Ashburton Guardian, Thursday, December 22, 2022

Santa’s coming soon

‘Word ‘hot’ missing from ‘shit town of the year’ title’

There’s one word missing from the announcement that Ashburton ranks in the five top “Shit towns of the year” for 2022.

It’s the word “hot”. Ashburton’s legendary broadcaster, Pete McQuarters, regards Ashburton as one of New Zealand’s “shithot towns of the year”.

“Our town is transformational in what’s happening here and the organisers of a national online poll have overlooked one word,” McQuarters said. “It’s called ‘hot’.”

Geoff Rissole and Rick Furphy listed Ashburton in fifth place, with Invercargill taking top honours as New Zealand’s worst town, followed by Huntly, Auckland and Christchurch.

McQuarters was born in Ashburton, and then spent many years as a breakfast DJ in Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga and Dunedin, before coming home.

“I lived in all of those places and they all have great things going for them, but there’s no place like coming home to this shit-hot town,” he said.

“I spent last weekend at Queenstown Lakes but it was great returning and seeing the River Crossing development, the transformational look of East Street and how the town is buzzing.”

“There’s hardly a road cone in sight.”

McQuarters firmly believes there’s a “strong feeling that a new era is dawning for Ashburton”.

He said Ashburton doesn’t deserve the reputation a couple of unknowns have given it.

“My advice to those two who’re pathetically looking for attention and getting it, is now go out and look around at what those listed towns, really have to offer.”

“As a new year’s resolution, they should try and focus their attention on more positive things.”

Following Ashburton, Gore took out sixth place, Palmerston North, Dunedin and Wellington all competed strongly for top 10 slots while Hastings, Rotorua and Hamilton battled it out for joint 10th place.

Santa’s right at home during his brief Ashburton visit as he checks out chimneys and listens to what children want for Christmas, although he regrets he’s brought northern hemisphere weather to Mid Canterbury. Yesterday he met the Robinson family from Ashburton (from left) Dominic, 9, Stella, 6 and George, 11. Dominic asked for an Anthony Davis singlet, Stella a playhouse and George, a UE Boom. Santa said he’d talk to his elves.

Malcolm Hopwood

Fire destroys Andrew St home

“I knew about the fire when she (Kingi) came rushing over for help,” Rowse said.

“I feel really sorry for them, they have lost everything.”

A family has been left with nothing days before Christmas, after a devastating house fire.

Robyn Kingi woke up to flames surrounding her when fire took hold of the Andrew Street property just before 9am on Tuesday, with fire crews from Ashburton and Methven responding quickly.

“I’m still just trying to comprehend what has happened,” she said.

At the time of the fire Kingi was the only one home, with her children staying with their dad.

“I’m just glad they didn’t have to experience that,” Kingi said.

She said she does not want to go back to the house yet, as she knows there’s nothing left.

“I think it will just upset me too much going back.”

Neighbour, John Rowse said the fire started at the front of the house, quickly destroying the property.

Rowse’s home was left with some damage to the paint and the windows were cracked due to the heat from the nearby fire.

The family is currently being supported by local welfare services, and is planning to travel to family in Wellington while they work with Kainga Ora to find suitable emergency housing.

“Hopefully we can come back down here soon, once they find us a house,” Kingi said.

She said she has been overwhelmed by the community support.

“It’s been wicked, there have been so many offers for help and clothes, I just don’t know what to say.”

Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Alan Burgess said investigations into the cause of the fire are still ongoing.

Firefighters remained on scene for three to four hours to ensure the roof had been secured and all the hotspots had been taken care of.

Fire crews took care to ensure there were no hotspots left.

PHOTO DANIEL ALVEY

Daniel Alvey

Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Alan Burgess said the crews had a really fast turnout to the fire.

Stronger police presence call

Bowden said businesses can find support through the retail crime prevention programme, which helps fund extra security measures.

A local business is calling for more police support, following a second damaging burglary.

Stirling Sports and Spark were hit by burglars in the early hours of Monday morning.

Stirling Sports store manager Leah Webb said the break-in was frustrating, with the burglars smashing a window to get in.

The criminals got away with a large amount of merchandise.

“It (the merchandise) is really easy for them to sell without getting caught,” Webb said.

This is the second time Stirling Sports has been targeted in four months, with the store being the first Ashburton victim to a ram raid. Since then they have installed bollards out the front, at their own cost.

Now Webb wants to see more police presence in town, something that Ashburton Police acting senior sergeant Janine Bowden said would happen.

“Police continue to support our communities and retailers to feel safe and be safe, and where possible, have increased foot and vehicle patrols,” Bowden said.

Despite that Webb said she hasn’t seen any patrols pass her store.

“Here retailers can access the Retail Crime Prevention Checklist to self-assess their current security measures and look for opportunities to improve them such as solid planter boxes, reinforced doors, security screens, bollards, alarms, and fog cannons.”

Fog cannons did help deter the criminals at Spark, where they used a vehicle to help break in, with them only getting away with a few items following the activation of the fog cannon.

Spark declined to comment on the incident.

The latest criminals are believed to have come down from Christchurch, with police still working to figure out if the two businesses were hit by the same people.

“Police continue to make enquiries into these matters, including working through CCTV footage to determine whether the two burglaries are linked.

“There have been no arrests made at this time.”

Bowden said she understands the distress that business are facing, but wanted to reassure them that they are investigating the incidents.

“We are responding to these incidents with significant investigative action to identify those responsible and prevent revictimisation.”

four

A Song In My Heart

Kathi Craig MNZM presents With

Featuring international tenor, Daniel Rodriguez (America’s Beloved Tenor), Marla Kavanaugh (Carnegie Hall star), Kathi Craig (former Mobil Song Quest winner) and talented local artists.

chilly bin and enjoy an afternoon of popular song, musical theatre and opera favourites.

Gift an experience this Christmas.

Kathi Craig (NZ Opera Singer)

Daniel Rodriguez (International Tenor)

Marla Kavanaugh (Star of Royal Edinburgh Tattoo)

Donation to Heart Foundation

Stirling Sports manager Leah Webb may be smiling, but she is feeling frustrated after a second burglary at the store in

months.

PHOTO DANIEL ALVEY

Daniel Alvey

Methven location for troll movie

“Methven is only an hour from Christchurch and you’re amongst a beautiful landscape of mountains, plains, rivers and a big sky,” he said.

A family movie, to be shot in Methven next month, was inspired by producer, Tony Simpson’s journey across cattle stops and one lane bridges.

When taking his family skiing at Round Hill, he’d tell his daughters the one lane bridges and cattle stops between Round Hill and Tekapo, housed trolls underneath.

The exclamation mark road sign was the international sign for trolls and he had to toot his horn to scare them away before his family could cross safely.

The idea simmered in Tony’s mind and resulted in a family feature movie, entitled Trolgar & Me, about a Norwegian troll who’s banished to New Zealand and found by a young girl in the foothills of the Southern Alps.

“I particularly love family films because of the mix of drama, action and comedy and there’s something wonderful about sharing a movie experience with your kids,” he said.

Tony has made two other family films, Kiwi Flyer, based around the trolley derby in Nelson and Kiwi Christmas, the story of Santa going AWOL in New Zealand.

He chose Methven as the location because, as a young man, it was his skiing base.

“I love the rivers and the mountains and, in this film, the landscape is one of the characters,” he said.

“Methven has this wonderful feeling of small town New Zealand which will appeal to international audiences.”

Simpson said Methven and Canterbury are already on the map. Director, Gillian Ashurst’s first movie, Snakeskin, was filmed around Methven, Z for Zachariah starring Chris Pine was filmed there recently and then there’s Trolgar & Me.

He points out films always need a lot of infrastructure and support, whether it’s accommodation, food, transport, locations and people.

“With Trolgar, we want to draw on as many local people and businesses as possible because that’s important for us,” he said.

“We’ve auditioned lots of locals from Methven and Ashburton to play parts and want to involve as many as possible.”

Shooting will start early next year with a release date at the end of 2023.

Director Gillian Ashurst has always been a big fan of fantasy and myth “and loves the old school animatronic creatures of films like The Dark Crystal and ET”.

“I grew up on these sort of classic family films and have enjoyed sharing them with my own children. I’m really looking forward to bringing our Norwegian troll into the Canterbury landscape.”

