With our newly-elected Mayor and Councillors sworn in this week and ready for the regular business of Council, the spotlight now shifts to another group of community representatives.

The new triennium (the new council’s term of office) also signals a new three-year term for the hard-working, community-minded volunteers who sit on the district’s hall boards, reserve boards and domain boards.

You’ll see these boards currently advertising their triennial meetings and looking for new members - if you are a person who likes to get things done for their community, then this might be for you.

The hall, reserve and domain boards work with Council on projects big and small; they look after reserves where sport is played and halls where families celebrate their most special occasions, and they do it because they are passionate about their patch.

Most board members have a range of practical skills they bring to the role, or know how to tap into a network of community helpers with the talent needed for a particular project!

Council looks after 18 reserve and hall boards in total, and each has its own chairperson; the boards all have access to a Council officer dedicated to helping them be as effective as they can.

Council established the special support staff role several years ago and it has proven a success – boards have help to set their budgets and workstreams, and a point of contact within Council.

Boards plan big work, like exterior painting or a new roof, and small work, which they often do themselves. They are resourceful and knowledgeable, and proud of their community, and in return, the assets they help look after draw people to their area, to visit or live.

The triennial meetings are being advertised as dates and times are confirmed, with the Tinwald Memorial Hall up first on 5 November.

Coming meetings:

• 5 November - Tinwald Memorial Hall Board - 7.30pm, Tinwald Memorial Hall meeting room
• 6 November - Ruapuna Reserve Board - 7.30pm, Ruapuna Tennis Pavilion
• 11 November - Mt Somers Reserve Board - 7pm, Mt Somers Memorial Hall supper room
• 11 November - Lagmhor Westerfield Memorial Hall- 7pm, at the hall
• 18 November - Pendarves Reserve Board - 7.30pm, Pendarves Fire Station
• 20 November - Hinds Reserve Board - 7.30, Hinds Fire Station meeting room
• 24 November - Tinwald Reserve Board - 7pm, Tinwald Memorial Hall meeting room
• 27 November - Mayfield Reserve Board - 7pm, Mayfield Memorial Hall supper room
• 1 December - Rakaia Reserve Board - 7pm, at the Rakaia Recreation Centre