Working bee works wonders

Seven timebankers showed up on a sunny Sunday afternoon on 22nd February for a working bee and proved that many hands do indeed make light work.

Ron has been an active timebanker for the last nine years and has helped out with numerous handyman and gardening type projects for members. Needing some help with a backlog of projects having injured himself it was definitely his turn to receive help.

Four intrepid souls braved the mozzies and dug out the pond where the puna feeds the water pump for the garden. The others tackled replacing bamboo fences and railings along the cliff top and down the steep path to the puna and the beach; one of the garden beds got a thorough do-over and countless cobwebs were swept away. Most of the tasks really needed several pairs of hands at once to complete, so a working bee was an obvious solution.

All of this in an absolutely stunning location on the Karikari Peninsula, and quite a few feet paddled in the sea to either wash off mud or simply enjoy the white sand and turquoise waters. Some were new to Ron's amazing slice of heaven, a legacy of his late wife Di, others had enjoyed it before and were more than happy to revisit!

A pot luck afternoon tea provided a chance for sharing stories and experience, making connections and deepening friendships. It was heartwarming to hear about connections and friendships made through Timebank with members in other parts of Te Tai Tokerau.

As the last car load headed home plans were being hatched for another working bee elsewhere, after enjoying the sense of community and whakawhanaungatanga. And with those tasks successfully completed Ron was busy contemplating what they have enabled him to be able to tackle next.