Clean up Day with the Waikato Equine Vet Centre

On 23 May, a team of nine enthusiastic staff from the Waikato Equine Vet Centre took part in a combined team building and community service day, supporting Aroha Cambridge’s ongoing restoration efforts at the Te Puna Marama Moonspring extension area. This rubbish cleanup day not only fostered a great sense of teamwork and camaraderie among the group but also made a tangible difference for this increasingly popular community area.

The day began with the team gathering at the Aroha Cambridge bait shed for a briefing about the Trust and its work around town, donning hi-viz jackets, and collecting necessary tools. The group arrived well-equipped with gloves, wheelbarrows, crowbars, spades, and other essential gear. After carpooling to the site by Resthaven on Vogel, everyone got stuck in to tackle a range of challenging tasks.

The volunteers focused on clearing an area for replanting in 2 weeks time, removing three old overgrown mountain bike jumps, which involved separating and clearing out tangled wire, wood, and numerous tyres – 40 in total. The team also retrieved three drums from the bike jumps and nearby stream, dug out numerous old sheets of cladding, and shifted several other bits of rubbish to a skip bin placed onsite by Waipa District. The work required navigating small streams, climbing moderate banks, rolling barrels across waterways and transporting bulky waste uphill—all of which the group managed with impressive enthusiasm and teamwork.

By the end of the morning, the Waikato Equine Vet Centre team had made a significant impact by clearing a large amount of rubbish and debris. Their contribution not only improved the local environment but also demonstrated awesome community spirit and volunteerism. Special thanks to Hannah Bowen for the organisation of her troops, and Murray Potts for supplying his gear and getting stuck in, making the day both productive and enjoyable. This successful event exemplifies the strength of local partnerships and the benefits of combining community service with team building.

Peter Russell