Ashburton Guardian

JULY 30 2022

WEEKEND

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Finals footy Methven and Southern face off for Mid Canterbury senior rugby supremacy today, with a myriad of other finals also on show.

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2 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Bradley comes through for Doris Malcolm Hopwood For the second year in a row, English entertainer and TV quizmaster, Bradley Walsh, has sent personal congratulations to Ashburton’s 105-year-old, Doris Wakelin.

The Ashburton Guardian believed Doris’ impressive age was worth celebrating and contacted Bradley’s agent in London. In turn, she organised him to send Doris a greeting for her 104th birthday last year, and followed it up with a personal message this week.

Yesterday, the Guardian played his greeting to Doris and is arranging with her family for her to have a permanent record of his Happy Birthday message.

Doris is a great follower of The Chase, which she watches daily.

“You could say I’m a Bradley groupie,” she said.

“I’d be a good contestant on his programme. Through life, I have a lot of knowledge,” she said.

Doris would love to appear in his line-up but “getting there could be beyond me now”.

Check out our video on our Facebook page

Doris Wakelin, 105 years old, listens intently to Bradley Walsh’s birthday greetings.

In his message, Bradley said he’d like to speak to her in person and come to New Zealand to celebrate her birthday.

“I’d definitely stay alive until Bradley comes to see me,” Doris replied.

He will be 63 on June 4 next year

and she wants to send him a birthday greeting and some aftershave.

Doris considers The Chase is worth watching and “isn’t foolish”

like other TV programmes.

Bradley reminds her of one of her boys.

“He’s happy and easy-going, just an average fellow who comes across as one of your own.”

If he could visit her on her 106th, she’d like an intimate meeting, get the family to show him around Ashburton and even take a trip to the gondola in Christchurch.

“I haven’t been on the gondola,” she said.

“I’m waiting for family to take me.”

Doris doesn’t know what to say to him in person “but I’ll know when I see him and I’ll certainly thank him for his greeting”.

In his message, Bradley also asked about her favourite cake. He likes Dundee cake, but Doris prefers “plain old sultana cake”.

“It’s been my favourite since childhood.”

Between now and next year Doris wants to keep living independently.

“I wouldn’t last a fortnight in a home. It’s too confining,” she said. “I’d be under restrictions and that’s not me.”

In the meantime she loved Bradley, Barney and the family’s greeting which “came from (his) heart” and, by watching him twice a day, will keep his viewing figures up.

Airport plan: Financial independence Jonathan Leask The plan for future of the Ashburton Airport is that it pays its own way.

The Ashburton District Council’s 30-year airport development plan focuses on making it self-reliant and enabling it to operate without being subsidised by ratepayers.

Public consultation will determine if that is where the plan lands.

Chief executive Hamish Riach said the feedback was that ratepayers should not be subsidising the operation of the airport and that thinking shaped the direction of the 30-year plan.

“If other revenue doesn’t meet

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our estimates and ambitions, there is only one way to balance the books,” Riach said.

The development plan is designed to get the airport to be a self-supporting venture rather than a rates subsidised operation he said.

Currently the airport has two

sources of income, site leases and landing fees, but in the airport’s annual budget of around $150,000 per year, around 60 per cent ($90,000) is being funded by rates.

New revenue options proposed in the plan include new commercial and recreational hangar pre-

cincts and exploring the option of a hangar home precinct, where people could live on the airport but it will require a district plan change process.

A skydiving business has set up operations while a flight school is also proposing taking up residence.

The council will also consider ways to improve fees and charges income in its 2022/23 Annual Plan budget process.

All of these initiatives are designed to, in time, make up that 60 per cent shortfall currently serviced by ratepayers.

Councillor Leen Braam said the council has focused on a user-pays model and through consultation “the public will tell us if we are right or wrong”.

The airport occupies over 100 hectares owned by the council and senior policy advisor, Richard Mabon, said the plan does not envisage any extensions.

“We believe that for the 30-year period of the plan the airport can successfully continue to operate with the exiting runways and within the exiting footprint,” Mabon said.

The demand does not exist for an extension, but Mabon said commercial circumstances can change over 30 years and the plan does not inhibit future councils from purchasing land for an extension.

As part of the consultation the council plans to hold an open day for people to a look around the airport and discuss the plan.

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NEWS 3

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

House fire treated as suspicious A fire that destroyed a flat on Hugh Street may not have been an accident.

No occupants were harmed in the fire, but the front section of the house was left gutted.

“The fire is being treated as suspicious. Investigations are ongoing,” a police spokeswoman said.

A fast response by the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade meant the fire was contained to the front section, with the back part of the house smoke damaged.

A firewall between the conjoined flats meant the flat beside it only suffered smoke damage.

PHOTO MELISSA SHIMMIN

Damage stalls upgrade Jonathan Leask

Daniel Alvey

of Methven’s water supply, and the next stage involves the construction of a new membrane treatment plant which will provide effective treatment even during flooding events – an end to boil water notices.

“As soon as the other reservoir is completed and commissioned, it will be brought online to supplement the existing storage reservoir.

“Work on the other stage involving the membrane treatment plant will be unaffected.”

When the new reservoirs, with a combined capacity of 1128 cubic metres, are eventually completed, the old concrete reservoir will be

drained to allow a comprehensive structural inspection to determine its future viability.

Construction of the membrane plant is planned to start later this year and could take nine months.

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The partially constructed water reservoir in Methven suffered wind damage that will delay the project.

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Ashburton College went into high alert when they received a bomb threat.

It was one of 12 schools that received bomb threats on Thursday morning.

“It was very concerning and not something we are generally thinking about,” Ashburton College acting principal Hannibal Ikahihifo said.

A very faint pre-recorded message was received at the school’s office and staff alerted the school to the threat.

“The message was hard to hear, but sounded serious,” Ikahihifo said.

After receiving advice from the police the college decided not to evacuate the school. Ikahihifo said the college followed advice from the police not to evacuate the school. Police responded to the school to provide advice to staff.

“We went through a checklist and then called local police to get advice and they advised us that the threat wasn’t credible and it would be business as usual.”

It was the second time this week serious threats have been directed at schools. A similar series of bomb hoaxes disrupted North Island schools on Tuesday.

Police assistant commissioner Bruce O’Brien told RNZ Checkpoint that police are working hard to understand and identify the origin of the threats being made to schools around the country.

“The threat level is low, however, we remind the schools to take the appropriate action when they do receive these types of threats,” O’Brien said.

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Methven’s water supply upgrade has suffered an estimated two-month delay following damage caused in the recent high winds.

As the wild weather forced another precautionary boil water notice in Methven, the $9.4 million project that will see an end to the need for water tankers parking up in town had one of the two new reservoirs under construction badly damaged.

Ashburton District Council infrastructure services group manager, Neil McCann, said the damage will result in a two-month project delay, as replacement parts have to be imported from the United Kingdom.

“The other reservoir was fortunately not affected because the roof had already been installed,” McCann said.

“The contractors did what they could, but with winds over 150kph on the exposed site there was little that could be done under the circumstances.

“Water supply to Methven will not be affected as we continue to use the existing concrete reservoir.”

The costs of the damage and delay are covered by the contractor’s insurance McCann said.

The construction of the new reservoirs are the first stage of the upgrade

College receives bomb threat

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4 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Exam uncertainty needs sorting Daniel Alvey High school exams are coming up fast and secondary schools are wanting certainty on what students will need to achieve.

Mount Hutt College principal Jack Saxon is with many other secondary school principals putting pressure on NZQA and the Ministry of Education to prioritise any changes to this year’s required NCEA credits for Year 11 to 13 students.

There may have been no lockdowns so far but this does not mean education for students has not been disrupted.

By Saxon’s estimation some students have lost four to five weeks of teaching.

“Some students have had to self-isolate three or four times, even if they didn’t have Covid, and then we have been struck with winter illness such as flu.”

Saxon said that this year has been by far the most stressful year of the pandemic for staff and students and wants the ministry to give them “a release valve.”

Saxon said a solution already exists, learning recognition credits (LRCs), a system that was

used in 2020 and 2021 for students affected by Covid-19 lockdowns.

LRCs meant that a student would still have to meet the required threshold for example

level one 80 credits, but bonus credits or LRCs could be added to some assessments.

An assessment would be worth four credits, plus one LRC meaning the total a student

would achieve would be 5 credits.

