Gore Kids Hub Truck Slide
A stock truck with more than a passing resemblance to a Gore firms livery is to take pride of place in the Gore Kids Hub public playground.
Hokonui Rural Transport is to sponsor a stock truck which will be placed in the playground of the $1.7 million kids hub, and it will feature a slide, two steering wheels and plenty of space to play and for under 5-year-olds to use their imagination.
The development is being driven by the Kids Hub Charitable Trust which comprises representatives from Gore Parents Centre, Gore Playcentre and Gore Toy Library.
Trust member Bronnie Grant said the stock truck would cost $22,412 and HRT was contributing $6000 to go towards paying for the piece of the play equipment and $4000 worth of cartage of top soil for the site.
Mrs Grant described the sponsorship deal as making a huge difference for the project.
The Playground Centre in Wanganui was building the stock truck, which would be sign written and painted once it reached Gore, Mrs Grant said.
Having the stock truck painted and sign written in Gore meant it would be identical to the much larger versions of the HRT trucks.
The stock truck would have one side filled in, have two steering wheels in the cab, enabling more than one driver to take the wheel, a large slide and plenty of playing area which would appeal to children, she said.
"(The slide) is from the top deck, so that would be at least 1.5m off the ground," Mrs Grant said.
Mrs Grant hoped the stock truck would be installed in the playground at the end of November. It would take two weeks for the surfacing of the area to be completed and the trust hoped the new facility would be ready for the Christmas holidays.
Hokonui Suzuki is also sponsoring a piece of equipment, a quad bike, Mrs Grant said.
The trust was looking for more businesses to sponsor individual pieces of equipment.
"It's a good opportunity to get their (businesses) name out there," she said.
HRT manager Adam Waghorn was keen for the business to be involved in the kids hub project. "It's going to be exciting to see it finished," Mr Waghorn said.
The company had a focus on being involved in the community and the project fitted that philosophy, he said.
Credit - The Ensign