Simpson said a crew of about 35 people will shoot the movie, filmed on location in and around Methven, the Rakaia River and Mount Somers with just a few interiors.

Talanoa Fraser from Auckland plays the young girl Maia, her solo dad is played by Ryan O’Kane, grandad played by Norwegian actor, Dennis Storhoi and Trolgar, the troll, built by Weta Workshops, will be played by local actor, Will Hall.

Norwegian troll to bring Mid Canterbury back to the world’s silver screens

plan to help Trolgar leave New Zealand and return safely to Norway while evading the suspicious Mayor.

That was the plot note that caught the eye of Mayor Brown, who said he could assist in finding one.

Mayor Neil Brown may have missed the chance to star in a locally shot film, but he may have other opportunities.

Mid Canterbury is poised to grace the silver screen again and it may be just the start.

ChristchurchNZ has been working with local film studio, Torrent Films, to source locations and land access around Methven to produce a film titled Trolgar & Me.

ChristchruchNZ head of tourism, Kath Low, said Screen Canterbury “have identified Mid Canterbury as being a very rich region of opportunities which will continue beyond this period of time because we have such fantastic spaces and places to shoot”.

Brown said that sounded quite promising.

“We have lovely landscape here.

“Anything that puts us on the map is good and will add to the

vibrancy of Mid Canterbury.”

Trolgar & Me is planned to be a 92-minute production which will be using both animation and real-life actors and scenes, with

production starting next month. It is the first feature film directed by Canterbury filmmaker Gillian Ashurst since Snakeskin was made in 2001 which was also

The

The film’s production team is keen for most of the filming to take place in the wider Methven area and has already contracted Southern Cross Lodge as their full-time accommodation whilst on location for around six weeks.

As well as Snakeskin, the Ashburton District hit the silver screen in Lord of the Rings.

The Z for Zachariah film’s cast and crew spent time in Methven to shoot scenes at nearby Washpen Falls, with the town hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons when film star Chris Pine was caught drink-driving.

a

filmed around Methven.

storyline follows the banished Norwegian troll Trolgar who befriends a 12-year-old girl and her father, who all form

Right – Scoping out a location for Trolgar & Me at the Plains Railway, are (from left), director of photography, David Paul, director, Gillian Ashurst and production designer, Ashley Turner.

Jonathan Leask

Malcolm Hopwood

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown says the district’s landscapes attracting film production is good for the district, like when Mount Sunday featured as Edoras in the Lord of the Rings.

Neil Brown, Mayor

Learning new plays to keep our district scoring goals

I’m borrowing a sporting commentator’s famous cliché when I say that 2022 has been a game of two halves - the first half was dominated by covid in our community and the second by big plays to return to normal.

We are almost there … a bit of extra time is needed.

I’d like to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to our whole community for staying strong, but especially to the essential workers who kept the wheels of our district going, whether they came to work every day to a supermarket, petrol station, a farm, a medical centre or hospital.

It was not an easy first six months of the year, but light was on the horizon. We welcomed a return to maskless interactions and it was great to see people smiling again. We also held Local Body Elections, which saw the retirement of four councillors who

had devoted many years to local government. I thank them also.

The new crew is settling in for a productive term and as local body politicians they are about to become very acquainted with the controversial Three Waters legislation making its way through Parliament, and the two new pieces of legislation that will replace the Resource Management Act.

We recently re-affirmed our opposition to the Three Waters reforms, as they are currently proposed.

Water services are not one size fits all and as a council we are worried our voice, and needs, will be lost in an entity that will cover nearly all of the South Island. This is not fair to our ratepayers, who have invested many millions over the decades to keep three waters infrastructure in this district in good shape. We already have safe and affordable drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services and have longterm plans to

Smartphone struggles?

If Santa is kind enough to leave a smartphone in your stocking this Christmas, you may find yourself with questions about how to use it.

The Ashburton Public Library is offering Introduction to Smart Phones courses over January as part of their Free Digital Training programme.

The two-hour course will take attendees through the basics of how to use their new devices and has no restrictions on age, however bookings are essential.

The course will run four times in January,

with afternoon sessions on 4, 11 and 25 January between 1pm to 3pm and an evening class on 18 January between 6pm and 8pm. Bookings can be made by visiting the library, calling 03 308 7192 or emailing library@adc.govt.nz.

The library has an extensive range of digital training courses planned for the new year, including topics such as Applying for Jobs Online, Digital Apps for Seniors and Creating a Website or Blog using Wordpress.

Find out more at ashburtondc.govt.nz/ library

ensure it stays that way. No-one disputes the need for investment in some parts of the country, but there must be a better way to achieve it.

But my Christmas message should not be hijacked by politics.

I also want to celebrate some transport projects that we have partnered with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to help deliver. The new Walnut Avenue traffic lights are up and running, with no orange road cones in sight and few complaints.

We hope that the next project, traffic lights on State Highway 1 at the corner of Agnes Street and Lagmhor Road in Tinwald, also delivers on design and expectations.

Another future project, of course, is the second bridge, which we expect to see on the 2024-27 national land transport programme of work. A focus for council next year will be finding

funds for the work, which better connects Ashburton and Tinwald, and the whole South Island, and takes pressure off the highway and its increasing volumes of traffic.

There will likely be a fair bit of negotiation between us, the regional and national land transport committees, Waka Kotahi and Government … and all in the same year as a General Election.

So, whichever road you are travelling on this summer, take care and come back safe.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Recycle like a champion over the festive season

Council is encouraging households to be lean, green recycling machines over the Christmas and New Year period, when volumes of rubbish and recycling typically increase.

Glass bottles and jars should be rinsed clean and put in the green crate, while the yellow-lidded wheelie bin is for recycling that includes hard plastics 1, 2 and 5, cardboard and paper (but not shredded paper). Soft plastics cannot be recycled in your yellow bin.

The wheelie bin with the red lid is for rubbish and items that can’t be recycled as part of the kerbside collection.

Infrastructure and Open Spaces Group Manager Neil McCann said the volume of contamination in kerbside recycling has been creeping up, with bin auditors doing their best to educate some households.

“If your recycling bin wasn’t emptied, then it’s because the audit team found items that can’t be recycled. First offenders are left educational material, but repeat offenders go on our watch list and could even lose their bins.

“Just think before you bin or recycle it. We

are all trying to do our best to recycle what we can, ultimately to do our bit saving the planet but also to reduce the cost of transporting our rubbish to landfill.”

Some common problems seen at Christmas included foil and plastic wrapping paper, ribbons, bows and tinsel being put out for recycling. “These can't be recycled, nor can things like Christmas hams or leftover food, which we regularly find in recycling bins at Christmas.”

Year-round, the most frequent recycling issues are pizza boxes with leftover food in them, and lids. “Neither of these can be recycled in kerbside collections."

Go to binitright.nz for more information.

Happy Holidays

RUBBISH AND RECYCLING

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR

Councillors paid a visit to Ashburton’s historic rail footbridge last week, to see first-hand how the 105-year-old structure is faring.

They will discuss a conservation management plan for the bridge early next year and consider how restoration work could be funded.

A possible source of funding is KiwiRail, which supports a rail heritage trust that could help cover some of the work; the trust encourages people to preserve and restore New Zealand’s rail buildings and equipment.

The 25m bridge crosses the main South Island railway tracks at Wills Street and was built in 1917 as part of the railway station complex. The station was demolished in 2013.

It features a bowstring design and is the only one of its type in its original location serving its original purpose. Over the years, only one of the original access ramps has been removed.

Infrastructure and Open Spaces Group Manager Neil McCann said a report about the restoration and funding options was being prepared and it was good for Councillors to see the footbridge up close.

“It has a special place in Ashburton’s history but is in need of some attention. That work has to be carried out in a way that preserves its heritage status.”

Heritage New Zealand lists the bridge as a category II historic place, and Council lists it as a category A heritage item in the District Plan.

The main trunk line reached Ashburton in 1874, but a proper station was only built 40

years later. A wooden footbridge was built in 1911 to connect Cameron Street, and the new iron Wills Street footbridge at Wills Street built in 1917.

The popularity of rail began to decline in the 1970s and the station was eventually closed and sold to private owners. ONTRACK, who owned the railway at the time, gifted the footbridge to Council in the mid-2000s.

