Speech by Colin East, foundation chair of the North Canterbury Alpine Trust, at the 30th Celebration

Thirty six years ago in July 1972 some Belfast Rotary Club members were asked “what do you think we should do this rotary year for a worth while project.”

Club member Bob Hawkins came up with the answer - “why not build a tin shed up in the mountains somewhere for the benefit of the high school kids”.

Following an initial stunned silence members gradually warmed to the idea and after it was bandied about for awhile everyone became quite enthusiastic to progress the suggestion. The first approach was to the principal of the Kaiapoi High School (Ernie French) who was strongly supportive. This was followed up by eventually gaining similar interest from Kaiapoi Rotary and also later from Rangiora High School and Rangiora Rotary. Subsequently an exploratory committee was formed to discuss the many issues which required investigation. It soon became obvious that the original simplistic idea of a tin shelter shed had started to expand into a more ambition project.

Final approval was given by the three rotary clubs in 1973. A site was secured at the Boyle River and in 1975 the exploratory committee was replaced by the North Canterbury Alpine Trust, established for the purpose of building the Boyle River Lodge.

My book carries on telling the story of progress and achievement, recording some of the early problems of agreeing upon a suitable plan and design. The supreme effort of constructing the lodge actually took just over 12 months. It was opened in September 1978 virtually debt free at a cost of about $43,000 and valued at $120,000.

I am not going into any further detail regarding 30 years of progress. It’s’ all recorded in the book and other speakers no doubt may wish to comment.

However, I would like to mention a couple of important aspects which have enabled the trust and the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre, as the Lodge was renamed, to survive and be able to celebrate 30 years of operation.

During the final stages of the completion of the lodge, as trust chairman I expressed increasing concern about who was going to manage the facility once completed.
Rotary considered it had fulfilled its obligation in supplying the facility and rightfully did not wish to be involved in the day-to-day management of the Lodge.

Fortunately this issue was largely solved through the appointment of Arthur Sutherland on to the North Canterbury Alpine Trust. As a staff member of Kaiapoi High Arthur brought with him considerable experience and knowledge about outdoor education.
He very soon had a team around him of like minded teachers who spent considerable time (their own time mostly), evolving management practices for the lodge and guidelines for users of the lodge.

This management team played a critical role in the establishment of outdoor education at the Boyle.

The next critical issue was to be able to engage a person to be responsible to supervise the lodge on a daily basis and for the trust to be able to pay that person’s remuneration.

I was naïve enough to think that, because through a community effort an outdoor education facility had been provided, the education department administration would cover the cost of a resident teacher to look after it.

It was soon realised that it was the trust’s financial responsibility for paying staff at the Boyle. Hence a policy of “user pay” had to be introduced.

Talking this problem over on one occasion with Roy Mckenzie, (of the J R Mckenzie foundation, a generous benefactor of the lodge), he suggested talking the matter over with the deputy director of education, whom he knew well as a member of his rotary club. An appointment was subsequently made for a meeting in Wellington and after an hour’s friendly discussion the meeting terminated with no assurance of financial assistance for a resident teacher. But his parting words to me have forever been engrained on my mind. The deputy director said “you know Mr East; we must never deprive our communities of the opportunities for the spirit of volunteerism.” So in other words go home and establish a user pay system. Tony Sinclair was subsequently appointed as the first resident teacher.
Why I mention that incident is because of the key words the spirit of volunteerism, without which this place would not exist and there would be no story to tell about the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre.

At every stage of development and progress this facility has been dependent upon a huge amount of work contributed on a voluntary basis.

It even concerned me when I was gathering together notes and information for the publication that many of those involved in setting up systems and management procedures had to eventually resign from their involvement because of the sacrifice of time it was causing to their family life and other work responsibilities.

There are so many to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

As well as the spirit of volunteerism there has also been a huge outpouring of the spirit of philanthropy and generosity. Both and have played an important role in the ability of the trust over the years to remain solvent.

Writing the history of the lodge included recording the endless litany of annual applications for grants from a host of trusts and charitable organisations, many of them are recorded on page 121 of the book. Research has indicated an unpublished approximate total of over $550,000, and that does not count donations-in-kind and discounted service rates. It is that money, over and above the user pay fees which has enabled the trust to expand and upgrade the lodge buildings; provide resident teacher accommodation; improve outdoor education facilities & equipment, to a stage when in 2004 the Boyle River was awarded the recognition of being the best outdoor education centre in New Zealand. We can all be proud of that achievement.

Before finishing I would like to mention that the story contained in the book, is all about people. It reflects the Maori proverb. “What is the most important thing in this world? “’tis people, ‘tis people, ‘tis people.” There are over 230 names mentioned in the book and an index has been compiled at the back to give reference page numbers of all individuals listed. However, there are as many names again who have not been mentioned including many of those who took part in the early construction working bees from the rotary clubs, high school staff members and numerous other community interested groups. Included in this group are the ladies of rotary who did much over the early years with the furnishing of the lodge. The list of volunteers is endless

The index also includes a complete list of all trustees since 1975; a list of past chair persons; Trust secretaries/ treasurers; Wardens & resident teachers; Caretakers; committee members; and those who have given support as instructors and guardians.
There is also a list of about 150 user groups, which does not include many private and family bookings of the lodge.

I draw your attention to pages 110-111 where recognition is given to Arthur Sutherland as the recipient of the SPARC supreme award for his contribution to outdoor education.

The Boyle River became an integral part of Arthur’s life and that of his supportive family. Through his leadership the centre has been professionally guided and developed into a facility in which the original promoters of the lodge can justifiably be proud.

The Boyle river lodge started off as a combined rotary project and rotary has continued to play an important part in its development through its representation on the North Canterbury Alpine Trust. In 1985 rotary approved of the selection of Arthur to take part in a year long rotary foundation scholarship study programme on outdoor education in the USA. Arthur, together with his young family spent time at East Washington University in Spokane and also other tertiary specialist institutions, especially those putting emphasis on risk management and safety issues in the mountains.
Arthur put this knowledge to great use for the benefit of the Boyle and outdoor education in New Zealand.

To add to the rotary connection, it will also be noted that the book records the recognition given to Arthur in 2004 by naming him as a Paul Harris Fellow, one of rotary’s highest recognitions for service, and one of which I know that Arthur is particularly proud.

I enjoyed the trip down memory lane in putting together the historical notes covering the progress of the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre over the past 30 years and wish it continued progress as it provides opportunities for outdoor education and an appreciation of our mountain environment.