Setback for NorthTec horticulture course has a silver lining

Setback for NorthTec horticulture course has a silver lining

The misfortune of having their classroom burn down unexpectedly mid way through Semester One could have setback the 12 students on NorthTec’s Certificate in Horticulture (Level 2) course at Paparoa considerably.

Instead, thanks to the foresight of their tutor, Heidelind Luschberger, they have been able to rise above the adversity and continue on learning and developing essential skills in horticulture by helping out on a significant beautification project down the road at Maungaturoto.

For the Maungaturoto Beautification Project, key town landmarks in Whaka and Hurndell Streets are being totally transformed.

The project will be completed in time for the town’s 150 Year Celebrations on 1-3 November 2013. In association with the plans for the town’s beautification, the old Wharf at the bottom of Bickerstaff Rd is also being resurrected.

Heidelind said that prior to the fire at the course’s former base in Paparoa, the plan had been to have the 12 students on the horticulture course, who range in age from 17 to 58 years old, do some planting around the Arty Farties building as it was referred to in Paparoa for two of the units on the course, but that the fire had put paid to those plans.

That was when Heidelind made an approach to Richard and Diana Moore to see if her students could assist with the Maungaturoto Beautification Project that she had learnt about through a friend.

As the aim with the beautification project was to cut down on costs as much as possible by relying on volunteers to help with the project, Richard and Diana were more than happy to have the NorthTec students help out that they felt would also be good for the student’s hands on learning.

For around seven weeks now the students on the course have been working on the beautification of the main garden for the Maungaturoto Beautification Project covering a sizeable area on the corner of Waka and Hurndell Streets just above the Caltex service station on the edge of the town.

Moore says this has involved the students in a wide number of activities including, digging the holes for all the ‘major’ planting, the planting of cabbage trees, flaxes and Roddadendroms, moving gravel around, clearing areas of rubbish and weeds, putting down calf post, working on drainage systems and much more.

He said the students had put in a huge effort and were able to gain a lot of knowledge and confidence from the experience.

“They are all excited about it which is really great. This particular garden is one of the most important parts of the entire project, and without their input we would be weeks behind. It has definitely pushed the project along incredibly,” Moore said.

Moore indicated that so far, the Maungaturoto Beautification Project had cost around only $300 that would have been impossible to achieve without the kind donations from those in the community and volunteers like the Horticulture students from NorthTec and others.

Richard and Diana Moore are not only coordinating with all the volunteers and managing the project, but have also come up with detailed design plans for the work to be done.

Heidelind said as half of the students on the NorthTec course were from the Maungaturoto area, getting to work on the beautification project in the town was an amazing opportunity.

She said that the students are committed and turn up every Wednesday to make further inroads into the project for the people of the small rural town. Two of the women on the course who live there, also volunteer additional days as they find it most beneficial practising what they have learnt during class which following the fire is now held at the Paparoa Sports Pavillion.

“The students just love the project at Maungaturoto though. We turn up with our tools and wheelbarrows full of enthusiasm and Richard is a fantastic teacher, patient and always in good spirit which has really rubbed off on the students,” Heidelind commented.

She hoped that what her students were doing would set an example for other people to also want to join in the project.

ends

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