Avondale Primary School

Avondale: Where we came from, where we are now, and where we are going

Community Activities in Avondale

In Room 9 we have been looking at places in the Avondale Community where people can go to join in with community activities. We have looked at these places: Avondale Community Library, Avondale Community Centre, the Hollywood Cinema, Avondale Racecourse, and Suburbs Rugby Club. We have also been talking about why we think community activities are important to the Avondale Community and we have shared some of our ideas with you here.

The Avondale Community Library

The Avondale Library is a place where you can find the latest What's Hot. They have a website which is part of the Auckland City Libraries website. It keeps people in the community updated with special events that are happening over the next few months, like computer courses, story sessions for children and school holiday programmes.

This is a photo of the Avondale Community Library. Source: Auckland City Libraries

They have a large collection of fiction and non fiction books. It is a place for kids, teenagers and adults to read quietly and peacefully. It has many library services like photocopying and internet access. The library has a variety of tapes, CD's and DVD's for hire but mostly it has books. The library also has a homework centre where you can get help from the librarians. The homework centre is called AKOZONE which means learning zone and it is open for year 5 to year 8 children.

It allows you to find information about upcoming issues in the Avondale area like the proposed motorway extension. It also has council information to let people know what's happening in Avondale. So if you are in Avondale go visit the Avondale Community Library.
By Spencer and Chalinda

Hollywood Cinema

The Hollywood Cinema has been an Avondale Landmark for nearly 100 years. It was built in 1915. It has always screened movies even though it started it's life as the Avondale Town Hall. It became the Hollywood cinema in 1968 and is locally owned and operated. It is famous because of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. This was shown on Friday and Saturday nights at 11.30pm for ten years from 1978 to 1988. It is cheap to go the Hollywood cinema, tickets are only $10 for adults and $7 for kids.

The Hollywood cinema

Avondale Race Course

I like going to the horse racing with my Mum because it is fun. The only time I get to go is in the school holidays. It's every week on Wednesday, it is open to the public and it is free to get in. People bet and sometimes win.
By Ethan

The Avondale Races are in Ash Street and sometimes I go there. Mostly it is open on Wednesday and they sell things there.
By Siming

Avondale Races happen on Wednesday every week. Many people come to watch and sometimes you can win money. Sometimes you see people practicing racing horses.
By Rennie

Suburbs Rugby Club

Suburbs Rugby club operates out of the Avondale Clubrooms at the racecourse. It has many teams from social to premiers to age group rugby. Many of the boys from Avondale Primary School have played for the Suburbs Rugby Club at some stage.

This is a photo of the Avondale Clubrooms. Source: Suburbs Rugby Club

They play on Saturdays in the middle of the racecourse. My brother played there once with his school.
By Stephanie

Last year I used to play for the Suburbs team every Saturday. I played for the under 8's team. We won some of our games and I scored 3 tries. I met lots of new people and it was heaps of fun.
By Logan

My brother Junior plays for Suburbs Rugby Club. He plays on Saturdays and practices on Thursdays.
By Natasha

Avondale Community Centre

The Avondale Community Centre is an Auckland City Council Centre. It has a hall which is hired out for weddings, parties and churches. It also has a room that is hired for meetings, group activities and classes.

Some of the classes that are available at the community centre are:

• Knitting and Crochet
• Avondale Ramblers
• Indian Vegetarian cooking
• Line Dancing
• English as a second language
• Pinnacle Country Music Club
• Mandarin
• Avon Accordian Club
• Fabric and Handcraft
• Pinemoluku Pre-School
• Aerobics
• Avondale Community Pre-School Society
• Karate
• Avondale Plunket Playgroup
• Tai Chi

The Community Centre also offers services to the Avondale Community like the Avondale Community Board, Legal Clinic, Citizens Advice Bureau and Plunket.
By Paris and Yanee

So why are community activities important to Avondale?

I think they are important because they are part of Avondale. People from the community run them and go to them. People that join in with these activities make new friends from around their community. It's good when it is a game because people have to trust people they have never met before.
By Ethan

Community Activities are important in Avondale because people can get together. People get to meet each other and know each others cultures. It is important because you can do things you haven't tried. Community activities are important because people get to know each other better.
By Khadija

We have a celebration at Christmas called Carols by Spiderlight. It celebrates a special occasion and keeps the community together. Activities like these help us to meet one another and get to know each other.
By Chalinda

Avondale Community activities are important because they help people move to new levels of making friends and meeting people they don't know. It is important because we can communicate with other people.
By Madeliene

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