History of the Club

Badminton Centre Building Construction and Maintenance

1970 – Ken Simpson - President of the Association.

1975 – Ken Simpson owned Simpson Motors Ltd who donated an old house to be sold for the start of the Association Hall fundraising of $600.

1983 - July - Demolition of the Direct Transport Building in Carnarvon Street, Gisborne, started in July undertaken by badminton player volunteers at weekends. Gisborne Herald newspaper article (no date): Home for Badminton Chamberlain's Idea - The building idea was born in the 1970's by a steering committee set up by the association including John Chamberlain as convener. Mr Chamberlain (early 1970's - 1994) treasurer of the badminton association and without his experience and foresight a home for badminton in Poverty Bay would probably not be a reality.

The two Treasurers of the Badminton Centre from inception to the present day: Linda White, took over from John Chamberlain in 1995 and in 2025 is still the Associations Treasurer.

John (Charles John) Chamberlain (15 Feb 1930 - 06 Aug 1998) the main instigator of the Poverty Bay  East Coast Badminton Association Centre (Badminton Eastland). The exact date is not known but was Treasurer from the early 1970's to the end of 1994.

Various options were looked into over a three year period with the final outcome being with the City Council and the association took possession of the old Direct Transport Building in Carnarvon Street in December 1982.

Demolition started in July 1983 and it was decided to erect the steel portals on the site at Childers Road Reserve with added steel sections to make the required height for badminton. All demolition second-hand material was sold and the money received went into the building fund, along with numerous fundraising activities. Parking cars and manning the gates at the A and P Show, raffles, turkey hunting, street stalls, a lawn-mower derby, fashion parades, grape tucking, demolition of an old house, gala days, swap-it competition and many tournaments all contributed to the swelling of the building fund. Donations were also received from: the Lotteries Board, Williams Family Trust, and many local clubs.

The erection of the portal, roof section and the upper wall was done by Story and Lomas, while the rest of the building was completed by a band of players who were tradesmen. This completed the main section of the centre. Bernie and Rodney Norman erected the mezzanine floor and kitchen area. All the plumbing was done by Bruce Ledger who worked on the building from the start to the present stage. There are many other local firms and tradesmen who donated their time and materials for the building. The association wish to thank them all for their support over the years, especially the many ladies who helped with the catering, and the secretary of the sub-committee, Joy Hughes.

1984-1985 - Gisborne Herald newspaper article - New Building On Way To Completion -

The work progressed well on the Poverty Bay East Coast Badminton Associations new hall being built at Childers Road Reserve, chairman of the building committee, Mr John Chamberlain said. It is anticipated that the major works will be completed by early 1985 to enable the hall to be used for badminton in the 1985 season, he said. The hall was constructed that it would be available for multi-sports use and community purposes. 

1992 - 12 Sep - New Badminton Centre officially opened - Sub Committee for the opening of the centre: Joy Hughes, Lorna Keene, Donna Lugtig, John Chamberlain, Bruce ledger, Bernie Norman, Ken

Simpson, Murray Winmill and Barrie Teutenberg. 2004 - 06 Oct - Excerpt from - Winner - Watties Baked Beans Volunteer Coach of the Year 2004 - Regional Finalist - Historically, Bruce’s contribution to the sport has also been exceptional. The opening of the Poverty Bay and East Coast Badminton Centre in 1992 was an amazing feat as the building was built debt free. Bruce was one of the major forces behind the endless hours of fundraising for this great facility. The contribution from Bruce didn’t end there. To ensure that the association didn’t have to pay up any other monies, Bruce a plumber by trade, with the help of his brother (Alan) lay the pipes needed for drainage under the huge car park by the building and the neighbouring YMCA.

Bruce was also involved with the building of the Patutahi Community Hall and voluntarily maintains these facility’s plumbing up till 2025 - Bruce still continues to maintain any plumbing issues required at the PB & EC Badminton Association Centre, sometimes free of charge in his own time or paid through his employer. In 2025 he will replace the spouting and assess the rust on the roof and walls as to what kind of preventative maintenance is required so there will be no leaks, for the next 30 yrs.

The Direct Transport Building, Carnarvon Street, Gisborne, was demolished by volunteers. Steel frame work being dismantled and reused in new Badminton Centre building, Roebuck Road. Foundation blocks for the steel structure. Site of new Badminton Centre, next to the YMCA building, corner Roebuck & Childers Road.

Players took time out from a tournament held in the YMCA to be photographed under the shell of the new Badminton Centre. The hand work then began with building the Centre using mostly voluntary labour and tradesman's skills.

Badminton Eastland Centre, 134 Roebuck Road, Gisborne