INGLEWOOD Lions are getting ready for a busy summer of fundraising as the legendary Maize Maze makes a triumphant return to its hometown.
The Inglewood Lions Club has been operating the Taranaki Maize Maze since 2002.
"The first four years, the maze was hosted at sites in Egmont Village, followed by four years at Inglewood," says Lion's Club representative, Kevin Turnbull.
"From January 2010, visitors will be challenged to a bigger and better maze, back in Egmont Village."
The maize is planted in mid-October, and after designing a different maze each year, club members mark out the design and remove maize plants to form the tracks of the new maze.
This year's Maze Maize is situated on Upper Egmont Road, around a kilometre west of the State Highway 3 turnoff at Egmont Village School.
"Members of the Inglewood Lions Club are rostered to operate the maze from mid-January until about the end of March and all work by club members is voluntary, totalling about 1000 hours each year."
Over the years, profits from the different mazes have totalled in excess of $100,000 and have been donated to important community causes including Taranaki Hospice, Taranaki Rescue Helicopter, Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue, Taranaki Search and Rescue, Taranaki Coast Guard, Taranaki Surf Lifesaving, Plunket, St John Ambulance and Volunteer Fire Brigades.
"The maze is open on weekends and public holidays, weather-permitting, and also available by arrangement for schools and other organisations during the week," says Kevin.
While the Maize Maze is a significant and successful summer fundraising endeavour undertaken by the Inglewood Lions, another fun activity they organise is the annual Inglewood Christmas Parade and they encourage people to get involved – not only by coming to the parade, but by becoming a member of the club.
"Membership of a Lions Club offers friendship with like-minded people, opportunities for self-development and the satisfaction of being able to make a difference," says Inglewood Lions publicity officer, Gary Wellington.
"Our club is a diverse, mixed-age group of men and we meet on the second and fourth Monday evening of every month."
For more details about the club, contact Gary on (06) 756 7332, or president, Nigel Smith on (06) 756 8346.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Stratford Press
New owner for local supermarket
New World Stratford's new owner-operator has moved from coast to coast.