7 minute read
Reti on Rushtons
National’s spokesperson on health, Dr Shane Reti.
Support for Rushtons; disappointment with Little
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Malcolm Hopwood
The best thing Andrew Little can do, at the moment, is acknowledge the health sector is in crisis, claims National’s health spokesman.
Dr Shane Reti, in supporting the public recognition given to Ashburton’s Claire and Gerard Rushton, said Minister of Health, Little, could start to win back the trust of the health sector by confronting the issues.
“Acknowledging the health sector is in crisis would show he understands the significance of the situation,” Dr Reti said.
“Instead he’s intent on implementing his health reforms and has taken his eye off preventative measures such as encouraging Pharmac to make meningitis vaccines available to all young people.”
Dr Reti said Little should repurpose his reforms to fast-track the availability of vaccines for preventable infections such as meningitis.
He said Christchurch Hospital, where Mid Canterbury people go for a range of medical conditions, is “one of the ones” he worries about.
“It’s not a reflection on the staff, but it has huge work force and implementation problems. Staffing is severely stretched,” he said.
Dr Reti is “very pleased” the Rushtons have been recognised as the Ashburton Guardian’s Mid Cantabrians of the Year.
“They have a passion and belief in their mission to make meningitis vaccines freely available to all young people and their concern for New Zealand children,” he said.
“The award is well deserved.”
Dr Reti said the Rushtons give their time freely to front the Meningitis Foundation’s campaign, which saw them present a petition to parliament and address the health select committee last year.
However succeeding in their goal “is still to be achieved”, and Dr Reti isn’t getting that sense of commitment from Little.
“He has a lot of distractions from his health reforms and his recent measles catch-up programme was a terrible failure,” he said.
“While I will continue with my advocacy, I’m not optimistic he will achieve much this year.”
Dr Reti said that if National succeeded in becoming the government it would focus its attention on making vaccines available for preventable infections, however, to alter the present Government’s health reforms would take a minimum of six months.
He is, at present, scoping his 2023 timetable and wants to be down in the Rangitata electorate in April this year.
In a Facebook message, Gerard Rushton said he’d like to thank “all our friends and family and the community for their support.”
The award comes on “the ninth anniversary of losing our beautiful Courtenay who gives us the strength to continue to work to ensure others don’t have to suffer the loss we have,” he said.
“This one is for you Courts.”
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Throwing shade on policy request
Jonathan Leask
Shade will receive greater consideration by the Ashburton District Council, but a specifi c policy was deemed a step too far.
The Cancer Society had requested the council look at introducing a comprehensive UV/Sun Protection Policy when the organisation submitted on the Parks, Active Recreation and Sports Strategy (PARS) consultation in May.
In response to the request, the council investigated the possible development of shade policy.
The strategy and policy department determined a policy was not necessary, only a move for the council “to mainstream shade initiatives at an operational level, subject to approved budget, in future planning”.
That means the council will have a focus on shade provision in relevant council reports, identifying the need in planning stages and that it is included in budgets and work programmes.
The council’s Playgrounds Compliance and Safety Audit in August included an assessment on shade in playgrounds that noted overall, the council’s playgrounds, play spaces, and equipment have enough trees to provide shade, but identifi ed some with poor shade provisions.
Malcolm Hopwood
The Voice That Healed The Nation is the description the New York Times gave to an artist currently visiting family in Ashburton.
On 9/11, 21 years ago, Daniel Rodriguez was a New York policeman, based at ground zero during the terrorist attack on the city.
He was working with the commanding offi cer co-ordinating the efforts of the emergency construction teams to supply equipment to fi rst responders at the twin towers. Behind him a makeshift morgue had been established where bodies and body parts were being loaded on to freezing chambers.
“We didn’t know the attack was coming so our people didn’t have masks or oxygen equipment,” he said. “So many died from inhaling the toxic chemicals released during the attack. Even today former police, fi re and civilians are still dying from the effect of the fumes.”
As well as being a serving offi cer, Daniel also had a further gift. He was the NYPD’s offi cial soloist and was chosen to sing the American national anthem at the funerals of fi rst responders who died. He recalls singing at more than 100 funerals and memorials.
The fi rst public event that followed 9/11 was Prayer for America, hosted by Oprah Winfrey, at Yankee Stadium. Daniel was invited to sing alongside artists such as Placido Domingo and Bette Midler. It was at the televised event that Domingo heard Daniel’s voice and asked him to audition.
It led to a new career. In addition to training with Domingo, he appeared as guest on a host of TV programmes singing Star Spangled Banner or God Bless America which was growing in popularity.
On successive nights he appeared on Larry King Live, Oprah herself, David Letterman, Jay Leno and others.
“It started the healing process for American people,” he said. “I travelled the US and overseas singing for presidents, at the opening of the Winter Olympics, the World’s Fair in Japan and at Madison Square Gardens for the New York Yankees.
While many wanted Daniel to sing the national anthem, his reputation saw him quickly perform a full classical repertoire in recital and with symphony orchestras. A highlight was singing in every game at the World Series between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamond Backs where President George Bush delivered the fi rst pitch.
“He’d been working on it with his security guards at the White House,” Daniel said.
His concerts and recordings that followed saw him deliver a message of hope and patriotism. “We showed our resilience. We were going to defy the Taliban and weren’t going to hide in caves,” he said.
The New York Times called him The Voice That Healed the Nation and went on to declare “Daniel Rodriguez wrapped his arms around the grieving nation and dried its tears with his voice”.
A close family friend, Karino Nuvo, a Cuban singer with two Grammy nominations, suggested he should write his story.
It was during the 21st anniversary of 9/11, he started preparing the proposal for the book. He’s written an outline, its topics and a summary of the chapters and submitted it before Christmas to publishing houses in the United States.
When he returns to his home base in California this month he’s hoping to get a response and a fi nancial advance to complete the biography.
It will include reference to Daniel meeting his Kiwi wife, Marla Kavanaugh, whose parents live in Ashburton, and enjoying time off in New Zealand. “It’s such an amazing place and received international status over its stand on Covid issues,” he said.
“The book has become very therapeutic to me. I’ve been able to delve more deeply into my story about that day and year that I was part of. There’s been a lot to unpack.”
While in Ashburton Daniel has agreed to present one concert at Terrace Croft, with his wife Marla Kavanaugh, who recently starred at the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo and his mother-in-law, classical soprano, Kathi Craig, this Sunday, January 8 at 3pm.
Daniel Rodriguez
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