Ashburton Guardian, Saturday, December 3, 2022

Planewonderful

Sky high: Andy Love, pictured flying his Pitts Special in a postcard-perfect shot, is one of 16 pilots from Whakatane to Te Anau competing in the South Island Aerobatic Championships in the skies above Ashburton. The championships, which finish today, have attracted aviation lovers from all walks of life, according to Love, who is also the New Zealand Aerobatic Club’s secretary and treasurer. “The competitors and volunteers are airline pilots, aircraft engineers, self-employed business owners, air traffic controllers. They’re all passionate aviators, who all love tipping aircrafts upside down.’’

PHOTO GAVIN CONROY

THE NUMBERS

Ashburton’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.3 per cent, the district’s lowest rate since 2016, according to the latest data release from Infometrics.

Employment grew by 1.8 per cent over the year to September, the district’s strongest growth since 2018, impacted by the opening of the River Crossing precinct.

Mayor taps into funds to help lift employment

“what more could they want?”

Ashburton’s Mayor can’t fathom why the region can’t attract workers.

The Ashburton District is among those facing labour shortages and while Mayor Neil Brown accepts there are hurdles with recruiting migrant workers, he doesn’t understand why the district isn’t attracting more.

Low house prices, rural living, and plenty of amenities –

To help out, the mayor has chipped in with the district set to take part in the Mayor’s Taskforce For Jobs (MTFJ) pilot, which has partnered with the Ministry of Social Development to lead the Rural Community Resilience Programme.

“It’s a good example of local people solving a local problem,” Brown said.

“We have some funds to get young people into employment.”

Brown recently had a conversation with MTFJ staff which got the ball rolling and the council is working through its funding application to MTFJ to support

the work programme.

The programme places NEETS – young people that are not in education, employment, or training, people living with disabilities and other disadvantaged people – into work.

The focus is the 18-25-yearold age bracket where there is “a band of young people that are not in work” and finding them pathways into any type of employment, Brown said.

“Council will work with any business in the Ashburton District that wants to provide employment pathways for young people.”

He also said it’s a case of looking at the barriers and how to as-

sist people in removing them to gain employment, such as getting a driver’s licence in a district with no public transport.

The aim is for at least 12 outcomes, youth gaining employment, with programme support for both employer and employee.

The pilot runs until June and if it can prove successful Brown said it will likely carry on.

Businesses hit by burglar

Daniel Alvey

The burglar stole the Ashburton Event Centre van between 11.30pm and 3am to use as a getaway vehicle.

Ashburton Event Centre general manager Roger Farr said it was disappointing to see the van stolen and used for other crimes.

“We had some lights in the van that we were going to use for the show (Light Up The Night), which I don’t think we will be seeing again.”

The van has since been recovered with some damage to the steering column and is with the police for further investigation.

“I can confirm the vehicle has been recovered after being located by a member of the public around 12.30pm. Police are conducting a forensic examination of the vehicle,” a police spokesperson said.

One of the businesses hit was Newlands Electrical, where the thief used a crowbar to break in and steal several Milwaukee power tool kits at around 3.30am.

“The person was probably in out within about two or three minutes before the security company,” Newlands Electrical sales manager Logan Ford said.

The second business the thief tried to break into was Macpac where he was unsuccessful twice.

Store manager Brian Ketchman said the thief tried twice first at 3.03am and again at 3.24am, both times unsuccessful.

“The first time the person tried with a small crowbar and then came back with a bigger crowbar 20 minutes later,” Ketchman said.

The police said enquires into the burglaries are still ongoing.

Anyone that may have information can contact the Ashburton police.

Several Ashburton businesses have expressed disappointment after a burglar did the rounds in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Jonathan Leask

“Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air”

Seven All Blacks on Seven Sharp

There’s no “rhyme nor reason” why Borough School has produced seven All Blacks, but former Ashburton AB, Jock Ross, is proud “a small provincial school” created some sort of national record.

Jock and former Rakaia All Black, Dennis Cameron, were interviewed by TV One’s Seven Sharp yesterday to find out whether any other primary school in New Zealand could match that record.

“We were just ordinary kids, nothing special, yet we all came from Borough School and became All Blacks,” Jock Ross said.

While he admits he wasn’t strong academically, he said sporting opportunities at Borough “were all there for us”.

“I played rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer, and that gave me a love of sport.”

At the time he didn’t know of Borough’s impressive record, but Bruce McPhail, who played the test series against the British Lions in 1959, carried out research and discovered the rich vein of local ABs.

When he was too unwell to carry on, he passed the torch to Jock Ross to finish the project in time for Borough’s 150th anniversary. Ross has established a billboard of seven photos which are displayed behind the school’s reception desk.

“The record is important because if the photos stimulate one child to pursue a goal and become a top rugby player, then it’s worthwhile,” Ross said.

“I want to see if any other school in New Zealand can match it.

“It’s marvellous a school such as Bor-

ough can produce so many All Blacks,” Dennis Cameron added.

Cameron, despite having asthma and polio as a child, which resulted in one leg being shorter than the other, scored the try of the Lions tour in 1959 when he ran 70 metres to score beside the posts for a combined Mid/South Canterbury and North Otago.

But he had one secret weapon. His father-in-law to be was a boot manufacturer and made special lighter boots for Dennis from kangaroo hide. Dennis welcomed them, as they gave him extra speed on the wing when he played for the combined team and the ABs.

Seven Sharp has scheduled the feature for Monday and reporter, Julian Lee, said he was intrigued by Jock Ross’s assertion that no other primary school in New Zealand could match Borough’s record.

“I’m

he said.

Lee wanted to increase the number to eight ABs because Isaac Ross, Jock’s son, attended Lagmhor School, which is now affiliated with Borough. Like his dad, Isaac was an All Black lock, and played test match rugby earlier this century.

However, the school’s two sites, Borough and Lagmhor, were established after Isaac left primary school and Jock, a stickler for the record, is happy with seven.

hoping to get a response when we show it next week,”

Malcolm Hopwood

Old boys reunite: Former All Blacks (from left) Jock Ross and Dennis Cameron came together for a tv interview with TVNZ Seven Sharp’s Julian Lee.

Below – Ashburton Borough School boasts a long list of All Blacks. Including (top, from left) A C Robilliard, J W Kelly, R M Smith, B E McPhail. Bottom: D H Cameron, J C Ross, A J Thomson.

PHOTOS MALCOLM HOPWOOD

Lights camera action: Dennis Cameron (left) and Jock Ross being interviewed by Julian Lee.

Christmas tinsel for hospice fundraiser

Malcolm Hopwood

It’s not often you get a sneak preview of how Ashburton people decorate their homes to celebrate Christmas.

More than 220 people have the opportunity tomorrow when six private homes will be open for inspection. The owners have agreed to make dedicated areas of their homes available for people to peruse as part of Hospice Mid Canterbury’s major fundraiser for the year.

The home tour fundraiser is the second Hospice Mid Canterbury has held and the first for three years.

“It’s our major source of funding as hospice doesn’t receive any government money,” Barbara Redmond, one of the organisers, said.

“Every dollar raised for Hospice Mid Canterbury stays and supports hospice locally.”

Barbara is overwhelmed that more than 220 people have paid $75 each to join the home tour.

“It’s been an amazing response and reflects the interest in hospice and what it does.

“Some people have offered their homes while others have agreed when we approached them. They

might be nervous but are enthusiastic about the tour and what it will achieve.”

Organiser, Anne Marie Leech, said the funding will go towards the range of services hospice provides. “We arranged it for Christmas so people can be attracted to the way homes are decorated and go away with ideas.”

The tour starts at Hospice Mid Canterbury at 10am tomorrow where participants will pick up a goodie bag and receive the order of homes they’ll visit.

The properties are a mystery until then.

The tour ends with a visit to Trott’s Gardens where the chapel is adorned with Christmas decorations.

Topp Twins concert to be televised

It was a special night for two Kiwi icons, their friends and family and about 2000 people in the audience and now the rest of New Zealand will get the chance to enjoy it as well.

As revealed first in the Ashburton Guardian last month, Topp Class, a special tribute show to the iconic Topp Twins, will air later this month on free-to-air television.

A huge crowd flocked to Auckland’s The Civic at the start of November for the concert which paid homage to the impact the Topp Twins have had on the entertainment industry in New Zealand. The duo is made up of Methven’s Dame Lynda Topp and twin Dame Jools.

The night featured performances from fellow Kiwi stars Anika Moa, Tami Neilson, Hinewhei Mohi, Hollie Smith and Don McGlashan with recent Celebrity Treasure Island contestant Karen O’Leary of Wellington Paranormal fame the evening’s MC.

Topp Class will hit the screens December 13 on Prime and speaking after the performance evening, Dame Lynda said it was a really special moment for her and sister Jools to learn that it would be televised.

“Only 2000 people could be there on the night, but this way everyone else who wanted to see it will be able to do so, which is great,” she said.

Fans will also get to chance to see one of Dame Lynda’s favourite parts of the night, where comedians Chris Parker and Tom Sainsbury dressed up as Camp Mother and Camp Leader.

“They’d asked us to bring our Camp Mother and Camp Leader costumes but took them off us and gave them to wardrobe – we were a bit worried because we hadn’t practised any of those routines.

“But to see Chris and Tom come out and do it was very funny.”

The television special will also be a chance to Kiwis to see both Dame Lynda and Dame Jools perform together for the first time in over three years, with Covid cancelling a number of performances and then their duel cancer diagnosis also impacting on their ability to get on stage.

Lynda and Jools Topp (middle) pictured with their mum, Jean and brother Bruce at the concert held in the twins’ honour last month. It was this week announced the show would be shown on Prime television later this month.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Matt Markham

Only 2000 people could be there on the night, but this way everyone else who wanted to see it will be able to do so, which is great

“

Anne Marie Leech (left) and Barbara Redmond try out their skills at decorating a Christmas tree to represent the decorated homes people will visit tomorrow.