There is no change to kerbside rubbish and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, because they fall on a weekend. Please have your bins out on your usual day by 7.30am; please use your windstrap, no matter the weather.

The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park will be closed Sunday 25 December, Monday 26 December, Tuesday 27 December, and Sunday 1 January and Monday 2 January. Usual hours 8am6pm weekdays, 9am-6pm Saturdays, 9am-5pm Sundays.

The Rakaia Resource Recovery Park will be closed Monday 26 December and Monday 2 January.

The Methven Green waste facility will be closed Sunday 25 December and Sunday 1 January.

TRIENNIAL MEETINGS

Rakaia Memorial Hall - Wednesday 1 February, 7pm in the hall supper room

Councillors and senior Council staff on the heritage footbridge they will be discussing next year.

A much safer passage

Methven residents now have safer access to amenities in the northern corner of the township.

The construction of an unsealed footpath along State Highway 77 to the Ōpuke Thermal Pools, the Methven Racecourse and the Methven Walkway has been completed.

“Overall, the job was carried out quickly and the end result is a safer way to walk to the hot pools and the Methven walkway, both of which are attracting quite a lot of visitors,” Ashburton District Council infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said.

The project was funded from the overall unsubsidised roading budget McCann said that was made available in a budget reshuffle in June, with the unsealed path in Methven costing $43,612 plus GST.

The start of the project was delayed to ensure the alignment of the footpath was on the boundary side of the swale, but it has still been completed on schedule.

McCann said a meeting to confirm the alignment was held on November 16, and the shingle path was completed by December 16.

Methven-based Staples and Kidd were subcontracted to trim the hedge back at the start of December before Fulton Hogan laid the pathway.

To complete the project, new grass will be sown between the path and SH77.

The stretch of road will become even safer with Waka Kotahi proposing, in its Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan, to reduce the speed limit along the stretch of road from 100kph down to 80kph.

Both the Methven Community Board and the council have requested in their submissions that the speed be reduced to 50kph from Racecourse Road to the Methven Walkway.

The council also suggested reducing the current speed of 100kph down to 80kph from the Methven Walkway up to where SH77 detours along Waimarama Road to increase safety for people travelling to Mt Hutt.

Across town, a new footpath on Mack-

ie Street will be delayed.

A planned water main upgrade on Mackie Street is being brought forward to early 2023 and the footpath construction will be completed afterwards, before the end of the 2022/23 year.

Good progress on wastewater project

The North West Ashburton wastewater project is moving into its final stage with the traffic restrictions on Carters and Farm roads removed this week.

Contractors have dug up roads and laid new wastewater pipes on Farm, Carters and Allens Road (from Carters Road to Racecourse Road) over the past four months, with the roads resealed and set to be fully reopened by Friday.

Ashburton District Council infrastructure and open spaces group manager, Neil McCann, said the project is ahead of schedule, thanks to extra crews provided by the contractor Tru-Line Civil and some good weather.

“When work on the project restarts in February, they’ll be laying new pipe on Allens Road, between Mill Creek and Middle Road.

“Then construction of the pump station adjacent to Mill Creek will start in the middle of March.

“The installation of 60 metres of a storage tank on Allens Road between Carters Road and Mill Creek will be the final stage of the project and we expect that to happen from March until about mid-April.”

Allens Road will again be closed to general traffic while that work is under way, he said, with access for residents only.

McCann said the work has gone smoothly to date and the contractors were doing their best to minimise the impact on residents.

Traffic management signs will go up in affected areas when the project resumes in February.

“At the end of the day, all the important infrastructure will be underground and the new sewer system will cater to the new homes and subdivisions that are emerging on the north-west side of town.

“People can flush their toilets and send the wastewater directly to the sewer mains.

“It also provides an opportunity for any existing homeowners with septic tanks to hook up to the wastewater network,” McCann said.

The project involves laying a total of 2km of new pipes and building a pump station, at a cost of around $3.285 million.

Movie donations boost foodbank stocks

The Salvation Army’s Ashburton foodbank has received six cartons of donated food items collected at the Ashburton District Council’s Family Movie Night on Saturday.

The free screening of Home Alone at the Ashburton Domain had many of the 800 in attendance bring an item for the foodbank.

The 277 food items including cans of food, pasta and other non-perishable goods, and $55.50 also donated at the movie night.

Salvation Army’s community services member, Catherine Harris, said the Christmas hampers contained items for breakfast, lunch, and tea on Christmas Day.

All the food had been donated by local people, businesses and organisations.

“Ashburton is amazing in

that regard, our community is quite generous. We want those who get our Christmas hampers to have at least one special meal.”

She said some families needed extra help at this time of the year because they suddenly had extras in their household, and Covid was still taking a toll on other households.

People can get in touch with the Salvation Army on their own behalf if they need help, or be referred by others.

When people come in to collect their hamper, they are also invited to choose an item from gifts that have been donated.

The family movie night was part of the council’s Nights of Lights Christmas Festival and chief executive Hamish Riach said it was great to be able to support the foodbank at its busiest time of the year.

Right – Ashburton District Council’s Sarah Davidson (left) and Hokonui’s Sarah Scrimshaw (right) hand over food items donated at the movie night to Catherine Harris of the Salvation Army. PHOTO SUPPLIED

The after: The new unsealed pathway along State Highway 77 providing safer pathway from Methven up to the Methven Walkway. PHOTO MATT MARKHAM

Jonathan Leask

“Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air”

The before: People were forced to walk along the road edge of a 100kph zone.

RantorRave

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What does Mid Canterbury need out of the next 12 months?

It’s nice to be organised and have everything sorted out –this time of year, especially.

Is there enough meat for Christmas lunch?

Have we still got a tent up in the roof for when we go camping?

And who’s going to look after the dog?

There’s also the important stuff about what you might want to see unfold in the coming 12 months from life.

Resolutions, plans and expectations and all that.

Now this is coming from someone who as they write this hasn’t even started their Christmas shopping yet so take it with a grain of salt.

But it’s good to have a few

irons in the fire and know what you might want to get out of the coming 12 months ahead.

Obviously because I don’t know what colour socks to get my father for Christmas this year yet, I’ve got no idea what I’d like to see personally, but there’s a few things I think Mid Canterbury needs.

So, I’ve settled on three of them.

1. For the road travelled to be less bumpy . . .

Goes without saying, doesn’t it? It’s a well known fact our roading network, while large, is for the most a little shoddy and in need of repair.

Constant rain hasn’t helped the cause, in fact it’s fed fractures in our roads which have then become potholes, and if you’ve managed to hit one at speed, it’s not a nice feeling for you or your car.

It’s a big job, there’s a lot to be fixed.

But perhaps instead of slapping a sticking plaster on those potholes, we instead take the more permanent approach and try and ensure it’s not back in existence within a week of repair. 2. A little more acknowledgement . . .

This one might be a little controversial and given the fact it’s an election year it will probably eventuate by natural necessity, but wouldn’t it be nice to see a little more prominence in our neck of the woods from our elected MP.

Scroll through the list of things Jo Luxton has been doing over the past 12 months, and you’d find the majority are South Canterbury based.

There’s the odd little bit of praise or acknowledgement of the other part of the Rangitata electorate, but it’s minimal and we actually deserve better.

Don’t forget about us, Jo! 3. Like a bridge over troubled waters . . .

Enough talking, enough de-

bating – just give us our second bridge.

The installation of new lights and roading layouts around town has done nothing to stem the frustration of the 5pm gridlock through both the Tinwald corridor and from the Racecourse into the domain.

There’s been a lot of work done to get the bridge proposal to where it is now, but let’s see some action from those in the fancy suits up the road who make the decisions, even if it is likely they’ve never actually driven through Ashburton.

Give those three things to the district I love, and I’ll be happy in 2023.

It’s not like I’m asking too much!

Matt Markham

whatson@theguardian.co.nz

Every day

Mt Hutt Memorial Hall

10am, 160 Main Street, Methven. NZ Alpine and Agriculture Encounter, Art Gallery and Hall of Memories.

Ashburton Aviation Musuem 1-3pm, Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

Weekdays

Mid Canterbury Connector

Provides low-cost return trips to Ashburton, Mondays to Fridays, any time between 9am and 4.30pm.

