More than 40 Wānaka Rowing Club (WRC) members and supporters spent Saturday morning (April 30) armed with loppers, slammers, pruners, spades, spider brushes and water blasters.

They were participating in the annual WRC working bee to give the Wānaka Watersports Facility and its surrounds a spruce up before winter.

“There’s no easy way around lupin extraction - but the view is great once they’re gone,” was WRC club captain AJ Humphrey’s takeaway from the busy day. 

The WRC undertakes a working bee each year as part of its commitment to being a good tenant of the Roys Bay facility.

AJ said it was also a way to celebrate the “wonderful space” - and keep it looking that way.

Lucy Maibach, Chloe Murray, and Lola Ritchie helped to give the Wānaka Watersports Facility a thorough clean-down as part of the WRC’s annual working bee.

By far the biggest challenge for the crew was the encroaching lupin bed in front of the  building.  

“Even with the club supplying surely the strongest collection of biceps in the district,  removing the lupins required brute force,” AJ said.

The foreshore around the club is now looking tidy, and the building is sparkling after a thorough soap-up and clean down.

The annual working bee takes place between rowing seasons.

WRC finished the last season strong at the prestigious Maadi Cup event at the end of March. 

See also: ‘Strong results for local rowers at Maadi Cup’ 

WRC will be formally celebrating its season at a prize giving event this month.

Winter training on the water will kick-off again in July.

PHOTOS: Wānaka Rowing Club