In 2003 the Gibbston Community Association won the Supreme Award at the annual TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards.  Then in 2007 the Association did it again, winning the Supreme Award that would send them to the TrustPower National Community Awards for the second time.

Founded in May 1998, the Gibbston Community Association is an incorporated society with donee status awarded by the IRD.

“Only 20 years ago, the Gibbston community nearly dissolved, but thanks to the pioneers who saw the potential of this region and started producing quality wines, the community has grown from only 8 remaining families to around 100,” says Susan Stevens, Chair of the Gibbston Community Association.

The Gibbston region has gone from being home to just one vineyard (planted in 1981) to today being home to more than 40 vineyards with over 330 ha of grapevines, 11 wine tasting rooms and 18 wine producers.

The Association has grown from 30 subscribing (paid) member households at the beginning to 89 member households – all whom volunteer for the Association.

“The members basically put their heads together to think of ways to better their community; they network together, create friendships and are there for each other,” says Susan.

Gibbston has been a destination for adventure tourists for some time because the original bungy jump is located at the Kawarau Bridge; however, the emergence of the wine industry has meant that the community has grown to be a well-known wine and food tourist destination as well.

The success stories….

The Gibbston Community Association has accomplished a lot in its 10 years of existence.

Community volunteers getting ready for the 2007 roadside clean up along SH6. Transit NZ supplied the safety vests for the day and the group celebrated with a community barbecue at Peregrine Wines when they finished.

Philip Anderson with the pile of rubbish that was collected during the 2007 SH6 roadside clean up. Special rubbish bags and plastic gloves were provided by the local Council, this clean up is done every year during Keep NZ Beautiful Week, all of that rubbish was discarded by people using the highway in the past year.

Wine barrel rolling competition at the 2008 PBT Gibbston Harvest Festival held at Mt. Rosa. Nearly $29,000 for the Gibbston River Trail was raised at the festival this year.

John Lane and Susan Stevens at the 2007 TrustPower National Community Awards in Wanaka.

1998

Gibbston Community Association formed

2000

Coal Pit Road rubbish collection point is established

2001

School bus service began in Gibbston

2002

First SH6 roadside clean up done by volunteers

First tour of Gibbston gardens (not conducted as a fundraiser)

2003

Gibbston Character Zone is signed

Welcome to Gibbston signs installed along SH6

High Speed Internet introduced

Winter Solstice Community Fun Day

Second SH6 roadside clean up

Second Garden Tour, raised $1,845

Named Supreme Winner at the TrustPower Community Awards

2004

Third SH6 roadside clean up

Gibbston River Trail proposed

Fourth SH6 roadside clean up

2006

Fifth SH6 roadside clean up

Won two more TrustPower Community Awards:

Won two Heart of the District awards

First Gibbston Harvest Festival, raised $1,976.95

Third Garden Tour, raised $4,470

2007

Community Rubbish & Recycling Depot opened

Won three more TrustPower Awards

Won two more Heart of the District awards

Rest Area opened at intersection of Coal Pit Road and SH6

Second Gibbston Harvest Festival, raised $5,403.89

1.5km of Gibbston River Trail opened

Completed acquisition of land for Community Reserve and held a community workshop to develop concept designs for its development

Planted 1015 tussocks and 45 toi toi opposite Rest Area along SH6

Sixth SH6 roadside clean up

Began work on community civil defence plan

2008

Third Gibbston Harvest Festival, raised just under $29,000

Minor Safety work completed on Coal Pit Road

Began work on Back Roads Trail along Gibbston’s rural roads.

The rest area the group developed along SH6 was one of the most successful projects the group completed.

“Every time I drive past the rest area there are always people stopped there – enjoying food at one of the picnic tables, learning about the Gibbston history at one of the signs, or sitting on the bench seat by the replica stone hut enjoying the vineyard views,” says Susan.

The first 1.5km of Gibbston River Trail opened in 2007. The project, which was undertaken by volunteers, created access for visitors to the beautiful Kawarau River that runs through the community. Susan says visitors can enjoy walking, mountain-biking, swimming, white water rafting, fishing, river boarding, kayaking, or can just take in the scenery or a lovely glass of Pinot Noir at the wineries along the trail.

The impact….

The Association has many volunteers who support various fundraising opportunities; these volunteers are committed and dedicated to maintaining the Valley.

“An event that has had a huge impact on the community is the PBT Gibbston Harvest Festival, which is an immense undertaking for our small community.  At the 2008 Festival we had 107 volunteers assisting nearly 3,000 attendees,” says Susan.

In addition to the major community projects, the Association also plans a full calendar of social events so they can get together to enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed and fun way.

Susan says it shouldn’t all be about working bees and fundraising.”

“These social events create a real sense of community between the residents of the valley; they feel safe together, trust each other and work together towards the same goals.”

Who does the group work with to achieve such milestones?

“We work with our local Council on most of our projects. We also work with DoC and Wakatipu Trails Trust on our trail projects. We work with Transit NZ on our annual SH6 roadside clean up, co-ordinating road closures for work at the Nevis Bluff, traffic management planning for the Harvest Festival, and we’re looking into adopting the highway through the whole of Gibbston. We also worked with Transit NZ, Telecom and Opus on the rest area project,” says Susan Stevens.

Winning the TrustPower Community Awards gives the group credibility

The Gibbston Community Association loves the new logo that TrustPower provides Community Award winners to use in printed materials. Susan Stevens says, “I think that any group that wins an award gains credibility, which is so helpful when it comes to writing grant proposals and seeking other support for your projects. Of course, the prize money is great too. $1,500 is a lot of sausages.”

The Gibbston Valley has real community.

The thing that sticks in your mind most when you hear about this Association is the way that they have been able to create real community, involving everyone, making friendships and having immense pride in the valley they live in.

“I love my community and I feel very lucky to live here, so it is really important to me to give something back. We’re very grateful to TrustPower for its ongoing support,” says Susan Stevens.

For more information about the Gibbston Community Association contact Susan Stevens on phone 03 441 8919 or email terymesu@xtra.co.nz .