Ruby’s book a popular prize

tend the final in Auckland, which the Black Ferns won by holding out England in the final minute in a thrilling 34-31 victory.

“It was an amazing experience going to the World Cup final, and the atmosphere was great,’’ Georgia said.

Amazing.

That’s how Ashburton’s Georgia Reynolds is feeling after winning a copy of the sought-after book by Black Ferns women’s rugby star Ruby Tui.

The 12-year-old has scored a copy of Tui’s autobiography after winning the Ashburton Guardian competition where we asked people to send in a photo of themselves, or family members, looking like rugby supporters.

We wanted to see their best game face on, or just posing and having fun and showing your support for Tui and the world champion Black Ferns.

And Georgia, just 12, impressed with her passionate game face pose, holding a try sign, a flag and even one of the 30,000 pois that were made for the World Cup and used by fans at games.

The Ashburton Intermediate pupil was also lucky enough to at-

“It was very nerve-wracking in the last five minutes though, especially with that last lineout.”

And Georgia is definitely a true Black Ferns’ supporter.

“I’ve been a fan of the Black Ferns since I can remember,” she said.

“I have always loved watching them play. It’s always exciting and they are such inspirational role models for girls.”

Beyond the world cup final, Georgia even met some of the superstar Black Ferns at a sevens’ practice session in January last year, because her parents are friends with the coach Cory Sweeney.

“And I got my shirt signed by Ruby Tui, Portia Woodman, Kelly Brazier and Stacey Fluhler.

“Then, at the end of their practice, I got to race against Portia, which was a really cool experience.’’

Left

Right – Mackenzie Doyle (7).

Far

Winner, winner: Georgia Reynolds, 12, with the winning photo in the Ruby Tui Black Ferns’ book photo competition.

Daniel Alvey

Above – The Bradley family; (from left) Aaron, Jamie, Mum Emma and Ben.

– The Oates children (from back and left) Jordan, Genna and Keegan.

right – Esther Manoa (6) flanked by Georgie Ponsonby and Amy Rule.

From the outside, it looks like any normal suburban Ashburton house. Tidy and inviting, with the New Zealand flag proudly fluttering high up the pole down the driveway.

But in this Mason Place property in Allenton there’s some weird stuff going on. So weird that owners Brian and Netti Collins – “it’s actually Janette but I’ve always been known as Netti’’ – just can’t explain it.

Because out the back, and into a vegetable garden that anyone would be proud of, you’ll find a parsnip plant that surely must be reaching some sort of bizarre record.

This beauty, which somehow started in a small dirt-filled garden pipe that normally houses flowers, continues to grow and grow, with its strong stem and flowering leaves showing no signs of stopping. Brian’s already had the tape measure out. “It’s one point seven metres tall,’’ he said.

It’s almost taller than Netti. Keep that up and it’ll soon be Jack and the beanstalk-like.

It’s why Netti says their unusual parsnip plant is the talk of their friends and closest neighbours.

“It is a bit fascinating, isn’t it?’’ Netti said.

“Anyone who comes over and has a look goes, ‘wow’.’’

Wow indeed because to add to the mystery, no parsnip seeds were planted and it’s been growing for just over a year.

“We never took much notice of it because we never knew it was going to do that,’’ Netti said.

“But it’s definitely a parsnip. We saw the yellow top of it but then it started doing silly things.’’

And what are they going to do with it once it stops flowering and growing?

“We don’t know what we’ll do with it,’’ said Nette, who’s a bit of character, jokingly explaining that “they call me bossy but don’t put that in’’ before playfully tapping my arm.

“I think we’ll just leave it and see how far it grows.

“It’s certainly not going to be edible.’’

So now they’ve got a parsnip plant poser to consider and with no experience to fall back on because this is new territory for the likeable retired couple, who moved to Ashburton from the West Coast about 18 years ago. They love it here but do miss looking out to the Coast’s often wild but intoxicating sea as part of a nighttime vigil.

Tending to their easy-care vege garden is an important pastime and there’s something for everyone, with carrots, beetroot, onions, cabbages, normal parsnips, spuds and strawberries all on offer. There’s also a blackcurrant bush out the back but that’s been a bit of a flop this season.

In another corner, they’re doing their bit for the RSA by taking part in a spud-in-a-bucket fundraising competition. That’s where you see who can grow the most or biggest spuds using only a bucket of compost, one potato seed and tender loving care. And bingo. Maybe that’s it. Maybe showing some tender loving care has been the unintentional secret to their mighty sprouting parsnip plant.

“Well, to grow that big, it must love us, or love being here,’’ Netti said.

“Really, we have no idea, but it is pretty good.’’

VEGE CHALLENGE

Have

veges

tell

about? Let us know and we’ll share it with our readers.

Note: The world’s biggest parsnip was grown in 2017 by an amateur gardener in the UK. According to Guinness World Records, it measured 655cm (21ft) long. Who can beat that?

Email: editor@theguardian. co.nz

Out of control: Ashburton’s Netti Collins can’t explain the monstrous parsnip plant growing in her vegetable garden. “Anyone who comes over and has a look goes, ‘wow’.’’

PHOTO DARYL HOLDEN

you got massive

to

us

Daryl Holden

An Ashburton author is asking people to “break loose” this Christmas.

Stacey Broadbent, a prolific Mid Canterbury author, will next week launch the second book in her series of romantic suspense, and sometimes steamy, novels about a motorcycle club.

The first book, entitled Cut Loose, was released mid-year and featured Jericho, the club’s tough vice-president, who rescues the woman he loves and sorts his life and direction out.

The second book, Break Loose, focuses on Holden, a colleague of Jericho’s, who relishes his second chance at love with his sister’s best friend, Darcy.

The problem is Darcy is in an abusive relationship, and Holden takes most of the book to

sort her marital issues out.

“People will have to read the whole book to find out what happens,” Broadbent said.

Meanwhile, the motorcycle club members, who claim to be the protectors of the community, go about their business, which is sometimes good, sometimes bad.

“My book is a slow burner, ideal as a Christmas read,” she said.

Broadbent is a fulltime author who devotes up to five hours a day when writing.

Break Loose is her 32nd novel and she has a third in the series, Let Loose, prepared for 2023.

She’s also written a Christmas novella, set in Ashburton, entitled A Christmas Tail.

The book, about a girl who rekindles her love of life and festive spirit, is due to arrive from Australian publishers next week.

Break Loose is available from Amazon and will be launched in Ashburton at Unique Boutique on December 8 in the evening.

Stacey Broadbent’s displays two books in her latest series about the heroes of a motorcycle club.

Malcolm Hopwood

Bad eggs stealing from roadside stalls

“It’s just the principle of it.”

The stall does not make a huge turnover.

Just enough to cover costs, plus a little extra.

“We only make enough to buy animal feed, and occasionally go out for a meal.”

Ashburton roadside stallholders have become increasingly frustrated with people stealing their goods.

Eve Robinson is one of those stallholders, who has been selling bouquets of flowers for a year now outside her Methven Highway property, and she recently added eggs four months ago.

Robinson has become used to thieves helping themselves, but this week she was shocked to find that all the eggs had been stolen, as well as the money box as well as the plank it was screwed to.

“There has been the occasional theft of some eggs or a bunch of flowers, but it has just got really bad in the last month or so,’’ she said.

For Robinson, the product theft was less frustrating than losing the lockbox, which she said only contained about $6 in change.

Robinson has now turned to installing hidden cameras around the roadside stall to deter the thieves, after advice from other stallholders facing similar issues

Robinson said there would be never much gain from stealing from the stall, because there would never be more than $20 in the box.

If it continues, she may have to shut up shop, but that would be a last resort.

“Everyone loves a roadside stall,” Robinson said.

“It would be gutting for the kids, who love going down to check the stall.”

Robinson, who often donates extra eggs to charity, has no problem if people need a few eggs at no cost, as long as they ask.

“I leave my number on the stall.

“All you have to do is ask.” Not

More police to hit the streets

Road safety

If you’re travelling on the roads, please be mindful of the fact that they are already getting noticeably busier, and allow enough time to get safely to your destination.

The beginning of December means a busy time of the year, especially for local businesses and retailers with Christmas shopping and social events leading into the holiday season.

Local police, including Methven and Rakaia, are aiming to be out and about conducting foot patrols in and around shops and restaurants.

We hope our presence and increased visibility will provide reassurance for retailers and the community and have a deterrent effect on criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

I am aware of recent calls to police in relation to behaviour by some young people in and around retail premises in Ashburton, and would like to thank members of the public who have called and provided us with information.

Can I reiterate that 111 is our emergency number and is for an emergency response only.

We are seeing an increase in complaints, such as overtaking on double yellow lines, vehicles weaving within their lane and/or over the centre line and slow-moving vehicles such as caravans and campervans on the State Highway One.

Please be patient on the roads, and ensure that if you are overtaking a slower vehicle making sure there is enough time to complete the manoeuvre safely.

If you’re using a passing lane, which is the best option on a state highway, ensure that you can complete your manoeuvre before the end of the passing lane

For driving complaints that do not require an emergency response there is still the opportunity to report using the *555 number.

happy: Eve Robinson is one of many local stallholders that are fed up with thieves stealing from their sites.

PHOTO DANIEL ALVEY

Daniel Alvey

KELLY WING

CLAIRE BROWNLIE

KATE WARREN

Sergeant Janine Bowden is acting senior sergeant of Ashburton police

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES

Getting a pizza the action

Daryl Holden PIZZA TIME

Let’s be clear about one thing – Johnatello is no more Italian than I am a Hollywood sex symbol.

The man behind the name is actually as English as they come.

He’s football-mad John Peneycad, who hails from London’s east end, but is now making a name for himself in his adopted home in Mid Canterbury as the owner-operator of an innovative mobile woodfire pizza business called Johnatello’s Pizza Inferno.

