31 October 2007

The inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust was held at the Combined Services Club in Rostrevor Street on Monday 29 October.

The Chairman of the Trust, David Peart warmly welcomed 26 people to the AGM and there was representation from a number of individuals, groups and organisations.

The first Annual Report was presented by David Peart and he began by saying, "We started the year with the Trust in place but no money. I am grateful to those individuals and businesses that donated their time and expertise to enable the Trust to be formed. The Trustees decided we would be unwise to begin fundraising until the Hamilton City Council was clearly committed to the project and this became clear in the 2006/07 Annual Plan when the Council committed $180,000 for design work and identified Waterworld as the preferred site."

David Peart went on to thank the Hamilton City Council and LIFE Unlimited for their support making mention of the major sponsors who have come on board tohelp us. He brought to people's attention the major fundraising initiatives we now have in place. The Chairman said, "I am excited by the fundraising plan we have. I believe the 'sale' of tiles at $500 each will provide businesses with cheap advertising as there will be several years acknowledgement of their generosity recorded at the pool. Individual's purchase of tiles will also be recorded in this way".

Billboards are being erected around the city appealing for donations towards the building of the hydrotherapy pool by accessing 0800 Go Hydro or our website www.hydrotrust.co.nz. Rotary International was welcomed as a fundraising partner and they too have many great ideas about how to raise money to fund the communities contribution towards the hydrotherapy pool.

David Bennett MP on behalf of himself, and Martin Gallagher MP, congratulated The Trust on the project and said that they are doing good work. The Trustees of The Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust were introduced to the public before the closure of the meeting.