On Tuesday afternoon (March 9), Mayor Michael Laws presented Christian Social Services Wanganui with a cheque for $10,000.

Pictured (from left) are Rev Gene Lawrence, Tim Campbell, Beth Bycroft and Janice Jones from Christian Social Services Wanganui, with Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon and Mayor Michael Laws.

The money, from the Mayoral Relief Fund, is the result of a successful joint Council and Christian Social Services Wanganui Food Bank campaign, launched in October 2009. The campaign included matching a $10,000, 'dollar for dollar' appeal from the Mayoral Relief Fund.

On December 23 a gift of a $250 Pak n Save gift card took the Food Bank campaign total to just over $10,000. The cheque presentation will bring the Food Bank appeal total to $20,000.

Mayor Michael is delighted with the fantastic support from the people of Wanganui for the campaign.

"Every day between October and December last year members of the public walked into the City Mission and gave money – from the smallest donation of $3 to a couple of donations of $500 and $800.

"Food Bank is a vital local initiative that helps the tummy and then starts assisting with budgetary skills - this is a practical charity."

The City Mission is getting busier with a large increase in people needing food parcels as a result of the tough economic times. City Mission estimates they have given out $144,000 worth of food in 2009.

Wanganui is gearing up for the Whanganui Artists Open Studios 2010 and fringe festival.

The Open Studios will be held on March 20-21 and March 27-28. The Wanganui District Council is supporting the event with $10,000 from the Impact Fund. The Impact Fund gives grants for projects, events and initiatives that deliver significant economic benefits to the Wanganui city and district.

This will be the 10th year that local artists have opened their doors to the public and invited everyone to celebrate Wanganui's vibrant creative community. The event, which features artists working in a wide range of media, attracts many out-of-town visitors, as well as locals.

This year there will also be a fringe festival from March 20-27. A highlight will be a performance by poet Sam Hunt on Friday, March 26. The fringe festival will also include street performances, food stalls, stonecarving symposium, music, films and readings from local authors.

A number of workshops will be held in association with the Open Studios. These include glass blowing, "drawing through awareness", harakeke/flax weaving, intaglio print, tours of the Sarjeant Gallery's basement where much of the collection is stored and heritage tours of Wanganui.

For more information, go to www.whanganuiopenstudios.org.nz or call in to i-SITE Visitor Centre in Guyton Street to pick up an event guide.

Wanganui has been a magnet for international visitors recently, with guests from Japan, Korea and Australia meeting council representatives and being hosted at civic receptions.

Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon recently welcomed a group of Japanese businesswomen who visited Wanganui as part of a week-long stay in New Zealand. The women are members of the Soroptimists International (SI) club in Shizuoka and chose to visit Wanganui because of the links with our Sister City Nagaizumi, which is in the same prefecture in Japan.

Deputy Mayor Dot also recently met with a delegation of Koreans from the city of Pohang, who were in Wanganui to discuss fostering closer ties between the two cities. The delegation was invited by the YMCA and their trip was facilitated by the council. During the visit, the delegation expressed an interest in developing a Sister City relationship with Wanganui.

On Tuesday, March 9, Senior Cr Randhir Dahya hosted a large group of students from Kobe Yamate Girls High School at a function in the Council Chamber. Students from Kobe Yamate are regular visitors to Wanganui.

Next week Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon will welcome Toowoomba Carnival of the Flowers Ambassadors at a civic reception on Monday, March 15. Jessica Wagner and Sarah Nolan were chosen as "Young Ambassadors" for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and are coming to New Zealand to attend the Ellerslie Flower Show in Christchurch. They will then visit Wanganui, Toowoomba's Sister City, where they will be hosted by Wanganui District Council. Their itinerary will include visits to Bason Botanic Gardens, Paloma Gardens, Chronicle Glass and The Flying Fox; a river cruise on the PS Waimarie; a barbecue with the Council's Youth Committee; a trip on the Spirit of the River jetboat; and a speaking engagement at a Rotary luncheon.

At the end of this month, Wanganui will host 10 junior high school students from our Sister City Nagaizumi for a week. The group will be working on improving their English language skills, as well as visiting schools, farms and staying overnight at Putiki Marae.

Wanganui District Council is calling for proposals for site specific sculptural works to be permanently sited along the riverside walkway and Somme Parade shared pathway (pictured), for the inaugural Sculpture Wanganui 2010 event.

Sculpture Wanganui 2010 is offering a first prize of $35,000 for the construction and installation of a permanent sculptural work. 'People's choice' and runner-up prizes may also be offered.

The event runs between September 25 and October 11.

Cr Nicki Higgie, spokesperson for arts, is excited about this new event in the Wanganui arts calendar.

"Sculpture Wanganui 2010 offers artists a new and exciting opportunity to exhibit their work in a fantastic location. It has the potential to become the best Australasian sculpture event and will be a major focus for arts in the city.

"The riverfront area is undergoing a redevelopment with a new Visitor Centre opening later this year. This area will become a bustling hub for both visitors and locals alike. Public art, in the form of sculpture, will enhance the area further and underlines council's commitment and support for the city's thriving arts scene.

"We are hoping that the event will attract a large number of entries from across the country and internationally. Over time we will create a significant body of work that will become a visitor attraction in its own right and have international significance."

Call for proposals

Written submissions should describe the conceptual intent of the proposed work, dimensions, proposed materials, engineering requirements and calculations. Scaled concept drawings and a maquette of the proposed work should also be included. An up-to-date portfolio is also desirable.

Proposals should be sent or delivered to Don Hunter, Sculpture Wanganui 2010, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

For further details about the competition contact Don Hunter, Arts Coordinator, email Don Hunter, phone (06) 349 0001 ext 8415, mob 027 289 6479.

Proposals must be received by midday on Friday, 16 April 2010.

Details about the following vacancy are available on this page:

Accounting Technician
Applications close 1 April 2010

The Wanganui District Council is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Monday, March 15 (Council Chamber, 3.00pm)
- Adopt Draft Annual Plan 2010/11.
- The Council will consider the reports from Committee meetings held in February and March along with reports direct to Council.

Youth – Monday, March 22 (Council Chamber, 4.00pm)

Hearings – Thursday, March 25 (to be confirmed)

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, March 31 (Committee Room 2, 4.00pm)

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.