Auckland has a Rocking Day
AUCKLAND HAS A ROCKING DAY
2000+ people visit us at the Drury Quarry
One of the key messages delivered last year to the quarrying community by Stevenson Managing Director, John Rae, related to the need to promote our industry to our stakeholders.
This was something he felt the industry had neglected.
Leading by example,Stevenson Drury Quarry was opened to the public in its first ever Community Day in November last year.
We estimate that around 2000 people came through the gates to enjoy a unique first-hand look at what a quarry is all about. The quarry team, together with staff from all around the Stevenson Group, put together a great day and were overwhelmed by the positive response – proof that the community want to be involved in our industry.
As well as videos, display stands with historical photos, and staff on hand to explain the quarrying processes and equipment, there was plenty of hands-on fun organised for visitors. Two IVECO trucks and two Western Star trucks provided short rides around the quarry for children. Queues were so long that an additional truck had to be brought in to meet the demand.
The sandpit was a great hit. Some children dug almost to China in an effort to find one of many toys hidden in the sand.
Free buckets and spades were provided and when they didn’t succeed in finding a hidden treasure, hands made a useful scoop. The sandpit was so successful that at 5pm when the digger turned the sand over, a three-deep crowd of children surrounded the whole area, watching to see if they had missed anything.
Leading Hand Warren Coe and Quarry Manager Shane Toto were extremely patient and ensured that every toy was recovered and given to a child to take home.
Lucky the clown entertained the many children making animals from green and yellow balloons.
Poppacrete was shadowed by young and old alike and Voxnova provided lively music to entertain those who passed through the marquee looking at various displays and for those who just wanted to rest their weary feet at one of the many tables and chairs provided.
The event was attended by the new Mayor of Papakura, local councillors and business people, neighbours of the Quarry and people
of all shapes and sizes and all walks of life from Henderson, Morrinsville, Hamilton, Tuakau, Glen Eden, Mt Roskill, Ellerslie, Meadowbank, Greenlane, Pukekohe, Drury and Takaninni.
By the end of the day 2000 bottles of Stevenson water had been guzzled, 900 sausages eaten, 700 green and yellow balloon animals had been made, 630 Mr Whippy ice-creams licked, 200 cups of coffee had been drunk, 120 sandpit treasures found and one lucky person out of 370 entries had guessed the correct weight of the rock and received a $500 hamper.
