Throughout 2024, members of the Rotary Club of Invercargill, alongside YMCA staff, developed a new walking track on the campgrounds at their Omaui site near Bluff.
This project was based on a collaborative community partnership with the YMCA to deliver a project in, the Club’s 100th year that had an environmental focus with links to education and youth.
The objective and vision for the overall project was to restore the site and create an outdoor environmental educational space within a nature walk. A place for schools and community to visit and learn about the native flora and create an environment which would entice native bird life and pond life to return.
The project also re-connected past projects to the present for future generations. The Club's first working project was in1935 clearing boulders from the Omaui Health Camp. Projects were undertaken by the Club at at Omaui Camp for the Club's 50th and 75th anniversaries.
Across 5 working bees in 2024 Club members assisted with laying weed mat, shoveling, wheelbarrowing and raking approx. 75 tonnes of gravel to make the new 350m of track and hundreds of native plantings.
Club funds supported by a Rotary District Grant paid for four wooden walkways constructed by Invercargill MenzShed.
YMCA Southland Chief Executive Pete Thompson said the project had been a resounding success.
“The Rotary Club of Invercargill were absolutely instrumental in making this all possible, and we can’t thank them enough for what they’ve worked so hard to create onsite at Omaui Camp – it’s a space that will be enjoyed by thousands of young people over many years to come,” he said.
Rotary Club members clearing boulders in 1935 - the Club's 1st project.
The Club provided much of the material and labour for the construction of the original Camp building and returned to support the camp over the years.
President of the Rotary Club of Invercargill, Michael Blomfield said the club was pleased to support YMCA and the outdoor education project at Omaui Camp, as the Club’s major service project for its 100 years of service milestone. “Omaui Camp holds a special connection for our members.
Club members, their families, and friends rallied together with the team from the Y Southland to bring this vision to life. It has been a lot of hands-on hard work, but we’ve had a great deal of fun and fellowship along the way.” he said.
A public Open Day to celebrate the work completed and to give the Community an opportunity to visit and explore Omaui Camp, was hosted on Saturday 22nd February 2025.
The Club supported the Open Day with a sausage sizzle, donating and and cooking sausages so there was free kai on the Open Day.
The project had many layers of community collaboration with major support also being received from the Department of Corrections and the Invercargill City Council.
Funding from the Leslie Hutchins Conservation Foundation, provided for an environmental education resource, written by Lloyd Esler, highlighting Omaui’s history, plants, coastal life, bird life, and more.
Activity sheets for schools, are amongst new learning resources along with new interpretation panels on the walking track.
Jason Holland, project lead, with the education panels along the on-site walking track.
A former Children’s Health Camp, based at 159 Mokomoko Road, Omaui, was gifted to the Y Southland in 2001 for the good of the people of Southland, especially its young people. While it is primarily used for school camps, it is also open for community or private bookings.
