Louisa Eades, secretary of the Jetty Restoration Trust, expressed her gratitude, stating, “It’s a real honor to have them all sponsored, knowing each one is a supporter of the jetty.”
Since the launch of the Sponsor a Plank campaign for the Banks Peninsula jetty eight years ago, over $300,000 has been raised.
Donors have personalized plaques on their sponsored planks, with messages ranging from heartfelt dedications to cherished memories.
One notable contribution came from the Talbot family, who sponsored 16 planks, each plaque telling a part of their family history.
“There’s a lot of emotion there on that jetty,” Eades remarked.
As the campaign nears completion, there are still 75 unsponsored planks on the jetty approach, available for business sponsorships.
Business sponsorships cost $2000 per plank, compared to $600 for individual sponsorships.
In 2023, the community trust successfully rebuilt the jetty at a cost of $3.8 million, more than a decade after it was damaged in the 2011 earthquake and subsequently closed.
Funding for the restoration project included $1.25 million raised by the trust, a $250,000 grant from the Lotteries Commission, and a $1.75 million grant from the city council.
Ownership of the jetty was transferred to the trust for $1 in 2016, with a $1.5 million loan provided by the city council in 2022 to cover any remaining expenses until the funds could be raised.
Upon repayment of the loan, ownership will revert to the council for the same token amount. The current loan balance stands at $265,000, along with a 4% interest rate.
Despite the nearing completion of the sponsorship campaign, the trust will continue to sell jetty timber and seek donations for the remaining 75 planks.
Eades reflected on the journey, describing it as bittersweet to reach the end of a campaign that had been instrumental in fundraising for the jetty.
The idea for the campaign was inspired by Simon Mortlock, a trust member, who had observed a similar initiative using sponsored bricks at the Redcliffs Community Shed, leading to its launch in 2017.
Eades extended her gratitude to all the donors, emphasizing the collective effort that made the restoration project possible.
“It goes to show how big the team effort was – hundreds of people donating a substantial amount of money,” Eades acknowledged. “It really did make a big difference in getting the job done.”
