The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will dedicate a new outdoor recreational facility in the Hamilton suburb of Temple View this Saturday (1 August).
The facility, called “Camp Tuhikaramea,” includes a section known for many years by locals as “Hamon’s Bush.”
A dedicatory service, open to the public, will be held at the site beginning at 3.30pm this Saturday.
Church leaders who will attend the service include Elder Kevin W. Pearson, Elder O. Vincent Haleck and Elder S. Gifford Nielsen — of the Pacific Area Presidency — and Bishop Dean M. Davies, Second Counsellor in the Latter-day Saints’ Presiding Bishopric.
New Zealand Latter-day Saint leaders, Elder David J. Thomson and Elder Paul R. Coward, along with local church and community leaders will also attend.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The property is just a few minutes’ drive from the Church’s Hamilton New Zealand Temple.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has owned and managed 1,400 acres of farmland in the area since 1953. In 1994, 9.68 acres of this land was earmarked by the Church as a recreational property for youth in the Hamilton area.
Over the last few years this recreational property has been added to and developed into a camping facility spread over 45 acres. It can accommodate up to 400 people at a time.
Wayne Pemberton, the Church’s Pacific Area Physical Facilities Manager, says, “The native bush area within the camp, named Hamon’s Bush, has been visited for many years by various groups within the Church, including camping on an informal basis."
He says the newly completed facility will now allow more youth and young adult groups, and families to enjoy the beautiful location. The facility is open for missionary gatherings, weddings, reunions and other year-round activities.
“The land was completely re-contoured and landscaped,” Mr Pemberton says. “Roads, parking, cabins, communal shelters, assembly pavilions and toilet facilities were constructed. Sports fields, outdoor amphitheatres, plants and paths were added. A fully functioning plant nursery and maintenance shed were also built.”
“Thousands of hours of volunteer labour has been donated to plant trees, build fences, maintain grounds, build paths, develop the plant nursery and many other ongoing tasks required to run a camp.”
The bush was tended, nurtured and replanted voluntarily by local Latter-day Saint Roger Hamon for many years.