Twice a year Tawhero School hosts a huge community breakfast for hundreds of people. Volunteers organised by caretaker Wally Franklin-Browne arrive early in the morning, some before five o'clock, to fire up the barbecue, prepare food, set up tables and get ready for an influx of hungry people.
They preparepotatoes, bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans, spaghetti, sausages — there are even two big pots (cauldrons) of boil-up!
The volunteers are mostly regulars and many of them also turn up every weekday for the usual student breakfast attended by kids from Tawhero, Rutherford Junior High and Whanganui High School.
Penny De Jongh is one of those stalwarts. It was supposed to be her day off, but she was there, in the kitchen, pouring tea. She is quick to give the credit to others but Penny is held in high regard by the school, students and volunteers. Tara Dickinson says it was Penny who encouraged her to volunteer for the weekday breakfasts. It was her first time at the big event, but she felt able to fit in the time before heading off to work at ACC.
STALWART: Penny De Jongh takes care of pouring the tea.
Wayne Ruby, formerly a freezer hand at Imlay, says he took up serious volunteering when he retired after 42 years. He helps out at Tawhero with other things including reading.
"I love it: it keeps me healthy."
School principal Chris Dibben sings the praises of all the volunteers and the community groups who turn up regularly. Community constables are also part of the community breakfast.
Mayor Hamish McDouall attended the Community Breakfast and while enjoying the food with the local school community he noticed a picture on the wall. He was impressed by the Whanganui picture.
The artist is a local Year 6 student, Winter Uruamo, who was introduced to the mayor and donated the picture to hang on the wall of the Mayoral office.
Mayor Hamish McDouall receives a painting of Whanganui from Winter Uruamo (centre). On the right is Soffia Duncan, also a Year 6 student from Tawhero. The photo was taken in the Whanganui District Council offices where the picture was donated to the mayor to hang in his office.
