A good news story is that the Redhill Community Centre is to be built in Redhill. This centre is being developed to achieve the following: To shape a new community spirit with imaginative innovative initiatives in the area will, we believe, transform families, youth and children and shape a new ethos for this and coming generations.

The Papakura Community Trust has been hard at work fundraising for this Centre over the last four years and is very close to the target amount required. Among the facilities that will be at this Centre will be a Climbing Wall 10.5 meters high, 11 meters wide with 8 routes that will keep 16 – 24 people occupied at any one time.

It is indeed a most exciting development and the following donors have been major contributors who need to be thanked and commended for getting involved:

DG Vince Family
Lottery Community Facility Fund
HEB Construction
Papakura District Council
Whitehouse Tavern Trust
Winstone Aggregates
ASB Community Trust
Wesleyan Church

We must not forget the large number of other donors, of which there are too many to mention. As I said the fundraising for this centre is very close to its target, but more assistance is needed. If you feel you can help in any way, Reverend Edgar Hornblow would love to hear from you. He can be contacted by email edgar.hornblow@xtra.co.nz or phone 09 298 8488.

I attended the gala opening night of Les Miserables at the Hawkins Centre in Papakura on Saturday night. What a wonderful show this was and I recommend it to you. It is playing for a 3 week season and runs to the 24th of May.

Moving ceremony a proud moment for MP I was privileged to be able to attend the dedication of a statue of a New Zealand soldier which took place at Anzac Bridge in Sydney, Australia on Sunday 27 April 2008. The statue is located at the opposite end of the bridge from another statue of an Australian soldier which has been there since 2000.

I attended the ceremony as an official guest and was pleased to meet with Vietnam, Korean and Malayan veterans, a Maori Battalion veteran of WWII and the Royal NZ RSA National President Robin Klitscher. I also met with the sculptor, New Zealander Alan Somerville.

The ceremony was very moving and very much appreciated by those of us able to attend. As the National Party Veterans’ Affairs Spokeswoman, I was very proud to be able to be there.