Ashburton Aviation Museum 1-3pm. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

Mondays

Age Concern Ashburton Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am.

Ashburton Bridge Club 1.05pm, Bridge Club Rooms, 79 Alford Forest Road.

Ashburton Community Walking Group Mondays and Fridays at 10.30am. Walnut Avenue Pavilion.

Ashburton Pipe Band practice Pipe Band rooms, Every Monday, 7.30pm onwards.

MSA Dance Section Monday 4.00pm to 6.00pm. All welcome at the MSA Havelock St.

Thursdays

Ashburton Bridge Club Every Thursday, 7.05pm, Bridge Club rooms, 79 Alford Forest Road.

Ashburton Menz Shed 9am-2pm at 8 William Street.

Age Concern Ashburton Ladies exercise class at 9.30am at Ashburton Seniors Centre at 206 Cameron Street.

Mid Canterbury Badminton Club 9.30am-11am at EA Networks Sports Centre. MSA Tai Chi Classes at 11am. Cost $3 per session at the MSA on Havelock Street.

Age Concern Ashburton Steady as you Go Gentle Falls Prevention Exercises. All levels of ability are welcome. $2 per 1hr session.

Ashburton St Stephen’s Church, Park Street at 1pm.

Ashburton Buffalo Lodge Rooms, Cox Street at 1pm.

Fridays

Ashburton Community Walking Group Walking for about 30-40 minutes on Mondays and Fridays at 10.30am. Meet Walnut Avenue Pavilion.

St Stephen’s Anglican Church

What’s on Where

Seniors Coffee Club, 2nd and 4th of the month at 10.30am, St Stephen’s Parish Centre, Park St.

Ashburton Justice of the Peace JP available for all signing services from 12-2pm. No appointment necessary. No fee. Community House. 44 Cass Street.

Pickleball Ashburton EA Networks Centre from 6-8pm. Paddles provided.

Saturdays

Ashburton Farmers Market

Saturday mornings, 9am-12.30pm, north end West Street car park. Plants, hot and cold food, vegetables.

Ashburton Aviation Museum

Ashburton Airport from 10am - 3pm.

Ashburton Woodworkers Clubrooms at Plains Museum site 1pm-4pm.

Seventh-Day Adventist Church 10am, Weekly worship & Bible Study. 11am, Sabbath singing & Sermon.

At Grace Presbyterian Church building, 63 Princes St. Ashburton. All welcome!

Vintage Car Club

86 Maronan Road, Tinwald

The Museum and Parts Shed will be OPEN on Saturdays during the month of November, Time: 10.00am to 12 noon.

Waireka Croquet Club

AC Singles or Doubles. Draw 9.45 and 12.45, GC Draw 1.15 pm Doubles. New players welcome, mallets available.

Sundays

Ashburton Anglican Parish

Sunday - St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Park St, 10 am. Holy Communion

Sunday - St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Thomson St. 10 am. Holy Communion, 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Sunday December 25, 9.30am - Christmas Day Service. Service led by Rev. Eric Mattock. All welcome. Sinclair Centre, Park Street.

Grace Presbyterian Church 10am at 63 Princes Street.

Hakatere Presbyterian Parish

We have several combined services in December/January and this is the service schedule –

Saturday December 24, 7pm – Christmas Eve service at Lagmhor Church.

Sunday December 25, 9am – Christmas Day service at 65 Oxford Street.

Sunday January 1 – joining in a Combined Service at 10am at St Andrews, Park Street.

Sunday January 8 – Combined service - 10am at 65 Oxford Street – led by Rev. Johanna Warren.

Sunday January 15 – joining in a Combined

Canterbury Plains

Service at 10am at Baring Square Methodist Church.

Sunday January 22 – Combined service - 10am at 65 Oxford Street – led by Rev. Johanna Warren.

Sunday January 29 – joining in a Combined Service at 10am at St Andrews, Park Street.

Each week from Sunday February 5 – Morning Worship at 10am. All welcome. 65 Oxford Street.

St Paul’s Church, Mid Canterbury CCAANZ

Chertsey Community Hall, Chertsey Line Road, Chertsey, 10am Sunday. Communion 1st and 3rd Sundays. “Knowing Jesus and making Jesus known”.

Pickleball Ashburton

Sunday is organised competition day at EA Networks Stadium from 5-7pm. Prior registration through our facebook page is required. Some courts are available for social play.

Every Monday and Saturday

Allenton Assn Croquet Club Venue Allenton Sports Club. Monday, Saturday. Start every week Monday September 19 until March 27 2023. Starting time 1.15pm.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Methven Croquet Club

We play croquet every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1.30pm at the Methven Domain. All welcome to come along.

Every Tuesday and Friday Methven Museum – Christmas Display 60 Main St, Methven. Open Tuesday and Friday 2-4pm. Believe it or not an orange was once a treat as were nuts. Many families could only afford these treats if they saved up all year. Come to the museum and see what gifts were given at Christmas of yesteryear, and what decorations were put up in the home. There are puzzles for the children to do and the history of Methven is on display. Admission is free but donations are welcome.

Every Thursday and Saturday Ashburton Toy Library Open every Thursday and Saturday from 9.30am-12.30pm, plus every alternate Tuesday 3.30pm-5pm at 106 Victoria Street.

Every Wednesday, Saturday Allenton Golf Croquet Club

Wednesdays & Saturdays. Start every week from Wednesday September 21 2022 until March 29 2023, starting time 9.45am.

Last Sunday of every month Nor’Westers Muso’s Club

All are welcome, as is any style of music. 2pm - 6pm at Feeneys Lounge, Devon Tavern.

First Sunday of every month Methven Market

MAX 18 MIN 9 MAX 21 MIN 12

Thursday: Mostly cloudy. Isolated showers north of Waipara, more frequent north of Cheviot. Northeasterlies.

Thursday

Mountain weather hazard: Wind Chill.

At Methven Resort, from 9am to 1pm.

Third Monday of every month

The Ashburton Electronic Organ & Keyboard Club meets on the third Monday of every month (except December/January) at Seniors Centre, 206 Cameron Street at 7.30pm

Second Fri of every month

In Colour, art and craft club

Bring along your art and craft projects to share with others over morning tea once a month. 10.30am - 12 noon.

Second and fourth Friday of every month

St Stephen’s Anglican Church

Seniors Coffee Club 10.30am on Park Street.

Monthly

Ashburton Embroiderers’ Guild

Meet Seniors Centre, 206 Cameron Street

first Saturday of the month 10.30am-3.30pm, second Thursday of the month 1pm-3.30pm, third Tuesday of the month -9pm, and the fourth Thursday of the month 10.30am-3.30pm.

December events

St David’s Union Church

Saturday 24th December 8pm. St David’s Union Church. Greenstreet Christmas Eve Service. Staveley Road, Ashburton

Saturday 24th December, 11pm. St David’s Union Church. Christmas Eve Supper follow by Christmas Eve Worship. 48 Allens Road.

Sunday 25th December 9.30am. St David’s Union Church. Christmas Morning Worship. 48 Allens Road, Ashburton.

St Paul’s Church, Mid Canterbury CCAANZ

Chertsey Community Hall, Chertsey Line Road, Chertsey. Christmas Eve 8pm. Christmas Day 10am.

Waireka Croquet Club

Philip Street. Tuesdays, Waireka Croquet Club GC Draw 9.45am and 1.15 Singles.

Vintage Car Club

PLEASE NOTE Send all details to: whatson@ theguardian.co.nz IMPORTANT: If you’re running a regular event, we only need to hear from you when you have CHANGES to this regular event.

A low pressure system covers Aotearoa New Zealand for the next few days and is expected to move away to the east on Saturday, followed by a weak ridge for Christmas Day.

Friday: Partly cloudy, with showers in the afternoon, mainly inland towards the foothills. Light winds, becoming easterlies for a time in the afternoon and evening.

Saturday: Partly cloudy, with showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds, becoming easterlies for a time in the afternoon and evening.

Around The Region

Cloudy with occasional rain over the Hurunui District, easing to isolated showers in the evening. Partly cloudy elsewhere with a possible afternoon shower.

Wind at 1000m: E 30 km/h north of Arthur’s Pass, dying out in the morning. Otherwise light winds. Wind at 2000m: NE 30 km/h dying out in the morning, then light winds. Freezing level: 2300m at first, rising to 2700m in the afternoon.

