Featherston Community Centre | The hub of Featherston's social, educational, and recreational services

Please join us at our AGM to hear about the past year at the Featherston Community Centre, talk with the governing board, and enjoy a presentation from our guest speaker and Featherston local - Dr John Ryan McLane.

Dr McLane will speak on his experiences and the reality of modern China and New Zealand's relationship.

Ryan has worked in a range of settings over the past three decades, including managing a public health unit in the Alaskan arctic; leading a clinical team in an Ebola Treatment Unit in Sierra Leone; leading international response teams following disasters; and providing direct care for populations as diverse as indigenous Siberians, undocumented agricultural workers in California, and civilians caught in civil conflict in Guatemala.

During his ten years in New Zealand he has worked with the Southern DHB, the Ministry of Health’s Communicable Disease Team, and the University of Otago Medical School. While with the Ministry of Health he focused on disaster response capacity and pandemic preparedness, and worked closely with the WHO as well as serving as an expert adviser to New York City and the government of Fiji regarding disease mitigation. He has taught in Nursing and Medical programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate level. For the past two years he has served with the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Most recently Ryan returned from a term as Deputy Consul-General at the NZ Consulate in Chengdu, China. His current role is Senior Policy Officer, PNG and Nauru.

Ryan holds degrees in Nursing and History from the University of Alaska, a Masters in International Relations from Troy State University, and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His PhD work with the University of Otago focused upon the 1918 influenza pandemic in the Samoas, Tonga, and Fiji.

Here's what we ask you to do:
- If you are just popping in to see someone, please keep your dog tied up outside the Centre. You are welcome to bring a mat or something that makes your pooch feel at home.
- If you rent an office here, or you are part of a group where you know everyone loves dogs, then you may keep your pooch with you in a closed room - so long as pooch is also happy and not barking.
- Please keep your dog on a lead when using the hallway and kitchen.
- Please make use of the water bowl outside the Centre for your pooch, and feel free to suggest ways that we can make it easier for dog owners and their best friends to feel welcome at the Centre. We do love your company and want everyone to get along at the Centre!

When: Thursdays 10:00-11:00am AND Saturdays 09:15-10:15am
Where: Kauri Room
Cost: 5 classes @ $60
Contact: Rupert Watson, 027 5853822, watson@slingshot.co.nz
Website: www.movewithease.co.nz

I’ve been doing regular classes at the community centre since coming to Featherston 6 years ago. I’m trained in the Feldenkrais method of movement education, which is different from conventional exercise systems like yoga, Pilates and the gym. (It’s easier!) I enjoy my Featherston students and classes enormously - such a lovely, lively bunch of real people. Of course it would be nice if more came, especially men. They need this sort of thing most! What’s special about what I do is that it enables you to get free of habitual patterns, so that new and better ways of moving, feeling and acting can emerge. On the way you improve your posture and flexibility, and many common aches and pains disappear. You feel rejuvenated and more at peace with both the world and yourself. Not bad for an hour a week.

A Big Thank You to all our artists, volunteers, sponsors and Featherston Booktown who helped make our fourth annual exhibition and art sale a huge success!

The artwork really flew off the walls, with almost half of the 177 pieces selling. We are pleased that this generated about $4k for the Centre and was able to put almost twice that amount into the pockets of our community's artists.

Our Sponsors

Opening night food: The Baker, Everest Café, C’est Cheese, CakeLabNZ , Drummond Farm Wines, Supervalue

Raffle items: Brac n Bow, Brackenridge Spa, Featherston Knitters, The Royal

Advertising: Erin Nesdale and Benn Milne – Property Brokers, Lamb Peters Printing

Display props: Aratoi Museum, SWDC

Jessica Smith and Alex Prujean are donating their skills as Landscape Architects! They will provide a design for the entrance and carpark in anticipation of the new Featherston Medical Centre being built next door. This young couple are looking forward to contributing their talents to Featherston.

Dr Harsha Dias has drawn up the plans for a new medical centre with 5 consulting rooms. This new building will be located on the vacant lot next to our carpark. All patients will access the Medical Centre from the Community Centre's entrance on Wakefield Street. Our large carpark will be redesigned by Jessica and Alex to accomodate the parking needs for both buildings as well as the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, scooters, prams and mobility scooters. In addition, space for shade and seating will be provided.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Centre. The partnership will make the Centre more vibrant and offers the community a chance to create a coordinated area focused on Wellness and Community.