For Saxon, whatever NZQA and the ministry decide must been done fast and fair for all.

“It’s an absolute priority they

decide what should be done.”

“It should be proportionate to the amount of learning missed.”

For now Saxon will wait and see what decisions are made by the powers that be.

McKay calls time on political career Jonathan Leask Angus McKay’s time around the Ashburton District Council table is coming to an end.

The current councillor and former two-term mayor, from 2010– 2016, has decided he will not be standing for re-election, in a decision that likely ends a political career spanning over 20 years.

“Probably, but never say never,” McKay said.

After two decades sitting around council tables serving the community, he said he is stepping away from politics to focus on other things and “make way

Angus McKay’s time around the Ashburton District Council tabel is coming to an end in October.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

for younger blood”.

He said the Remuneration Authority raising the councillor salaries has made it a more attractive and affordable role for

younger people.

McKay joins fellow councillor Stuart Wilson in signalling their retirement from local body politics, with Wilson bowing out after four terms and 12 years at the Ashburton council table.

McKay started in local body politics in 1997 and served several terms as an Environment Canterbury councillor before the organisation was handed over to commissioners in 2010.

Later that year he successfully ran for Ashburton Mayor.

After two terms he lost the mayoralty race to Donna Favel in 2016, but then returned as a councillor in 2019.

Now he said it was time for him to step aside and let some younger people lead the community forward.

With nominations set to close

on August 12, only two names have been received for the Ashburton vacancies.

Mayor Neil Brown is seeking a second term, while Liz McMillan and Rodger Letham are both seeking re-election in the Western Ward.

John Falloon and Dianne Rawlinson remain in the undecided camp, with the other four sitting councillors intending to seek re-election.

Rawlinson said she was still weighing up her decision on committing to stand for another term, and would have a decision next week.

Falloon is on holiday and unable to be reached.

In the Environment Canterbury Mid Canterbury Opakihi ward, incumbents Ian Mackenzie and John Sunckell have both stat-

ed they will be seeking re-election.

They will have competition, with NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers president, Peter Trolove, the only nomination received so far.

There will be a mayoral race in Selwyn.

Sam Broughton is seeking a third term as mayor while Calvin Payne has now entered the race and is also nominated for a seat in the Rolleston Ward.

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NEWS 5

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Joining the dots for bottom up change Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective

Jonathan Leask Joining the dots for better environmental outcomes. It’s a simple plan and one that the new Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective (MCCC) is getting stuck into.

Angela Cushnie has been appointed as the MCCC co-ordinator thanks to $30,000 of funding allocated as part of the Ashburton Zone Committee action plan.

Cushnie, a member of the zone committee since 2017, is charged with ensuring the community is connected to enable positive environmental change, to join the dots on all the work happening across Mid Canterbury.

“It’s a mechanism of engagement,” she said.

“To bring science, ideas, and action together.”

Cushnie, who hails from the Hinds area, said that the water quality has become a concern for Mid Canterbury residents over the course of her lifetime and she is passionate about the community’s role to enable environmental change.

“MCCC sees these challenges as an opportunity, and my new role is all about supporting com-

Chairman Duncan Barr, treasurer Garry Brown, secretary Jeanette Maxwell, committee members Phill Everest, Willy Leferink, Chris Gibbs, Will Wright, Greg Low, George Davidson, advisory member: Jake Jarman, co-ordinator Angela Cushnie.

The Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective has appointed Angela Cushnie as its co-ordinator as it begins work to champion local environmental projects PHOTO SUPPLIED munities to create positive environmental changes in a way that is sustainable and inter-generational.”

It started as a conversation at a pub in 2018 between a small group from Hinds and soon gathered momentum and wider community interest, and then in December the MCCC formed a committee and became an incor-

porated society.

In March they received the seed funding from the Ashburton Water Zone Committee and Cushnie said now the real work begins.

“It’s early days, but it finally feels like we are making progress.”

One of the main objectives is to acknowledge and celebrate the good work already happen-

ing, she said, the innovative and adaptive solutions being implemented and how they can be applied on a wider scale.

The MCCC is the boots on the ground, “working behind the farm gate”, and the water zone committee is “the big table we can report into” and then feeding up to ECan. Cushnie said it’s important

from an ECan perspective they have the opportunity to engage.

“We can be that mechanism of engagement”.

The committee is now engaging with all the stakeholders to develop a strategy and go from there, she said.

MCCC is also awaiting news on a funding application to the MPI Essential Freshwater Fund.

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On a climate mission Craft fundraiser for playcentre Lili Haydon

Lili Haydon

A Methven Primary School teacher senses the benefits of attending a climate change mission in Doubtful Sound are already obvious in her classroom.

Erica George was a special invitee with a group of nine geologists, aka earth scientists, on a climate change fact finding expedition of Doubtful Sound in Fiordland.

They were researching how carbon in sediment gets trapped on the floor of the fiord, which is located in the same region as the smaller but more famous and accessible Milford Sound.

George, who teaches Year 1 and 2 students, was the only teacher on the expedition. ‘’I was invited as a teacher to inspire me to educate students about our environment,” George said.

George and the group spent three days on a boat mapping the fiord floor, using sonar technology and taking sediment samples.

They tested for the concentration of salt in the water and soil, while also determining if the Manapouri dam could be affecting the fiord’s carbon storage capabilities.

The expedition was organised by

Methven Primary School teacher Erica George sorts through sediment samples from a climate change fact-finding mission with nine scientists in Doubtful Sound.

BLAKE (formerly the Sir Peter Blake Trust), which was established to provide life-changing leadership opportunities, adventures and programmes in name of the former sailing great and environmentalist.

George has certainly been inspired, having taken her knowledge back into the classroom.

“Our class has been learning about native animals, pests and trapping. We have also been learning about the water cycle,” George said.

“It’s very rewarding to see students get excited about nature and science.”

The Methven craft fair will be on again next weekend in a bid to raise some much needed cash for Methven’s playcentre.

This year there will be more than 30 craft stalls, including raffles, sausage sizzle and Devonshire teas available as a fundraiser for Methven Playcentre at the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall.

Methven’s playcentre is an early childhood educational centre, which is operated by parents and overseen by supervisors.

Organiser and parent, Rosa Watson, said she is expecting to see hundreds show up at the two-day event.

The market has been running for over 10 years, and in past few years it has proven to raise a huge chunk towards the playcentre’s annual fundraising goal.

On average the craft market raises $5000, half of their $10,000 fundraising target for the year.

“Last year was the snow storm, and people still came out,” Watson said.

According to Watson, the money raised will help buy new toys and exercise activities for the children to enjoy.

“It’s great way to spend time with your toddler, and be a part of their learning journey.

Watson, who has two children of her own who have been through the playcentre, has

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Helpers Bethany Gibbs and Soraya Clemens at one of the first craft markets held by the Methven Playcentre.

PHOTO SUPPLIED been helping fundraise for the playcentre for six years.

The market will be on from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7.

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Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

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RAKAIA 150TH FEATURE

Hip hip hooray – it’s Rakaia School’s 150th Jubilee!

I walk backward into the future with my eyes fixed on my past

Pat Deavoll

T

RURAL REPORTER

he little Mid Canterbury rural township of Rakaia is due a special and muchdeserved treat this Labour Weekend, when it celebrates the 150th Jubilee of its school.

The Rakaia School has been educating children from the town and surrounding farming communities since 1872.

Ever since, it has remained an orakaia, or a place that brings everyone together.

Back in the early days’ children often left school as young as 11 to go to work on family farms, particularly the boys. The girls left to do domestic work. Or milked the house cows.

Children would ride their ponies, or horse and gig, to Rakaia School. The horses would be housed in a rudimentary paddock for the day- just two strands of barb wire- until it was time to go home. If the children didn’t ride, they would walk.

Carolyn Nordqvist, Carol Mucke, and Dawn Whiting all attended the school in the 1960s. Their teacher was Fraser Barton and Nordqvist remembers the discipline and “what would happen if I misbehaved.”

“A common reprimand was to send us out, with our desks, to sit under the goal posts and be made to stay there all alone,” she said.

Muckle said, “We’d begin with the times’ table using chalk on a black board and had to avoid having chalk thrown at us.”

Whiting, who was very sporting, said she enjoyed journeying to other rural

An aerial view of the modern-day Rakaia School, 2022.

schools to compete.

All three women are on the jubilee organising committee and have spent hundreds of hours preparing for the event.