He operates his movable pizza takeaway joint in Mt Somers on Fridays, the Buffalo Lodge Hall in Cox Street, Ashburton on Saturday and in the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall in Methven on Sunday.

His business’s trading name cleverly plays on the home of pizzas in Italy. But customers fronting up hoping to find an authentic and smooth Italian cooking up a woodfire pizza storm would be out of luck.

“Johnatello’s Pizza Inferno incorporated my name and gave it an Italian twist. Our pizzas are in the style of an authentic Neapolitan in terms of the base,’’ he said.

“Inferno was added to pronounce the woodfire element.’’

Peneycad cranked up his onthe-road operation last year, noticing a gap in the market for woodfire pizzas.

“There were not many options at all to get woodfire pizzas. I thought that was a shame and so took it upon myself to make it happen as anyone who likes pizza should have the chance to really unlock the full potential of what a pizza can deliver.’’

His pizza plan didn’t happen overnight though. He spent over a year investing in equipment, obtaining all the necessary licences and perfecting the dough-making before finally launching in April last year.

And, yes, dough-making isn’t as simple as you might expect, with Peneycad saying there was a science to it and much patience required.

“ We ferment our dough longer to achieve those lovely, complex flavours,’’ he said.

“It’s not something you can easily just pick up from day one. You have to get a feel for the dough and know what works.

“Stretching it is an art that I’m still mastering and there are always new techniques I’m finding, which makes production easier and effective.’’

Getting the right portable woodfire oven was also an obvious biggie for his start-up business.

“For a long time, I scoured the internet to find the perfect woodfire oven for the business,’’ he said.

“Often you will find ones, which are static and very heavy, so it was evident that we needed one to be mobile on wheels and a lighter model to make it easier for transportation long-term.’’

Peneycad eventually found that perfect woodfire oven for about $2000 and it must be delivering, the reaction from customers to his pop-up pizza offerings having been as big a hit as the fabulous flavours themselves.

“We’ve received a fantastic response to our pop-ups,’’ he said.

“Now I’d like to think we can keep this going for many years to come as I am very proud of what we have achieved in such a short space of time. We obviously launched at such a difficult (Covid-19) time, and it hasn’t been easy for a lot of businesses.’’

The pandemic fall-out continues for small operators like Peneycad, who has only recently returned to Mid Canterbury after two months holidaying back home in England, Bulgaria and, of course, Italy for more pizza-making tips.

But since returning to Ashburton, it hasn’t been easy getting ingredients, especially cheeses, as the global supply chain slowdown continues to cause havoc.

He’s now on the lookout for part-time staff to stretch the dough, add toppings and take orders to allow him to focus on the cooking.

Get those things ticked and the future looks rosy, with Peneycad confident Johnatello’s could really flourish beyond its immediate three-town focus.

“ We do have long-term plans to eventually get into the events market and hopefully have a fully customised mobile kitchen with a built-in pizza oven to take on the road and expand into other areas,’’ he said.

“But we do regard Mid Canterbury as our home and we’re extremely grateful for the continued support the community has shown to us.’’

And that’s despite the fact that some of those community supporters may have hoped to pick up an order from a pizza maker perhaps called Luigi and perhaps from Naples or somewhere even mor exotic and Italian.

Nope. It’s just John Peneycad from London at your service, doing his best to bring a taste of Italy to Mid Canterbury.

What: Johnatello’s Pizza Inferno. What is it: A mobile woodfire pizza business.

Run by: John Peneycad. Where and when can you get the pizzas?

Friday – Mt Somers. Saturday –Ashburton.

Sunday – Methven. Times and menu: See Johnatello’s Pizza Inferno’s Facebook page. Phone or text orders: 021 067 3981

Peneycad’s favourite pizza: “Like anyone. I like to change it up from time to time and sometimes a simple margarita really hits the spot. Having said that, my absolute favourite has to be the Mexican Bandit. This is our take on nachos for a pizza. If you like a bit of heat, there’s no substitute. Salsa base, spicy chicken, chilli ground beef with kidney beans, jalapenos, sour cream and cheddar. Even as you slide it into the oven, you can feel the weight to it and it definitely gives that sense of a premium pizza.’’

YOUR BUSINESS STORY

What: Have you got an interesting business story to tell, maybe a new venture that our readers would love to find out about, something innovative perhaps?

Let us know and we could share it with our readers. We’re here to support local businesses.

Email: editor@theguardian.co.nz

Cooking it up: Johnatello’s Pizza Inferno owner-operator John Peneycad. His portable woodfire pizza offerings are proving to be a hit across Mid Canterbury.

PHOTOS DARYL HOLDEN

History mysteries: Can you help?

BY CONNOR LYSAGHT

The Ashburton Museum & Historical Society Inc’s collection of archives, objects, and photographs is constantly growing.

Almost every week, members of the public come to the Ashburton Art Gallery & Museum with the intention of donating precious items such as historical documents, photographs, and historical objects.

Most of the time, the items which are offered to the museum have a clear contemporary or historical connection to the Ashburton District, but sometimes we need to do some detective work to establish a clear link before we can accept items into the collection.

The museum also receives many research requests from members of the public, on average roughly 15 to 30 every month. The topics raised include questions about family history, Guardian photographs, historic events, book research, and more.

On rare occasions, research queries cannot be answered with confidence despite our best efforts, and sometimes we are left stumped as to the Ashburton connection of donated items that were either accepted in the past when they shouldn’t have been, or items that donors believe have a strong Ashburton connection, which they want us to investigate. If you consider yourself a history expert, or a holder of obscure information, keep reading; the museum may need your help!

Lloyd Ansley Tait

Not too long ago, the museum was contacted by Yosef Livne, former Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand, who came to us with an interesting query.

During his stint as ambassador, Yosef was researching past connections between Israelis and Kiwis, specifically during the Second World War, when something interesting caught his eye.

During his research Yosef stumbled across Letters from the Desert, a book compiled from a collection of letters by Mosche Mosenzon, an Israeli who served as a driver in the British Army during World War Two. Several of the letters from this book mentioned a young Kiwi soldier by the name of Tait, whom the author met in the former Emirate of Transjordan.

Yosef found evidence to suggest that this soldier’s full name was Lloyd Ansley Tait. He initially believed that Tait came from Timaru, but after he enquired at the South Canterbury Museum, Yosef found that Tait had come from Ashburton.

Yosef approached our museum with the aim of finding out if there are any living relatives of Lloyd Ansley Tait still left in Ashburton, but after ringing around and asking some of the Taits we know, we were not able to help Yosef with his mission.

Photographs from Mosenzon’s file in the Israel Defence Forces & Defence Establishment Archives include an image captioned “Tate (sic?) in Petra”, which shows a group of soldiers in Jordan during World War Two. We do not know which man in the photograph was Tait.

Yosef has been searching for Lloyd Ansley Tait’s family for several years.

An article was published on Stuff in 2018 regarding this mystery, but so far there have been no useful revelations.

If you or someone you know might have information that can help Yosef, please get in touch with the Ashburton Art Gallery & Museum.

Trip to Taiwan

Recently, a member of the public brought a set of three hand-written diaries to the

museum and the story they tell is rather interesting. However, despite our best efforts, we have not yet been able to link the diaries to Ashburton, or anywhere else for that matter. It is because of this lack of context that these diaries have not yet been formally accepted by the museum, until such a connection can be made.

The diaries tell the story of a New Zealand academic (seemingly a mathematician), who went on a trip to the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the early 1980s.

The writer wrote down their daily activities in great detail,

including the food they ate, their daily routines, and the sights they saw around Taiwan. Unfortunately, they forgot to include some important details: their name, and where they came from!

We have a couple of clues, however. They had a travel companion for a portion of their trip with the initials ‘K.F’, and they mentioned giving several talks at Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

If you have any information that may help with this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Material for this page is coordinated by the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum. Articles from other organisations are welcomed, as is any feedback on what appears.

Email: museum@ adc.govt.nz Mail: PO Box 94, Ashburton 7700 Phone: 307-7890

Copies of the photos on this page are available from the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum.

Archives file of the author of Letters from the Desert. Provided with permission from Yosef Livne.

Above – The mystery diarist’s prolific record of their trip to Taiwan.

from the Israel Defence Forces & Defence Establishment

TAVENDALE AND PARTNERS’ SCAVENGER HUNT

Where & when: Go hunting for clues in the 20 participating Ashburton CBD businesses. It finishes on Wednesday, December 21 at 5pm.

What do you do: Answer the clues in each of the participating businesses. Every five correct answers, gets an entry into the draw to win great prizes. A bonus entry is awarded if you share photo doing the scavenger hunt. Use the hashtag: #ashburtonxmas scavengerhunt.

Where do you get the clues? Download and print the clue forms from Tavendale and Partners’ Facebook page. Physical copies are also available at TP’s reception or from any of the participating businesses.

To enter: Complete your details on the bottom of the clue forms. Email to: scavengerhunt@tp.co.nz Or drop them into the TP reception at: Level 1, Tavendale and Partners Centre, 62 Cass Street.

Prizes: There are $1500 of prizes to be drawn on Thursday, December 22.

TAVENDALE + PARTNERS PRESENTS

Ashburton Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Follow clues taking you to participating Ashburton businesses to complete the challenge. All entries go into the draw to win some amazing prizes

Hunt is on for $1500 in prizes

BY DARYL HOLDEN

It’s a bit of Christmas fun, but there’s a serious side to the Ashburton scavenger hunt being driven by local law firm Tavendale and Partners.

Because TP, as they are becoming more commonly known, is keen to support Ashburton retailers trying to make ends meet in a forever demanding Covid-19 world, with dire labour shortages, a cost-of-living crisis and an under-pressure goods’ supply chain that’s making product availability a nightmare.

That’s why TP has organised a good old Christmas scavenger hunt supported by 20 Ashburton CBD retailers, who have generously donated $1500 of prizes.

TP senior associate Katrina Palmer said being a local firm, they wanted to support local Ashburton businesses, and this was a great way to do so.

