Tapawera has always been a welcoming community, but now it’s official.
Last week the new ‘Welcome to Tapawera’ sign was unveiled, replacing the old, rotting sign.
Tapawera Connect co-ordinator Phoebe Quinlivan says that it was “a cool example of how the community working together can make great outcomes happen”.
The project was led by Tapawera Menzshed and supported by Tapawera Connect and Tapawera and Districts Community Council (TDCC).
Menzshed chairperson Peter Philips said that all of the “sheddies” had been working on the project for the last four months, but that it was a whole-of-community effort.
“Tapawera Connect helped us apply to TDCC for funds who agreed to support it with proceeds from the Op Shop – so everyone who donated clothes or bought clothes has contributed also,” he says.
The new sign sits atop a heavy railway gate dating back to circa 1906, that’s been refurbished.
“It’s very heavy so we then had to find very sturdy posts to support it. It took a lot of time and miles to find just what we needed,” Peter says.
But their perseverance paid off and they eventually found a 100-year-old wooden bridge girder at DOC in St Arnaud which they cut to size to make posts.
“The gate makes such a statement. It looks so good.”
Lakes-Murchison ward councillor Stuart Bryant agrees.
“They’ve done a really good job. They’ve put a lot of time and passion into getting the sign right and erecting it in the centre of town, opposite the shops,” he says.
“It adds to the authentic village look.”
Phoebe says that valuing heritage is important to the community.
“It’s a pretty cool story of community collaboration, and honouring the past by recreating the old sign which had a special place in people’s hearts,” she says.
“And using a very old railway gate that was used in Tapawera many moons ago.”
So that visitors can learn the story behind the new sign, they’ve agreed that the next step is to have an interpretive panel on the gate.
The panel will give the historical significance and history of the gate and original sign.