Morgan Platt, deputy principal of the school and jubilee committee chairman said the Labour Weekend event

PHOTO: RAKAIA SCHOOL

would be as follows: “Friday evening is a good ole’ catch up with cash bar from 5.30pm. People can pick up registration packs here.

“Saturday starts with a street parade at 10am going to the school grounds. There is more catch-up time available.

“At 1pm there will be official speeches, the cutting of a cake followed by decade photos and afternoon tea,” he said.

“On Saturday evening, at the Community Centre, there will be a grazing table, a cash bar, a live band, and some more catchup stories.

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“Come Sunday at 10.30am there will be a reflection service to finish the weekend.”

The school has always been connected to the Rakaia River. The school is on Dunford Street, a salute to the original punter who provided service across the river in the 1800s. Ever since it opened on 25 March 1939, the Rakaia River Bridge has retained its title as New Zealand’s longest bridgesomething all school students to this day are very proud of.

While Rakaia has changed since the centenary in 1972 when 600 former students and their families gathered to celebrate, the jubilee organisers believe the town will hold fond memories for many.

“Rakaia’s grown because of farming, particularly dairy, and the business hub is important to serve the rural community,” Platt said.

“It’s also a stopping-off place for travelers and ideal for lifestylers as it’s close to Ashburton and Christchurch.”

Alumni of the school who have performed to a high degree are ploughman Allan Manson, world champion jet boater Mark Cromie, shearer Grant Smith, and renowned Maori carver Riki Manuel. The school has also produced some celebrated rugby players over the years.

What’s more, believe it or not, the sixth generation of the Mead family is now attending the school.

Nordqvist said the school has journeyed through three major wars, the snowfall of 1976, devastating earthquakes, and most of all, the latest Covid outbreak. And it has survived and cemented some great memories and steadfast friendships over the years.

While no foundation pupils will attendthe youngest would have been 155

RAKAIA 150TH FEATURE

7 11

From left, Carolyn Nordqvist, Dawn Whiting, and Carol Muckle, the nerve centre of planning for the Rakaia School 150th Jubilee.

PHOTO: ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

years- ages of attendees will range from 97-year-old David Cornelius to the latest 5-year-old at the school.

The Jubilee Committee has used a hakatauki to help guide them and remind them of the importance of the history of Rakaia School. Kia whakatomuri te haere wakame - I walk backward into the future with my eyes fixed on my past.

This is an important remembrance of te ao Maori conceptualisations of time, where past, present, and future are interwoven, said Platt.

“Also to remind us that we are only as strong as the foundations that have been set by those before us.”

People can register to attend via the Rakaia School website: https://rakaia. school.nz/150th-jubilee/ So, if you have a connection with the school, or just want to be part of this historic event, get your registration in.

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PHOTO: RAKAIA SCHOOL

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8 WEEKEND FOCUS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

FOR LOCA

WAS PER For every journalist there are stories that will always stay close to their heart. For Sue Newman, that was the Kirsty Bentley murder. She was there from day one and over the years has watched as the aftermath of that tragedy tore that family apart. With the murder still unsolved, there is no closure for mother Jill and brother John.

Kirsty’s dad Sid died still asking why.

N

ew Year’s Day, 1999. In homes across the Ashburton District families were stirring, parents checking on their teenagers, anticipating a slow start to the day. It’s a pattern that runs on repeat year after year.

But not that year, New Year’s Eve 1998 would forever be remembered as the day that Kirsty Bentley went missing, the day that a huge dent was hammered in people’s belief that the Ashburton District was a safe place to raise kids, a belief that nothing bad ever happened here.

I’d drawn the unlucky marble that year, working over the holiday break. Traditionally New Year was a time when nothing happened, when finding enough news to fill the next day’s paper was a challenge.

Mid-morning I received a phone call from a friend in the Ashburton police suggesting I might want to grab a camera, pen and paper and head down to the Ashburton River bed.

A teenager was missing, he said.

At that point, there was little information available, but when you put missing teen and New Year’s Eve together, you know the facts could add up to something newsworthy.

Search headquarters had been set up alongside the river bed, and I was told that Sid and Jill Bentley’s 15-year-old daughter Kirsty and her dog Abby were missing.

Sue Newman: “The Kirsty Bentley story might be almost 23 years old, but that family remains firmly lodged in my heart.”

Police search teams, sniffer dogs and local search and rescue crews were out in force, walking the river bed tracks, calling out for both Kirsty and Abby. No-one answered.

During the morning the facts started to emerge.

The Bentley family home was just off Chalmers Avenue, close to the Ashburton River. Walking Abby along the river trails was something Kirsty did most days. She and the dog had a close bond.

New Year’s Eve afternoon she had gone for a walk with Abby, planning to come home late afternoon for dinner with her parents, brother John and her boyfriend. She never turned up.

Along with Kirsty’s friends the family searched the river bed that afternoon and evening. There were no signs of either Kirsty or her dog. At some point on New Year’s Eve they contacted the police and a missing person’s bulletin was issued.

For most of that first morning I was the only journalist at the scene, but that changed as the day progressed, as it became increasingly unlikely that Kirsty had simply chosen to disappear.

But the question everyone was asking was how a young teen and a dog could simply vanish in broad daylight. It was a well populated residential area and the river and its riverbank tracks were well used by walkers and cyclists. Someone must have seen something.

Early afternoon there were shouts from deep in the river bed undergrowth and that brought a momentary surge of hope.

That was quickly dashed.

Kirsty wasn’t the only Bentley victim, her murder and the after effects totally tore the rest of the Bentley family apart, including her mum Jill (above).

Yes, one of the missing pair had been found, but it was Abby, not Kirsty. And that created a mystery of its own. How could the dog that no-one could find during searches the previous night and early morning, now be tied up waiting to be found?

The relief of finding Abby was shortlived, however, as police had also found evidence that Kirsty may not have disappeared willingly – her knickers and boxer shorts were found not far from where the dog had been tethered.

For the family that was the worst possible news and from that point it was clear that where ever Kirsty was, it was not by her choice.

One of the toughest parts of following a missing person story is the need to interview family members.

The family is going through hell. Most have no experience in dealing with journalists and all are in a state of shock. Coherent thought is impossible.

Sid and Jill were no different, but they realised how important it was for people to know about Kirsty, the person she was and how much she was loved and desperately missed.

I was privileged to share many hours with Jill and Sid over those early days. Sometimes we talked, other times we simply sat and reflected. When they were ready they talked.

It was heart-breaking stuff.

Clearly Kirsty was much loved and clearly this was a family that distress was tearing apart.

Covering those early days of the search was a challenge. As a parent, it was all too easy to put myself in their situation. How would I feel if the media were hounding me when all I wanted was to find my child.

And that creates the eternal conundrum – how to get newsworthy stories day after day while not compromising your own integrity or adding to the family’s distress. You are always aware that these are people, not just a story.

It’s a fine line you walk, but it always comes back to treating those family members with respect, building a relationship and never betraying their trust. They need to know you’re after more than a story, they need to know you care.

In the early days of the search there were many, many hours spent simply waiting.

Waiting at the river in the hope that something would be found, waiting for police to issue statements and most often waiting with Sid and Jill, trying to help them navigate their way through what was becoming a media storm.

Covering highly emotional events brings out the best and the worst in the media.

Over many days there were reports and camera crews I came to detest for their hard-nosed, non-sympathetic approach.

But there were just as many that gained my immense respect.

HERITAGE 9

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

AL MEDIA

RSONAL

Rumours around any possible role Kirsty’s brother John and father Sid (above) may have had in her death refused to die.

When an event happens on home patch it becomes personal. Out of town media can walk away, local media must live with the aftermath. There is always anxiety over how far to push before you overstep the mark, before you lose the relationship you have built. But you can’t risk losing a story either.

And over those early days I gained a growing respect for the police and the bonds they were forming with the family, with the genuine sympathy and understanding they were showing. Many of those men and women were also parents.

None of that stopped the police doing their job. There were still hard questions that they and the media had to ask. And as the investigation wound on, some of those questions were tough on the family as eyes turned inwards.

“

questions asked than answers given. They were in a limbo hell where there was hope that Kirsty might be found alive, but fear she might not. For most of that time they were hounded by the media, but as the days ticked by out-of-town media interest waned a little and it was left to local journalists to keep the story alive in the community’s mind.

