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Friday, November 2, 2012
FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 1879
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Principals fear Milking it for real in the pub unstable pupils By Sue Newman
By Myles Hume Mid Canterbury principals fear their staff and pupils could be in danger as children with extreme behavioural issues may be integrated into Ashburton classrooms next year. It comes as the Ministry of Education confirmed yesterday the closure of McKenzie Residential School, in Christchurch, and Salisbury Residential School, in Nelson, as of January 27, potentially planting children who may be violent, emotionally disturbed and criminally minded back in to mainstream schools. The children with severe behavioural issues would then be assisted by a wrap-around service which Mid Canterbury principals are “unsure” about. Alternatively, the pupils could be transferred to Halswell or Westbridge Residential Schools, which are the two remaining special schools in the country. But Mid Canterbury principals don’t believe their teachers have the capability to deal with “extreme behaviour”, and remain cautious
about how the wrap-around system of putting more support staff into schools could work. Ashburton Borough principal Sam Winterbourn, who taught for 30 years at McKenzie School, said he was “appalled” by the Government’s decision. “These teachers are not prepared to handle children like this,” he said. Mr Winterbourn said these pupils were at the residential schools for a reason and children were sent there when all avenues had been explored to keep them in mainstream education. Allenton School principal Graham Smith said he had dealt with three children with severe behavioural issues in his career, he said teachers had learned about this kind of behaviour but did not have the experience to handle it. “We are going to have teachers and teacher aides who are going to be in the front line. “They need 24-hour assistance and they only come to school for six hours and we all know there are more than six hours in a day.” After 365 submissions, Education minister Hekia Parata said it was
“a difficult decision” to close the schools, however it was an opportunity to bring these children closer to home. “We can link local services with the remaining residential provision to achieve more personalised and high quality approach for children and their families.” However, Mr Winterbourne said principals were left in the dark with the wrap-around system which the ministry claims will allow more intensive supervision. “There’s going to be a hiatus between these children coming in and the wrap around service being implemented,” Mr Winterbourn said. “There is no timeline to tell me when this is going to be put in place. “If it’s three years, we have three years with children coming to the point where the school can’t cope any longer.” Hampstead School principal Peter Melrose questioned the Ministry of Education’s decision, saying it was an unproven system. It was now the ministry’s focus to create individual plans for the pupils to be reintegrated into mainstream education for 2013.
Perry proof locals can succeed By Erin Tasker When Tim Perry signed a Super 15 contract with the Blues, he showed young Mid Canterbury players that they didn’t need to leave town to make it to the big time. Mid Canterbury Rugby Union (MCRU) chief executive Ian Patterson said Perry’s success in such a short space of time showed that there was a real pathway for young Mid Canterbury players who remained in the district, but wanted to make it big in New Zealand rugby. All too often, promising young rugby players left the district as teenagers, believing they needed to if they wanted to become an All Black, or play Super Rugby. “This shows that you don’t have to leave town as a 15, 16 or 17-year-old. You can stay in your school or home environment and if you are good enough there’s still the opportunity to crack it,” Mr Patterson said. Perry started his rugby career at the Rakaia Rugby Club in under-8s and played for St Andrew’s College upon going to boarding school in Christchurch as
Tim Perry a teenager, but when he returned to Mid Canterbury he again turned out for Rakaia. His last stint for Rakaia was in 2010, after which he moved to Marlborough with the aim of making the Tasman Makos. Last year he made the Tasman Bs, and this year he became a regular in the number one jersey for the Tasman Makos in the ITM Cup. Mr Patterson said Perry had been in the Mid Canterbury system for some time before his move to Tasman and it was great to see that he’d lived up to the potential he’d always had.
“From a Heartland union’s point of view, not just Mid Canterbury, we can only ever these days see ourselves as a feeder union for the higher levels. So it’s really good from a union’s point of view to have guys that are able to come through with a union like Mid Canterbury and then step up to starter status with an ITM province,” Mr Patterson said. He described Perry as big but mobile, with good skills. He said he was a well-rounded player for the modern game with good technique. “He’s always had a lot of ability but it takes a bit of application to get to that level,” Mr Patterson said. In his last year playing for Rakaia Perry played mainly at number eight, but made the Mid Canterbury squad as a prop and caught peoples’ eye in the Heartland Championship. He made the Heartland Squad and was one of three players nominated for the title player of the year. His potential was clear early on though, as he made the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ team in his last year at St Andrews, in 2006. Perry’s Rakaia feats, P22
When Greg Russell picks up his girls and heads to the Tinwald Tavern on Saturday night he’ll attract more than a few admiring glances. Greg’s girls are easy on the eye. They’re leggy brunettes, beautifully groomed and there’s no other way to say it – they’re busty. But the downside for Greg is that the girls he’ll be toting are working girls who’ll be in the tavern plying their trade rather than dealing in intellectual conversation. The pair will be a star attraction on Saturday night for all the right reasons – they’re the stars in the Tinwald Tavern’s cow milking competition, an event that has the distinction of being the only one of its kind in the world. Cow 800 and cow 918 have been chosen for their roles because of their quiet, easy going dispositions. Out of a herd of hundreds they stood out, owner Greg Russell said. And in the lead up to Saturday’s competition, the pair have been hand milked daily, fed extra rations and before being loaded into the horse float for their trip to town, they’ll be carefully handwashed. They’ll arrive early to settle in before the event starts and Greg will be on hand to make sure they feel comfortable on the job. He’s not worried about the effect on the cows of a pub full of rowdy patrons. “When they’re in the shed here the radio’s up loud so noise won’t be a problem. They might do a bit of kicking when someone tries to milk them but that’s all part of the fun.” The challenge on the night is to draw as much milk from the udder in one minute and the previous challenge’s winner, dairy farm worker Leanne Williamson, will be back to defend her title. Tavern manager Trevor Whiting said about 12 names are in the milking bucket now, with more entries likely to come on the night. It’s a great spectator sport, he said, and one that last time it was held, attracted international interest. “Not everyone manages to get milk out of the cow and unless you know what you’re doing it’s pretty hard. We’ve got the distinction of being the only pub in the world that does this inside,” he said. Anyone who’s been inside a cow shed knows that milk is not the only liquid flowing when a cow is inside, but to protect the tavern carpet tarpaulins will be lining the temporary cow bail. The tavern cow milking starts at 8pm on Saturday and is anticipated to run for about two hours to allow the cows a break between milking attempts. The event was last held two years ago. And when the event’s over and the Photo Kirsty Graham 011112-KG-013 girls have had their moment in the Dairy farmer Greg Russell gives cow 800 a hand milk test drive ahead of Saturday night’s cow milking com- spotlight, it will be back to the farm and back out with the herd again. petition in the Tinwald Tavern.
Today’s weather EST. 1992
it’s our 20th birthday today! HIGH LOW
Rosebank is proud to celebrate 20 years of service to our community, first established on 2nd November 1992. Thank you Mid Canterbury, your support has been greatly appreciated and we look forward to celebrating this very special occassion with residents and staff.
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