Wanaka

Our Upper Clutha team of volunteers based in Wanaka, were the force behind what is now a thriving Plunket Centre thanks to their hard work and community spirit. It was this dedication that won them the Eyebrights Innovation award in 2009.

The team’s red and white Plunket marquee is a landmark at community events. Plunket mums and dads are often seen setting up the 8 x 6m tent at local events. In summer it’s a welcome resting place away from the Central Otago heat for young families. It is set up with nappy-changing stations, chairs for parents feeding babies, a high-chair for feeding toddlers and toys for the children to play with.

“We are all quite passionate about where we live. There are a lot of us, with 15 on the committee, and we enjoy working together on something we feel is important for our families and the community,” says local parent, volunteer and committee President Karen Mackenzie.

The team secured a grant to employ a room hostess who keeps the recently re-built Plunket rooms “just like home”. She washes toys to keep them hygienic, maintains a library of resources for young parents who visit, runs workshops from ‘Active Movement’ and ‘Mini Muscles’ to ‘Learn to Knit’, and gives Plunket a place at the heart of the community.