When David Huxtable peered into the window of an Alpha Street building in Cambridge back in March, he had an inkling his two-year search was over.
The Waikato-King Country Idea Services area manager’s team had been sharing office facilities in Hamilton but they had outgrown them and the search until then had produced nothing suitable.
Kim Colquhoun of Te Awamutu helps area manager David Huxtable put client artwork up in Idea Services new Cambridge office. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Huxtable, who lives in Cambridge, has been working for Idea Services – part of the IHC Group of Charities – for 30 years.
For his first decade Idea Services had a base in Cambridge – in Queen Street and then in Dick Street – but 20 years ago moved into Hamilton.
Idea Services supports adults of all ages with intellectual disabilities to live independently and be part of their local communities. This includes residential care, supported living and vocational support.
In the greenhouse at Idea Services rural property near Ōhaupō: From left, Ali Kadham, Kawaljeet Singh, Raymond Tepea, Harry Singh, Ricky Robson. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
They have four residential homes in Cambridge, two in Te Awamutu, three in Te Kūiti and Ōtorohanga and three in Taumarunui as well as a rural block in Ōhaupō for people with high and complex needs.
“We’ve got a massive green house there that we want to open up more for gardening opportunities.”
The Tarr Road property – off Kaipaki Road near Mystery Creek Polo Club – has three houses called Cottage, Farmhouse and Flat with around the clock care workers for up to 10 people who require support.
They grow vegetables, have chickens and fruit trees which provide an abundance of food.
A recent review resulted in two Idea Services areas becoming amalgamated into Waikato-King Country which takes in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Ōtorohanga, Te Kūiti, Taumarunui, Thames, Paeroa and Waihi.
The service area supports 264 people.
Donna Mitchell, IHC General Manager of Service Development and Strategy at the opening
Cambridge was tagged for the headquarters provided Huxtable could find something big enough, easily accessible, central to town and close to public transport.
The concrete block space next to Anytime Fitness and opposite Briscoes was perfect.
Two days later, Huxtable had signed a tenancy agreement with landlord Andrew Minett who agreed to fit out the shell for the disability services organisation.
It was opened on Monday by deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk and included a performance by Idea Services kapa haka group Te Roopu o Hauraki me Te Rohe Potae which is preparing for the kapa haka nationals in November.
“It’s now time to get this place going, get the team happy and make it a place to come and work from and families can come too,” said Huxtable.
“It’s been a long time but we’re back in Cambridge.”
There will be the chance to have more open forums, meeting space in the building is perfect for family meetings and for sharing resources with other like-minded organisations.
“Why invent something people have already got?”
Idea Services kapa haka group Te Roopu o Hauraki me Te Rohe Potae performed at the opening of Idea Services Cambridge office. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Artwork hanging on the wall has been completed by people Idea Services support – some of the artists have been prize winners in the annual IHC art awards – and is for sale.
The public is welcome to “wander in, have a look,” said Huxtable.
Community relationships already exist with groups like InterlockNZ Trust – which connects people through crafts, woodwork, cooking and social activities – and Hautapu Sports who give the kapa haka group somewhere to practice.
At the opening on Monday Stolwyk said she was delighted IHC had chosen Cambridge “the best place in the Waikato and welcome home.”
The decision was a real sign of the community’s commitment to support the work Idea Services does and a tribute to Huxtable whose drive and passion brought the disability organisation back to Cambridge.
Idea Services kapa haka group Te Roopu o Hauraki me Te Rohe Potae perform at the opening of Idea Services Cambridge office. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Donna Mitchell, IHC general manager of Service Development and Strategy said IHC was celebrating its 75th anniversary and being part of the community had always been important to it.
“You can’t be in the Waikato without acknowledging fund raising,” she said referring to the IHC’s Calf and Rural scheme which has raised more than $40 million to support people with intellectual disabilities and their families in rural areas for 42 years.
Sir Colin Meads was its patron right up to his death in 2017 and was instrumental in raising money through his speaking arrangements to buy a four hectare smallholding in Te Kūiti known as Pinetree Farm which is home to men with disabilities.
Idea Services kapa haka group Te Roopu o Hauraki me Te Rohe Potae perform at the opening of Idea Services Cambridge office. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
