By Leon Gray-Lockhart
AN EXCITED crowd of children gathered at the Kaponga Town Hall on Tuesday, March 31, to celebrate the success of the Kaponga Community Banner Project.
The South Taranaki District Council (STDC) event was organised to officially thank all those involved with the project, including the students of Kaponga Primary School, St Patrick's Kaponga and Te Kura O Nga Ruahine Rangi.
"After the success of a banner project in Patea, we approached the Kaponga Progressive Society with a similar idea," said Michaela Stoneman, arts coordinator for South Taranaki District Council, "and they were very supportive."
Each of the three schools produced four original 2.5m long banners in the second half of last year. The 12 banners were then erected on six poles in Victoria Park, at the eastern entrance to the town.
Funding for the project came from a variety of sources, including Creative Communities and STDC, as well as Hawera New World and Smokefree Taranaki.
Kaponga Lions undertook additional fundraising for the banners, while engineering and installation support came from local engineer, Michael Bloemen.
In attendance were teachers and students from each of the three schools as well as South Taranaki District mayor, Ross Dunlop, other representatives from the council and members of the Kaponga community.
"It was quite a hard task for each school to design and produce four banners each," said Michaela, "so seeing them up there really is a big accomplishment."
The celebrations on the day included a powhiri led by students of Te Kura, the presentation of certificates by Mayor Dunlop to key contributors to the project, musical performances by children of St Patrick's and Te Kura and a feast of sausages, sweets and drinks for all children, ably prepared by Kaponga Lions and council representatives.
"These banners look fantastic," said Mayor Ross Dunlop, "and they build on the excellent upgrade work that has been undertaken in Kaponga already."
The work to which the mayor referred was the new stonework and garden developments now being enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
"The banners are another great part of the package of improvements in the town," said Ross.
Flying high for Kaponga
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