Guiding Hurunui's young people
L-R: Mayor Marie Black, Katrina Platt, South Ward Councillor Brett Jones.
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......
Ask anyone who has been a Pippin, a Brownie, a Girl Guide or a Ranger in or around Amberley, and they will know with fondness Katrina Platt.
The Amberley resident of 25 years and former Girl Guide started up Guides in Amberley where she ran all the units - Pippins, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. This was all done by Katrina until the numbers grew and she then assisted others to become leaders.
From there, Katrina held many fundraising events to keep the branch going and to send the girls on events.
In approximately 2010 the National Jamboree was on the horizon and Katrina decided the girls in the area deserved to attend, but was very mindful of the $700 p/p price tag. To combat this, the annual Rock N Wheels car show was created.
The first car show attracted around 100 cars and raised enough money to pay the majority of the Jamboree expenses.
The annual Rock N Wheels car show has grown to average 700-800 cars attending and is a particularly important event on the Car Club calendar. It has been covered on national television and helps showcase Amberley and Hurunui.
Due to family circumstances, Katrina had to give up the active connection to Guides, and did consider passing on the organisation of the car show.
But, instead a charitable trust for Rock N Wheels was created, with the view of channelling profits to worthwhile local groups.
Some of the groups to benefit from this have been the Hurunui Boxing Club, Amberley School and Broomfield school, Amberley Squash Club and Amberley Lions – all groups who help on the day and then benefit from the profits.
Katrina also runs a Craft shop from her home called Mingle Mangle and makes most of the items herself.
Although Katrina will not like this fuss, she really does deserve it.
Huge congratulations Katrina.