And that in itself was a challenge. How to ensure Kirsty wasn’t forgotten when there was really nothing new to report. It became a case of rehashing old stories and desperately looking for new angles.

Over that period there were plenty of reports filed with police on vehicles spotted in the area, on people who may have been seen near the river bed. Nothing panned out, but each report brought more stress

One of the touching moments during that time was the outpouring of love that came from Kirsty’s friends. They kept a vigil at the river bed and were always happy to talk about their friend.

Yes, there were loose ends in everyone’s story. Things that might not have added up to a water-tight account, but, who in that situation could have total recall about the times and places they had been during the critical hours around Kirsty’s disappearance.

One of the touching moments during that time was the outpouring of love that came from Kirsty’s friends. They kept a vigil at the river bed and were always happy to talk about their friend. And that for a journalist was gold as it provided an unsolicited insight into the real Kirsty.

For more than two weeks the Bentley family sat under the spotlight with more

for the family, because the media needed to follow up those potential leads.

Kirsty’s 16th birthday was looming, and the family decided to hold a small celebration. It never happened. The night before the event police told them their daughter’s body had been found in the Rakaia Gorge.

And that started the media frenzy all over again.

Often it is the funeral that neatly closes the pages on a missing person story. But not so with Kirsty. Her body had been found, it was clear she had been murdered, but there were no suspects – at least that the police were telling the world about.

Kirsty’s funeral was heartbreaking. So

Kirsty Bentley, from an ordinary family that something extraordinarily bad happened to. many distressed young people and a distraught family.

The Bentleys invited the media and when an invitation such as that is issued there is just one clear rule – whatever you write, write it with a kind heart.

My lasting memory of that day is of Sid and Jill, shrunken by grief but stoically braving having to say a very public farewell to their child.

In many ways, with Kirsty’s body found and her funeral held, it was like the story moved on to chapter two.

And for months at a time, it seemed chapter two would remain unwritten. Yes, there were surges of interest when police came up with new theories or possible suspects, and that, of course necessitated revisiting the family and rehashing the horrors of the past.

Doing that might sound simple. It is not.

It is traumatic for a family that is trying to heal and extremely uncomfortable for a journalist not wanting to offend or upset.

And there were anniversaries that again

brought old wounds to the surface.

In the years since Kirsty’s murder, I spent time with Sid or Jill on several occasions and it was heartbreaking to watch their family disintegrate in the aftermath of her death.

I believe that disintegration was accelerated by the rumours that refused to die around any possible role Kirsty’s brother John and father Sid may have had in her death.

Jill moved away from Ashburton and its memories and made a new life and since that occurred I was privileged to share some of her thoughts about the past and her future.

Sid remained in the family home. In many ways he was a broken man. I also spent time with him in the years after Kirsty died and was privileged to attend his funeral.

The Kirsty Bentley story might be almost 23 years old, but that family remains firmly lodged in my heart. They were an ordinary family that something extraordinarily bad happened to.

They could have been any one of us.

10

NEWCOMERS’ NEWSLETTER

A great group to be a part of Y

ear five of the Driver Licensing Programme is in full swing, and we are really pleased to see the 10th group start road code classes and work towards their learners’ licence.

Again it is a multicultural group which shows the amazing diversity of cultures we have here in Mid Canterbury.

It is interesting to see where in the world our people come from. We have people from seven different Asian countries, five from the Pacific Islands, four from South American countries, three from African countries, two from European countries, plus Australia and New Zealand, represented by the 172 people who have enrolled in our programme over the past five years.

That is an amazing variety of nationalities and cultures.

And how lucky are we in the programme to get the opportunity to learn about what makes people tick, what their back-

ground is, what brings them here to New Zealand, and to experience a totally different outlook on life which is what the different cultures bring.

What a privilege it is to meet these people and be part of their journeys, to help them settle into their new lives and help with their independence.

The diversity of cultures doesn’t stop at our students either.

We have mentors from seven different countries as well. It is fantastic that past immigrants

want to help new immigrants to settle in. We love hearing of the connections being made and the impact it is having on people’s lives.

When you think about the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Give, Be Active, Keep Learning, Connect and Take Notice, we cover pretty much all of them.

And that is so good for the wellbeing of our participants, our volunteers, our sponsors and ourselves who run the programme.

What a wonderful programme to be a part of!

If you would like to be part of this amazing programme, either as a student, driving mentor or to volunteer in other ways, we would love to hear from you.

Please contact Wendy Hewitt on 027 611 3301 or wendy.hewitt@ safer.org.nz We are also on Facebook, just search for the Mid Canterbury Rural Driver Licensing Scheme.

Loving what NZ has to offer M y name is David Velasquez, I was born in Miami, Florida to Colombian parents that immigrated to the United States in the late 60s. I lived most of my adult years in a town near Washington, DC. In Brooklyn I worked as a family medicine doctor in an urgent care centre. I was feeling overworked and stress levels were very high. We decided we needed a change of pace and a break from the hectic life in Brooklyn, New York. My wife, Angela, and I started to look for options around the world and New Zealand ticked all the boxes.

Then in 2020, the pandemic hit and stress levels went through the roof, but luckily, our application to come to New Zealand was accepted.

Here, I work as a GP at Moore Street Medical Centre.

I wanted to be a doctor to help the people of my community, wherever I may be.

After Brooklyn, Ashburton seemed to be a big contrast. I like that it is a nice quiet town with a good eclectic range of restaurants to dine at, a lot of places to exercise or play sports, beautiful mountains off in the distance. It is also very close to other activities; beach, ski, hiking, big city events, etc. all within a short driving distance.

We have formed great friendships with people from all over the world, with locals, patients and co-workers. We feel very lucky to have met such great people here. My wife even discovered a longlost second cousin in Ashburton, which was amazing!

One of the challenges I faced was getting used to the Kiwi accent and colloquialisms, but working as a GP, made it easier for me to adapt, because I was talking to locals daily.

We miss our home country but more so we miss being close to the Americas. It would be a lot easier if we could take a three-hour plane ride, just so we could see family easily. But to be honest, we love New Zealand and feel blessed to be here.

We’ve been wanting to get to know as much of New Zealand as possible. I think we’ve explored more of it than our home country. It’s so beautiful here, it’s hard to not want to go and explore. Surfing, tramping, cave exploring, bungee jumping, food exploring, etc. It’s all been great.

A message to the readers: Thank you for making us feel welcomed in New Zealand, especially here in Ashburton.

If you haven’t explored much of New Zealand yet, get out there and explore!

Show us what you’ve got

T

he A&P Show theme for this year is Multicultural Mid Canterbury and it is a great opportunity for newcomers, migrants and ethnic communities to showcase our talent and home countries.

If you would like to have a display of your home country, participate with entertainment or share your baking, home brewing or sewing skills, please get in touch with Mercedes Walkham on 027 220 8791.

NEWS 11

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

This is one fluffing good column Lisa Fenwick MY FORKING LIFE

W

hat’s in a word?

F..k is probably one of the most under-appreciated, under-valued and versatile words ever invented.

(And so that I only get sued once, instead of multiple times, I won’t print it in full and I’ll even exchange it for the word fluff.) The boss said he’ll be fluffing annoyed if I do otherwise.

Back to fluff. How many words do you know that are used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, an interjection or even an adverb? Yes, it is considered offensive and vulgar, but so is viewing penises and vaginas on Naked Attraction on TV2.

And, also, damn used to be considered offensive and vulgar and it’s not nearly as satisfying to spit out of your mouth when you’ve just crushed your foot with the vase you just dropped on it.

I genuinely have multiple uses and reasons for using it.

Here’s a couple of examples: To my bestie: “Fluff you’re the bomb.” (Meaning: You made me laugh so hard I nearly peed my pants) To my boss: “No, I’m fluffed if I’m doing that.” (Meaning: That’s not in my contract and you’re being a demanding dick) To everyone at work: “Fluff right off.” (Meaning: Are you serious right now, moron?)

To my children: “I fluffing love you.” (Meaning: I love you so much it hurts) To the person that hit my car: “Are you fluffing serious?”

(Meaning: How is anyone that stupid?)

To the police: “Did you see the fluffing speed that car was travelling at?”

So, to me, a word is just a word. There is no such thing as a bad word … only bad intentions and meaning. I tend to use it mostly for emphasis.

I know I’m not allowed to say it. I also know there’s every

chance Mr Bell’s going to have a few choice non-sweary words to say to me for writing a column about the fluff word.