Friday Mountain weather hazard: Thunderstorm. Isolated showers developing in the morning, more widespread and heavy in the afternoon and early evening with the chance of thunder. Wind at 1000m: Light. Wind at 2000m: Light. Freezing level: About 2700m.

15.5 8.8 –

E 35 2:54pm

H 3:10am 3:34pm

L 9:25am 9:41pm

H 3:05am 3:24pm L 9:22am 9:38pm

H 2:54am 3:18pm L 9:09am 9:25pm

NE 35 3:44pm

4:04am 4:24pm 10:17am 10:34pm

3:59am 4:19pm 10:18am 10:35pm

3:48am 4:08pm 10:01am 10:18pm

18.7 11.9 11.3 65.2 0.0 0.0 131.1

E 33 3:33pm Tue

4:57am 5:17pm 11:11am 11:31pm

4:55am 5:15pm 11:14am 11:32pm

4:41am 5:01pm 10:55am 11:15pm

5:45am 9:18pm 5:45am 9:19pm 5:46am 9:19pm

4:04am 8:11pm 4:49am 9:28pm 5:49am 10:33pm

18.0 11.6 –82.6 2.8 ––SUN PROTECTION ALERT Data provided by NIWA PROTECTION REQUIRED Whatever your skin colour – 9:05 5:50 ampm

Summer potato salad

■ Place the potatoes in a large pot of cold salted water, bring to a boil over medium to high heat then reduce to low and simmer until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15 minutes.

■ Drain and let cool for 10 minutes.

■ Cook eggs to just under hard boiled (approx 5 minutes). Let cool; peel, quarter and set aside.

C chopped dill

C mayonnaise 2 dill pickles, thinly sliced 1 T pickled jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional) 1 T pickled jalapeno peppers liquid (optional) 4 t salt Pinch black pepper, cracked

■ In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, heat oil and melt butter. Add onions and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden brown, about 15 minutes.

■ Transfer onions to a plate and let cool slightly.

■ In a large bowl, stir together dill, mayonnaise, pickles, pickled jalapenos, pickled jalapeno liquid, and salt. Gently fold in potatoes, onions and eggs. ■ Season to taste with black pepper, to serve.

Tucked away on Ferrier Place you will find this charming property with established trees, shrubs and roses, the garden is a true delight to wander around.

The property has a double car garage and off-street parking. The backyard is suitable for family and pets to enjoy and is partly fenced. Open plan living room with

sliding door onto a sunny verandah for you to enjoy the quiet peaceful surroundings and overlook the gardens. Three good size double bedrooms and one bathroom. The open plan living room is a good size for entertaining family and friends. This property has been enjoyed and well loved by its current owner.

29 Burrowes Road, RAKAIA

A relocated home is ready for new owners. A fabulous opportunity to buy a four bedroom home, three doubles, one single, all with built-in wardrobes. Open plan modern kitchen/living area, double glazing and panel heaters, one bathroom, separate toilet, laundry positioned behind cupboard doors. Single car garage, with off-street parking and easy care gardens. This home is positioned for the sun with a good size back yard.

By Negotiation Web ID RUE3532975

Fabulous Opportunity

17 Brucefield Avenue, NETHERBY

Fabulous location, walking distance to local shops, schools, Ashburton Domain. This wee beauty is waiting for new owners with three double bedrooms, open plan new kitchen and living room heated with a log burner plus an outdoor covered area to relax in. Separate toilet, new bathroom and separate laundry room. Partially fenced, single carport and plenty of off-street parking.

By Negotiation Web ID AUE3529744

Tucked Away

21C Nelson Street, HAMPSTEAD

Beautifully presented townhouse, spacious open plan kitchen, dining and living space which flows out to the private patio and easy care yard. Three bedrooms, all with built in wardrobes. A jack 'n' jill bathroom opening into the master bedroom plus a separate toilet with hand basin. Double glazing, heat pump, internal access double garage and fully fenced.

Price: $545,000 Web ID AUE3535905

Perfectly Finished

31 Willow Street, HAMPSTEAD

This newly renovated home has been finished to perfection and the neutral colours will appeal to many. Spacious open plan kitchen and living with bifold doors opening onto a sunny deck that flows onto the private and safe backyard. Just a two minute walk to the Beach Road shops and close to schools and preschools. Enquire today to view this wee gem.

Offers Over: $395,000 Web ID AUE3524159

Room For Everyone

A Piece of Paradise

1 Torbay Avenue, HUNTINGDON

Fabulous

Offers Over: $565,000 Web ID AUT3487447

Offers over: $750,000 Web ID AUH3526000

Options Are Endless

Thomson Street,

wardrobes, one single. A must view!

lifestyle living at the lake, this could be perfect for you and your family. Open plan modern kitchen and dining/living room with heat pump and log burner plus a separate lounge to escape to. Four double bedrooms, master with en suite and WIR and sliding doors opening to a lovely patio area. Established gardens, stunning barbecue area plus a work shed!

24 Wakanui Road, HAMPSTEAD Do not miss your opportunity to view this gorgeous family home on an 1868m2

Thinking of Building in Methven?

By Negotiation Web ID MU3549131

Don't Delay This Opportunity

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2023 from the team at McLeod Real Estate Ltd

Search for next star begins for local trainers

ed bonus of having a dual-island stable it’s expected they’ll gain their maiden premiership title over the next 10 days.

Leading Ashburton trainers Brent and Tim White won’t have the services of their stable star for the upcoming summer racing circuits but if what they’re lining up today at Ashburton is an indication of what’s ahead it might not matter.

Open class pacer Cranbourne departed from the stable last week after being sold to overseas interests, leaving a big hole in the stable as he’d really flown the flag for them over the past few years.

He left as the winner of 12 races from 44 starts and with more than $200,000 in the kitty for his owners.

The search to find the next suitable replacement for the barn kicks into gear today on the home track, with 10 runners engaged during the day’s action.

That includes a three-strong attack in the early maiden pace with enigmatic pacer Lone Wolf joined by Aeronaut and Misskcmack. All three are capable of winning a maiden, but in Lone Wolf’s case is more about whether he wants to as his behaviour has let him down on multiple occasions.

Other big chances for the barn today include maiden trotter Randal Houston P who has a huge motor but an equally as big bag of tricks. Midfrew Luisianabeau in the junior drivers event with Sarah O’Reilly in the bike is also a big contender, while smart mare Shanika gets the ace draw over the 1700m which should play right into her hands.

Rossco Trouble, Sassy Star, Kohli Trouble and Bobbby Waterhouse will also step out for the stable.

Meanwhile, it’s not the final step in the race to the national trainers’ premiership, but today’s Ashburton Trotting Club meeting could play a pivotal role in determining which stable takes honours this season.

Powerhouse harness racing outfits, Stonewall Stud and All Stars Racing are locked in fierce battle to become the No.1 stable in the country by the time the season ends next week – just onewin stands between them currently with Stonewall just having their noses in front.

And with sheer weight in numbers on their side, plus the add-

Between today and Boxing Day, they’ll race horses at Ashburton, Addington, Cambridge, Winton and even Westport while the All Stars will have four runners engaged at Addington tomorrow night to try and boost their tally.

Today’s team at Ashburton is just two runners, but both look strong chances of success. Show Me Heaven takes on a good field in the junior drivers race early in the programme, but her recent form has been behind some very nice types and she should find today’s assignment a lot easier.

Former Ashburton-based junior driver, Mikayla Lewis will take the reins. Lewis recently returned from a stint in Australia alongside her partner, Nathan Purdon.

Later in the day Group One winning driver, Carter Dalgety will get on board another handy Stonewall mare in Cloudy Bay, who drops seriously in grade having raced Terry and Heisenberg at Addington last week, where she finished third.

Tomorrow night Stonewall are down to just one runner at Addington in promising maiden Tuapeka Lou while the All Stars team will line up Oscar Bonavena, Shan Noble, the unbeaten Lumen Caeli and also Samhara.

BEST BET: Krug (Race 7) VALUE: Lawyer Girl (Race 3)

Brent White, who trains with son Tim in partnership, will line up 10 runners at today’s Ashburton Trotting Club meeting. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Meadows retained as senior netball coach

Seniors Netball tournament, Mid Canterbury Netball went to work and helped to organise a smaller scale tournament at the EA Networks Centre later in the season to ensure that the Hanan Shield wasn’t the only matches for this year’s side.

