18/6/07

A $50,000 funding boost has been announced for the table tennis world junior champs, to be held on the North Shore next year.

ASB Community Trust has granted North Harbour Table Tennis Association enough money to buy new equipment for the international event. The equipment will also be used for next month’s world junior circuit games, to be held at the North Shore Events Centre.

“Table tennis is a major growth sport in Auckland,” says the community trust’s COE Jennifer Gill. “The association has a rapidly increasing membership, with over 2000 players registered in 2006 and it takes its programmes into primary and secondary schools.”

North Harbour Table Tennis Association General Manager John Stapleton says the World Junior Circuit will be a big success, with 145 players entered.

“This combined with the entries for the Oceania World group qualifying events and the North Island championships for local players means we can expect over 400 competitors all up.”

He says the equipment used at the champs will afterwards replace old tables, so the benefit will remain in the local community for some time to come.

“With 156 teams this year and growing, we need to expand the current schools programme to make way for the increased numbers,” Mr Stapleton says.

Another sporting association to gain trust funding this month is Tennis North Harbour, granted $50,000 toward new floodlights at the More FM Tennis Park on Oteha Valley Road. The latest grant brings total ASBCT funding of the facility to $2.6 million.

One of six regional tennis centres in New Zealand, Tennis North Harbour plans events for 23 tennis clubs in the North Harbour region. The floodlights will allow it to run junior programmes year-round.

Meanwhile the work of environmentalists has also gained support, with the trust granting $98,749 towards a project to restore and protect Birkdale’s Kaipatiki Stream.

The Kaipatiki Project has been working for almost a decade to restore the natural ecology of the stream and its native forest margins. The funds will help pay for computer equipment and an environment centre manager to push the project forward over the next three years.

Ms Gill says the group’s dedication ranges far beyond the restoration work. Kaipatiki Project runs awareness programmes in minimizing waste, composting and worm farming, runs guided tours of the Witheford Reserve and takes the environmental message into schools and the community to promote awareness of local natural heritage.

Another environmental group has also received ASBCT funding, with the Kaipara branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society granted $6,300 toward a pest eradication project in the Atuanui Scenic Reserve.

About ASB Community Trust
ASB Community Trust decides on grants for groups and projects in Auckland and Northland each month. Using funds from the sale of its shares in ASB bank, the Trust has granted more than $600m since being formed in 1988.

Any incorporated or charitable trust in Auckland and Northland can apply for funds, provided they are a not-for-profit organisation.

For more details about applying, visit the Trust’s website: www.ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz

ENDS

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