A $330,000 project upgrading outdoor sports areas of Tinwald School has been officially opened at a school assembly.
It was opened with a ribbon cutting by pupils, guest speaker former Silver Fern Angela Mitchell, and key stakeholders involved in the three-month project which started during the summer school holidays.
Principal Peter Livingstone, speaking to those assembled, said it had been quite a short project and had created a new type of play area for the school.
It included a netball court, basketball court and cricket nets set on a large astro-turf area.
Livingstone said it was instigated over many years by board of trustee members.
They were ‘‘squirrelling away’’ saving funds for the project over long period of time, he said.
Former board member Dave Leslie of Leslie Construction Ltd took up the role of project manager.
SportsPlay designed the space based on the school’s needs, Sport Canterbury were involved in concepts and additional funds were received from Ray White Ashburton and Ashley Grove Ltd.
Groundworks were carried out by Greg Donaldson Contracting.
It looks ‘‘absolutely fantastic,’’ Livingstone said.
‘‘They had to do a lot of planning and a lot of work to get this right.’’
Mitchell, who is deputy principal at Ashburton College, spoke about the value of sport from an early age.
‘‘Sport gives you lots of fun connections. It’s a space where we can all be imperfect together,’’ she said.
‘‘When you play a game, you get the chance to meet different people, to work out problems, to learn how to be a good winner and also importantly, an even better loser.’’
Mitchell said in primary school she thrived in team sports and gained confidence to deal with issues into other areas of her life.
‘‘Bouncing back is a real vital skill for your wellbeing and sport teaches you how to do it.’’
Mitchell went on to have a 14-year career in top level netball in New Zealand and wore the Silver Fern from 2001 to 2004.
‘‘Being active is a really important part of growing up,’’ she said.
‘‘Sporting and activity is much more than what you see on the outside, it’s actually finding out who you are on the inside.’’
She spoke about growing up at Mayfield and her national career with netball.
‘‘When I was your age, I didn’t play because I wanted to be a Silver Fern, I played because I loved shooting goals…and I loved the amazing friendships that I made with my netball buddies.’’
Following speeches and a ribbon and cake cutting, senior pupils led a school-wide jump jam session before enjoying cake for morning break.
