If you are interested in joining a local Biking Group, please contact us.  There are a number of routes around the community suitable for all abilities and once again offers a fun opportunity to get active, meet new people and enjoy the local sights. Pump up those tyres and dust off that seat – we are waiting to hear from you! Day & time to be confirmed.

Jim’s Mahana Guitar School is running three days a week to keep up with demand (adults and children alike). More Spanish Language Courses with Chris Painter will be starting in October on Monday nights catering for all levels. Contact details for all instructors overleaf. Just remember if there is something that you would like to see happening at Moutere Hills, give us a call and we will do our best to include the good ideas in our weekly programme.

KEEPING THE KIDS ACTIVE
For the children, once again there is plenty on offer ranging from Junior Tennis Coaching for ages 5-17yrs which sees the use of modified equipment for the real youngsters plus the popular ball machine. Rangers Softball/Tee-ball (4 to 13yrs) is back in season on Tuesdays after school. Contact Yvette, details overleaf. Once again, we have a full programme of Gymnastics and Movement for all ages with Samantha Slade. Seido Karate is also on! Pre-school Dance – creative mime and movement to music and the perfect introduction to dance for 3-4 year olds. Ballet/Theatre Craft/Modern Jazz Classes for 5-9 year olds.

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT FOR THE UNDER 5s
Debbie Whalon is a qualified early childhood teacher (with 18 years experience) and a mother of four. Term 4 she will be offering a new activity at MHCC for the under fives (including babies). This class will be running on Thursday afternoons at 2.15pm, starting October 14th – come along for Pre-school Music and Movement, cost $2 per child, per session.

The much-admired building and grounds has seen a 110% rise in use since it first opened its doors in 2005 and now close to a 1000 people come to regular activities at the centre every week. What began with just volleyball and badminton has mushroomed into around 30 scheduled activities each week – a balanced mix of sporting, cultural, recreational and social activities.  That doesn’t include about 12 weddings each year, 5 major corporate events, various school and fundraising activities and of course, the now famous Sarau Festival.

Centre Manager Michelle MacNeil says it’s been a busy but hugely rewarding five years.

“I’ve seen the community really step in to embrace this facility as their own. There’s a lot of love that’s gone into this place. I often get people telling me they’re so proud of this centre and they can’t imagine living somewhere else without it. It’s become a true heart for Upper Moutere and the surrounding area.”

Michelle says the first week in the job, she and Way2Go co-ordinator Vanessa Mairs decided to go out into the community and asked people what they wanted to see happening at the centre.

“It was our goal to make it relevant to the needs of local people. The community had put a lot of effort into the fundraising and we wanted them to say what kinds of activities they’d like the centre to offer.”

The Moutere Hills Community Centre is supported by Tasman District Council, Way2Go, Lotteries Commission and COGS. Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne says the Moutere Hills Community Centre has been a great example of community involvement and ownership.

“This centre is an example of community will and energy delivering a legacy for the future. Not only was it built within budget with a large local fundraising component as well as the council contribution, it was also completed earlier than scheduled, showing the commitment and dedication of this community. Communities like this are what makes Tasman special and unique.”

Moutere Hills Community Centre Board Chairman Steve Mitchell has been involved right from the start. As chairman of the Rangers Rugby Football Club when and where the concept was first considered, he has been a key driver of the establishment and development of the centre.

“I’m extremely proud of what the Moutere Hills community has achieved. This centre is setting the standard in many ways and you can see by the numbers of people and range of activities offered that it’s now a true community asset. To have the use and provision grow so much in these initial five years has been very rewarding and the future looks even more exciting. There’s still a lot of potential for the centre.”

For Michelle MacNeil the anniversary celebrations will have mixed emotions as she moves on soon to take up a new role as General Manager of Whenua Iti Outdoors in Lower Moutere.

“I’m looking forward to being involved with the Moutere Hills Community Centre on the other side of the fence. Having my family participate in the activities and coming along to the community events. I feel very proud of what we’ve achieved and I don’t want to lose touch with the Centre. MHCC is now ready for someone else’s energy to come and carry it further.”

Another milestone this month is the folding of the initial trust that was formed 10 years ago,  to get the concept of a new community centre underway  and oversee the construction. The money left in their funding account to cover construction of the new entrance and to set up stage rigging and lighting has been handed over to the board that runs the Centre.

