Kumeroa Hall was packed with visitors on May 3 when a gathering came together to formally open the Awapikopiko Reserve Bridge providing access to the Awapikopiko Reserve.
Among the group were five of the six QEII National Trustees, including national chairman James Guild, three Tararua councillors and Mayor Tracey Collis and Horizons Regional representative John Barrow, about 50 interested locals and Kumeroa-Hopelands School students with their principal Simon Marshall.
A large crowd of Kumeroa-Hopelands children and adult visitors applauds the opening of the reserve. Josephine Druce, pictured, cuts the ribbon.
Guest of honour was Josephine Druce who, with her husband David, was responsible for the survival and generation of Awapikopiko Reserve on their property, gifting it to the QEII National Trust in 1996. The couple fenced and planted thousands of trees they propagated from seed collected in the bush.
Josephine Druce, Mayor Tracey Collis, Bill Wallace and John Druce take a short walk in the bush.
Although gifted in 1996, the reserve lacked access because of the deep Awapikopiko Stream and it was not until local QEII regional representative Bill Wallace pushed for a bridge that it eventuated.
Tararua QEII regional representative Bill Wallace (right) receives some wine for his work helping to get the Awapikopiko Reserve ready from James Guild QEII Trust National Chairman.
Although David died in 2003, his wife, 90-year-old Josephine, was brought from her Palmerston North home by son John to cut the ribbon.
Ryan (2) and mum Anthea Desmond meet the Mayor Tracey Collis in the bush.
Before the ribbon was cut the audience in the Kumeroa Hall heard from QEII National Trust chairman James Guild who said the Trust was growing rapidly, with 185,000 hectares now under its control.
Josephine is amazed at the growth of cabbage trees she and David Druce planted 18 years ago.
He told of the Trust's plan to help finance maintenance of the 3400 covenants. He thanked local QEII Tararua representative Bill Wallace for the huge work he had done supervising the building of the bridge as well as the development of tracks, flora and signage.
Mayor Tracey Collis thanked everyone involved in the reserve, saying Tararua was becoming a venue for tourists as well as a good place for locals to enjoy recreation.
