ABOUT
About Albert Town Community Association
The goal of the Albert Town Community Association is to enhance the quality of life for residents by being responsive to the needs, interests, and priorities of the community. It is the function of this organisation to promote the health, safety, common good, and social welfare of the residents of Albert Town.
Albert Town Community Association (ATCA) is an Incorporated Society and follows a recently updated Constitution. The committee meets monthly and holds an AGM in January each year. Each committee member has responsibility for tasks in which they have an interest, such as trapping programmes, historical places. At each meeting, committee members report back on the progress of their projects. The current committee has a broad age range and mix of experience; some have just joined, while others have been serving the Albert Town community for many years.
New members are always welcome. The broad range of interests covered by our committee ensures an excellent spectrum of opinions is representing the general population of Albert Town residents.
ATCA has many stakeholders, including QLDC, Te Kākano, Wānaka Backyard Trapping, Bike Wānaka, Department of Conservation, ORC and Upper Clutha Tracks Trust.
Meet the committee
Lucy Mitchell
Chairperson
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Since moving to Albert Town from Christchurch in 2021, Lucy and her husband Josh and dog Ted have embraced the mountain lifestyle. When she’s not tramping the hills, Lucy is enjoying the Clutha River. Lucy is passionate about environmentalism and social equity, and is an Assistant Research Fellow at Otago Uni researching corporate climate action and Circular Economy.
Amber Perry
Vice Chairperson
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Amber has called Albert Town home for six years, drawn by outdoor adventures and its strong sense of community. Seeing locals and visitors enjoy the area made it feel like home. With a background in marketing, tourism, and event management, she has organised events and initiatives to foster unity, engagement, and positive growth.
Elaine Kelly
Secretary
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Elaine moved to Albert Town in 2022 after spending 27 years in the Middle East. It was there she met her Kiwi husband Gray, who wanted to come home to retire. An avid gardener, Elaine is a committee member of Grow Wānaka and a director at Wānaka Rotary Club. Her passion is hiking and mountain biking and volunteering at Wānaka’s many cultural events.
Julia Greeks
Treasurer
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Julia relocated to Wānaka from Auckland in 2015 with her family before settling in Albert Town five years later, drawn to its quieter pace of life. She has been inspired by the many community organizations dedicated to enhancing the environment and supporting the local community. She now contributes her bookkeeping expertise as the treasurer of the ATCA.
Berit Landgraf
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Berit, or B, as she is known, has been living in Albert town since 2018. With a love for the natural world you find her riding her bike on the local trails, swimming in the river and building soils in her veggies garden. She feels lucky to expand her passion for nature through her work at a local plant nursery where she manages the production of Native plants. Together with her partner they look forward to connecting with the community more.
Bruce Hebbard
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Bruce Hebbard has longstanding family ties to the Upper Clutha region, tracing back to the 1870s, and specifically to Albert Town since 1904. Alongside his sister Alison, Bruce built and operated the Albert Town Tavern for many years. Bruce has been a committee member since 2004 and served as Chairperson from 2013 to 2017, he brings a wealth of experience and community knowledge to the team.
Chris Aspinall
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Chris Aspinall has deep roots in the Upper Clutha and has resided in Albert Town for about 16 years. Following a background in farming and mustering, Chris joined ATCA after the resignation of a former member. In his spare time, Chris enjoys immersing himself in the beauty of nature, capturing landscape photographs, and finding solace in the quiet charm of Albert Town. He is currently semi-retired.
Pavla Mertlik
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Pavla, has called Wanaka home for seven years, drawn to its stunning landscapes and strong community. She applies her creativity to Maher Escorted Tours as a graphic designer and marketing coordinator. An outdoor enthusiast, she loves biking, tramping, skiing, and swimming. Traveling and surfing fuel her adventurous spirit, while pressing flowers and crafting bespoke designs bring a creative touch to her life.
Peter Degerholm
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Peter, a quantity surveyor and construction dispute specialist, has directed Calderglen Associates Ltd for 24 years, working across New Zealand from his Albert Town home office. His career spans senior management, industry advocacy, training, and Standards NZ representation. Since moving from Wellington nine years ago with his wife Caroline, he has embraced the outdoor lifestyle, gardening.
Tania Waghorn
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Tania Waghorn lives in Albert Town with her husband, two children, a cat, and a dog. As an ATCA committee member, Tania appreciates the social aspect and actively contributes to creating a safer and better community for residents.