A project which has long been on the Waitaki Boys’ High School to-do list was ticked off yesterday, with the official opening of the Nathan Smith Performance Centre.

The centre was opened by Nathan’s Ōamaru-based parents Nicci and Greg Smith, while he is overseas playing cricket.

School sport coordinator Twyla Kingan says creating the centre, which houses weight lifting and cardio equipment, has been a goal of hers and physical education head of department Ian Cathcart’s for a number of years.

Twyla says it is “pretty cool” Nathan agreed to sponsor the centre by allowing his name to be used and donating money towards helping to get it up and running. 

He is a former Waitaki Boys’ student, who last year became a Black Cap. His final year at the school was in 2016.

He has also donated a signed Black Caps top, which is framed and on a wall dedicated to him, inside the gym, along with a list of his achievements.

Nathan was a stand-out choice as naming sponsor, as an old boy with recent sporting success, Twyla says.

“So he is kind of known to all the boys . . . it was pretty cool to be able to secure him.”

The Performance Centre name is a nod to what Twyla says they hope to achieve with the facility.

“It's going to be able to be used for PE classes, sports teams, and individuals. 

The new Nathan Smith Performance Centre. Photo: Ashley Smyth

“I know that there are lots of students who will go to the gyms in town, but if they can, you know, do it at lunchtime or after school, it might free up some of their schedule ‘cos they pack a lot in.”

The centre will operate with an electronic fob key entry, and once a boy signs up, they will be properly inducted and taught how to safely use the equipment before they are allowed access to the gym at a time that suits them. The room will not be open 24/7, though, Twyla says.

“We don't want people in here at midnight . . . and we'll have a security camera up in here too.”

Waitaki Boys’ rector Darryl Paterson says the centre is a “fantastic addition to the school”.

“And great to recognise Nathan, who's done so well coming from sticking with Waitaki Boys’ when there were a lot of schools, I think, chasing his services back in the day, as the other schools tend to do.

“He’s just proven that you can make it from here.”

Darryl says he can see the staff getting good use out of the centre as well.

The project has been a focus of the Waitaki Boys' Sports Advisory Council, which has done the majority of the fundraising, Twyla says. 

“There's been fundraising over the years for it, and so we were able to put a big chunk of money aside.”

Some of the gear has come from the school hostel, and other parts were bought secondhand from the North Otago Rugby Union, when the Centennial Park grandstand was demolished, to make way for the new event centre.

“So we were fortunate to get those things . . . and we'll chip away at things and there'll be a small membership fee to help with the upkeep.” 

A Waitaki District Council community grant paid for one of the cardio machines, and fundraising will continue, with a tiered gold, silver, bronze sponsorship system to be introduced to help with maintenance, acquiring new equipment, and also paying for a trainer to help with inductions.

Dean Sutherland of Ireland Signs prepared the signage, frosted windows frontage, and the Nathan Smith wall inside, while Matthew “Wicksey” Wicks has painted a mural along the back wall.

The mural painted by Matthew 'Wicksey' Wicks. Photo: Supplied

Some of the equipment is awaiting assembly by professionals, and the entry system is yet to be installed, but Twyla is hoping the centre will be operational by the end of the term.

She said the biggest reason for bringing the performance centre to life, was because the boys wanted it.

“Just listening to the student voice, like they want a gym at school and I think it enhances the school . . . They want something like this. 

“We totally expect to pick up some (students) that we might not see on a sports team, but this could be their thing . . . physically, mentally, and socially. 

“It would be so good for them, because there's something out there for everyone, and if it is a weight room, then now there’s this.” 

It is important the centre isn’t dominated by one particular team or group, it’s more about "scooping up the individuals".

“I'm so pleased with it," Twyla says.

"There's been a lot of hours in the background spent on it.”