Helping in Hanmer Springs in every way they can

Back in July, the Hurunui District celebrated some of its best community serving members at the annual Community Service Awards.

For the next few weeks, Hurunui District will be highlighting the Award recipients, filling you in more on their background stories, and what makes them tick. Enjoy.

This year the Community Service Award for the Hanmer Springs Community was awarded to Lynda and Fred Saunders.

The retired couple has lent a hand wherever they can, for the entire 23 years Hanmer Springs has been called home.

Even when a busy work life beckoned, Fred still found time to carry out voluntary maintenance work at his local golf course on Tuesday afternoons.

Lynda fills in much of her time baking for the church fete, and knitting for the neo-natal unit at Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

Retired life for Fred opened up an opportunity for them both to ramp things up with voluntary work, and when asked why, the reply was “because we just love helping people.”

They volunteer as drivers for the Hanmer Springs Community Transport service, taking patients to and from appointments in Christchurch.

When Hanmer Springs Bowling Club needed a new bowling surface, Fred and Lynda potted up plants from their own garden, the proceeds from their sales going straight to the Club, and repeated the process again to raise money for the town’s new helipad.

Fred has served as Treasurer for the Meals on Wheels volunteer service, and they’ve both delivered meals from time to time.

When Parkrun started up in Hanmer Springs, both Fred and Lynda volunteered as marshals getting up very early every Saturday morning, and more recently Fred has taken on the role of Park Run Director as well.

Fred and Lynda Saunders have made an outstanding contribution in many ways and over many years, within the Hanmer Springs Community.