Graham Tunbridge has played a key role in the rebuild of Kapiti Underwater Club's new clubrooms.
Graham Tunbridge has played a key role in the rebuild of Kapiti Underwater Club's new clubrooms.
Graham Tunbridge was only 17 when he helped build Kapiti Underwater Club's headquarters in Paraparaumu Beach in the late 1960s.
Mr Tunbridge, a building apprentice at the time, has fond memories of the voluntary project which was done over many weekends and included lots of family barbecues.
In May 2015 members of the club were woken to the news that their clubrooms had been razed to the ground by a fire caused by an electrical fault during a heavy storm.
With a proud and active history dating back some 48 years and with several generations of families and friends having long associations with the club, it was not surprising that a decision to rebuild was made.
Club members immediately volunteered for the key tasks of overseeing the design and building project and the task of raising funds.
Detailed plans along with a budget and project plan were created and shared with members and the green light was given to a project before the end of 2015 that will see the formal opening of the new building this month.
Spearheading the project has been Mr Tunbridge, now aged 58, a qualified builder who runs his own business.
"We couldn't have done it without the help from the community and club members."
And Mr Tunbridge has felt a similar enjoyment and pride as he did in the initial build all those years ago.
Club secretary Glen Mitchell, who said Mr Tunbridge had done "a fantastic job", said the new fully compliant and functional building, valued at over $300,000, had been funded from donations, charitable grants, raffles, quiz nights, trade discounts and significant skilled and unskilled labour donated by club members over the last 12-18 months.
"Occupying the original foot print, a redesigned floor plan with an extended and covered decked area provides plenty of room to support the activities of the 70 plus members whose primary common interest is diving, both scuba and freediving."
The new building includes new toilets and showers, kitchen, bar, television, entertaining area inside and outside, shed, and lots more.
Mr Mitchell noted the club was the nearest entry point for divers to the Kapiti Marine Reserve created in 1992.
"With a plentiful supply and wide variety of species outside of the reserve the club has also been host to both national and North Island spear fishing championships dating back to the 1960s and 1970s and has long been the base for local recreational divers of all genders both young and old."
On Friday and Saturday, October 27 and 28 the club will celebrate its 50th jubilee and will be using the occasion to formally open its new building.
All past and present members along with anyone who has been associated with the club over the past 50 years are encouraged to register for the jubilee weekend by emailing Mr Mitchell via glen.mitchell@outlook.co.nz who will provide all information needed to make the weekend enjoyable and memorable for all those who attend.
