Community spirit shines in Nawton

Nawton will show its community colours tomorrow when young people paint a Past to the Present mural celebrating the suburb's history while fundraising efforts will be directed at buying an adaptive trike for a new, young resident.

While youth leaders with artistic skills use sponsored paint and products to make history come alive on a blank wall at Grandview Mall, car boot vendors will sell a range of items from 8am.

Charity auctioneers will encourage bids on a variety of gear and entertainers will work the stage.

Te Rina Gush-Taipari, 9, has a chromosomal abnormality causing severe developmental delay, physically and cognitively.

For most children Te Rina's age, life is walking to school with friends, playing on the jungle gym and riding bikes.

Te Rina's childhood experiences are limited as she cannot walk and has trouble communicating.

Te Rina attends school which provides several specialised programmes, including sessions with a physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

They have recognised that with an adaptive trike, Te Rina would gain strength in her muscles which will help her overall mobility.

An adaptive trike will also help her to participate in activities with her enormous support group, which includes her school and friends.

Car boot vendors will pay $5 toward the trike fund while auctioneers will try to get the best prices for sought after products including Pistons' and All Black T-shirts.

The event runs 8-5.30pm. For more information, email essencenz07@gmail.com or phone Natalie 027 298 4399 or Dallas 021 029 25501

Swamp to city in 100 years

One account states Nawton was named after an English military man, Major Nawton, who owned land from Rotokauri Rd to Grandview Rd.

Another would indicate no-one knows how Nawton got its name, or why the spelling varies from Norton to Naughton but it is noted it may have been named after a local landowner.

In early days, due to much of the land within Nawton being swamp, pioneers said the land was only fit for pigs and horses. Residents said the frogs which populated much of the area would drive them mad.

Lugton St, through to the park, was a pig farm and owned by the New Zealand Dairy Company. Many trotters and gallopers were trained in the Nawton district.

Nawton was originally surveyed in 1863 for allotment to soldiers from the fourth Militia.

There was little subdivision on the land within Nawton until 1912.

In 1962, the suburb came into its own after it became part of the Hamilton City Council, which financed sewer, storm water and drainage for the area.

Nawton is now home to a growing population, which includes young families and a growing student population. The main establishments include the Nawton Mall, the Western Community Centre and the Salvation Army - all busy outlets and thriving organisations.