ILT has a rich history of supporting Invercargill’s growth and vibrancy, starting back in 1956. That was the year we gifted the beloved Peter Pan statue to Queens Park for the city’s centennial and made our first big splash into community funding with the Conon Street learners’ pool.
By 1969, we were planning to unveil the fountain at the Feldwick Gates for ILT’s 25th birthday… but things didn’t go to plan and delays meant it wasn’t completed until closer to our 30th anniversary. Oops!
Fast forward to the 2000s, and our support for community facilities really gained momentum. One of the key facilities was ILT Stadium Southland, this was originally opened in 2000, but as many of you know, it required a rebuild in 2014. The redeveloped stadium was a community effort, and we were thrilled to play a part in it. We continue to support this wonderful venue that serves as a buzzing hub for sports and a versatile space for events.
In 2004, the Velodrome was a welcome addition to this facility, it has been a driving force behind Southland’s cycling success.
That same year, Splash Palace opened its door, and whether you’ve taken a dip or just cheered someone on from the sidelines, it’s become a community staple. More recently, our funding has helped support the Learn to Swim programme, with 40,113 pool admissions in the past financial year. That’s a lot of little people gaining essential water safety skills.
But it’s not just about sports. We’ve had the honour of contributing towards the grand Civic Theatre renovation, the SIT Zero Fees Scheme and the Murihiku Marae redevelopment.
We’ve even gifted a pub so it could be turned into a lifesaving hospital! Like so many other supporters, we’re looking forward to the Southland Charity Hospital opening its doors. This isn’t the first time we’ve repurposed one of our buildings for a good cause – Enrich@ILT, the one-day school we solely fund, is flourishing at the old Elmwood Gardens site.
As a group, we’ve been fortunate to support several key community projects set to be completed over the coming years.
We’ve contributed $1 million towards Te Unua Museum of Southland, which will be a tremendous asset for our community. The Grace Street Project is another exciting initiative that has received $500,000 in funding for an all-weather community space in South Invercargill.
Additionally, we’ve provided close to $1 million to the Hawthorndale Care Village, which is on track to open next year. This facility will have a lasting, positive impact on those in our community affected by dementia.
Community is at the heart of everything we do but none of this would be possible without your support, and for that, we’re incredibly grateful. Together, we’re building a vibrant Invercargill!
