The Best Seat in the House

Paul Beaumont likes to get involved in his local community, and he has long been interested in recycling. Combining the two interests has brought free resources and creative solutions to several groups he works with. 

Paul has been using Waste Exchange for around seven years, ever since his son first heard about it through his work at a local council. Groups that have benefited from Paul’s involvement with Waste Exchange include the Waipara Boys Brigade Camp; the Boys' Brigade 14th Company, Christchurch; the Methodist Campsite "Journeys End" at North Loburn; and the Beckenham Methodist Church. 

A recent find in the listings was old theatre seats. Many years ago Journeys End had received some similar seats from the old Globe Theatre in Barrington, but these had been repaired so often they were now falling to pieces. When Paul saw more seats advertised for free, he knew immediately what to do with them. Paul and helpers picked up about 70 of the seats. These were cut and welded into blocks of four, and feet were attached to them. Some were put in the youth lounge at the church, and some went to the Waipara Boys Brigade. Others are in temporary storage at Journey’s End.

“They are very good because they take up less space then ordinary seats. They are movable, compact, and still very comfortable” says Paul. “We don’t have much funding and we could never have afforded to buy new seats” Paul says. “Some people can’t see the value in second hand material and were doubtful at first, but now that they have seen how the seats can be used, those same people think we should have gotten more of them.”