A local club is ensuring South Canterbury is not poles apart.
The Temuka-Geraldine Rotary Club is raising money to have peace poles put up in both communities.
New club president Viki Mckenzie said there were more than 200,000 peace poles worldwide.
The first pole was ‘‘planted’’ in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1955.
The monuments display ‘‘May Peace Prevail On Earth’’ in eight different languages.
Club administrator Quyen Tran said the poles planted locally would celebrate the area’s diversity.
English and Māori would be among the languages selected to reflect the area’s cultural background, Ms Tran said.
She hoped it would encourage conversation and understanding between neighbours to support Rotary’s mission of fostering peace locally and globally.
Ms Mckenzie said she had been pondering starting a project which would incorporate their student members when she had heard the current Rotary International president mention peace poles in a speech, encouraging clubs to help expand the project’s reach.
The project had especially appealed to their student members, she said.
‘‘It’s one they wanted to actively engage in.’’
Geraldine High School head girl Valentina Stimolo and Opihi College head girl Hazel Johnston were working together on the project with the support of other club members.
As the group had wanted the project to be self-funded, they co-ordinated Tuesday night’s quiz night (even down to advertising and marketing) so more money could go towards the project, Ms Mckenzie said.
Raffle prizes had been donated by past president Scott Ackroyd’s employers, Alpine Buildings.
The group had the option to get decals sent in the mail or to get the entire peace pole shipped over. The cheaper and more sustainable option was having the decals sent.
‘‘That way we can use locally sourced poles.’’
Along with the peace poles, another new area of focus was environmental projects, Ms Mckenzie said.
The Department of Conservation was seeking assistance with predator control, which would also help the long-tail bats in Geraldine.
While that was still in its infancy, she hoped the club would be able to provide the people power to support the project and also to encourage residents to get involved.
Two years ago — under the guidance of Geraldine resident Nicky Donkers — the club had hit the reset key.
‘‘I’m here because of that refresh,’’ Ms Mckenzie said.
The club, which had previously had dwindling numbers, now had 40 members.
The refresh had opened the door for women and people of all ages and different cultures, she said.
‘‘If it inspires diversity, it is a great thing,’’ she said about being the first female president.
‘‘I joined because I have time and the passion to give back to the community. I stayed because of our club culture, and how we can work together to help our community with our fantastic regular projects, such as the school gardens, the book sale and our firewood fundraiser, whilst being open to growing and expanding our focus in other areas.’’
Everyone is welcome to come along for a cup of tea and a chat on the fourth Monday of every month at the Geraldine Berry Barn Bakery and Cafe, from 7pm-8.30pm.
