Merivale leader steps down

Sitting in the Merivale Community Centre wearing his red t-shirt with pride, John Fletcher feels privileged to have been part of the suburb's community as he steps down as general manager.

After spending seven years with the community centre, John has decided to spend time with family in the United Kingdom and will next week finish his role.

Merivale Community Centre general manager John Fletcher is stepping down from his role. Photo: Zoe Hunter.

He has mixed emotions about leaving Merivale and says while he won't return to his chief role he will happily stay involved when he returns to Tauranga in August.

'I have a big heart for what happens in this community,” says John.

'I feel privileged being recognised as being a part of it because Merivale is a community in the traditional sense of a community.

'It's a community that want Merivale to be a better place for their kids growing up.”

During his time with the centre, John has held a number of roles including as researcher and report writer and community development worker before taking over from former general manager Graham Cameron's role last June.

Looking back dotingly on his involvement, John says a highlight is the contribution made to the youth programme and watching young people gain what is generally their first qualification in life as youth workers.

'Now they are very much now leaders within the community. So I feel really proud that we have been able to support them.”

Interviews for John's role will be held in the coming weeks, which John says have attracted a lot of interest.

John's last day is Friday, May 23. The community is invited to farewell John at Merivale School's action centre at 2pm on Wednesday, May 21.

John Fletcher on the steps of the Merivale Community Centre.

You may also like....

1 comment

Good luck mate ...

Posted on 16-05-2014 11:06 | By YOGI BEAR

Did not make it to 12 months, hope the next one does ...


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.