Village community spirit celebrated


About 230 people attended the 20th birthday celebrations at the Havelock North Function Centre yesterday – a chance to acknowledge the contribution of the community that fundraised for the facility to be built.

The free event included a classical concert by performers Margaret Cooper, Joe Christiansen, Frances Morgan, Paul Carnegie-Jones and Dana Parkhill, followed by drinks and nibbles.

Mark von Dadelszen, the original chair of the Havelock North Community Trust that formed to establish a new venue for community activities after the Havelock North Borough Chambers building was demolished in 1991, was also on hand to turn the sod of a seven-metre Red Maple tree planted by the Hastings District Council to replace a Robinia that fell due to storm damage earlier in the year.

Mr von Dadelszen said the event on Sunday met all expectations.

“The building of the new community centre, as it was then called, was an expression of Havelock North’s community spirit that went back to the start of the 20th century, and that spirit is still evident today.

“While it is now called the Havelock North Function Centre, it is still regularly used by the community with some community activity happening there on fairly much a daily basis,” he said.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst also attended and spoke at the event that she said was was a great celebration of a wonderful community centre.

“The Hastings District Council has supported this community centre since day one, and it plays a hugely important role providing facilities for so many community uses.

“We are very grateful to the Trust and the team who look after it so well for the community.”

ENDS

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