On Friday afternoon (5th April), Raglan Coastguard opened its new base on Raglan Wharf. Aboout 200 people attended the opening. Coastguard Chief Wally Hawken thanked all of the many sponsors and supporters who had donated funding towards the project.
He called on John Gallagher, of the Gallagher Group, to open the Gallagher Base. John said, “Our company is in the fortunate position to have funds available to put into this very worthwhile project and I’m pleased to declare open the new Raglan Coastguard base.”
When the replacement building opened on Raglan Wharf, Raglan Coastguard was presented with an empty shell by the Waikato District Council. While pleased with Council’s provision of the space, they knew an expensive big job was needed to turn it into a workable base. Coastguard volunteers have worked over the last six months on building walls a mezzaine wall and facilities inside the shell. Coastguard head Wally Hawken said, “The funding provided by the many sponsors paid for the timber, steel and fittings that turned the shell into a working base.”
And the opening happened while some of Raglan’s Coastguard volunteers were out on the Tasman Sea still extremely busy in the middle of supporting Navy and Police in the major recovery operation of the aircraft that ditched south west of Raglan on Saturday.