www.guardianonline.co.nz
dVds P10 DVDs Free
THe Voice oF Mid canTerBury 24/7
cycling around new zealand P14 www.guardianONLINE.co.nz
Guardian
Ashburton
Thursday, April 25, 2013
FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 1879
Home delivered from
90c Casual $1.20
Local RSA leads charge for change By Sue Newman Grizzled faces, handles of beer and curling smoke, that might have been the image of the RSA of old, but not today, the Returned Services’ Association has reinvented itself. And leading the charge to change has been the Ashburton branch. Pop in for a pint and you’re as likely to be sharing a table and a yarn with someone under 40 as you are to be sitting elbow to elbow with a service or returned service person. Change had everything to do with survival of an organisation that was in danger of signing out more members than it signed on says Ashburton’s president Malcolm Hanson. The number of World War Two vets is counted in falling numbers and while service people from other wars – Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia – do join up, without a new approach the association would eventually have disappeared. Many years ago a decision was made to open membership up to service people who may not have seen active duty; years later the RSA opted to open its membership doors to all comers – providing they were approved by a membership committee. Ashburton was quick to take that option on board. Most new members are people in their 40s and 50s, Mr Hanson said. “They see it as alternative social
club. They seem to like our atmosphere and our good behaviour. It’s a place you can go to where you know people will behave well.” Today the membership divides itself into members and associate members, the difference is whether or not you’ve been involved in any section of the armed forces. That aside, all members are equal. Being an early embracer of the option to open up its membership is what has made Ashburton the strong branch it is today, Mr Hanson said. While RSA branches in many parts of New Zealand are watching their membership numbers fall, Ashburton’s membership now tops 1150. The strength of opening up its membership to nonservice people is clear in the membership category breakdown – 121 returned service personnel, 178 service personnel and the remainder, almost 900, are associate members. “For many of our members we’re like a working men’s club but we retain the ethos of the organisation – people helping people.” The RSA was formed in New Zealand in 1916 by returning Anzacs during World War One to provide support and comfort for service men and women and their families. Today across New Zealand’s 120 branches there are 120,000 members of whom 70,000 are associates who have no military service. The male dominance of the past has also gone, with women making up about one-third of the current membership.
photo tetsuro mitomo 240413-tm-026
Graham Grenfell, Gerald Andrew and Ian Baumber enjoy a quiet drink last night at the RSA.
Stage 1 – now selling
49 sections priced from $167,500 to $220,000. These sections are in demand with over half already sold
Provisonal member of RVA.
Annette Cunningham and her Anzac Day birthday baby April Millichamp.
Photo Kirsty Clay 230413-kc-179
Extra special day for April’s birthday By Michelle Nelson Today April Millichamp will be probably more interested in the fact it’s her first birthday,
rather than the auspicious day it falls upon. But Anzac Day is likely to become more significant, as she celebrates each passing year. Together with older sis-
ter Alycia, and her parents Paul Millichamp and Annette Cunningham, April will attend her first Anzac service. The occasion also has special meaning because Ms
Cunningham served in the Royal New Zealand Navy, based at HMNZS Philomel in Auckland. “I really enjoyed it, I spent quite a lot of time training at
sea on HMNZS Te Kaha – it was a good life,” she said. “I make an effort to get to an Anzac service every year – but I didn’t get there last year for obvious reasons!”
Govt to review rules around criminal histories The Government will review rules around disclosure of criminal histories following the revelation that Jade Bayliss’ murderer had killed before. Justice Minister Judith Collins yesterday acknowledged gaps in the sharing of information between New Zealand and Australia, and the possibility that privacy laws prevented information being passed on. Ms Collins said the exchange of information was complicated by each Australian territory and state having its own jurisdiction, privacy laws and police force but said something needed to be done. Her comments came after it emerged police had been unable to tell Jade’s mother Tina that her daughter’s murderer, Jeremy McLaughlin, had been convicted of killing 14-year-old Phillip Vidot in Perth in 1995. He bashed the teenager with
POLL QUESTION
?
Should a defendant’s previous convictions be disclosed when they appear in court?
Visit The voice of Mid Canterbury 24/7
www.
Jade Bayliss a cricket bat, while a mate ran him over. Details of that crime could only be reported on Wednesday after he was convicted of murdering 13-year-old Jade. New Zealand Police were told
ONLINE.co.nz
to have your say.
about the earlier crime when McLaughlin was deported in 2001. But Jade’s family didn’t know, despite Tina approaching police with concerns about McLaughlin’s behaviour days before Jade was killed. Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald, Canterbury Police criminal investigations manager, said their hands were tied.
“If a person has legitimately completed their sentence served in another country and been released, New Zealand authorities have no legal mandate to impose further conditions upon their release,” he said. “Under New Zealand law there are constraints on what police can disclose to other parties about a person’s previous criminal history.” McLaughlin was originally charged with Phillip Vidot’s murder, but in 1997 a jury acquitted him and co-accused Craig Brian Wood and instead found them guilty of manslaughter, sparking national outrage. McLaughlin, then 19, was sentenced to 12 years in jail but served only four before being deported. New Zealand Police were advised of his deportation through the NZ Police Liaison Office in Sydney, who had been
Build your dream home in the semi-rural area of Racecourse Road, Ashburton. Large majority of stage 1 sold out. For those interested in purchasing – lodge your interest quickly. Lochlea Estate is a new subdivision, situated just a few minutes’ drive from the Ashburton town centre. These sections offer a unique ambience of tranquillity and privacy with amazing views of the Southern Alps.
Construction of the Lochlea Lifestyle Resort has commenced which is adjacent to the Lochlea Estate. The Lifestyle Resort will provide a range of indoor and outdoor activities and both Duplex and Stand-alone Villas and Aged Care Units. A fully equipped hospital is also planned. This will be Ashburton’s first complete lifestyle resort – covering each stage of the rest of your life.
Phone 03 307 9080 Free phone 0800-2727-837 - After hours: 03-302-6887 - Email: tony@lochlearesort.co.nz
Tony Sands, Resort Manager
advised by Australian immigration authorities. Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Dunn of Interpol New Zealand refused to comment on the specifics of McLaughlin’s case but said in general terms the more information that could be shared between countries, the easier it would be to minimise the risk of reoffending. Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said Jade’s death should be a catalyst for change and New Zealand needed a public database of serious criminals. Phillip Vidot’s mother Marriya was relieved to learn of McLaughlin’s guilty verdict. “I am glad the mother of the girl got justice - justice I was never able to get for my Phillip,” she told The West Australian. “He was my first child and my life – the pain will always be with us.” - apnz
Today’s weather
HIGH LOW
19
6