Ferns finally at full strength

RNZ

The Silver Ferns will finally have a full strength squad for the first time since March last year, when they compete in the Quad series early next year.

New Zealand selectors have named 14 players to travel to Cape Town next month for the series against Australia, England, and hosts South Africa.

The Silver Ferns are set to gain 165 test caps with defenders Jane Watson and Karin Burger, and midcourters Gina Crampton and Claire Kersten named in the team for next month’s series.

A foot fracture cruelly ruled Burger out of Commonwealth Games, just weeks out from Birmingham.

Watson hasn’t played for the Silver Ferns since last year’s Constellation Cup in March after requiring ankle surgery at the end of last year’s ANZ premiership season, before announcing she was pregnant.

The influential defender had her first child in May this year.

Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio returned to the side in September for the Taini Jamison series against Jamaica, after having her second child.

Gina Crampton, the vice captain, has returned from a sabbatical following July’s Commonwealth Games.

Sulu Fitzpatrick, Watson, and Shannon Saunders, who is expecting her first child, are still part of the senior leadership group.

number of shooters, with the quartet unchanged from the last two series.

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua said she was delighted to welcome back the experienced heads, with Watson, Burger, and Crampton all Netball World Cup winners in 2019, and was excited to see what they would bring to the Silver Ferns mix after some time away.

Cindy Meadows will again be at the helm of the Mid Canterbury senior netball side in 2023.

Off the back of a hugely successful debut season as coach of the side which claimed the Hanan Shield and also went unbeaten through a second tournament organised locally, Meadows was this week announced by Mid Canterbury Netball as having been given the green light to continue her work.

She along with her band of helpers and assistants helped Mid Canterbury reclaim the Hanan Shield earlier in the year by beating both South Canterbury and North Otago in Waimate.

With the cancellation of the South Island

They went through that tournament undefeated as well to cap a great season on the court.

As well as announcing the reappointment of Meadows as head coach of the senior side, Mid Canterbury Netball also confirmed that Claire Tappin will remain as coach of the Under 18 team, and Margaret Butler will be in charge of the Under 16A side.

Tappin helped Mid Canterbury return to the National Under 18 tournament this year after a number of years of not entering a team.

The search is still on for an Under 16B coach and anyone interested is encouraged to email info@mcnetball to express their interest in the role.

There’s no room for wing defence/ goal defence slide Kayla Johnson, or circle defender Elle Temu, who got her debut against Jamaica in September.

The big mover is Claire Kersten, who hasn’t been seen since January’s Quad Series.

With the return of Crampton and Kerston to the midcourt there was no room for Maddy Gordon, Kimiora Poi, or Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, who were all part of the recent Constellation Cup.

Wing attack Peta Toeava has also secured her spot in the side after making an impact during October’s Constellation Cup.

Once again the Silver Ferns’ selectors have gone with the bare minimum

“We cannot underestimate the amount of netball nous and leadership that returns to the court with these players ... that big-game experience becomes crucial, and I can see the work they have done behind the scenes has supported their desire to be back in the Silver Ferns environment.

“They haven’t relied on the past, they earned their selection.”

The Quad Series will be a crucial step as the side builds up to next year’s Netball World Cup in July, also in South Africa.

The series will take place between the January 21-26, 2023.

Silver Ferns Team

Shooters: Grace Nweke, Maia Wilson, Ameliaranne Ekenasio (captain), Te Paea Selby-Rickit

Midcourters: Gina Crampton, Peta Toeava, Whitney Souness, Claire Kersten, Kate Heffernan

Defenders: Kelly Jury, Phoenix Karaka, Karin Burger, Jane Watson, Sulu Fitzpatrick.

Venus returns to ASB Classic

RNZ

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams has been given a wildcard entry into next month’s ASB Classic in Auckland.

The 42-year-old, who retired from regular tournament play in 2021, has a wildcard to compete in the Australian Open, and accordingly sought a spot in the ASB Classic as a lead-in to the grand slam event.

Williams is a popular figure at the ASB Tennis Arena, having played in the tournament on five occasions, with one of her 49 career victories coming in Auckland in 2015 over Caroline Wozniacki.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have one of the greatest players returning to the ASB Classic,” said Tournament Director, Nicolas Lamperin.

“Venus is not just one of the best players in the history of the sport, but she loves it here in New Zealand.

“When her agent contacted us, we were more than pleased to offer her a wildcard into the ASB Classic.

“She loves it here in New Zealand and Auckland in particular, and the fans here love her.”

Williams said she had no hesitation to ask for a spot in the Auckland event.

“I’m looking forward to playing my first tournament of the season in Auckland.

“The tournament and fans al-

ways make me feel welcome and I’m excited to compete there in January,” said Williams.

Williams adds to three other Grand Slam champions in the field comprising US Open champions Emma Raducanu and

Stephens and Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.

She first competed at the ASB Classic in 2014, losing the final to the-then world No. 2 Ana Ivanovic, before winning the following year.

Williams competed in 2016 and 2017 before making the quarterfinals in her last appearance in 2019.

Williams won Wimbledon five times and the US Open twice, as well as making the finals of the other two Grand Slams at Roland Garros and the Australian Open and she reached the No.1 spot in the world rankings.

At the height of her reign, she made it to at least the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam for 14 straight years.

The ASB Classic women’s competition begins on January 2, with qualifying on December 30 and 31, with organisers reporting that several days of the two week ASB Classic already full booked.

Cindy Meadows will continue in her role as Mid Canterbury netball coach.

Sloane

Matt Markham

Dame Noeline Taurua

Allenton Bowling Club

The last Friday triples for 2022 was held with 22 team competing, the rain, that was a concern in the morning disappeared, turning the afternoon into being extremely hot and muggy, challenging for everyone.

The Christmas spirit remained, with everyone coming in for a refreshing drink accompanied by chips and dip.

Our thanks go to our sponsor Skip to It for your support. The drawing of the Christmas raffle kept every one hopeful, however only seven lucky people went home with the spoils. 1st Bish, 2nd Graeme Dowie, 3rd Lois Alexander 4th Dan, 5th Fungi, 6th Pete Whinham, 7th Trish Clarke. Thank you to all who supported the Raffle.

The Ladies Christmas luncheon took place last Tuesday, 22 girls on the bus with Bernie, off to the Tin Shed for a look, Country Café for a coffee, a look around the Geraldine shops then out to the Café at Orari for our very nice lunch and a game of mini golf. A very enjoyable day.

The green remains busy most evenings with Championship games drawing to finals time, we now have appointed two club Coaches, mainly to help the under five players, however everyone can get help if they wish to make contact.

Our Sevens girls played the Strong Elmwood team in the rain, and were beaten in the singles and Pairs, so the fours called their game off with the conditions being so dismal and no win achievable. Good effort ladies.

Merry Christmas to all our members, Sponsors and friends. See you in the New Year.

Ashburton Bowling Club

The Bowman Cup - Ladies Fours (sponsor Property Brokers) was played on Monday, November 28, on a glorious day, especially made for bowling!

The first four successful teams were as follows: 1st Di Vanderweg, Moray Lloyd, Helen Boag, Sandy Lysagh – 3w, 19e, 38 pts, 2nd Rose Johnson, Linda Osborne, Wendy Blackwell, Donalda Watson – 2w, 1d, 16e, 26 pts, 3rd Faye McKnight, Melva Middleton, Jan Suttie, Anne Reid – 2w, 16e, 32 pts, 4th Jenny Hamilton, Wendy Suttie, Bev Skurr, Avis Gill – 2w, 15e, 34 pts.

Well done to all those successful teams, but also to all those taking part. Without that participation competitions just cannot happen.  Thank you to all participants on the day. And huge thanks to the organisers, green keepers, and helpers et al. The outcome was a great success!

The Club’s Inhouse Dorothy Cup (Sponsors Time for Diamonds) was played on the 15th December, on a lovely warm evening.  The successful teams were: 1st D Kinvig and R Keeling with 2 wins, 15 ends. 2nd M Anderson and W  Herriott with 2 wins, 12 ends. 3rd K Walker and S Maw with 2 wins, 11 ends. Well played to all!

