Posts Tagged ‘Clarion Tour 2011’Media MentionsCheck out our media mentions: East and Bays Courier – 21/01/2010 – Labour of love for volunteers Young Labour Completes Summer of Service TourThe Young Labour Clarion Tour completed its 12-day journey through New Zealand today, contributing 600 hours of voluntary community service over the course of 3000 kilometers travelled. The Clarion Tour, which was comprised of 17-26 year olds from across the country, was created in order to enable Young Labour members to help charitable and non-profit organisations across the country. Young Labour Vice President and Clarion Tour organiser Ella Hardy said that the tour was the perfect way to share Young Labour’s “…values of social justice and building strong communities with the people of New Zealand”. Throughout their journey, from north of Auckland to the depths of the South Island, the Tour team has been well received by local community groups and members of the public. Rory McCourt, a participant on the Clarion Tour said “It was fantastic working with everyday kiwis who give so much to their communities, and providing a helping hand so they can focus on their great work”. Day 12: Christchurch Shona scrapes of the old paint After a night with local Labour friends, we woke up to the last day of the Young Labour Clarion Tour. The sun was out again as we headed from a quick breakfast to the Riccartion Community Trust. Day 11: Queenstown Cleaning the Plunket toys After a quiet night in Queenstown amongst amazing views of lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables, we began our morning in Arrowtown with baked goods and a loose dog. Noticing the dogs evident lack of street smarts, we dropped it in to the local vet. It turned out Penny the Cocker Spaniel was making a habit of running away from home and going for a swim. Day 10: The Wild West Coast Some of the rubbish we collected in the mostly clean town of Hokitika There’s nothing quite like waking up to the sound of tui, traipsing downstairs to a breakfast surrounded by a menagerie of union and mining regalia, and joining working class heros; old and young, for a bit of kai. As Michael Joseph Savage and David Lange looked on; the Clarion Tour team shared a meal at the famous Formerly Hilton Hotel, in Blackball. The small town is not only the birthplace of the modern labour movement, but still remains at the heart of mining projects on the West Coast, just five minutes from the Pike River Coal mine. Day 9: Nelson Arriving at House 44 After a relaxing night with members of the Nelson LEC who had kindly welcomed us in to their homes, we were ready for a Tuesday full of community service, driving, and learning about the origins of the Labour movement and Labour Party. Day 8: Takaka and Sun Getting a photo in front of the carrot and beetroot patch Young Labour members woke this morning to warm sun and beautiful day. With many clothes still wet and dirty from the rain and track clearing in Wellington, it was a perfect opportunity to leave some clothes to be washed and dried as were out and about. With what we thought was plenty of time we headed for Motueka Community Gardens… but there was a problem…. we had the wrong address. “Land Ho!” Young Labour heads SouthThe Young Labour Clarion Tour has reached the Mainland after an intense, but rewarding week of offering a hand to community groups throughout the North Island. The refreshed team (with some members having left in Wellington and others joined) will spend Monday to Friday working in various South Island communities. First stop is Motueka; where Young Labour will help out the in the local community gardens. Work towards sustainable and resilient communities, said Vice President Ella Hardy was “alive and well in centres such as Motueka, where Young Labour is passionate about helping out groups like those active in the heart of Tasman.” The second stop will be Nelson, where the group is hoping for a spot of sunshine after battling poor weather to contribute to the restoration of Bell’s Track native bush in Wellington. The Clarion Tour team will bare their green thumbs once again as the 17-26 year olds help build a vegetable garden and establish a barbeque area at the Orchard Street Reserve at House 44, a community home on Karaka Street. Local Labour List MP Maryan Street will join the group in while they assist in Nelson. Wellington rain does not deter Young LabourThe Young Labour Clarion tour has spent the day in Wellington at the foot of Mt Kaukau doing bush restoration with the Rainbow Gardeners despite persistent rain. Since Monday Young Labour members from around the country have been lending a hand to different community organisations. Des Smith from Rainbow Gardeners, who organised today’s effort, said “It is great to see young people out there caring about the bush and thinking ahead. It is great that there are young people who are going to keep up this kind of work.” The team of eleven Young Labour members worked with Des to clear ground and spread mulch to support the growth of native plants around Bell’s Track. Bell’s Track is part of only five percent of forests left in Wellington after settlers used the timber and burned the remaining land. The ground left behind was deprived of nutrients and much work is needed to help the bush recover. |