The entranceway is a final part of the construction concept as it helps with visibility and it formalises the entrance to what is also the war memorial. Once the new entrance has been finished the original gate plaque from the old domain will be restored and mounted near the entrance, keeping the history of the old domain to the fore.
Brickfield Ltd Tim Edwards is a local resident who has shown his community spirit by building the walls for a heavily discounted rate.

Michelle MacNeil says that spirit of donation has been vital to the growth of the centre.

“In the past year about $25,000 worth of donated hours have been given to this centre. To me that shows how much this community values the centre.”

The 5th birthday celebration is to be held on Friday October 22nd from 5.30pm. It’s a family event with a giant birthday cake, delicious food available and the bar will be open with local beers and wines. There will also be live entertainment from Johnnie Cameron,  budding young singers at the  Tasman Karaoke Superstar Moutere heat, displays from user groups and a bouncy castle.

“We would love it if everyone who has used or contributed to the Moutere Hills Community Centre can come and join in the celebrations. We want to thank the community for everything they’ve done.”

Our new wall is near completion just waiting for the finishing touches and we would like to express a huge thank-you to Tim Edwards, Brickfield for his mastery in the art of brick-laying. Everyone agrees the wall looks fantastic and will change the face of our Centre!

Jolly Hockey Sticks!

An exciting 5 week hockey programme is starting at Moutere Hills Community Centre on August 6th  for children 5 -12 years old. Come along and learn all the basic hockey skills and look to develop these skills in fun-filled practices and games.

Go Sam, show him how it's really done!

Over the five days, thirty-four children from six different schools came together, made new friends and played hard together from start to finish. Lead by Samantha Slade, the staff were outstanding and extremely enthusiastic from 8am to hometime!

We made some really cool stuff!

This holiday the children played hockey, learnt to play the drums, worked on their soccer skills, did lots of winter crafts, made giant puzzles, practised First Aid, baked, played bingo, ten pin bowling, mini-golf, basketball with the Nelson Giants, enjoyed Silly Winter Olympics and of course there were games, a quiz and something that everyone looks forward to: the treasure hunt finale!

Planning is already underway for the next school holiday adventure which will be at Moutere Hills from 4th – 8th October and is set to include a spectacular African culture day.

Can't wait for the next Holiday Programme!

Remember what Way2Go is all about: making the active choice, the easy choice!

The sessions are called ‘whole body movement programme’ because they do just that. By focusing on all seven fundamental movement patterns (swing, spring, landing, rotation, manipulation skills, balance and locomotion) they develop the mind and body. No other sport encompasses all seven movement patterns needed for the global development of a child. Each week the skills progress and change by using different equipment at different heights.
The structure of the sessions is kept the same so that children know what to expect. They start with some group mat time using hand apparatus, music or game depending on the age and focus of the session followed by a few simple stretches to prepare the body and mind for the harder tasks ahead. Then the children move to the equipment and have four or five goes on each circuit. This means the children do not have to stand in queues waiting for their turn, but can keep moving and practicing the skills they have learnt. The session finishes with a cool down as a group on the mats.

All this helps develop the child’s coordination, confidence and self esteem, teaching them exercise is fun and they are capable of doing all sorts of things as long as they give it a go. One of Sam’s greatest pleasures is in seeing these children grow to be healthy,  happy people full of enthusiasm and enjoying a wide range of sports.

For more information about times of sessions please contact Sam on samantha_slade@hotmail.com or 03 543 2521

Monday: Learn some rhythm on the hand drums, Winter arts and crafts.
Tuesday: Winter Olympics, First-Aid and baking.
Wednesday: Excursion to Richmond, includes ten-pin bowling and crazy golf!
Thursday: Basketball with the Nelson Giants, Soccer, make your own scarf and giant puzzle.
Friday: Archery, Quiz time, create your own pizzas for lunch and treasure hunt finale.

$100 for one week, $25 for single day options, Wednesday 14th $35.00.
WINZ subsidies available.
Staff: Samantha Slade (supervisor), Cindus Colonna and Bishnu Aran

We look forward to welcoming another great group of children to the programme. Please send us an email for your enrolment form.