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Guardian
Ashburton
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 1879
Mayoral election hots up By Susan Sandys It is no longer a one-horse mayoral race in Mid Canterbury, as Ashburton businessman Russell Ellis throws his hat into the ring. The 51-year-old announced his intentions at a 10am media briefing, organised by a supporter, at the Ashburton clock tower yesterday. He read from a prepared statement in front of four media representatives, before answering questions. “I have chosen this location next to our iconic town clock for the reason that I believe that it is time for change,” Mr Ellis said. “It’s time to listen and make decisions after talking with the public, not before. It’s time for more openness. Don’t make the hard decisions behind closed doors. It’s time that the affordability of rates is paramount. “It’s time to get the rate payers of Ashburton back on side with council and working together for the greater good of the district. It’s time our roads and footpaths were of a standard that is acceptable.” He believed that, if elected, the mayoral role would be a challenging one, and he would have to do “a pretty big crash course to start with”. But with the support of the many people behind him, he could do it. “There hasn’t been a week go by that someone hasn’t come and asked me to do so (stand for mayor),” Mr Ellis said. Mr Ellis has hit headlines in Mid Canterbury in recent times for his role in the Ashburton Citizens’ Association, of which he is currently vice chairperson. He has been opposed to the town’s art gallery and museum project, but building won’t stop if he becomes mayor. As the project was already underway, he said the priority would now be making it pay its way. This would also be the case for the sports sta-
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dium project. He did however want to put the location of the second Ashburton River bridge back on the table. “I do not believe Chalmers Avenue is the right location, I think we would be wrecking it.” He also wanted to look at the issue of council meetings times, believing a time later in the afternoon could suit working people better. Mr Ellis and wife Jackie are parents to twin 13-year-old boys, and operate Kitchen Express on East Street. Mr Ellis grew up in Ashburton and moved back here about seven years ago, from Nelson where the couple operated a different kitchen franchise, Kitchen Studio. Mr Ellis said he would sell the business and focus completely on being mayor if he won the election. Meanwhile, incumbent Angus McKay had not heard about Mr Ellis throwing his hat into the ring until the Guardian phoned to ask him for comment late yesterday morning. Mr McKay is attending an annual local government conference in Hamilton, with councillor Stuart Wilson and chief executive Brian Lester. “I think it’s good that there’s competition and it will give the voters in Ashburton District a choice,” Mr McKay said. He objected to the “behind closed doors” claim of Mr Ellis. The major issues of the art gallery, bridge and stadium were all on the agenda when he became mayor, and decisions made on the projects since had been made in public, with associated newspaper articles revealing which way individual councillors voted. Nominations for this year’s local body elections open on July 26 and close on August 23. Voting documents will be posted between September 20 and 25 and voting closes at noon on October 12. Young candidates intend to stand, P2
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What will they call the royal baby? NZ first with a 21-gun salute By Kate Shuttleworth
Photo Donna Wylie 230713-DW-032
Rosebank Retirement Village residents Sue McDonnell (left) and Edna McGrath join in on celebrations over the birth of the royal baby.
By Myles Hume Will it be David, or Michael, maybe George or even William? Now we know it’s a boy, the question on everyone’s lips is what William and Kate will decide to call their baby son the Prince of Cambridge and third in line to the thrown – who was born early yesterday. Even residents at Ashburton’s Rosebank Retirement Village have got in on the hype, holding a sweepstake involving more than 70 participants to guess the name that will be given to the world’s most talked about
baby. Diversional therapist Debbie Shore said more than half the names were wiped away after it was announced Kate gave birth to an eight pound six ounce boy yesterday. “A lot of the residents and staff thought it was going to be a girl ... the place has been abuzz after seeing it on the news when it was announced by the town crier,” she said. George, Alexander and William are hot favourites in the retirement home, closely followed by Michael, David and James. However, it could be days before the sweepstake winner claims their prize if recent his-
tory is anything to go by. It took a week before William’s name was revealed and more than a month to announce Charles’. The retirement village was decorated with British flags, red and blue banners and played home to several avid royalists yesterday. No more so than Edna McGrath who had her William and Kate scrap books out on show, and she even brought her $700 Duke and Duchess of Cambridge fine China dolls out of the cupboard. She was happy for the couple, but did not want to hazard a guess at the baby’s name, stat-
ing it was up to Catherine to decide that. Fellow resident Sue McDonnell said she was “excited and very pleased” for the couple, and picked the Prince of Cambridge would be named after his father William. The as-yet unnamed baby is third in line to the throne and in the direct line of succession after Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir Prince Charles, and then his eldest son William. Kate spent 10 hours in labour in the private Lindo Wing of London’s St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, in central London before giving birth at 4.24pm (about dawn NZ time).
New Zealand was one of the first Commonwealth countries to mark the birth of the Royal baby yesterday with a 21-gun salute. The New Zealand Defence Force held the salute at Point Jerningham in Wellington at noon. Troop Commander Lieutenant Michael Doughty said they received word yesterday morning of the birth. “I’ve heard that because of the late timing of her birth last night we’ll likely be the first country in the world to fire a salute,” he said. About 40 members of the public turned out to watch the salute carried out by members of the 16th Field Regiment, an artillery unit based at Linton Military Camp. Roseneath resident Holly O’Rourke, 12, said she was excited by the birth and hoped the couple would call their firstborn Jack. “They’re a nice couple, I made a Facebook video of the gun salute,” she said. Her grandmother, Christina Speirs, preferred the names James or George. “We usually watch the salutes from home because we look over Point Jerningham, but we decided to come down today,” she said. Another resident, Lou Hunt, said she had the day off work after her building needed further structural inspections after Sunday’s earthquake. “I’ve always wanted to see the salute live.” Lieutenant Doughty said the guns were kept at Point Jerningham permanently for salutes. “It’s historically been the location of gun salutes, because it points out into Wellington.” The royal birth had been the talk of the last few weeks, he said. “We are pretty excited about it. It’s always good to see a new baby being born.” - APNZ More royal birth news, P6
Ashburton businessman Russell Ellis announces his intention to stand for mayor.
Coen Lammers editor
business and sports news, and will also carry the revamped version of our current feature sections Simply Living and
Motoring. Our readers tell us they have enjoyed the recipes in the Simply Living section, and along with the improved restaurant guide, we think the Guardian will be an attractive proposition for food lovers. After all, the new format will also include a daily quick recipe in the Your Place section and our general fascination with food is also getting wellserved in the monthly YOU lifestyle magazine. As more families have two working parents and plenty of
after-school commitments, the quick recipe in the morning paper will hopefully give families some inspiration for an easy meal after a long hard day. By next Wednesday we hope you are starting to find your way around your new Guardian and I hope you will let me know what you think. And naturally we are always open to suggestions on how we can improve your paper. Only five more days and you can judge for yourself.
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Photo Kirsty Clay 230713-KC-031
ext Wednesday will be the third day you will find the new-look compact Guardian on your doorstep. By then you will have noticed that the Family Notices have moved to the inside back of the paper where they make up a convenient service information package alongside the television and weather graphic and one page over from a wonderful new puzzles page. The Wednesday edition will still include the traditional dose of local, national, international,
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There will be change, but some things remain the same N days to go
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