Carterton trust looks to increase role

Greg Lang

A Carterton trust is looking to increase its contribution to the community.

The Carterton District Community Trust, which was established in 1980 primarily to develop a medical centre, is holding a public meeting on February 23 at the Carterton Events Centre to discuss its proposal to increase its role in Carterton.

Chairman Greg Lang said he would like to see the trust take on a role similar to other community trusts in Greytown and Masterton.

"It's been languishing for years and it needs to be picked up and invigorated really.

"It's just turning it into something that can really do some good for Carterton ... fostering the wellbeing of Carterton, that's really the vision."

Increasing the trust's profile and opening up board membership to the wider community were also priorities, Mr Lang said.

"It doesn't have much money to give out. It doesn't have a website and the average person doesn't know it exists."

The trust owns one property, which is leased out, but it was hoped the trust could increase its income by receiving more bequests, he said.

After the medical centre was set up most of the trust's funds were donated toward the establishment of the Carterton Events Centre.

Since then the trust has used the interest gained from the remaining funds to give out small grants, largely for medical purposes, such as funding a defibrillator at New World and helping Carter Court purchase a new van.

Monday's meeting starts at 7.30pm. Former chairwoman Elaine Brazendale will give a brief history of the trust and Dr Craig Cherry will give an overview of the Carterton Medical Centre.