After a long break with no activities, because of Covid 19, we were able to have a working bee. On a very pleasant Saturday 10th October
Committee had finally been able to organise with Parks, the purchase and installation of the seat to be installed on the Fish Falls walk. Back in 2017 we had picked out and proposed to Parks a couple of spots along the track which we thought would be suitable sites for the seat. However with changes to Parks staff and changing of FOGGs committee members it has taken a while to all fall into place.
We met at Zumsteins picnic ground and Hanna our Parks contact joined us. After an OH&S briefing and a reminder of the Covid rules we got started. Hanna had brought along a motorized track barrow to carry the seat and quick set cement into the site. As there were 10 of us we broke into a team to install the seat and another team who did some light pruning and weeding along the track. A couple of strong fellows went ahead and dug the holes for the legs of the seat, which needed to be to be concreted into the ground. Another few people manoeuvred the seat and concrete along the track. By the time the seat got to the site the holes were ready. Some adjustments were made to the hole depths to get the levels right and the concrete was put in the holes and seat put in place. It was surprising how quickly it all happened once we got to the site. As the concrete sets extremely quickly we were able to test the seat out and it was ready for hikers to use immediately.
We all made our way back to the picnic ground and ate our lunch while catching up with one another, which for some of us had been a very long time.
The history behind this seat: many years ago the Friends of Zumsteins Group folded, they had a small amount of cash in their account and under the Incorporation Rules they needed to pass the money on to a like-minded Society, and they chose FOGGs. After many suggestions we decided that we would use the money to put a seat on the Fish Falls track with a plaque dedicating the seat to them. There was no seat along this walk and so now those who are not as fit as they would like to be can have a rest along the way. It has just taken a while to come to fruition, but was satisfying to complete.
Photos by Leigh.