“We know that retailers have had some tougher times over the past few years with Covid lockdowns and competing big businesses driving some people out of town or on to keyboards for online shopping,’’ Palmer said.

“We want to support them, but also just celebrate our great wee town. Hopefully, the scavenger hunt is another way to get people coming into the town centre and then enjoying themselves while doing some shopping.’’

It’s not just about families enjoying themselves, or shop keepers getting in on the fun, or the fact that it is all part of the spirit of Christmas.

Palmer said the scavenger hunt, which runs until Wednesday, December 21, was also a

“The Ashburton District Council has done a great job of re-invigorating the CBD and we have such great local shops and businesspeople in our town,’’ she said.

“It’s a really nice way to celebrate that and encourage the community to do their Christmas shopping locally.’’

So how does the scavenger hunt work? Download and print the clues from Tavendale and Partners’ Facebook page or get physical copies at TP’s reception, or from any of the participating stores.

Palmer said the “clever but simple clues’’ would send scavenger hunters to the 20 competing local businesses.

“You can complete as little or as many of the scavenger hunt clues as you like,’’ she said.

“For every five correct answers, you get one entry into the draw to win some great prizes from local goods to vouchers redeemable at the participating Ashburton stores and restaurants.

“You also get a bonus entry by sharing a photo of you out doing the scavenger hunt using the hashtag: #ashburtonxmasscavengerhunt.’’

Palmer said all the businesses had been “overwhelmingly positive’’ about being involved and that it was an event many would enjoy and even need in what can be a stressful time for many.

“It’s a bit tough out there right now and we could all do with a bit of fun and a laugh with our families,’’ she said.

“Just enjoy spending time in our great little town and supporting our local businesses in the lead up to Christmas this December.’’

celebration of Ashburton.

Let’s get hunting: Tavendale and Partners’ senior associate Katrina Palmer wants kids and families to take part in the local law firm’s Christmas scavenger hunt involving 20 Ashburton CBD businesses offering $1500 of prizes. The competition runs until December 21.

PHOTO DARYL HOLDEN

I’ve beaten State TO A DOUBLE

By Malcolm Hopwood

I’ve joined the Zipper Club.

It’s semi-exclusive, dedicated to those who’ve had their sternum cut open, their heart stopped, their pacemaker turned off and their life prolonged.

Belonging to it, like hundreds of other Mid Cantabrians, doesn’t make me special. It just gives me an extra zip, a conversation piece and a renewed lease on life.

The most bizarre thing was I didn’t know about my double bypass surgery until I reached Christchurch Hospital. No-one told me. I was there for something else. I joked it was an ingrown toenail, but it was more serious.

I’d had a tumour detected on the inside wall of my heart and it had to be removed.

It all started two months earlier when I had a routine scan of my kidneys.

“They’re in perfect working order Mr Hopwood,” my GP told me, “but we’ve discovered a lesion further up.”

I didn’t know what that was or how far up. I thought a lesion was a squad of Roman soldiers in early Britannia before they were attacked by Boudicca.

How wrong I was. It was a tumour which, in my case, was attached like a limpet to the atrium.

Some sharp-eyed radiologist had saved my life by studying the whole scan, from top to bottom, Sydney to kidney.

I had a condition called myxoma which I decided could be approached in three ways. I could ignore It in the hopes it went away, I could ask for keyhole surgery or I could defy medical diagnosis and carry on as if it doesn’t exist.

But it was real and, if it wasn’t surgically removed, it would fragment into clots and enter the brain. That would be as terminal as terminal gets.

The next few weeks were spent undergoing tests, scans, consultation and giving more blood than Dr Chris Warner in Shortland Street. While all this was happening I was remarkably well. If I had this foreign body inside me why wasn’t it misbehaving? Why wasn’t I spin-

ning out or having hot flushes?

I expected that in our crisis-ridden, public health system, I’d be summonsed in late December as nurses sang O Come All Ye Faithful while I entered the operating theatre.

But I was given less than a week’s notice and told to present myself to Ward 30. It was then I was told myxoma was only part of my condition. I had blockages in the main arteries leading to my heart and I also faced open heart surgery.

But being assigned to a hospital bed was the easy bit, getting to theatre was more difficult.

For three days in a row I was

stood down after 18 hours nil by mouth. That’s a sneaky way of saying you couldn’t sip a gin and tonic under the sheets after 2am.

I was told I was third on the list which meant nursing staff would start preparing me by about 7am.

That meant shaving me from neck to big toe and warming me in an inflatable so I resembled the Michelin Man. I had the best Brazilian this side of a razor blade.

On two occasions I was Kane Williamson in the order but I wouldn’t go under the knife until they removed the openers.

Things could change. If the surgery before mine took longer, then I was held over until the next day. If there were no available beds in intensive care (ICU), then operations could be cancelled entirely.

Staff informed me a day’s surgery had been cancelled the previous week because of a lack of beds and staff.

That’s why I’m writing this account. Christchurch Hospital has wonderful surgeons, doctors and nurses but is let down by the bricks and mortar and lack of funding.

There are 25 ICU beds for the whole of Canterbury and the

West Coast when, in my estimation, about double that number are needed.

Waiting for surgery is like trying to catch a flight from Christchurch to Auckland, only to be told there aren’t enough runways available to land. If that was the case our northern-based MPs would order 10 more by the end of the day and have them installed the following week.

But this is Christchurch in the South Island and I sensed it’s less important to the government.

I experienced first hand the challenges medical staff face on a daily basis. During the week I was in hospital, my sister was due to join me. She had a maverick gland in her neck that had to be removed but, the day before, she was rung, told about the crisis and put back to 2023.

Finally on the fourth day I topped the list. I said goodbye to the snorer in the bed opposite who’d been waiting three weeks for a pig gut valve for his heart and was wheeled down to the operating theatre.

By then I’d been prepped three times, which included modelling a back-to-front gown, displaying my butt for the world to see and wearing cannulas proudly so I looked like Herman Munster.

It was only after I asked what movies would be shown during surgery, I realised the seriousness of my condition. I’d been in denial.

I wouldn’t be watching Nightmare On Elm Street and it may be the following morning at least before I became conscious.

Instead I wasn’t coherent for days. I fought brain fog, confusion and delirium and Kathi, my wife, was warned I might never be the same. After three or four days – I don’t know which – I woke up in Ward 10 and finally knew who and where I was.

The last month has been spent gradually improving through taking a cocktail of medication, learning patience, walking to the corner and back, realising my tastebuds had changed forever, regular visits from Ashburton Hospital nurses and calls from Christchurch

Someone once said to America’s First Lady “and besides that Mrs Kennedy, did you enjoy Dallas?” . They said something similar to me.“Your kidneys are ne Mr Hopwood, but I’m worried about what’s further up.” So was I.

Highway 1 BYPASS

Hospital. Despite the crisis, they’ve been remarkable, including Nurse Kathi at home.

I’m lucky to be alive. If the scan hadn’t detected the tumour and subsequent tests hadn’t shown serious blockages, I might have faced my final Christmas. Instead I’m a proud member of the Zipper Club. I’m secretly glad I didn’t have a valve replaced by

a

“Oink,” he

Christchurch Hospital has wonderful surgeons, doctors and nurses but is let down by the bricks and mortar and lack of funding

pig’s intestine instead. Just before I left I asked my snoring friend how his surgery went.

Left – I’m glad someone invented zips. It would be difficult to button up a chest after my sternum was cut open, my heart received new arteries and a pesky little tumour was removed.

Above – I was hoping to watch a movie while in theatre and wore my reading glasses but the anaesthetist had other ideas.

Right – Two days after surgery I still didn’t know I was, where I was at, whether Boris Johnson was still PM and who put that white strip on my torso.

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Our greatest ever athlete?

Quite possibly so. A true New Zealand legend? Without a doubt.

That was Sir Murray Halberg, who died on Wednesday night at the age of 89, and who’s passing has robbed us of not only one of our very finest middle-distance runners, and an Olympic champion at that, but also an outstanding New Zealander with an enduring legacy.

And an extremely humble and understated one, a man not keen on fanfare or a fuss being made of him.

I know that first-hand, remembering quite clearly when illness stopped him from attending the Halberg Awards named in his honour to annually recognise New Zealand’s top sporting achievements.

His wife, Lady Phyllis Halberg,

still attended that glitzy awards night in Wellington that night, and I remember asking her for a comment about how Sir Murray was, hearing that he was actually quite poorly.

“He’s OK, but he’d rather we didn’t focus on him,’’ she said.

“Murray asked me to say that this is a night to celebrate New Zealand sport. It’s not about him.’’

Not about him? Not about Sir Murray?

Typical and understandable. Because that’s just the way he was, more comfortable diverting

the focus elsewhere and talking about others than himself.

It’s one of the reasons why New Zealanders everywhere warmed to him so much.

One of many reasons, in fact.

Because Sir Murray was a special character with an incredible story, a figure who knew better than most how to battle the odds and why you should never give up.

Though Sir Murray won fame for his daring gold medal run in the 5000 metres at the Rome Olympics in 1960, while also being also a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, that was only part of his remarkable story in which he had to overcome a debilitating rugby injury as a youth.

A crunching tackle dislocated his left shoulder, paralysing the nerves in his left arm, rupturing

arteries, and causing blood clots to form around his heart.

He was only 17.

He spent two months in hospital, leaving barely able to walk and with any hopes of competitive sport seemingly crushed.

He was so badly injured, with his withered left arm, that he had to teach himself to do everything, from writing to eating, with his right hand.

But somehow he fought through it. Somehow he triumphed in a way that few would have ever thought possible, shining on and off the track.

In 1963, he established the Halberg Trust to support children with disabilities in sport and recreation.

Through that he helped change the lives of generations of New Zealanders, with his work and his services to sport and

disabled children being rightly recognised when he was knighted in 1988.

