When Cromwell Rotary decided to donate a clock to the town to mark 40 years of Rotary in Cromwell, little did they know what a magnificent community effort the project would become.
The clock was decided as the celebratory gift to Cromwell because of its likely enduring usefulness to locals and visitors alike, and it also complements the Big Fruit sculpture that sits across the park and has become a well recognised symbol of the town. That too was a Cromwell Rotary project back in 1987.
The clock itself has been imported from Austria and now sits proudly on a steel pole above a stone plinth in Murray Terrace, adjacent to the pedestrian crossing and car park. It's currently looking particularly magnificent, rising as it does from a large bed of red roses.
Project team leader Fin White is very quick to heap praise on the many people and businesses who have got in behind the project and either donated their time and skills free, or at a significantly reduced rate. "Without the many supporters who've helped us, this clock may never have got to be a striking new part of the Cromwell townscape. From the initial concept design and engineering work to procuring the clock, the site, the pole and the plinth, through to the onsite transport, installation and stonework, and then the engraving, and on site electrical work, I've been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and generosity of all involved. Rotary and Cromwell owe all these people a huge vote of thanks."
Cromwell Rotary wishes to thank the following businesses for their invaluable contribution to the project :
Allan Derrick
Ballcrom Reinforcing Steel
Begg Security
Breen Construction
Climax Scaffolding
Dunstan Time jeweller
Firth Concrete
Gemtime Jeweller
Hawk Services Electrical
Highlands Engineering
MetroGrafix
Meyer Cruden Engineering Design
Otago Powder Coating
Placemakers
R&R Hiab Services
Schist Shapers stonemason
Telfer Electrical
The Gate
Wanaka Stone