Fun event recognises community spirit

ROUND WE GO: From left, Edna Blown, Billie MacGregor, 5, her mother Melanie MacGregor, and Tessa Gibbs, 13, join the circle for some Scottish dancing in Masterton's town square. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Around 40 neighbourhood support volunteers received a thank-you, and an evening lesson in Scottish Country Dancing, during a get-together in Masterton yesterday.

Connecting Communities Wairarapa, who help coordinate Neighbourhood Support Groups, held the fun evening in the Town Hall to give thanks to volunteers and to recognise Neighbours Day this weekend.

Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson spoke of how neighbourhood support groups were a "great example" of how communities could make a difference when they stood together.

Police sergeant Mike Sutton said the police valued these groups because it assisted them in getting information into the the community.

But it was a two-way street; equally valued was the information coming back to them, he said.

"It's the strength of your voices, as a community. We listen."

Sarah Taylor-Waitere, the co-ordinator for the Junior Neighbourhood Support (JNS) programme, said they were now in six schools in Masterton and Carterton.

JNS was about giving recognition to Year 1 to Year 8 students who had done positive things for their community, she said.

As part of the fun, the volunteers were given instruction in traditional dancing in Masterton's town square, courtesy of the Carterton Scottish Country Dancing Club.