Though he will forever be remembered for being part of the Golden Hour – one of the most important events in New Zealand sporting history when his Rome Olympic Games gold happened on the same afternoon that Peter Snell won the 800 metres – his real importance to the country will forever be remembered for how he used his platform to help those less fortunate.

He used his triumph over adversity to inspire others to do the same.

For that, he is true New Zealand legend, even if the man himself would feel embarrassed at such a suggestion RIP, Sir Murray.

Gone but never forgotten.

Daryl Holden

Emotional rollercoaster

It has taken me a few weeks to get round to writing this column. I can't point the blame at laziness or even that I have been rather busy in the past month or two.

It has taken a while to feel like sharing with you.

The last couple of months have been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions for me.

I was absolutely thrilled to receive enough votes in the local body election to secure a seat around the council table. The elation was followed quickly by some anxiety and worry that I had bitten off more than I could chew and was swimming way out of my depth.

I can happily inform those

Phill Hooper OFF THE AIR

who put a tick in the box by my name and also for those who didn't, that after a couple of full meetings I am absolutely loving the job.

It continues to be a steep learning curve, but I am soaking up all I can from all of the wise heads sitting with me around the table. I think we have a great mix of experience and skills around the table and it looks like a super team to be a part of.

The emotional rollercoaster came crashing down to earth in early October when my Mum passed away.

She had battled some heart issues a number of years ago and almost checked out back then.

Thanks to an older nurse and her suggestion of an “old school” drug she bounced back to good health and on reflection we were lucky to have her around for nearly a decade more. Mum was found by a neighbour, sitting in her favourite chair with her feet up in front of telly. A nice exit for her, just not so good for the rest of us who didn't get to say goodbye.

Her passing brought a mixture of emotions, obviously sadness,

but also some guilt (Could I have made more of an effort to go to Whitecliffs and visit her more frequently?) and some happiness as we looked back on her life.

We gave her a good send-off which included some songs played on a piano, she was a piano teacher back in the day and would have loved those performances. We also had one of her pug dogs wandering around the chapel as we were saying goodbye. She would have thought that was pretty awesome.

As often happens, things come in threes. My boy Josh left to live on the Gold Coast. As much as I didn't want him to leave, how can you not tell a 22-year-old to go and have the time of his life?

His wee sister misses her big brudda very much. Face timing makes it a bit easier to handle though. Hours after he left New Zealand he sent us a photo from his local beach.

Although there was a big grin on his face as he sat soaking up the sun, I'm sure I saw a flicker of homesickness in his eyes. Yeah right!

Till next time, hoo roo Phill

Hooper In touch with my emotions

Phill Hooper is the breakfast host of Ashburton’s Hokonui radio station. The views expressed in this column are his and do not reflect the opinion of his employer or the Ashburton Guardian.

When accommodation isn’t all that accommodating

Where shall we go?

I tore one off on Thursday morning and that monthly ritual signalled the commencement of the month of Christmas.

The month that retailers really hope you love your loved ones lots and spend accordingly.

Good on them. It hasn’t been an easy few trading years to navigate. Those that have hung in, and that’s a surprising number given the circumstances, are looking forward to a decent payday.

It’s also a time when one starts to look at a bit of time off and the most fulfilling and entertaining ways to fill those lazy hazy crazy days of summer, whilst still remaining solvent.

Wakanui Beach is a cost-effective option, but the stones hurt my back and my feet and there is no towering Gold Coast-style holiday accommodation been built there yet.

So one begins to look a little

Peter McQuarters PETE’S PERSPECTIVE

further afield, perhaps.

In the process I have discovered a country that is almost too costly to entertain.

A little piece of Pacific paradise – New Zealand.

“I wouldn’t mind going up around Nelson for a few days,” proffered the better half.

“Great idea, let me check,” I dutifully responded.

I banged a couple of possible criteria parameters into a wellknown booking site and pressed “search”.

One room, 2 adults, for three nights.

$1095.00. $1038.00. $1230.00 $900.00. and $810.00

That’s about the extent of the remaining options unless of course you want to go backpack-

ers. Ahhhhh, no. I’d rather stay home and be comfy thanks.

Ok then, no problem, let’s check Blenheim. Still a gateway to good times and sunny days.

First port of call, our regular place. About three years ago I phoned ahead and managed to get a very nice room for under 150 bucks at the same time of year.

Let’s check right now. One thousand two hundred and nine dollars for three nights.

Holy heck.

Havelock. That’s a gorgeous spot. Nothing left. Fair enough. Can understand why. It’s one of the country’s most under-rated and under-recognised places. Honestly when did you last check it out? It’s paradise on earth.

Please note: None of those very flash boats in that marina are mine. Sadly.

Hmmmmmm, Wakanui, Hakatere, Rangitata. Spent a large chuck of my early life there.

Looking for something else thanks.

Looked at a bunch of places on the Gold Coast, just for comparative purposes and was hoping to be a smart-arse and show up the differences. Completely foiled on that one. That destination in Kiwi currency terms is not unlike the figures I quoted here earlier.

It’s always fascinating to see what the type of high end places go for in some locations. Now I’m fundamentally a bit of a capitalist. Possibly this country’s poorest capitalist. But I think anyone who will blow 7k, 10k and upwards on a few nights accommodation has way too much loot. That’s just vulgar. What a waste!

I think the secret to having a cost-effective spell is picking the times to go when everyone else is done with sightseeing and relaxing.

The accommodation providers are more than happy to

cut you a deal in the off-season and although it makes Mrs Mac cringe, I’m on for a good barter directly on the phone to get the price as low as I can. No shame this man.

They either want to fill an otherwise empty room night or they don’t. Next.

So this season, it might be south for a day or two at most, more options there. Have always promised myself to see the Kingston Flyer if it ever got operating again and now it is. So will do that.

But for the most part, there’s a very comfortable joint where the bed is good and the price is right. It’s called home.

They even make the bed.

Broadcaster Peter Mac is Ashburton born and bred and the afternoon host on the Hokonui Radio Network.

The views expressed in this column are his and do not reflect the opinion of his employer or

The Kingston Flyer.

Excitement personified A&P

President of the A&P Show committee, Victor Schikker, and Chris Watson, show event manager, approached Hakatere Multi-Cultural Council in March to see if we were interested in collaborating with the A&P show.

The “confidential” theme at that time, was Multi-Cultural Mid Canterbury. They said we would be in the presidential tent, we were able to have performances and would be part of the parade.

We were excited about the opportunity to showcase the rich diversity of our district and shared the news with our ethnic leaders forum.

This is a group of representatives from the migrant communities in our district, who get together once every month to discuss the challenges or success stories their communities are facing, so that others can benefit from hearing about them.

The leaders are our link to other members of their communities, helping us reach out to them efficiently and it is important to mention, that they do all this voluntarily in their spare time.

The planning stage started and before we noticed, October was here.

We set up a display of 12 countries and our organisation.

We had the participation of representatives from Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Philippines, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Nepal, Netherlands, Aotearoa New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and the Hakatere Multi-Cultural Council.

Each display had its flag, primary industries, languages with a few phrases for visitors to learn, interesting facts, maps, and traditional dress.

Additionally, we organised cultural performances to run every 10 minutes.

Above – Our tent won a “very highly commended site” award that made us very proud.

Above right – All setup for the grand parade.

Below (from left) – Marco Vargas (Colombia), Victor Schikker and Rohit Ranjit (Nepal).

Above – Valeska Scott (Chile).

Below – Thelma Bell (Philippines).

Above – Navid Bashir (Afghanistan).

Below – Julia Crosson (Netherlands).

Above – Ana (left) and Natalie Taufa (Tonga).

and gratitude show experience

The response and the pride we observed from the different communities were heartwarming, everyone felt proud to be represented.

We were lucky enough to engage with school children, who were sharing where they were from and asked lots of questions about the countries.

A whole group had a go at pronouncing useful phrases like thank you, please and hello in Spanish and Afrikaans.

We want to thank all those who walked through our exhibitions and engaged with the volunteers or just had a look around.

We witnessed a lot of interesting conversations happening and were surprised by some visitors who were able to speak some of the languages on display.

We were thrilled to see the people who were there to represent their nations, who also stuck around to have a look at other displays

in the Home Industries Pavilion and competitions like dog trials and animal sections. Others were brave enough to go on the cherry-picker from EA Networks!

For some of these people, it was their first time at an A&P show.

Our tent was very lucky to receive a “very highly commended site” award that made us very proud!

At the end of the event, the collective feeling was excitement and gratitude to be allowed to share our cultures, engage with the community differently, and to celebrate the diversity in our district.

We want to thank the Ashburton District Council for its collaboration.

Special thanks go to Victor, Chris and all the members of the show committee, for facilitating the opportunity, and for engaging with Hakatere Multi-Cultural Council and the different communities to make this possible.

Above – Mariel Azcona (Argentina).

Above – Victor Schikker and Mercedes Walkham from Hakatere Multi Cultural Council.

Above – Jessica Falconi (Ecuador) was brave enough to try a ‘ride’ on a cherry-picker from EA Networks!

Right – Those very interesting conversations!

When Covid upset their plans for a bike show two years ago, the Originals were disappointed but not despondent.

When the same thing happened again last year, the Originals didn’t give up. They said the show would happen eventually, and it did – this year – third time lucky.

The Originals were right about something else too. They said there would be bikes, bikes and more bikes – and there were.

And in terms of luck everyone who was at the Show – owners, exhibitors and spectators – felt lucky and fortunate to be at such a well-organised and spectacular event.

What a show! Great bikes, great exhibits, great fun and most of all great people.

It really was third time lucky.

Ray and Helen McIlwrick came from Darfield. Helen said “my wee trike” is ideal for getting around the show. And her wee

looked right at home among its bigger cousins.

Helen’s “wee trike’s” bigger cousin - a fabulously colourful exhibit.

