Take 5: Oamaru

Garden designer Linda Wilson’s Rockvale Garden has been 37 years in the making. After running a garden centre at the property for 10 years, Mrs Wilson followed her passion and created the garden, which is designed to look bigger than the ‘‘couple of...

The family vibe at Valley Sports Club is a highlight for club captain Don Roney and netball president Abbey McKenzie. ‘‘There’s so many kids running around the clubrooms,’’ Mrs McKenzie says. The club boasts two senior rugby teams, with up to 50...

Weston residents are sure to be greeted with a smile by (from left) Susanne Stevens, Teena Davies, Judith Wallace, and Kim and Peter Muldrew, at Weston’s only grocery store. Mr and Mrs Muldrew bought the Weston Four Square one year ago. The store is a...

Pupils at the 228-pupil Weston School join principal Nicky Ryan on the playground. Mrs Ryan says the school embraces change, reflecting the busy, active community around it, and encourages curiosity. ‘‘It’s a wonderful place to work,’’ she says. ‘‘It...

The first stones from Parkside Quarry were used to build the Oamaru Opera House in 1906 and these days saw operator Craig Whyte (pictured) cuts Oamaru stone from Weston for projects all around New Zealand. Quarry manager Shane King says steady...

It may only be 5km inland from Oamaru, but Weston, population 800, does not live in its big brother’s shadow.

Home to a large Oamaru stone quarry, Weston also has some of the largest sporting grounds in the Oamaru region. The bowl-style Weston Domain has a full-size cricket oval, football pitches and rugby fields, accompanied by a pavilion and public garden/recreation area. Sport is alive and well in Weston. The Valley rugby club won the Citizens Shield in 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2009. In netball, Valley Gold has won or shared the last three North Otago premier titles. And in cricket, Valley has won five Borton Cups. A lively Four Square is at the centre of the town action, and the local volunteer fire brigade plays a big role in this little community. Hamish MacLean took his camera to Weston to find out what makes it tick.

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