Fundraising efforts faced a 'triple whammy' this year: Wainui Lions Club treasurer

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Too much water — thanks, Cyclone Gabrielle — and then the detection of myrtle rust forced the Gisborne Wainui Lions Club to pull out of selling Christmas trees this year.

The pine trees on the club’s plantation on reserve land off Aberdeen Road on the banks of the Taruheru River were “looking pretty awful”, said Peter Cowley, club treasurer and secretary.

The club hopes to recover some of the younger trees in time for the next festive season.

They first put in the Christmas trees 30 years ago, and the enterprise has raised thousands of dollars for Gisborne charities.

But this year their fundraising efforts have faced a “triple whammy”, Mr Cowley said.

“Funds have hit rock bottom.”

The Lions Express train in the Adventure Playground, across from Midway Beach had to close for the first half of this year after the cyclone.

“There was just so much rain about, it makes fundraising a challenge,” Mr Cowley said.

• Among the charities who have benefitted from the club’s efforts are the Salvation Army, Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust, Hospice Tairāwhiti, the Cancer Society, Stroke Tairāwhiti, Alzheimers Gisborne/Tairāwhiti and Diabetes NZ Tairāwhiti.