The founding chair of the Whakatipu Community Hub has stood down due to health reasons.
However, John MacDonald’s commitment to establishing a one-stop-shop with specifically-designed spaces for community groups hasn’t waned.
MacDonald has a long history of supporting the Queenstown community, including five years as a district councillor, during which time he chaired the Mayoral Housing Taskforce and served on the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust.
The founding chairman of Destination Queenstown, he was also chair of the Queenstown Winter Marketing Group and spent eight years in various governance roles with Te Whatu Ora Southern (formerly Southern District Health Board).
MacDonald stood down from Queenstown’s council in March, 2021, after battling with the effects of Parkinson’s Disease, following medical advice to significantly reduce his workload.
His Parkinson’s-related Multiple System Atrophy-P is moving quickly, meaning he’s now had to relinquish his Whakatipu Community Hub chairmanship.
‘‘I did not expect to have to give up this role, which is so dear to my heart, but this is the hand I’ve been dealt.
‘‘I will continue as a trustee and I have full confidence in my friends and colleagues to see the project through to fruition.’’
In 2019, tired of a stream of stories about community organisations losing offices to development or higher rents, he launched a trust with the vision of a dedicated community hub providing a permanent, secure and affordable home for community service organisations.
Modelled on initiatives such as Kollective, in Tauranga, and The Lofts, in Christchurch, the hub is envisaged as a cluster of buildings to provide spaces for groups in an environment that encourages sharing of resources, along with meeting and seminar rooms, and public spaces.
It’s to be delivered through a partnership between central government, private donors, community trusts, local government and the social services sector.
The project’s well on its way to delivering MacDonald’s vision.
Stakeholders and potential tenants are in talks, community land in Frankton’s been secured, design work’s under way and early funding’s in place.
Architect David Wingate, who delivered Kollective, himself a kidney transplant survivor, agrees the project’s in good heart and a strong position.
‘‘Everyone I talk to speaks highly of it and wants to see it happen.
‘‘John has created something very special and the trust is committed to ensuring its physical delivery.’’
Trustee Ron Mackersey says MacDonald has inspired people to put their ‘‘efforts, time and money’’ into the project and thanks him ‘‘wholeheartedly’’ for his service and ensuring the creation of a robust organisation to deliver the dream.
Fellow trustee Hamish Wilton, Mackersy Property’s CEO was appointed interim chair at the trust’s AGM on Wednesday afternoon.