Ashburton Club Bowlers featured well in the Friday Triples at Allenton on the 16th December. Those successful were: 1st D Kinvig, D Prendergast, P Quinn with 3 wins, 3rd R McGarry, L Spargo, H Goodall with 2.5 wins, 4th M Hill, P Collins, T Pearce with 2.5 wins. Well done all!

Apologies for the recent break in com-

munications, will do better!

A Very Happy and Healthy Christmas everyone!

Ashburton Golf Club

A beautiful Saturday saw a big field turn up at the Brandon. The course has playing wonderfully, and if you did not shoot better than your handicap then it was certainly a case of operator error.

One player who seems to have the ball on a string at the moment is Chris Lovelock. Chris is loving the long running fairways and slick greens. He shot a gross 75 on Saturday off a 12 handicap to grab himself 45 points, which put him in a good position for the Property Brokers qualifying. Well done Chris.

Three players shot 42 points, top work by Henry Lawrence, Roger Lasson and Sheryl Reid. Then we had Matt Fallaver, Captain Tom and Jaeyong Jang on 41.

After 2 qualifying rounds of the Property Brokers Shootout, I reckon three players have booked themselves finals berths already. Tommy B and Ollie Davo sit first and second on 78 points with Shane Beaven third on 76. Usually those scores have got you through, but we do have quite a few players with a 40+ point rounds without a second score yet.

So far 69 players have put themselves into the shootout qualifying, which, I believe is already a record number and with four more rounds to go, over the next four Saturdays, you can still pop along and try to get into the final. Good luck.

Matt will be down this Saturday, Christmas eve, so usual starting and results, but it may be a bit more haphazard on New Years eve! It just adds to the excitement.

Captain Tom and a group of hardy golfers are doing the longest day golf

SPORTS RESULTS

Ashburton Golf Club

Radius Care Winner over the field: Chris Lovelock 75-12-63 45pts. 2nd Henry Lawrence 42pts. 3rd Roger Lassen 42pts.

challenge today (Thursday). Teeing off around 6am, aiming to complete four rounds of 18 holes by 6.45pm-ish. Pop along, cheer them on or play a few holes as well. There is lots of information on the website.

They are playing “donation” golf, with all money raised going to the Cancer Society. The club house will be open from lunchtime, there is a big raffle going on. It should be a great day raising money for a great cause.

Ok that will do for now. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, and if I am not too inebriated, I will attempt to do a blurb for next week, but it is the Jolly boys annual Christmas trip to Weedons next Tuesday. What could go wrong? Good golfing.

Ashburton MSA Petanque Club

Congratulations to Adelys and Lani Taraunu, and Stephen Fitzgerald who have been chosen for the NZ Team, and will play against Australia in March 2023. Unfortunately three other members missed out on this occasion but what a

fine achievement to have six of our 64 members in the running.

The year finished two Sundays ago with several games and an afternoon tea. The Un Deux Trois Trophy was won by Bruno Falco, 2nd was Richard Browne and Suzanne Watson 3rd.

We have had a busy and successful year with several of our members achieving good results throughout the country. A few of us ventured out of our comfort zones and travelled to Dunedin, Oamaru and Christchurch to participate in various tournaments having some success and fun in doing so

In 2023 we are starting play again on January 10 and games will be played off at 1.15pm each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Please be there by 1pm for the usual preparation. We look forward to welcoming new members to our club, you are welcome to join us on any of the Club Days above, try something new for the New Year.

Thank you to all of the Committee and members who make our club such a friendly place to be. Merry Christmas to you all.

Lynnford Rural Women

November’s guest speaker was Jackie Girvan, Chairman of the Ashburton Housing and Support Trust, presented the meeting with an update of the new units being built in Mona Square to replace the old ones built in the 1950s that were in need for extensive upgrading.

Jackie had the plans with her for our perusal and are nice new warm modern units. There has been very good community support with accessing materials for the build.

The Trust, which was formed in 2018, has 9 units at Cameron Courts on Elizabeth Street and with the 17 in Mona Square, the trust is on the way to help with the housing shortage for Ashburton 60 plus residents.

There is a waiting list and a means test to qualify for these units.

The units will be finished in June 2023 and the residents will shift in when all are finished and landscaped, ready for occupation. The Trust will then look at further opportunities to continue with building more units to add to their portfolio.

Following the meeting Ailsa Hyde, the new Mid Canterbury Provincial President introduced herself to the members.

As a 16-year-old, Ailsa came to Auckland, New Zealand from Indonesia with her engineering parents, before coming to Methven where she lives with her partner on a small seed farm. Ailsa had a craft shop in Tinwald which she then shifted to Tancred Street in the town

centre before closing it.

Our Christmas meeting saw twelve members gather at Lake Hood Restaurant for luncheon, which was briefly delayed by a power cut. A reminder was given of the 90th Birthday celebration of the Mid canterbury Provincial on 9th December at the Hotel Ashburton. Baking for Hospice on December 12 9am-11 am. “Ethel and Bethel” was a success for Life Education Trust and enjoyed by all who attended.

Mid Canterbury Central Friendship Club

December 2022 Meeting

President Merv welcomed 50 members and 2 visitors to the meeting and received 11 apologies.

Our mini speaker was John Humm, who was born in Kaikoura and went to primary school up there before going to Waitaki Boys High School in 1960 for 2 years. He then worked on his parents dairy farm before moving to Rangiora then on to Highbank. One of his jobs was bag sowing on a Sunshine header which was quite a skill. He joined his parents when they bought a farm at Mt Somers and in 1965 he married Clare and they lived in an old house on the farm. As a sideline he became a game buyer for Allied Packers and bought deer from the local hunters. He was paid 2c/lb and had to transport the carcases to Christchurch. The biggest carcass weighed 420lb. A profitable sideline.

In 1977 the farm was split between his brother and him when their parents retired He made many of the farm implements. Years later he sold the farm and bought a boat charter business in the Marlborough Sounds at Havelock. The boat was licensed for 40 passengers and he had lots of fishing charters as well as private trips including overnight trips.

His wife Clare also had a job as the Harbour Master at Havelock for 25 years Eventually they sold the business but kept the boat, and Clare resigned from her job as well. Later in life Clare developed alzheimers and John had his health problems as well. They now live in Ashburton and are closer to family members.

After adjourning for morning tea and coffee (which included Christmas cake) we were entertained by Manny Sim and his guitar.

He sang a variety of old popular songs that many of us hummed to including a selection of Christmas tunes. Manny was thanked by president Merv. He then also thanked the members for attending and wished us all well for the festive season.

Hacketeers

Any Holes a Goal 27.31, Read Rebels 27.40. Mixed: Gabites Swingers 28.06, TGIF 28.10, Vintage Wine 29.06.

Nearest the Pins: Mac & Maggies Jeanette Montgomery, Paul May Motor Pam Feutz Chevalier Farm Ltd – Warren Reid, Karen McRae Property Brokers Longest

Putt: Lindsay Stoddart, Murray Young Property Brokers Longest Putt: Tod Lassen.

December 17. Competition: 2nd Round of the Property Brokers Shoot-out Qualifier.

Other good scores; Sheryl Reid 42pts, Matt Fallaver 41pts, Tom Blacklow 41pts, Jaeyong Jang 41pts, Rob McMillan 40pts, Vince Carr 40pts, Oliver Davidson 40pts, Tufuga Sa 39pts, Shane Beaven 39pts, David Rush 39pts, Terry Molloy 38pts, Jason Overend 38pts, Hilary Lovett 38pts & Gavin Douglas 38pts.

Twos: Ron Carlson, Vince Carr, Gaby Jansen & Ray Lambert.

Nearest The Pins: Hole 4# South Island Seed and Processing Co: Paul Greer, Hole 8#. 3 Stooges (Brown Bombers): Ron Carlson, Hole 12#: Value Plus: Pauline Bell, Hole 14#: Ashburton Mitre 10: Charlie Alexander, Hole 6# 2nd Shot: Hamish Niles Shout! Peter Walker, Hole 9#: Ton’s Thai: Dave Robertson.

Birdie Jackpot: No #13. Nett Eagle

Jackpot: No #6. Tinwald Tavern Bonus Prize: Alan White.

