Foreign skifield workers enjoy free dinner

Wanaka-based ski workers from around the world enjoy the free fortnightly meal at the St Andrew's...
Wanaka-based ski workers from around the world enjoy the free fortnightly meal at the St Andrew's Presbyterian Community Centre. PHOTOS: KERRIE WATERWORTH
Once a fortnight, a Wanaka church is one of the most popular venues in town for seasonal skifield workers.

Then, up to 90 people congregate for a free hot dinner.

Four years ago, a lack of snow at the start of the winter sports season prompted Wanaka Presbyterian Church member Ryan Lobb to organise a free dinner to help the seasonal workers "get through the hard times".

Four years later, he is still organising the free two-course dinner, held every second Tuesday from June to September, at the Tenby St church community centre.

"We've had people ask us what is the motivation and it is partly to say thank you to the ski workers as we really appreciate their contribution to the community.

"Without them we would not be able to play the way we do in this place, and we also think a free meal is a nice model of God's grace, which is free."

Darion Ehingi lines up for the vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free option, a vegetable and lentil...
Darion Ehingi lines up for the vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free option, a vegetable and lentil curry, served by volunteer Lynda Gregg.
He said to ensure only skifield workers attended the free dinner, the week before the dinner tickets were placed in the staffrooms of Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone and the Snow Farm.

The church mostly funded the dinners but local supermarkets and shops donated food and last Tuesday's ham was supplied by Wanaka New World.

A team of volunteers made up of church members planned the menu and bought and prepared the food.

There were three teams, "so they only had to cook twice in the season", Mr Lobb said.

Volunteer Jacinta Hyslop said "it was a bit of a journey to organise the food, but because you are part of a team it is really good, and the young ones are always so appreciative of the meal".

Up to 90 people regularly attended the free dinner, many of whom had come from the United Kingdom, Europe, North and South America to work the winter at the Wanaka skifields.

Snow Farm worker Alanna Butler, of Canada, said it was a great way to bring people together and to meet other ski workers in the community.

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