I’ll probably be run out of middle-class white Ashburton even.

How I see it is that it’s only “bad” if it’s intended in a bad way. If you say it with the intention to hurt or targeted at a person to offend … well, then she’s a real bad word.

And if you hurt yourself, it’s one of the most satisfying things to scream … just for drama and pain release.

Interestingly, the F word’s origins apparently doesn’t have its roots in old English.

It is thought to come from the German word fricken, which means “to strike” or “to hit/

penetrate”. It may also come from the Swedish dialectal word focka (“to strike” or “to copulate”) and/or the Dutch word fokken (“to breed”).

But seriously, you can use that little sucker of a word on multiple levels. In fact, there should be a public holiday for it.

But don’t take my word for it, try it out for yourself on National Fluff Day. What do you say, Jacinda?

Note: If you love this column, please send all thank you replies and congratulatory messages my way. If you think it’s a load of rubbish, direct all concerns to: daryl.h@theguardian.co.nz He handles all the big fluffing issues and I’ll probably just say “I don’t give a fluff”.

Famous F (fluff) word quotes “What the fluff was that?” – Mayor of Hiroshima “What the fluff do I do now?’’ – Ian Foster “Where did all these fluffing Indians come from?” – General Custer “That’s not a real fluffing gun.” – John Lennon “Where the fluff is all this water coming from?” – Captain of the Titanic “It’s never going to be our fluffing year’’ – disgruntled Warriors’ rugby league team fan “Any fluffing idiot could understand that.” – Albert Einstein “You want what on the fluffing ceiling?” – Michaelangelo “Why? Because it was fluffing there!” – Edmund Hillary “Scattered fluffing showers my ass.” – Noah “I need this parade like I need a fluffing hole in my head.” – John F. Kennedy

Foot and mouth – we have to keep it out A

nyone old enough to remember Britain’s foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 will forever have those images of burning animal carcasses imprinted on their minds.

With the disease spreading across Indonesia and with particles identified on meat imported into Australia – bringing it virtually to our doorstep – the catastrophic impact of it breaching New Zealand borders cannot be underestimated.

Whether you’re on a farm in Mt Somers or Mesopotamia, or in the middle of Tinwald or Timaru, a foot and mouth outbreak here in New Zealand will have severe consequences on us all.

It will wipe billions of dollars off our economy overnight, destroy our $52 billion primary

Nicola Grigg SELWYN MP export industry, empty supermarkets and food supply chains, and will evaporate 100,000 jobs.

Put simply, it will devastate this country.

Our primary sector exports are forecast to reach $56.8 billion by 2026 – it is beyond imperative that our biosecurity systems are resourced to prevent an incursion by all means necessary.

As it has with other incursions that threaten our nation, the National Party will support government measures to tighten border security and biosecurity systems

– but it will also keep Damien O’Connor and MPI’s feet to the flames on the response.

The Government this week announced a roll out of foot mats with disinfecting chemicals for arrivals to walk through, the supply of personal protective equipment, disinfectant, backpack sprayers and other tools to Indonesia, and an on-theground audit of the palm kernel supply chain in Indonesia.

One hundred per cent of cargo from Indonesia is now being screened.

Industry group Beef and Lamb has concerns about waste food that is imported for pig feed, but isn’t calling for a ban on meat imports – yet.

But the response shouldn’t stop there. Every possible avenue for the disease to enter the

country needs to be identified and every responsible government department must be on high alert.

With that in mind, the Primary Production Select Committee that I sit on has called on MPI to appear before us next week for a briefing on any biosecurity intelligence on the international and domestic picture, as well as an update from Biosecurity New Zealand’s readiness and response team.

We all have a part to play though. Farmers need to re-ensure their farms have stringent biosecurity measures in place, they need to ensure all animals are registered and comply with the NAIT system to the letter, vets need to be vigilant for any sign of disease and, above all, returning travellers must honestly

declare where they have been while overseas and comply with Customs requirements.

A dusty jandal will be all it takes.

Currently there aren’t any direct flights operating between New Zealand and Indonesia, but any passenger returning from any country that has foot and mouth – even a simple transit – will now be searched and disinfected.

If you know anyone offshore planning to come here, my plea is to impress upon them the seriousness of this disease.

The team of five million needs to mobilise now, more so than ever, and keep this thing out.

National’s Nicola Grigg grew up in Mt Somers and is currently the Selwyn MP.

12

RantorRave

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Send your opinion to editor@theguardian.co.nz | PO Box 77 | facebook.com/ashguardian

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LETTERS We welcome your letters and emails, but: ■■ No more than 100 words.

■■ We reserve the right to edit or not publish.

OUR VIEW

Ashley Bloomfield: A job well done K

ia ora koutou katoa to everyone across the motu.

Rest easy. It’s not a te reo lesson. It’s more important than that. Yesterday there was one serious new Covid case and piece of news that may have escaped everyone’s attention and not have been reported to the level that it should have been.

It hit in Wellington where our beloved director general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, said goodbye, perhaps succumbing to the pressures of the job and dealing with an ongoing and devastating pandemic.

Bloomfield had signalled late last year he intended to step down before his term officially ended in June 2023. And so that’s what he’s done, completing what most would agree was an outstanding job leading the Government’s health response to Covid-19 and the vaccination

Daryl Holden rollout.

It’s certainly been one heck of a shift, having to be the public face of our fight against the virus for two years and notching up more than 300 press conferences in that time alone.

Tempting though it is to berate him for abandoning New Zealanders when Covid is still killing Kiwis daily, shouldn’t we all just say thanks doc?

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practice thought that, awarding him an honorary fellowship for what they said was his “tireless work as the director general of health using evi-

dence-based decision-making to inform Government”.

Bloomfield has a medical degree, but did not gain a speciality in general practice, so the honorary fellowship was a pretty big deal.

The PM had some nice things to say too, explaining that Bloomfield had been a true public servant in every sense, through his dedication, drive and calmness.

Great sentiments but there will be just as many who will question the success of Bloomfield’s efforts and his department, and that’s fair, too.

His detractors will say many aspects of our Covid response under his watch have been, well, disastrous. PPE wasn’t there when we expected it to be. Testing, contact tracing, the vaccine rollout, which didn’t involve GPs, got nowhere near that targeted gold standard level.

And, they’ll argue, our low death rates were mostly because New Zealand’s an isolated nation that, for most parts, had a very strong border control, which had nothing to do with the health ministry.

Maybe some of that’s relevant but one thing is for sure.

Through the pandemic, and through his daily 1pm nationwide TV press conferences that at the start were compulsory viewing, you could tell that Bloomfield genuinely cared.

Day after day that came through. He cared about this work. He cared about giving his all. He cared about making you and I safe. For that, he should always be remembered and always thanked.

Talk about the kiss of death ..

Typical.

Literally hours after I talked

up the Commonwealth Games’ prospects of emerging Kiwi cycling star Ally Wollaston and what does she do?

She crashes out of the Tour de France Femme road race, suffering an injury to her wrist.

So bad was the injury that Wollaston was forced to pull out of the Games’ team pursuit where gold was a very real possibility for the New Zealand quartet.

There’s been no official full withdrawal for Wollaston, so she may still be an outside chance to compete in the road race on the final day of the cycling programme.

Either way, it’s a cruel blow for the former junior world track champion, who was predicted to be a star in Birmingham.

Lesson for me? Be wary of the commentators’ curse on some poor bugger.

TAKING ISSUE 13

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Glorious Glow in the Park

F

irst up this week I wanted to pass on a very big thank you very much from Maddy Hooper to the teams at EA Networks and the Ashburton District Council for Glow in the Park last weekend.

We had a wander around it (two laps to be precise) on the Friday night and we loved it. I’m a bit of an outdoor lights addict, so it was right up my alley. I loved the deep colours lighting up the trees.

Maddy thought the glowstick candy floss was awesome, although Manda and I were both shocked that she didn’t really like the taste of the candy floss. It looks like we weren’t the only ones to enjoy the event, it was great to read through all the POSITIVE comments on my facey page. Here’s a sample . . .

Rachel McKeich: Loved it, so well set up and thought out, the food carts/vans looked lovely with the lights setting the scene a fantastic atmosphere.

Diane Lobb: It was a great night.

Thank you to everyone involved. Something for both young and old to enjoy and had a real community feel.

Nice to see it so well supported. Amazing colour everywhere.

