It is my pleasure to present to you the 16th annual report of the Taieri Recreational Club.
Throughout the 2002/2003 year we have had some very enjoyable Wednesday tramps with the weather being particularly kind, resulting in only one cancellation as I recollect.
I want to acknowledge especially the track committee who meet twice year to allocate 100 tramps for our two major walking groups, assigning leaders, indicating degree of difficulty and anticipating seasonal and lambing conditions. Some other groups have to plan for only 25 tramps for the year.
I want too to acknowledge the responsibility of tramp leaders in willingly accepting their role, faithfully doing the recces, considerately seeing permission from land owners and courteously phoning the club’s thanks after tramp.
Over the last year Trampers & Hikers each averaged 12 turning out per Wednesday, the Ramblers averaged 3 & an average of 29 turned out for Combined walks.
Financial membership. 82? including 4 Life Members. (Resignations: Elaine Day, Mairie Jenkins, Mary Lawlor, Evelyn Miller.)
Our end of year and mid-winter lunches provided fitting ways to mark the occasions, with a wonderful number at the midwinter lunch, even if only a few stumped out for the St Clair street-walk of the day, of which a considerable proportion were some sterling Ramblers.
We had a week-day camp at Timaru in November with Claude & Lesley planning an excellent variety of walks to suit everyone. We came away knowing a great deal more about Timaru and its surrounds.
The highlight of a weekend camp at Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre Camp, with walks ably led by Lex was a circumperambulation of Tautuku Peninsula with sights of magnificent coastal rock formations to reward us. On the return trip with the majority fording across the Tautuku stream bar, the boat ferry was made a bit redundant but some of us had to return it!
A bus trip to Middlemarch to visit the Redan Crater and Sutton Salt Lake resulted in a comfortably full bus, with trampers of varying ability walking within their comfort zones. The journey began wet but the walking was dry if very windy. Thanks to Bob for his leadership.
The highlight of the year has to go to the Club’s 15th Birthday Celebration in February. I can only repeat the appreciation we expressed then to Colleen for the excellent arrangements that made the occasion the success it was. The number of former members attending was a lovely surprise. The photo album is marvellous, thank to Bill. (Hands up those who haven’t seen through it yet).
Lastly I express thanks to the Committee who have shared in the responsibility of guiding the club through the year. We sadly farewelled Claude off the committee in February. I refrain from thanking Nelson at this point as we wish to thank him more suitably later in the agenda. – Ian Fleming