Remuera Gardens Men’s Club
Remuera Gardens established the Men’s Club more than eight years ago with the purpose of providing a space for the men in the village to connect and socialize with others who share their interests.
Once a month, the village’s van (almost always at full capacity) takes the gentlemen to different locations in and outside of Auckland. During the warmer months the Village Coordinator, Louise Smith, tries to organise trips to gorgeous beach destinations like Shakespear Bay, Waiheke Island or Maraetai Beach.
The beach destinations are always a big success because the men get to enjoy their company among gorgeous and peaceful surroundings. On top of that, the village’s driver, John, prepares them a delicious barbeque for lunch. After so many years John has become a member of the club who enjoys the outings as much as the residents – and he always makes sure that they have a yummy dessert to finish the beach barbeque.
When the weather is colder or it’s time for some variety, the Village Coordinator sends the Men’s Club to nice lunching spots like Hallertau Brewery or places of interest such as Motat or the Classics Museum in Hamilton.
The Men’s Club April outing was to the Maritime Museum, which currently holds the exhibition Captains, Collectors, Friends and Adventurers. The exhibition invites visitors to discover the Maritime Museum’s hidden treasures, such as Aotearoa’s legendary mariners, miniature worlds and all sorts of curiosities.
Remuera Gardens’s gentlemen really enjoyed wandering around the museum and discovering all kinds of ships – from the miniature ones inside bottles to the huge NZL32 BLACK MAGIC, the original America’s Cup winning boat in 1995.
They were also fascinated by the Museum’s section dedicated to the Immigrants, an exhibition that invites visitors to re-live the stories of immigrants from the 1850s to the 1960s. The gentlemen’s favourite space was the Rocking Cabin, a reproduction of a steerage cabin: it was such a credible copy that some of the men even felt seasick!
After the tour of the Museum, the Men’s Club took the ferry to Devonport to enjoy a well-deserved lunch. It was a great opportunity for them to reflect on their visit and recall their own adventures at sea.
If you’d like to know more about joining our community contact Lyn on 021 845 524 or email Lyn.Ellis@realliving.co.nz