FinalWhistle

calling time on a week of sport

Ballin’ in a big way

Basketball at the age group level is flying high in Mid Canterbury, with record numbers of youngsters hitting the courts each week and taking part in any number of different tournaments and competitions being held by Basketball Mid Canterbury. FULL STORY: P23

Highlander again P24

Nationals await P22

Tennis stars eye national champs

In what is becoming a real coup for local tennis, having four players heading to compete from Mid Canterbury is a big result, according to Mid Canterbury Tennis head coach, Jack Tiller.

“We’re incredibly proud of all of them,” he said.

Four of Mid Canterbury’s brightest young tennis stars will test their skills against the best of their peers from around the country over the coming week at the New Zealand Junior Tennis Championships.

Riley Breen, Joshua Gilbert, Holly-Jayne Feutz and Jake Parsons will all be flying the Mid Canterbury flag during the championships, with Breen and Gilbert the first two cabs off the rank this weekend in the under-14 event.

Feutz and Parsons will do battle a week later.

“It’s a great result for them, not matter what happens, but also tennis here locally.”

Breen and Gilbert begin their bids today at the premier venue of Scarbro Tennis Centre in Auckland.

They’ll line up against a field of more than 60 other players in their age group, with Breen ranked 10th nationally for the age group and Gilbert 12th.

Tiller said their rankings were justified, but that he also expected those numbers to rise as the pair both still have another year playing in that age group before advancing up a bracket.

“It’s what we call an off-year for all four of our players, meaning they get to go back next year and have another go in the same age group.

“It does mean they’ll be better off for it –but none of them would be going up there if they didn’t think they were a chance of putting up a strong performance.”

Both Breen and Gilbert will also break off and play in the doubles event as well, with Gilbert teaming up with Cantabrian Alvin Na and Breen with North Harbour player Liam Youn.

Then, next weekend, it will be the turn of Feutz and Parsons as they compete in the under-16 championships.

Tiller said the achievement of Feutz to qualify was remarkable.

“She’s got there through hard work and dedication.

“She had to qualify through the Canterbury regional qualifiers, and she took down some big name players to do that.

“I’ve been really impressed with her tennis this year, it’s a great opportunity for her.”

Feutz heads into the singles as the 48th ranked player in her age group in New Zealand, but will be out to continue her giant-killing ways when she hits the court.

Parsons come into the singles event ranked 12th in New Zealand in the under-16 age group.

He’ll also line up in the doubles, teaming up with Andre Duggan.

Local focus for junior players

pete in varying age groups.

“The numbers are down slightly on what we’d normally get, but that could be put down to a lot of different reasons,” Mid Canterbury Tennis head coach, Jack Tiller, said.

While the big guns are away playing at the national championships, the next generation of tennis stars to hail from Mid Canterbury will get a taste of tournament tennis this weekend.

The Mid Canterbury Junior Age Group championships will be held at the Braided Rivers Community Trust Tennis Centre, starting today with close to 40 local youngsters taking to the court to com-

“This a great wee tournament, a really good pathway for the next lot of youngsters coming through to put them on the right platform to go on and achieve great things.”

The tournament kicks off this morning with singles and doubles action before finals for all age groups and disciplines begin tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, Mid Canterbury Tennis entered into new territory last night when

they held a round of the local Open Grade Interclub under lights.

In an effort to try and minimise player workloads throughout the season and with the junior age group tournament the focus of the weekend, the first week of the second round of the season kicked off last night at the tennis centre.

Round one winners, Team Head were

back in action last night taking on Team Yonex, who did them a favour by beating round one runners-up, Team Wilson who sat out last night’s round with the bye.

That left Babolat and Prince to fight it out in the other round.

After last weekend was rained off, both Country Mid Canterbury sides will be back on the court tomorrow again, continuing a huge weekend of tennis.

The Division One side will head out to the beach to take on South Brighton in their sixth-round clash, while the Division Two side are at Wilding Park taking on Halswell.

Matt Markham

Matt Markham

This a great wee tournament, a really good pathway for the next lot of youngsters coming through to put them on the right platform to go on and achieve great things

Above – Jake Parsons. Left – Josh Gilbert. Below – Riley Breen. Far left – Holly-Jane Feutz.

Success of basketball continues to amaze

“For a small, volunteer-based organisation it doesn’t happen magically – there’s a lot of people behind the scenes who work hard to make it happen, and we’re lucky to have some great people with us.”

You’ll struggle to find a sport locally that’s experienced growth like what Basketball Mid Canterbury has seen this year, and although it’s caused a few administrative headaches, Roasty Douglas wouldn’t have it any other way.

Off the back of Covid-interrupted years, the sport has flourished in the region over the past 12 months, and when Douglas sat down to do his reports for the annual general meeting recently, he was shocked, but also over the moon, with what he found.

“Over the course of the year I worked out we had more than 120 teams play basketball in some format, whether it be senior or right down to the junior stuff –that’s more than 1000 people engaged in our sport,” he said.

“It’s been tough on the admin side of things that’s for sure, but you can’t complain when you’re seeing growth in your sport like that, it’s fantastic.

With a real focus on developing the game at the junior level, there’s been a notable increase in player participation across the board, and the current 3x3 competitions that are running, as well as the more traditional miniball which finishes next week, are seeing massive increases in popularity.

Partly that can be put down to work in the school sphere with the initiative Hoops in Schools, and also the popular Girls Got Game having far-reaching benefits for the sport.

“Hoops in Schools has been great, we’re still very much in the infancy of that programme and finding our way with it.

“We worked with three schools this year and one school in particular had 12 students playing basketball when we first went there, now there are over 60 from the school playing regularly.

“That’s a massive increase and shows there’s real potential for

further growth there if we can get in front of kids around all the other schools in the district.”

Plans are in place to introduce a new role to the Basketball Mid Canterbury set-up next year with a development position to be established to help continue the progress made over the past 12 months.

While the prospect of an in-

crease in player numbers again might be daunting from an admin point of view, it’s a good problem to have.

“I’d much rather have the issues of having more people playing basketball than we’ve ever seen locally than have declining numbers, that’s for sure.

“You’d like to think that we could grow things again, even 20

or 30 per cent, that’s another 30 teams out there playing.”

Another cause of pride throughout the year has been the continued growth of the women’s game across all age groups.

“We’ve got some serious talent out there at the moment, you go down and watch the 3x3 action at the moment, and those young girls are really taking it to the boys and holding their own out there.

“And to have seven teams competing in our senior women’s competition this year shows that the work being put in at the younger age groups is starting to have real benefit. Getting a senior women’s team together to head to the Apples Tournament was a huge result after so long without a representative team.”

As the year’s balling comes to an end, Douglas and his team will be able to sit back and relax for a few weeks before getting ready to hook into it all again in 2023 – but they can do so with the knowledge that their sport is leading the way in growing numbers in Mid Canterbury.

An achievement every other sport at the moment will have cause to be a little bit jealous of.

125 years of cricket at Methven

Matt Markham

They’re not going as far as to roll out the red carpet, but the Methven Cricket Club are intent on ensuring they celebrate 125 of years of existence this weekend.

The famed local club will host a number of different celebrations across the course of the weekend, with a real focus on bringing back some of the names and figures that made the club tick through the heydays of Mid Canterbury cricket to join them.

Club member Mark Wareing said the occasion would be a great opportunity

for old friendships to be reignited in a relaxed manner over the two-days.

“Nothing super special, but we’re intent of celebrating the milestone,” he said.

Today will see the club engage in its normal level of cricket with junior grades throughout and morning and into the afternoon, before a social occasion later on in the evening for former players and supporters.

“Sunday is going to be a big day, we’ve got a couple of games lined up starting with a T20 match in the morning involving the Mt Hutt College side and the local senior club team, and then in the afternoon the old fellas are going to have a bit of a go.”

The two matches will be split by the official stage of the weekend where

speeches will be made, and a lunch served before photos are taken to highlight the occasion.

“We hope to see as many people as we can down there and that the weather plays its part; the good thing with events like this is you never know who might come out of the woodwork.”

The first of the T20 matches will begin at 10am on Sunday morning before the official aspects of the celebration begin at 1pm.

From 2pm club president, Jeremy Johnson’s XI will take on an XI selected by Wareing featuring former players from the club.

Wareing said all who have been involved in the club over the years were more than welcome to come along and join in the celebrations.

Eyes on the ball: Perfect concentration for his shot from Davey Maw.

Matt Markham

Above and below – The action is frenetic on the 3x3 basketball court.

PHOTOS MATT MARKHAM

Stags send Allenton reeling

Different format, same result.

The T20 version of cricket is supposed to be a fun, quick entertaining format of the game and as the South Canterbury senior competition got under way on Thursday night it was exactly that – if you were the Tech Stags.

If you’re Allenton, however, it wasn’t quite as enjoyable.

For the second time in a week the two local sides met, and for the second time in a week it was the Stags who stomped away with victory, this time by nine wickets after their bowlers once again decimated the Allenton batting line-up.

Last Saturday in the longer format Tweedy Cup, Allenton made it through to 59 before their final wicket fell, but on Thursday night it was less as the Tech bowlers

went to work to roll them for 44 in 16 overs out in the middle.

It was the perfect result for the Stags, who had won the toss and once again elected to put full faith in their opening bowlers to deliver, which they did in style.

Alex Hooper steamed in from the eastern end of the Tech wicket and bowled with venom.

He was rewarded quickly with the wicket of Ranvy Pannu who he sent packing when he blew his middle stump out of the ground with his second delivery.

Bowling full and quick, Hooper looked troublesome from the edge of the ground, so it was no surprise to see he was exactly that out in the middle.

At the other end young Wil Jemmett opened alongside him and was equally as menacing.

He grabbed an early wicket too, complementing a second clean-bowled castle by Hooper to remove Allenton’s other opener, Manish Rawat.

From there it was easy for the Stags.

Dimuthu Nanayakkara fought hard for 10 runs off 14 balls before he too was cleaned out by Hooper for his third of the night.

