this project will ensure that the building is available for use well into the future.”

Cynthia Bowers says “The Women’s Rest has always played an important role for women and these refurbishments will ensure that this continues.”

The Heretaunga Women’s Centre Society, Chair Genevieve Beech says “We are delighted to see this project begin and are grateful to Hastings District Council for all the work that is being undertaken. The Heretaunga Women’s Centre will continue to offer low-cost counselling and an information Centre from the Lotus Holistic Centre at 1028 St Aubyn Street while the Women’s Rest building is closed.”

Genevieve Beech says, “The renovation of the Women’s Rest building will significantly increase the Centre’s ability to deliver community services in a safe, warm and supportive environment. The Centre currently has 37 counseling clients, but continues to have a long waiting list. Once the upgrade is complete, the Centre will be able to expand its counseling service and extend the number of low–cost courses that are offered. It will deliver more support groups for the growing number of elderly women in our community and for Maori and migrant women.”

The Heretaunga Women’s Centre is grateful to the following organisations for their support; The Anne-Marie O’Sullivan Foundation; Eastern and Central Community Trust; Lotteries; COGS; Vavasour Charitable Trust; Hawkes Bay Foundation; The Lion Foundation; Endeavour Community Foundation Ltd; Infinity Foundation; Springhill Charitable Trust and Frimley Foundation; Flaxmere Licensing Trust; Community Post; Holcim Hastings Quarry; The John Mitchell McLachlan Charitable Trust; Sanderson Trust; Pam Torbett Charitable Trust; Bernard Chambers Trust and Piccolini Kindergartens.

The project is expected to be completed by March 2015.

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