Christine Mabon: It was a lovely fun event, even for us oldies.

Loved the glow in the dark

Phill Hooper OFF THE AIR candy floss (it’s always a favourite of mine). Superb effort to the organisers, and also good to have ready access to parking. Loved seeing families out there enjoying the event.

Moyra Whiting: Loved it. Huge thanks to the ‘ideas’ person/ people and the many volunteers who gave of their time.

Charlotte Hill: Great evening, the whole family enjoyed the evening. Great to see the community supporting the free event.

Dulcie Ellis: Love it. So nice to see so many people out and about with families. Well done!

Regan Broker: Yea bloody good alright well done to the organisers and all the volunteers.

Danielle Bosch: Really enjoyed it. We went all three nights. My kids really loved it too, they enjoyed the fog machines a lot and the amazing lights.

To finish this week, more good news, this time for those who struggle to sleep.

Bioengineers at the University

of Texas, have engineered a new type of mattress that “tricks” the body into falling asleep faster.

Body temperature influences how awake or sleepy we feel at any given moment.

For instance, it’s healthier to sleep in the evening as body temperature declines. So, the research team developed an innovative mattress and pillow

system that uses both heating and cooling to send a message to the body that it’s time to sleep.

They say the new mattress successfully triggers sleepiness, shortening the time it takes to fall asleep, and improves overall sleep quality.

If that doesn’t work, try tuning in to my radio show.

Today’s the big day N

o, the teddy bears are not having a picnic. To the best of my knowledge.

Today is in fact the very day from which going forward, people 64 or younger have to give up their seat on a crowded bus for moi. If only we had a local bus service.

Jeepers* I can’t quite comprehend it.

Sure there have been milestones in the past. Reaching teens, turning 21. Getting married. Having kids. Turning 40. Turning 50. Turning 55 and getting the first perk of the semi-elderly, a $5 lunch at the Christchurch Casino.

Sixty was a biggie, but this feels bigger.

Much bigger.

There is definitely a comprehension that most of life, even with the good fortune of a long innings, is now in the rear view mirror.

The question in the back of one’s mind turns more to thinking about managing whatever lies ahead.

Regrets. I’ve had a few. But then again too few to mention. Thanks Frank.

I spent way too much time in my young years worrying about health, and suffered from a chronic lack of self-confidence which, shall we say, sabotaged my social life.

But balanced against that, it’s been wonderful to bring so many projects and concepts to fruition. There’s been a few disasters thrown in, but in retrospect and with the soothing balm of time, even the bad times were good. Thank you Tremeloes** So here’s my “I’m not ancient, but . . .”

I remember:The introduction of black and white television. And massive aerials in Ashburton back yards.

The Wahine disaster and the resulting devastation of the associated storm.

Standing for God Save the Queen at the movies. Vague recollections of the St James.

The change to decimal currency. I was a Dollar Scholar you know.

The first man to walk on the moon. We listened to it unfold on the radio in class at Hampstead School.

Hampstead School trip to Wellington.

Peter McQuarters PETE’S PERSPECTIVE Overnight on the Inter-Island Ferry from Lyttelton following a train trip from Ashburton, visiting Parliament and the Lower Hutt & Bays Fire Station and being selected to go up the towering turntable rescue ladder.

Cool.

The fledgling days of the Ashburton Operatic Society and being taken by my dad to sit quietly and watch the final dress rehearsals of The Boy Friend, Rio Rita, Chrysanthemum, Oklahoma and heaps of others.

The first Tinwald Festivals. These were really pretty special affairs and with well-organised events the whole community got behind.

Anyone remember the Festival Pole Sitters?

Top Town.

Cycling over to the Tinwald Domain to see what this new vintage railway thing was about. Immediately joining and becoming their publicity officer and newsletter man.

I can remember one of my dad’s cobbers asking me, “What do you do over there?” I replied “Public Relations”. He came straight back, “Public relations, Christ, haven’t you got enough of your own!”

I look back now incredulous that the Ashburton Railway and Preservation Society sent me up to Wellington, age 14, alone, as their delegate for the formation of the National Federation of Railway Societies. Now FRONZ. Me, from Ashburton with all these grown-ups from all over New Zealand speaking at a conference in Wellington. Loved it.

My apprenticeship as a typographer at The Ashburton Guardian. Dad said “you need a trade”.

In those days, industrial-era workings, hand assembled pages in lead type and

Till next week Hoo Roo Phill Hooper Light lover 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.

LETTERS To the knockers clanking Linotype machines. Victorian era stuff.

Myself, Steve Devereux, and David Taylor, the three apprentices, stepping up and producing the Guardian on our own during a printers’ strike. Still very proud of that.

I recall the wonderful sight of the Harvards and Devons lined up on the apron at RNZAF base Wigram. You could get a good glimpse as you drove across the nearby flyover.

With news that the wartime Harvards were approaching retirement, at 17 years old I put an advert in the Ashburton Guardian to form a group to have a go at buying one. The result, The Ashburton Aviation Museum.

It turns 50 in a couple of years, and has one of the best collections anywhere.

Operating Ashburton’s first mobile disco, being offered a job on the first radio station in Ashburton, managing the local picture theatre, being shifted to Masterton and meeting the future Mrs Mac. It’s been a great road, with a career in the business of my dreams which has taken our family all over the country to work. And ultimately back home where it all started. And mercifully I still have a job going forward.

But now there is also the anticipation of the first pensioner payment, the winter heating allowance and the Gold Card. I’m just about wetting my pants with excitement.

Oh, one more regret, not getting into Kiwi Saver sooner. BIG mistake.

And one more question. Is it legal for a senior citizen to keep a relationship with his younger wife?

Asking for a friend. *Jeepers – a term frequently used by the elderly. **Tremeloes – an ageing 60s British pop group.

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 Ashburton Guardian.

Before you all go writing our men in black off, has anyone given any thought to the fact that those boys showed what they were capable of in their first game against the Irish.

There is always a reason for everything that takes place, and I truly believe that some of those lads were not fit to play at all.

They went straight out of isolation and back into their very strict fitness programme that is necessary to perform, punishing to the body under any circumstances.

That Covid does something to your head for one thing and doesn’t let up when your 10 days are up.

Fit as the players are, Covid’s after effects are many and varied, and those boys were pushing themselves for 80 minutes, tackling and hoping to make the right decisions.

You don’t even realise it’s happening until you think “I’m not usually like this”.

Don’t forget the Irish lads had Covid cases done and dusted 12 months before it got here, so were 100 per cent fit.

It only takes a few in the team to feel off and they wouldn’t even realise why.

Just an opinion.

Iris Taylor

Letters to the editor We welcome your letters and emails, but: Ideally, no more than 200 words.

We reserve the right to edit or not publish Email: editor@theguardian. co.nz

14 WEEKEND FOCUS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

The Mid Canterbury rugby team and officials lined up for their photo, prior to leaving for Australia. Back row (from left) R. F. Thomas, J. R. Bennett, J. M. Mudgway, G. C. Frew, B. J. Parkin, A. G. Hill, A. J. Grieve, P. A. McLay, D. J. W. Wilson, P. M. Keenan. Middle row: W. D. Thomas, P. J. Cunneen, J. A. McLay, A. H. Gordon, M. R. Holmes, J. C. Ross, S. F. McAtamney, M. A. McLeod, T. A. Richards, A. Morrison. From row: N. J. Sutton, Dr Phil Munns (team doctor), B. V. Sampson (selector-coach), N. W. Buchanan (vice-president), B. E. Bain (president), R. G. Perry (captain), C. M. J. Gilbert (vice-president), M. R. Gilbert (past-president), N. A. Goodwin (selector-coach), M. B. Roulston (vice-captain) and P. C. Williams.

Historic rugby tour was ‘quite out of the ordinary’ Malcolm Hopwood

I

t all began with a conversation between Tom Richards, Murray Roulston and some rugby friends at Don Grant’s funeral.

With the 40th anniversary of Mid Canterbury’s four match tour of Queensland coming up, they decided not to wait any longer.

No-one knew if they’d be around when the half century arose, so they decided to hold the anniversary in August. Several of the players and administrators had passed away and no-one could predict the future.

The 1982 May tour to Queensland was a milestone in Mid Canterbury’s rugby history and resulted from several successful seasons in division two.

Roulston suggested holding the reunion when the current team played its first home game on August 27 and Richards agreed to contact players, partners, administrators and the tour party that accompanied them.

