Rally grows Northland communities

NAC Insurance International Rally of Whangarei

Media statement

27 May 2009

Rally grows Northland communities

Next month’s NAC Insurance International Rally of Whangarei provides a significant financial boost to a co-operative of local community groups around the rural townshipof Maungaturotoand the Lions Clubs of the Whangarei district.

The event sees rally teams from the Asia Pacific region compete on selected gravel roads in the Kaipara and Whangarei districts from 5 to 7 June. The rally, which is the third rounds of both the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and Vantage New Zealand Rally Championship, draws a large spectator base to the region which leaves a positive financial outcome for community projects, says the Maungaturoto co-operative chairman Jim Rowlands.

“Eight community clubs around Maungaturoto provide services from spectator marshalling to catering as part of their annual support of the event,” explains Rowlands.

The co-operative comprises the Paparoa, Maungaturoto and Kamo Lions Clubs, the Maungaturoto Rotary Club, Maungaturoto St John’s Ambulance, the Maungaturoto Country Club, Kaipara Hunt Club and Marohemo Hall.

Liaising between the rally organisers and the community groups, Rowlands says various groups will perform different activities.

“The Awarua Fire Brigade is going to assist on the Mititai stage and will be selling food at the spectator point. We will have a small team of caterers at the HellaBridge(Wairere special stage) to look after the VIP guests in the hospitality area.”

The funds come from the $10 spectator fees charged to rally fans for viewing areas. Rally organisers split the ticket revenue 50:50 with the co-operative which uses the revenue for local projects.

“It all goes back in to the community for various things,” says Rowlands. “Some will go into the schools and play centres, some to our local St John’sAmbulance, for example.”

The Kamo Lions Club, part of the co-operative, assists with the smooth running of the special spectator stage at PoheIslandnear central Whangarei, primarily organising suitable family entertainment and food outlets.

Incoming Lions Club district governor, Colin Twyman says funds raised from the rally are to be funnelled to a specific cause this year.

“The Pohe Island Lions Club family fun day proceeds will go to our Whangarei clubs which are raising money to embark on what we call a methamphetamine ‘P’ education programme,” explains Twyman. “The aim of it is to make an educational CD we’d ideally like to distribute to every household in the Northland. We want to get the message out there to deter people from taking the stuff and promote the dangers of the drug.

“We’re planning on raising $400,000. It won’t all come from Rally Whangarei, but it’s a start.”

Twyman, a self proclaimed petrol-head, co-ordinates the group of activities that provide a full day out for families in-between the competitive rally car action around the 1.5 km course at the Pohe Island reserve on Saturday 6 June.

“I’ve brought together the likes of the motocross people to put on their ‘dash for cash’, four-wheel-drives which will be putting on a bit of fun in the mud – a sort of tug-of-war in the mud etcetera to keep the family entertained. 

 “We’ll also have the BMX crew, which will run their national squad training on their new track near the rally stage at PoheIsland.

“The Lions Club family fun day part is fundraising for our community. We’ve got two streams of funds; there are the funds for the public to enter, to watch the rally, a considerable portion of which comes back to the Maungaturoto co-operative, which we, as Lion’s, are part of.

“So when you come along to watch any of the NAC Insurance International Rally of Whangarei on the first weekend in June at one of the ticketed spectator points, remember that half of your ticket price will go back into your community,” says Twyman. “We appreciate the support of rally organisers to make this fundraising for our community possible.”

Full details about the NAC Insurance International Rally of Whangarei, including spectator maps and event schedules, can be found on www.rallywhangarei.co.nz.

ENDS/

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