Former leader Bevan Ravenscroft blew off a few cobwebs and

stepped back into the middle for his side, swapping his new Mid Canterbury senior cricketing cap for his old Stags version.

He showed, in his first game of cricket for a while, that an old,

in this case Stag, can still have a few tricks as he worked his way through the middle order of Allenton to grab three wickets for the night.

Ryan Bell came in late and cleaned up the tail to take two wickets from his 1.2 overs as Allenton fell for 44.

With a small target to chase, the Stags wasted no time.

Sam Clark and Jack Meyrick waltzed out into the middle and in three overs had 40 runs on the board before Meyrick fell for 15.

Jason Morrison walked out as first drop and faced off three deliveries before allowing Clark, who finished with 23 not out from nine deliveries, dealt the final blow to win the match for his side.

Both sides will now return their attention to the longer format for the remaining two weeks of the season.

Both have this weekend off before two more games before the break with cricket set to return on January 14.

From Hammer to Highlander again

their maiden Super Rugby title back in 2015.

Nasi Manu is going back to his roots – once again.

But this time it’s not to the humble corners of grass roots rugby, but back to the club where it all happened for the former international, the Highlanders.

But while he’s stepped into an off-field role for now, Manu wasn’t yet committing to it being the end of his playing days – which might perhaps be welcome news for Mid Canterbury rugby fans given he stepped out for the Heartland side this campaign.

might mean for his future.

“I don’t know if it signals the end of my playing days just yet, at the moment I am just excited about being able to continue to work in rugby and with the Highlanders.

“The opportunity to work in a club that I love and to mentor some younger players was too good to turn down.”

I don’t know if it signals the end of my playing days just yet, at the moment I am just excited about being able to continue to work in rugby and with the Highlanders

And he’s got a familiar face walking in the door beside him on his first day on the job. Manu was this week named alongside former team-mate and co-captain Ben Smith as part of the Highlanders’ management set-up for next year’s Super Rugby campaign for the Dunedin-based side.

It’s a return of epic proportions for two franchise legends, with the pair having shared the captaincy role when the Highlanders won

His appearances in green and gold were fleeting though, with injuries hampering his campaign, but he did tell the Guardian how special it was to be a part of the side.

“It’s been a real highlight for me to work alongside such a great group of people,” he said.

On his new role, Manu was a little more subdued about what it

Smith and Manu will prove a vital cog in the Highlanders set-up, with their experience and over 200 games collectively in the Highlanders jersey making them ideal people to come in and foster the next generation.

Manu worked in a rugby development role with the Mid Canterbury Rugby Union during his time in Ashburton as well as playing, but also had a critical role in ensuring the cultural side of the union was a major focus throughout the year.

It’s understood that his role within the Highlanders is of a similar nature.

Matt Markham

Nasi Manu, who was a part of this year’s Mid Canterbury rugby set-up, will join the Highlanders management for next year’s Super Rugby campaign.

The Tech Stags congratulate bowler, Alex Hooper after he removed Allenton opener Ranvy Pannu in the second ball of the innings.

Matt Markham

PHOTOS MATT MARKHAM

Allenton batsman Manish Rawat looks skyward as his castle is cleaned up by Alex Hooper early on in Thursday night’s T20 clash.

New meeting; new opportunities

features of the year reallocated to this date.

It’s harness racing’s new big day, and all the stars are coming out to play.

10 races, eight Group Ones, more than $1 million in stake money up for grabs and the best of the best, both equine and human on show at Addington tomorrow.

The rejigging of the harness racing calendar to sit alongside a shift in birthdays for standardbreds created a chance to introduce something new to the mould this year, and Grand Prix Day tomorrow, as it’s become, is the perfect opportunity to get to see the big guns in action so soon after Cup Week.

Taking on a role similar to that of the Harness Jewels, the day has become grand final day for the season, with many of the big

The New Zealand Derby for both the trotters and the pacers, the New Zealand Oaks for the fillies and four new races; the Ace of Spades, the Ace of Clubs, the Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Hearts for the two-year-old pacing ranks – in a nod to the Jewels and its former existence.

Locally, there’s a bit to sink the teeth into during the day too.

A number of local drivers will feature during the programme, but all eyes will be on John Hay and his talented pacer Wheels Of Fortune when they take their step into the big time in the New Zealand Derby.

The fledgling pacer takes on a super field in the Group One worth $250,000 including superstar pacers Akuta and Republican Party, who both look destined for open class and great things in the future.

Brent and Tim White have a strong hand late in the day with Got You Covered and Cranbourne

going around in the Summer Free-For-All, the last race on the card.

It’s a good chance for Cranbourne to get his hoof in the till again with a tactical barrier draw advantage over his key ri-

vals which could see him on the markers early.

He does have to face off with Spankem, Self Assured and BD Joe but has showed he’s more than capable of mixing it with them in the past.

Matt’s Top Three

Race 1: #4 Celtic Spirit: Start the day right. Big win on Cup Day after finding the front and drawn to do exactly that again here. Dangerous if left to his own accord and can run them all a merry chase here.

Race 5: #1 Sherlock: The real up and coming young pacer of the land. Unlucky not to win the big one during Cup Week, but lands the ace draw here again, and if able to find the back of the right horse might have too much speed for them late.

Race 6: #12 Kiss And Run: Really like what I have seen of her, and if she’s able to get a nice drag into the race at the right time she’s shown she’s got more speed than most in this crop and could have the final say.

18 1x595 Amarla

4 275x3 Jesper Fast R Holmes 5 94642 Murano G O’Reilly 6 4040x Gotta Ticket J Morrison 7 50507 Rush G Smith 8 39374 Ginas Majesty I Cameron 9 098x0 Superfast Gorsey Chris Thornley 10 30237 Navara J Ford 11 7586 Zsahara 12 0x0x0 Shes So Right S Tomlinson 13 70990 Reindeer Trouble N Bur ton 14 69752 Rachmaninov T Grant 15 6268 Kohli Trouble S O’Reilly 16 09x80 Kahntdoitalone S McNally R7 CAVALIER TROTTING PRODUCTS HANDICAP TROT $10,000 2810m 14:39 1 90203 Test The Boundaries J Ford 2 32340 Zsa Zoe 3 8261 Make My Sundon S Ottley 4 31x07 Tyron Arohanui K Newman 5 846 Red Harbour C Thornley 6 81091 Muscle Bank G Smith 7 43052 Royal Del S Thornley 8 23715 Prince Teka K Cameron 9 36270 Sioux Princess B Orange 10 1010 Funny Face P Ferguson

R8 BRIAN HUMM CONTRACTING PACE $10,000 2170m 15:09 1 70287 Rock N Diamonds C Dalgety 2 70 It’s Me 3 44106 Amelia Rose K Hadfield 4 70686 Kennedy J Cox 5 772x0 Gronkowski G Smith 6 0700x Manzini 7 70978 Takemybreathaway B Orange 8 800x3 Atomic Traveller M Williamson 9 824x7 Reformed S Ottley 10 x0704 Real Men Wear Pink J Morrison 11 97x31 Melania J Cur tin 12 134 Ventura C Thornley 13 00x00 Sheezagoldengirl 14 9703x Pennetta T Williams 15 90x07 On Report G O’Reilly 16 2361x Bellissimo Acquisto R Holmes 17 64006 Dannemora B Butt

R9 CABINS 2U NZ AKAROA CUP (HANDICAP PACE) $15,000 2810m 15:33 1 656x5 Champagneandwine J Morrison 2 148x4 Mccrikey B Hope 3 47x97 J R Bromac G O’Reilly 4 77087 Red Right Hand T Chmiel 5 12039 Ar tatac S Ottley 6 11103 Star Magic G Smith 7 x8x05 Buckskin S O’Reilly 8 x8906 Sam’s Town B Butt 9 51603 Chal Patch B Orange 10 1x8x0 Just

PACE $10,000 2170m 17:18

73548 Tom Martin B Orange

1x600 Mighty Flying Rocker

76710 Maybe G Smith

8709x El Sirrar K Cameron

x8101 The Coalman S Ottley 6 11256 Chris Kyle B Butt

22352 Megarock G O’Reilly

38x80 Deja Blue T Chmiel 9 x7800 Zia Bromac T Williams 10 1418x Taurus I Lee 11 x0106 Sonny Vista J Morrison 12 77x02 She’s Tough M Williamson 13 21980 Changearound W House 14 10700 Maximilian

Matt Markham’s Akaroa Selections

Race 1: Eastwood Dream, Baileys Pitch, Victor Lustig, Watch That Man

Race 2: Tu Tangata, Izia, Rakero Warrior, Clover Rose

Race 3: Bettor Be Sharp, Motor Mouth, Classey Robin, Aiming For Glory Race 4: Melton Militant, Wolf Of Wall Street, Choco Lou, Rakero Storm

Race 5: Jezebel, Icee Styxie, Secret Cocktail, Ruby Malone

Race 6: Murano, Rush, Khandoitalone, Navara

Race 7: Royal Del, Prince Teka, Funny Face, Make My Sundon

Race 8: Bellissimo Acquisto, Ventura, Melania, Gronkowski

Race 9: Homebush Lad, Buckskin, Chal Patch, Corravally Star

Race 10: Star Casino, Skittle Bomb, El Chico, Razor’s Edge

Race 11: Magic Dash, Ti Amo Belle, Illegal Alien, Silverlinings

Race 12: Taurus, The Coalman, Chris Kyle, Tom Martin

BEST BET: Tu Tangata

VALUE: Bettor Be Sharp (Race 3)

Left – Exciting Mid Canterbury pacer Wheels Of Fortune will tackle the big guns in tomorrow’s $250,000 Group One New Zealand Derby.