So far he’s had nearly 30 responses and, with a few weeks still to go, is hoping to increase that number. Most of the players are close by, in and around Canterbury, but a few, like Alan Hill and Huia Gordon, who live in Australia, have expressed interest in coming home.

The reunion will be held at the showgrounds before and after the game, and then move to Panther’s Rock at Mayfield for lunch on Sunday.

“It’s our first official get-together, and it’s going to be very special,” Richards said.

“The lies will get bigger as Saturday evening progresses.”

He’s sure tries scored on the tour when someone fell over the line, will be extended to them running the full length of the paddock.

The historic visit comprised 31 players and administrators and, before they left, they scrubbed up for an official photo.

Organiser, Colin Gilbert, looks back on the official photograph of Mid Canterbury rugby team’s 1982 tour to Queensland.

With president, Bevan Bain, leading them, they won every game convincingly against Queensland teams.

The last, against Queensland Country, was played on the hallowed Ballymore Oval, the first time both teams had played at the home of Queensland rugby.

Organiser of the tour, Colin Gilbert, was vice-president at the time and is the only surviving administrator left.

Sadly he won’t be at the reunion as he has a family celebration in Auckland.

“The tour was quite out of the ordinary. It was part of a reward for the team doing so well in the second division. It was the golden era of Mid Canterbury rugby,” he said.

“In one year the representative team went through the season undefeated, including victories against Canterbury and Otago.”

It was payout time for the players, especially those who’d formed the nucleus of the team for several years.

Arrangements started the year before.

Firstly they wanted to tour New South Wales, but there was little response, then Queensland Country replied and agreed to

include the tour in its itinerary.

But first it had to be paid for, and players and administrators started fundraising with Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union topping up the amount with a few thousand.

Financing tours in the 1980s wasn’t just limited to flights and accommodation.

Many of the players hadn’t seen the world beyond Canterbury, and costs included passports, spending money, uniforms and time away from work.

They succeeded and posed for the team photo, looking hugely serious, with only Bevan Bain and possibly co-coach, Neville Goodwin, looking happy.

“We organised the tour to ensure everyone got a game. They all played to their ability,” Gilbert recalled.

The Ashburton Guardian contacted him by phone after every game and ran glowing reports based on his evaluation of the players and their performance.

“It was a hard game, but one our boys thoroughly deserved to win,” Gilbert said proudly after the first win. “John McLay excelled himself at number eight, making

one crashing tackle late in the game.”

Roulston was described as “a fine general” while Murray Holmes gave “a sound display”.

In the second game Steve McAtamney was “a tower of strength” and “Frew looked extremely sharp and made several breaks”.

In the third game Jock Ross “ hadn’t played a better game for Mid Canterbury for many seasons” while backs to star were Williams, Holmes, Mudgway and Grieve.

In the last game against Queensland Country, Geoff Frew “played a blinder on the wing.” Gilbert said he showed exceptional speed and “obviously the hard fields have suited him.”

There were few mentions of the opposition although Ray Gordon, a former New Zealand Junior and brother of prop, Huia Gordon, was “a constant thorn in Mid Canterbury’s side”.

One of the few negatives was expressed by co-coach, Goodwin, when he discovered no Mid Canterbury players had been chosen for the Junior All Blacks.

“He’s quite annoyed and intends to have something to say when he gets home,” Gilbert said.

Forty years on few people recall what he said although, with Mid Canterbury’s reputation during that era, it’s not hard to imagine what he conveyed to the All Black selectors.

Looking back, Gilbert is certain the tour was an absolute success. “We were looked after everywhere we went.”

They returned fit, ready to take on the domestic season.

The fundraising was also successful with money left over after the tour. Surplus funds were used to purchase rugby balls for junior teams.

While there were tentative arrangements for Queensland Country to visit Mid Canterbury, it never happened, and the 1982 tour remains unique in Mid Canterbury rugby annals.

It’s certain to be raised when the former players gather at the end of August and, who knows, they might just form a golden oldies team and return to Surfers Paradise.

WEEKEND FOCUS 15

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Sixty kilowatt DC generator which was owned by the Ashburton Electric Supply Company, approx. 1921.

AM&HS Collection, photo reference 04.2003.0095e.

Man standing in front of substation equipment, date unknown. AM&HS Collection, photo reference 05.2014.1196.

Electrifying Ashburton: 100 years of power

By Connor Lysaght

L

ast weekend locals were treated to a dazzling night of lights and family fun at the Glow in the Park event in Tinwald.

The event, which was a co-operative effort between the Ashburton District Council and EA Networks, was held to celebrate 100 years of EA Networks providing electricity to the district.

EA Networks, once known as the Ashburton Electric Power Board, was formed in December 1921 and held its first meeting on January 11, 1922. The first power board was comprised of members elected by poll.

Alongside several well-known figures from Ashburton’s past, the inaugural board included John Grigg of Longbeach, who was famous in the district for supporting innovation.

The board was established initially for the purpose of facilitating the delivery of electricity generated at the Lake Coleridge power station to Ashburton in the winter of 1922.

Let’s take a close look at how the first Ashburton Electric Power Board achieved their initial goal of bringing power from Coleridge to Ashburton and how this paved the way for a hundred years of progress.

First electricity supply Before we dive into the early history of the power board it is worth noting that Ashburton already had a source of electricity since 1908.

Ashburton’s first power supply, a 220 volt DC line, was installed

by Craddock & Company from Christchurch and it adequately served the town’s modest electricity requirements.

In 1912, the Ashburton Electric Supply Company was formed and gained control of Craddock & Co’s property and rights in Ashburton, becoming this town and district’s first local power

Kermode Street premises of the Ashburton Electric Power Board, April 1964. AM&HS Collection, photo reference 04.2003.0142f. company.

As time went on, more households and businesses subscribed to the power company and demand grew.

When the New Zealand Government promised in 1921 that electric current from the Lake Coleridge power station would reach Ashburton by July 1922, it became clear that preparations had to be made to ensure that enough people across the district signed up for the scheme.

A provisional committee was created and the planning began.

Plan of action A summary of addresses given by provisional committee chairman Mr F W Watt regarding a proposed Ashburton Electric Power Board was published in the Ashburton Guardian on April 16, 1921 and it laid out how exactly the district would be prepared to receive “Coleridge power”.

Firstly, there was to be only one power board which would encompass the Ashburton County, Borough and Tinwald, rather than having two or three boards for each area. This was to ensure that the price of electricity would be as low as possible.

Ratepayers across the county

were asked to allow the board to raise a loan to cover initial expenses, such as the outright purchase of the Ashburton Electric Supply Company.

There were two reasons for this purchase, which were explained in the Guardian as follows: “(1) It was necessary to eliminate private enterprise, and so secure a wider market for current; and (2) a stand-by plant would have to be provided for emergencies, and the plant already in existence in the Borough would do admirably for that purpose.”

The initial plan was to bring the current from Lake Coleridge into the county via Methven on an 11,000 volt line, and this would be broken down into 220 volts at stations in Methven, Hadfield, Mayfield and other centres.

The New Zealand Government would pay for the direct line from Coleridge to Ashburton, and the power board would pay for the local distribution wires.

Power to the people It took longer than the board most likely expected, but finally, on July 11, 1922 it was announced that the Ashburton Electric Power Board would raise a special loan of £296,500 (approximately $32 million today)

in order to buy the premises and assets of the Ashburton Electric Supply Company and also the Ashburton Borough Council’s generating plant.

The bulk of the loan would cover the construction of electric works across the district.

Over the following years, the Ashburton District was electrified.

When Methven was connected to the electrical network on March 31, 1924, the event was quite a momentous one as the Guardian described the following day: “Yesterday was truly a ‘red letter day’ in the history of the Methven township, because the desires of the community for that modern adjunct electricity, were realised. Great enthusiasm prevailed last night when the ‘juice’ was officially turned on. The enthusiasm was quite in keeping with that perpetual desire to progress which seems to exist perhaps more strongly in Methven than elsewhere in the county.”

A hundred years on, Glow in the Park served as a fun and colourful reminder of just how much progress and change has occurred since EA Networks started off as the Ashburton Electric Power Board.

Do you think that the original advocates of the power board could have imagined the level of electrification and advancement we take for granted today?

Maybe in a hundred years’ time, future Ashburtonians will celebrate EA Networks’ 200th anniversary with a hologram show in the domain and a flying car race . . . who knows what the future will bring!

