When Honora & I went over Jordan Saddle to check out Echo Col, we looked forward to another night at Avoca hut. It's one of my favourite places in the hills.
However it was a sad experience to see it's continuing slow deterioration.
I've gotta admit I'm almost reluctant to say anything. A few years ago I wrote some comments in the hut book trying to prompt some action and pride of ownership from CUTC members. The principal reaction was insults and obscenities (of course they didn't necessarily come from the CUTC). Luckily I've got a thick skin so here goes again.
A good thing that did happen a bit later is the CUTC reclaimed the hut from DoC. The government had taken it over years before under the pretense they would look after it. Of course DoC did nothing in their time, probably hoping it would deteriorate so much they could declare it a HAZARD and demolish it.
Anyway back under CUTC care it benefited from the energy and enthusiasm of Fred de Zwart and a few others. A high point was the famous crazy scheme where they carried a new rain barrel over Jordan Saddle. Next there was another burst of enthusiasm for repainting the hut. However that didn't go much beyond a few neon and pastel shades being splashed over the interior joinery and trim.
Now not much seems happening again and the deterioration is continuing.
I'm not sure why the fall-off in action. I hope it's not because they've been listening to smarmy assurances of help from DoC. DoC staff are trained to make all the right PR noises but it's rare for these to manifest as useful activity.
I know Jim Henderson went in a year or so ago and trimmed some surrounding vegetation. That's fine but Honora and I had been managing as much after walking over from the Waimak for a weekend's track maintenance. That's easy stuff. However the main thing Jim did was to rip out the wood stove, which makes the place pretty miserable in the cold half of the year now (it's a narrow East-West valley with a very high range to the North).
The problem for the CUTC in looking after Avoca themselves is the lack of continuity in membership in the club. Also the people involved might not be strong on the practical skills.
I wonder if it might be a solution to do a membership drive among Polytech students. Having a few carpenters, painters, quantity surveyors, civil engineers, outdoor leadership students, etc in the club might be a big help. It might also be worth looking at how they can encourage people to stay in the club after they've graduated.
Whatever, the hut does need a full exterior repaint, guttering fixed, broken window replaced, door latches, new stove and various internal improvements. Honora and I are prepared to do all the surrounding track work maintenance.
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