Ashburton Golf Club’s club captain, Tom Blacklow, is leading the charge of a group of hardy souls who will today tackle 72 holes of golf to help fundraise for the Cancer Society.

Ashburton Housing and Support Trust chairperson, Jackie Girvan.

Carry out order to put one to 7 Across (7)

Alarmist loses a version of it created by wind (7)

(4)

Term of endearment may mean nothing to one serving (4)

Ruin act by ringing it down in tatters (7)

Those who use the roads as clubs (7)

Drive out as previous partner quietly goes to the Spanish (5)

Worshipped one at part when fifty changed side (8)

Do one to 7 Across as champion racehorse turned up (6)

One thinks they have done what they shouldn’t have (8)

Very keen to help lead violin with entrance (4)

Last part is certain not to have begun to stick it out (6)

Place of amusement deserved only by the brave, they say (4)

Unsullied by speed after Charles the First (6)

A flaw that involves Labour leader one may turn aside (7)

Cut short suitable part of wretched dog (7)

Curves no different if one lays them bare (8)

Dock me for having treated it with derision (6)

Came down on this sort of gentry in the past (6)

Felt a variety of needs initiated by the South (6)

Fit for use as brief epitaph on grave finally (4)

Some old battleaxe, as presented by one who charges (4)

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): You lost something irreplaceable; knowing this is a sign that you’re living right. To recognise and celebrate the specialness of things while you have them, knowing that someday you will mourn, is to live fully.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): You’ll be pitching and persuading. The best presentations are the ones no one asked you to make. Ideas drop in from on high, and the impulse to follow through comes straight from your heart.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): You know when you’re onto a good idea and you don’t need anyone else to affirm it. In fact, any opposition you hear will only serve to steel your resolve.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): You’re working for smiles today. There is one person in particular whose happiness will have you sweating. All hard work pays off.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): The only part of this you have complete responsibility for. Taking care of yourself is taking care of those around you. Self-love is one of the most essential things you can do to put love into the world.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): You’re supportive, but you don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of. You keep them alert to your gifts. Otherwise, they will get spoiled and be robbed of the pleasure of fully experiencing what you do.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): As you serve the needs of others, keep in mind people who have no sensor to tell them when they’ve crossed a line or are being greedy. Draw and enforce the boundaries they cannot intuit.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): People tell you their life stories. It has to do with something happening on the subconscious level. You naturally orientate yourself toward others, and they open up to you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): You practice and you get better, though it doesn’t always feel that way. Every mistake, obstacle and problem improves you. Eventually, you’ll reach a point of diminishing returns, but you haven’t reached it yet.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Love makes you happier and better behaved. You find deep wells of patience and compassion for the world because you have found them first for the one you adore.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): People who want your contributions may not be able to repay you. Consider all aspects of the deal before you get into it; you can save yourself from future regret or resentment.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): The spiritual aspects of love reign supreme. What happens on the spiritual level will guide all other aspects. The logic of scientists or the reason of scholars cannot predict the heart’s path.

CHURCH SERVICES

Hakatere Presbyterian Church

Christmas Services

December 24

7 pm Family Carol Service Lagmhor Church, Jacksons Road

December 25

9am Family Service 65 Oxford Street

Enquiries:

Phone 3070 200

HIRE

GENERAL hire.

Lawnmowers, chainsaws, concrete breakers, trailers, and more. All your DIY / party hire, call and see Ashburton U-Hire. 588 East Street.

Open Monday-Friday 7.00am – 5.30pm; Saturday 7.30am - 5pm; Sunday 8.30am12.30pm - Phone 308 8061.

www.ashburtonuhire.co.nz

MOTORING

WHEEL alignments at great prices. Maximise the life of your tyres with an alignment from Neumanns Tyre Services Ltd, 197 Wills Street. Phone 308 6737.

CHURCH SERVICES

St David’s Church in Allenton

warmly welcome you to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus with us.

Christmas Eve Service 8pm Greenstreet Church, Staveley Road 11.15pm St David’s Union Church Candlelight Service Christmas Day 9.30am Everyone Welcome

St David’s Union Church 48 Allens Road, Allenton. Ph 308 5174

How to send family notices

Family notices are important to everyone and among the most well-read aspects of our newspaper.

If you would like a family notice published, be that for a death, a memorial, or an acknowledgment, then please note the following:

Email all notices (not just for deaths) to: deathnotices@ theguardian.co.nz

Information required: Please provide your full name and phone contact details.

DEATHS

SMITH, Mary Florence (née Ambler) –Passed away peacefully in the care of Rosebank Lifecare, Ashburton, on Monday, December 19, 2022, in her 91st year. Dearly loved wife of the late Ken Smith. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Jillian and Peter George, Christine and the late Dougal Moore, Richard Smith and Louise Green. Treasured Nana and Nana Mary of Nicholas, Cheyenne, Jayden, William and Charlotte; Hamish, Courtney and Harry; James, Laura, Jack, Annabel and Daisy; Tori, Jamie, Jakob, Liam and Zac; Jaclyn, Jonny and Olivia; Sam; Matt and Esther; and Maddie and Kate. Thank you to the staff at Rosebank for the loving care they have given Mary over the past 4 years. Messages to the Smith family, PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. Mary will be farewelled by her family this week. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held in late January at a date to be advised.

Merry Christmas all!

We are now closed until 9am on the 9th of January, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. We look forward to bringing you some new and exciting shows in 2023.

The Commitments VS The Blues Brothers

The Commitments VS The Blues

Tribute Show – Capitol City

Saturday 25th February 8pm

All Tickets $55 (fees apply)

Join us as we transport you back to 1991 with a tribute show to THE COMMITIMENTS and then strap yourself into the Blues mobile with Jake and Elwood Blues as they get the band back together and wind the clock back to 1980.

Tutus On Tour – Royal NZ Ballet

Tutus On Tour – Royal NZ Ballet

Saturday 11th March 7pm

Tickets Adults from $35 / Senior from $29.70 / Child from $20 (fees apply)

To begin the Royal NZ Ballet’s 70th birthday year Tutus On Tour 2023 looks affectionately back at the RNZB’s early days. Patricia Barker has carefully curated a collection of works new and old that the dancers can’t wait to perform for you in this one-show-only performance.

David Strassman In The Chocolate Diet

Thursday 16th March 7pm

Tickets VIP $99 / A Reserve $79 / B

Reserve $69 (fees apply)

David Strassman returns to our stage in his uproarious comedy with the one and only Ted E Bare and the evil Chuck Wood in his new show The Chocolate Diet. David’s show is bound to be a truly remarkable performance. If you are 12 – 15 years of age you can come along with an adult, however, if you are under 12 years of age you are unable to attend. MA Rated.

David Strassman In The Chocolate Diet

FinalWhistle

calling time on a week of sport

Racing returns following tragedy

attendance to gather in the birdcage for a minute’s silence.

More than 100 people converged for the poignant moment.

Racing returned to the Ashburton Racecourse yesterday, less than a week following the tragic passing of apprentice jockey, Megan Taylor.

Ashburton Racing Club officials began the day by acknowledging the passing of the popular and talented young jockey by asking all those in

Taylor’s fellow jockeys were joined by trainers, stable hands, owners, tote staff, racing officials and members of the public.

Prior to the minute’s silence, Kaumatua from the Arowhenua marae and a small gathering of industry participants assembled at the point of the fall last Thursday while the ground, and the entire course was blessed.

“It’s still very raw for a lot of people,”

Racetrack support chaplain, Andrew McKerrow said.

“There will be a bit of time before everything feels normal for them again.”

Taylor will be farewelled today at the Riccarton Racecourse at 2pm, with a large crowd expected to pay their respects to the 26-year-old.

Her boss, former Ashburton-based trainer, Andrew Carston spoke on social media yesterday for the first time ahead of the meeting.

“It’s going to be a tough day for all after the tragic accident of losing Meg-

an here,” he said. “Megan was a massive part of our team and we all loved working with her. Her infectious laugh and smile will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.”

Carston pledged all of his training percentages from yesterday’s meeting from his big team of horse to the trust fund set up following Taylor’s death.

Racing resumed at 1.30pm for a big card of action, with the John Blackadder trained Ears Back clearing away from his rivals over the concluding stages to register and impressive victory.

Matt Markham

Ears Back, with his ears back, wins the first race of the day at Ashburton yesterday.