Matt Markham

WeeklyWorkout

SPORTS QUIZ

1. In 2016 the Mid Canterbury Under 17 rep side had a great win over Christchurch Metro Black. Who claimed a four-wicket bag?

a) Archie Redfern

b) Will Tod

c) Oscar Redfern

2. The AshColl 1st XI also had a good year, including a fine victory over St Thomas’. Who was the wicketkeeper in 2016?

a) Sam Hall b) Josh Gill c) Oliver Adlam

3. Who won the Muirhead Rosebowl final in 2016?

a) Coldstream b) Lauriston c) It was a tie

4. Who scored 94 in that final?

a) Richard Print b) Bevan Richan c) Jonno Print

5. The Black Caps beat Australia 2-1 in a threematch ODI series in 2016; who top-scored in the third game?

a) Grant Elliott b) Martin Guptill c) Corey Anderson

6. New Zealand made it to the World T20 semi-final, but were beaten by England. Who took the most wickets for England?

a) Ben Stokes

b) David Willey

c) Moeen Ali

7. The Black Caps won a test series against Pakistan that year; in the second test how many wickets did Tim Southee snare?

a) One b) Eight c) Ten

8. In a series-deciding test against the Proteas, the South Africans posted a first-innings 481/8 declared, despite a Black Caps bowler notching a five/fer. Who was it?

a) Trent Boult b) Neil Wagner c) Tim Southee

7. b) Eight, 8. b) Neil Wagner.

1. b) Will Tod, 2. c) Oliver Adlam, 3. c) It was a tie, 4. a) Richard Print, 5. b) Martin Guptill scored 59, 6. a) Ben Stokes,

Answers:

Cryptic crossword

Your Stars

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): People have different rules. Even close friends may not completely understand yours. There will be infractions. They happen out of misunderstanding, not an intent to offend.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): You’ll be attracted to people and situations outside your usual pattern. You might dismiss the idea of a “type” altogether, since it’s based on your past and you’re more interested in creating a new future.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): Your vision of a luxurious life is unique, but there are people with similar goals. Find them so you can help and support one another. The kinship will invigorate your plans.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): You are drawn to people who have a sense of humour and the confidence to use it. Humour is always a risk. As the professionals know, it doesn’t always land, but you respect the attempts.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): New responsibilities will be laid at your feet as though they were a gift, and maybe they are. You have more fun in work mode anyway, and it’s like this job was custom made for you.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): You see so many around you who don’t act on their beliefs. That’s because change takes energy! You have plenty of it today, and you’ll apply it in a way that inspires others to do the same.

Gets to the head of work in a backstreet (4)

Like half-sister to Edward helped out (8)

Go very fast and it may create a hold-up in the middle (4)

Don’t go for support (4)

We may spend every other letter slipped in gradually (5)

Tank-top: why, it’s a crime! (7)

Stop filming the joint (3)

After a tipple, a play (5)

Artist’s colour putting a finish to uncontrolled anger (7)

Was conversant, we hear, with an antelope (3)

Tyre pattern to press with one’s foot (5)

Said to be wrong about the East, they nevertheless come to mind (5)

Foretold how I – me, too – got excluded from 17 (5)

Reps, etc, going about with spirit (7)

Parts of compasses require a boy to furnish them (7) 16. Film crew found here at start of attack (5) 18. Waits for one to be in bed somehow with start of sickness (5) 20. Is vacillating, yet such are the initials of Hedera (3)

A layer of oysters at the bottom of the sea (3)

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): You’ll think strategically and outwit those who act on selfish impulse. Impulsiveness is not categorically wrong, but it works best when the larger aims and the overall picture are ever in view.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Mingle with those whose credentials and connections could plug beautifully into your plans. Keep sharing until you find the ones who have overlapping mutual interests.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Delegating well is not about telling people what to do so much as matching the right people to the job. This requires listening carefully to really understand the talents and needs of the contenders.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): You’ll let go of what you don’t need. Getting rid of things creates a vacuum. Spaces fill. So the real trick is in letting them fill with the sacred and expansive instead of the common and cluttered.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): You work as well in an ensemble as you do as a solo artist, and you’ll get the chance to switch between these two modes. It’s just one more example of how your life is falling into beautiful balance.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Because you’re part of the natural world, you have an instinct for recognising when things are ripe. Opportunity dangles before you. Pluck it and enjoy.

Simon Shuker’s Code-Cracker

The 2022 Community Christmas lunch is being held at the Tinwald Hall, Cnr Graham & McMurdo Streets, Tinwald at 12.30pm on Christmas Day. Transport is available - please fill in below. This lunch is for anyone who would like to share Christmas Day with others. There is no charge. If you have any questions please phone Ann 308 0333 and leave a message. You are warmly invited to share this special time with us.

Community House Mid Canterbury, 44 Cass Street, Ashburton

Presbyterian Support at the Trevor Wilson Centre, 215 Tancred Street, Ashburton or to PO Box 581, Ashburton by Wednesday 14th December if possible.

Give Joy with a gift under the tree— and put a smile on someone’s face.

Give Peace with a Positive Lifestyle Programme—and strengthen people’s mana.

Give Hope with Financial Mentoring—and provide budgeting skills to help with debt.

For some Kiwi whānau, increased costs of living will mean they won’t participate in Christmas festivities this year.

But beyond the few days of celebration, they will continue to struggle. The effects of poverty are still prevalent after the Christmas tree is packed away and people return to everyday life.

You can make the difference for them now and beyond with your gift. Please give a Gift of Hope today.

WEEKEND SERVICES

IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY

PHONE 111.

DUTY DOCTORS

For all other medical assistance outside of normal hours please phone your general practice team, 24/7, to speak with a health professional who will give you free health advice on what to do or where to go if you need urgent care.

If you don’t have a regular general practice, call any GP team 24/7 for free telephone health advice.

Please bring your Community Services Card. All non-New Zealanders should bring their passport with them, New Zealanders should bring some form of ID.

Methven & Rakaia areas

For weekend and emergency

services please phone Methven Medical Centre on 302 8105 or Rakaia Medical Centre on 303 5002 for details on how to access the after-hours service each weekend.

Pharmacies

Wises Pharmacy, Countdown Complex, East Street, will be open from 9am - 1pm Saturday, from 10am1pm Sunday.

Ashburton Rest Homes

Please contact directly for hours.

Emergency dentist

If you do not have or cannot contact your regular dentist, please phone 027 683 0679 for the name of the rostered weekend dentist in Christchurch. Hours 9am - 5pm, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Healthline is a free health advice service. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll-free number to call is 0800 611 116.

Healthline is staffed by registered nurses who are trained to assess health problems and offer advice over the phone. The service is free and confidential.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Call 0800 AA WORKS (0800 229 6757) or visit www.aa.org.nz for more information.

Mental Health - Call free on 0800 222 955. Ask for the Crisis Team.

Safe Care - 24hr Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Support. Phone 03 364 8791

Victims Support Group 24hr - Freephone 0800 VICTIM (0800 842 846). Direct dials to a volunteer.

Ashburton Office - 307 8409 week-days, 9am - 2pm, outside of these hours leave a message.

Alcohol Drug Help Line

Call us free on (0800 787 797). Lines open 10am - 10pm seven days.

Art Gallery

327 West Street, Ashburton, phone 308 1133.

Open daily: 10am – 4pm.

Ashburton Museum

327 West Street, Ashburton, phone 307 7890. Open daily: 10am – 4pm.

Ashburton Public Library Havelock Street. Ph 308 7192. Saturday: 10am - 1pm. Sunday: 1pm - 4pm.

EA Networks Centre - Pools 20 River Terrace - phone 03 308 4020. WEEKEND HOURS: Sat and Sun 7am - 7pm. Public holidays 10am - 5pm.

Information Centre Methven - Saturday and public holidays 10am until 2.30pm. Phone 302 8955 or isite@ midcanterburynz.com

ANIMAL SERVICES

Dog, Stock & Noise Control

Ashburton District Council 03 307 7700 - 24hr service.

Animal Welfare Centre

All enquiries - phone 308 4432 or 027 3329286.

Veterinarians

WEEKEND EMERGENCIES

Please call your usual vet to be transferred to the emergency vet.

Monday:

Saturday

Mountain weather hazards: None issued.

Cloud and showers clearing to fine in the morning. However isolated showers develop about the divide in the afternoon, clearing evening.

Wind at 1000m: Light, then W 40 km/h developing in the evening.

Wind at 2000m: SW 30 km/h developing in the morning, rising to 60 km/h south of Lake Coleridge in the evening.

Freezing level: 1400m, rising to 2200m in the afternoon, then 2800m late.

Sunday

Mountain weather hazards: None issued. Partly cloudy.

Wind at 1000m: Light.

Wind at 2000m: W rising to 35 km/h in the afternoon.

level: Lowering to 3000m, but 2600m in the south.

H 12:34am 1:05pm

L 6:46am 7:18pm

H 12:19am 12:49pm

L 6:33am 7:05pm

6:30am 7:02pm

1:28am 1:58pm 7:41am 8:06pm

1:16am 1:44pm 7:31am 7:57pm

1:12am 1:42pm 7:25am 7:50pm

2:20am 2:47pm 8:32am 8:52pm

2:12am 2:36pm 8:26am 8:47pm

2:04am 2:31pm 8:16am 8:36pm

5:43am 9:02pm 5:43am 9:04pm 5:43am 9:05pm

3:42pm 3:17am 4:51pm 3:36am 6:00pm 3:57am

Christchurch Darfield Lake Coleridge Methven

Saturday: An early shower, then becoming fine. Southerlies, turning northeasterly in the afternoon.

Sunday: Fine, apart from some evening cloud. Light winds, becoming southerly for a time in the evening.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Chance afternoon shower. Northeasterlies.

Saturday: Fine, apart from morning cloud and isolated showers about the foothills. Southwesterlies, turning northerly in the afternoon.

Sunday: Fine, apart from areas of evening cloud. Light winds, becoming southerly for a time in the evening.

Partly cloudy, with isolated morning and afternoon showers. Northeasterlies, turning northwesterly late.