ADVERTORIAL
It was the year 2006 when The Seagull Centre in Thames first swung open its doors to the community.
Now, two decades later, and with a focus still centred on reducing waste, promoting reuse and driving the circular economy, the social enterprise is set to celebrate its 20-year milestone on July 5.
In true Seagull Centre fashion, the invitation to share in the momentous occasion is open to the whole community to head down to the 102 Burke Street location for a day of festivities.
Sustainability Co-ordinator Lucci Scott told The Profile the celebration would kick off at 9.30am with some celebratory cake, a free sausage sizzle and some of the current and past trustees and ex-staff members in attendance. “We’ll cut the cake and we’ll give it out for free to all the customers for the day. We have lots of regulars that turn up at 9 o’clock on the dot and we didn’t want them to miss out.
Lucci looked forward to hearing people’s reflections and memories.
“It is so cool hearing people’s stories like ‘oh, I remember when it started, or when I first moved to Thames’… it’s so cool hearing all the different experiences people have had at the Seagull Centre,” she said.
“It amazes me how much the community loves the Seagull Centre and just the reputation it has. It’s such a place where everyone wants to come and everyone finds treasures. I love the smiles on the customers’ faces when they come in.” The celebration will also include the big birthday auction at 1pm.
“We’ve got 76 lots,” Lucci said. Boxes of shells, jars of buttons, a Queen Robe from the Queen tour, taxidermied loggerhead turtles and pheasant, vintage toys and games, and historic books and maps are just some of the items up for grabs.
“We’ll [also] have sales throughout the day with 20 per cent off most things on site.”
Everyone who makes a purchase will also have the opportunity to enter the kids raffle for a box of lego, or the adults raffle for a mix of goodies, including body washes, hand creams, food items and more.
People can view the auction pieces in store or on the Seagull Centre website, and for people who couldn’t make it in person, Lucci said they would also accept absentee bids.
Lucci said one of the original drivers behind the formation of the Seagull Centre was to encourage reusing items and diverting them from ending up in landfill.
“Today it is still a driver to divert from landfill, but we promote more of a circular economy rather than just keeping things out of landfill, we want to keep things in circulation for as long as possible,” she said.
One of The Seagull Centre’s “really big achievements” were the community grants and the successful impact they made in helping community groups, she said.
“For a long time, the Seagull Centre has helped people in need. There were lots of donations of good quality products then over the years the grants became more accessible and it was just another way of giving back to our community and also supporting the great work that is being done in the community.
Lucci said there were many community groups in the Thames-Coromandel who did amazing work.
“It’s such a blessing. I actually just feel so blessed to even be part of a Seagull Centre that can support these community groups and have some little contribution to their achievements.
“Also a massive shout out to the schools in the Thames area. They all have their own projects and their own way of helping the environment and looking after it. They’re just amazing,” she said. “They’re really doing some good mahi within the community.”
The impact of the community and how it affected the Seagull Centre was clear.
“Without our community, there is no Seagull Centre. We are so grateful to them and for everything that they do, whether it’s donating items, shopping or liking our posts on social media or just, you know, spreading the word about the Seagull Centre.”
DETAILS: Head down to The Seagull Centre at 102 Burke Street, Thames on July 5 from 9am to celebrate the 20 year milestone. Visit https://www.seagullcentre.co.nz/auctions to see the auction pieces.
By Davidda Hikatangata
