Greytown ward councillor Leigh Hay with a handmade gift donated by a town resident to the Pack The Bus campaign. PHOTO/MARCUS ANSELM
There was no space for passengers on one particular Wairarapa bus this week.
Christmas spirit has been on show in abundance as the Pack the Bus campaign drove through the region.
A Tranzit bus has stopped in towns across the area in the past week.
Having collected a sizeable haul last week, the bus was jampacked once more as it arrived in Masterton on Tuesday.
Gifts included a barbecue set, a bicycle, and plenty of handmade donations, including knitting projects and toys.
The collection built on last year’s successful donation drive and visited southern Wairarapa towns for the first time.
Jenna Snelgrove, manager of Tranzit Coachlines Wairarapa, said organisers had been “overwhelmed by our community’s generosity”.
“Along with our partners, our team has already unloaded the bus once and I’ve no doubt it’ll be all hands-on deck again this week as we unload the rest of the donated items that will be redistributed to Wairarapa families in need this Christmas.”
Anyone who missed a stop can drop off gifts and donations at Mitre 10 MEGA, More FM’s studio, council offices in Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa, and Property Brokers offices throughout Wairarapa.
Three cheers for Takahe’s Xmas spirit
KAREN COLTMAN
[email protected]
Pack the Bus.
PHOTO/KAREN COLTMAN
Three Takahe Probus members were needed to carry armfuls of presents for Pack the Bus into the Times-Age office and put them under the Christmas tree last week ready for collection.
Takahe Probus president Trish Beard said she was really pleased and surprised at how many presents were donated and the quality of them.
“I am really chuffed, the table at the Masterton Club was chock-a-block,” Beard said.
“The presents are great too, better than we expected.”
The club is a social club and doesn’t fundraise but this year it decided to invite members to give to the community for Christmas.
Some members came with three presents each to give.
There are three Probus clubs in the Wairarapa.
They started as an extension of the Rotary Club.
The Masterton branch has about 200 members, the Takahe club 93 members, and Maungaraki 78.
Masterton has a waiting list but Maungaraki and Takahe are welcoming new members.
Takahe holds monthly events at the Masterton Club and invites guest speakers.
It runs activities on rotation such as: antique collectables, living language, Rummy-o, cards, and snooker.
Maungaraki has craft and chat, garden circle and holds ‘mini trips’.
“We have many men in the clubs, we have dining out and coffee mornings,” Beard said.
“There is no need to be lonely in Wairarapa.”
Club contacts
Takahe: Trish Beard 022 609 5362.
Maungaraki: Susan Brader 06 370 8699.
Masterton: Elaine Beck 06 3770463.
