The flags were taken by teenagers and it was their fathers who returned them to Mount Mainstreet manager Leanne Brown.
Following recent media coverage regarding the stolen rugby world cup flags the offers of free replacement and installation started rolling in.
Following recent media coverage regarding the stolen rugby world cup flags the offers of free replacement and installation started rolling in.
 |
| Peter Blair, Cherrypickers Services, Leanne Brown, Mount Mainstreet, John Heyworth, Textiles Alive and Tim Wykes from Mackie Signs - the team responsible for restoring Mount Maunganui’s Rugby World Cup flavour. |
Mackie Signs, via their supplier Textiles Alive in Mount Maunganui offered to replace all the flags the minute the news was out!
Leanne Brown said "The opportunity to have them replaced at no cost left everybody speechless and completely overwhelmed with their generosity. Unheard of! I contacted Peter Blair from Cherrypicker Services to discuss more robust and secure methods of installation and he too offered to put them back up at no charge."
All of these businesses wanted to contribute back to the community and restore the festive atmosphere the flags were intended to create.
Another surprise followed Monday morning. The father of one of teenagers who lives out of town nervously returned all of the missing flags and bunting, accompanied by a letter of apology to the Mount business owners. "The young teens decided on a whim to souvenir the flags without considering the consequences", he said. “The whole situation was a moment of teenage stupidity and we are not bad people and feel very bad about what they had done”. The father explained that the boys had university ahead of them and had not considered the consequences of their impulsive actions.
Following media attention the group of boys came forward to their parents. It was an emotional moment and for the father who had the courage to return the flags face to face. Nobody can condone what they did but the kids obviously have values and morals and saw the error of their ways. Guilt is a heavy burden for them to carry and a strong emotion that makes good people react accordingly.
Mackie Signs will provide 12 Country Flags, and Cherrypicker Services with install all 24 most likely tonight (Wednesday, the 21st September 2011). The Police will ensure there is extensive CCTV coverage and monitoring. The flags will remain up until 20th of November when the Christmas decorations will be installed. This will help keep the costs down.
The town will also have countless cruise ship visitors in the next few months, so it will hopefully make all the international visitors feel welcome. The flags will then be donated to schools or appropriate sports or community groups. ‘What comes around goes around in strongly built communities.
Huge thanks to Tim from Mackie Signs, John from Textiles Alive, Peter from Cherrypicker Services, and Senior Sergeant Joel Lamb from NZ Police.
Leanne Brown said "The opportunity to have them replaced at no cost left everybody speechless and completely overwhelmed with their generosity. Unheard of! I contacted Peter Blair from Cherrypicker Services to discuss more robust and secure methods of installation and he too offered to put them back up at no charge."
All of these businesses wanted to contribute back to the community and restore the festive atmosphere the flags were intended to create.
Another surprise followed Monday morning. The father of one of teenagers who lives out of town nervously returned all of the missing flags and bunting, accompanied by a letter of apology to the Mount business owners. "The young teens decided on a whim to souvenir the flags without considering the consequences", he said. “The whole situation was a moment of teenage stupidity and we are not bad people and feel very bad about what they had done”. The father explained that the boys had university ahead of them and had not considered the consequences of their impulsive actions.
Following media attention the group of boys came forward to their parents. It was an emotional moment and for the father who had the courage to return the flags face to face. Nobody can condone what they did but the kids obviously have values and morals and saw the error of their ways. Guilt is a heavy burden for them to carry and a strong emotion that makes good people react accordingly.
Mackie Signs will provide 12 Country Flags, and Cherrypicker Services with install all 24 most likely tonight (Wednesday, the 21st September 2011). The Police will ensure there is extensive CCTV coverage and monitoring. The flags will remain up until 20th of November when the Christmas decorations will be installed. This will help keep the costs down.
The town will also have countless cruise ship visitors in the next few months, so it will hopefully make all the international visitors feel welcome. The flags will then be donated to schools or appropriate sports or community groups. ‘What comes around goes around in strongly built communities.
Huge thanks to Tim from Mackie Signs, John from Textiles Alive, Peter from Cherrypicker Services, and Senior Sergeant Joel Lamb from NZ Police.
Thanks to John Heyworth of Textiles Alive for sending this story to us.
www.textilesalive.co.nz
www.textilesalive.co.nz