CONTACT Material for this page is co-ordinated by the Ashburton Museum and Art Gallery. 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 for purchase from the Ashburton Museum and Art Gallery.

16

DriveThru

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

with Bernard Egan

All things motoring and otherwise

The big Five-Oh!

YOUR LO

C

lub memberships spanning 50 years aren’t celebrated every day.

It’s always a special occasion when such long service is recognised, and a prestigious award is presented.

Last week the Ashburton Vintage Car Club had a quadruple celebration when the dedication of four members – each of whom joined 50 years ago – was recognised.

And having a married couple amongst the recipients made this even more extraordinary.

So a little about the recipients, who have between them accumulated two hundred years of membership.

PARTS & S

YOUR LOCAL HONDA PARTS & SERVICE CENTRE

Les Bennett

Honda Service Store Ashburton

After purchasing a 1929 Plymouth Model U De-Luxe Coupe, Les joined the club.

Following restoration the Plymouth was taken to a rally in Blenheim, and it has been rallied extensively since then.

In 1979 Les bought a 1947 International KB-1 truck, which he drives often.

Over the years Les and Marie have been on countless local

Sam Cullimore

In acknowledging the passing of Sam Cullimore we remember a gentleman who was very willing to make his historical motoring books available to us and others for research purposes. A warm welcome from Sam and his late wife Janet always awaited those who called in.

The Guardian Motoring Team are thankful we knew Sam, and we extend our condolences to the Cullimore family.

couple who each received awards.

When Rob joined the Ashburton Vintage Car Club he was working on a 1929 Dodge DA sedan.

Since then several other cars have been restored, including two more Dodge Tourers, two Dodge Coupes, two Chrysler 77 Coupes, a Curved Dash Oldsmobile and a 1907 Cadillac Commercial.

Since leaving farming, Rob has undertaken restoration and maintenance work for members throughout the South Island.

He served on the branch committee and as a Parts Shed custodian.

Rob is currently one of the Club’s Vehicle Identity Certificate Officers.

Rob and Diane’s extensive rally experiences include driving their 1925 Dodge Roadster on an international rally in South Africa, and traversing Australia in a 1929 Dodge Coupe.

National VCC president Diane Quarrie and Ashburton club chairman Peter Jacob with 50-year membership recipients Diane Ross, Rob Ross and Les Bennett.

them at service stations as far afield as Christchurch to the deep south.

They usually had one displayed on their car, and bought minimal amounts of fuel at each service station so they had a reason to stop often for petrol.

From its early beginnings, the Ashburton Swap Meet has grown to a highly anticipated event which has always met its aim of helping people find parts.

It has been hugely beneficial to the club, and to the wider Ollie Hurst community.

Early in his membership Ollie Ollie was one of the originals and his late wife Heather decidto establish the local Parts Shed. ed it would be The Hurst family have enjoyed good to stage rallies and events all around a local swap the South Island, and Ollie has meet. served as a marshall on a nationThey came al rally. up299 with Havelock an The of vehicles restored Str,listAshburton ingenious

by Ollie – with an emphasis on 03 308 9109Fords – is impressive. Almost marketing campaign. all have a title with names inhondaadmin@malcolmlovett.co.nz Heather cluding Fred, Barney, made up flyers IK, Brown Coupe, to advertise Abby and Red the event, Truck. and the Ollie has Hursts other distributed vehiruns and taken part in national events whenever possible.

Les was instrumental in establishing the club’s Parts Shed, which has proved a valuable source for restorers.

He has served on the club’s committee, as Club Captain, and reported local activities to Beaded Wheels, the national magazine.

For the past 13 years, Les has been a custodian of the Vintage Car Club Museum.

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cles on the production line.

Diane Ross Diane is one half of the married couple whose long membership has been recognised.

Her membership application listed a 1936 Chrysler convertible, which Diane still owns.

A keen motorist, Diane has also used her abilities to embrace administration roles at both club and national level.

Locally, she has served in various roles, and in 2012 Diane became – and remains – Patroness of the Ashburton Vintage Car Club.

At national level Diane served as South Island Club Captain for seven years.

On retiring from that role, Diane wrote her incredibly interesting and popular Brass Notes column in Beaded Wheels, ultimately being awarded the prestigious Goddard Trophy in 2016.

What it’s all meant to the awardees When accepting their awards, each of the recipients referred to wonderful family support and special aspects of club membership, well summed up in Les Bennett’s words.

“It doesn’t seem like 50 years.

“It’s been fun, we’ve enjoyed being members of a good club, made great friends, been on many enjoyable trips and clocked up lots of miles.”

The last word A now famous tongue-incheek quote from Diane Ross about why she joined the Ashburton Vintage Car Club: “Rob was a member, and I soon realised I couldn’t beat it so I’d better join it”.

Rob Ross Rob’s the other half of the

Honda Service Store Ashburton

Ashburton VCC Patroness Diane Ross and club chairman Peter Jacob present Ollie Hurst’s 50 Year Membership Award at the club’s Parts Shed.

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

FinalWhistle The Guardian’s sports wrap

17

calling time on a week of sport

Clash of the titans

“What’s happened up until this week, it’s actually irrelevant now.” – Shane Enright

Top guns flying

P20

“We’ve got to be ready for the onslaught and answer in our own way.”- Jon Dampney

Target well in sight

P20

Chasing riches

P21

18 SPORT

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Form counts for nothing Matt Markham

They might be the form team of the past few months in local club rugby, but Methven will head into today’s Watters Cup final under no illusions about the challenge they face.

Confidence is simply put a mindset that can’t be afforded even an afterthought according to head coach, Shane Enright.

Sure, Methven looked clean and polished and by far the better team when they beat today’s ri-

Methven Matt Groom, Ben Bartlett Osea Baisagale, Matt Stone ©, Manasa Bari, Joshua Harkness, Harry Bonifant, Michael Hennings, Tyler Blackburn, Tom Reekie, Manasa Vula, Xavier Bartlett, Brenton Connell, Hugh Griffiths, George Hufunga.

Reserves: Andrew Henderson, Mitch Pannett, Isaac Breach, Semisi Lei, Henry Miller, Tait Chisman, Reuben Early

vals Southern a few weeks back at Methven. But this is a different ball game, completely.

“What’s happened up until this week, it’s actually irrelevant now,” Enright said.

“Finals, particularly a match like the Watters Cup, brings about a change in teams and they get up for the big occasion, and Southern have that much experience amongst themselves that you just know they are going to be ready to run out there and give all they’ve got to knock us over.”

Coming in off the back of a brutal and bruising match last week against Celtic, Enright said this week had been all about keeping it as simple as possible, and not focusing too much on the occasion that is the Watters Cup. The side has enjoyed two good trainings and relished the opportunity to put a lot of the methods and game plans built over the season into place before today.

“I think we’re starting to see the real Methven, especially over the past few weeks.

“There’s been a lot of juggling injuries, work and illness throughout the season – but just recently, it kind of feels like we’ve really come together, and those relationships and combinations have really formed.”

Enright, who won a Watters Cup when coaching Celtic back in 2018, has nothing but respect for rivals Southern today and expects another mighty encounter between the two country sides.

“You only have to look down their team sheet, there’s some incredible players there with so much experience and caps beneath them that you know they’re going to play a huge part this weekend.

“But we can’t worry too much about that, we’ve got our game plan to take out onto the paddock and put into play and that’s all that we’ve been focusing on.”

In his first season coaching at Methven, Enright said it’s been an incredible experience to get a glimpse into a club he’s always admired.

“I think Methven Rugby has a lot to be proud of. You look down the list of games today and there’s Methven players in every game, and a number of club sides in action in finals as well.

“Looking from the outside in, I was always in awe of what they achieve here and to be given that glimpse into it and to be a part of it is something pretty special.”

Something special that could only be enhanced with a nice piece of silverware this afternoon.

got our game plan to take out onto “ We’ve the paddock and put into play and that’s all that we’ve been focusing on

Methven captain, Matt Stone will be a key figure for his side today.

PHOTO ADAM BURNS 190621-AB-7430

That perfect performance Matt Markham The search for perfection has so far eluded Southern this season, but there’s a hope within the camp that they might have just been saving the best until last, ahead of today’s Watters Cup final.

It perhaps seems a little bit tough to suggest that they’ve left something out on the paddock all season, given they made the semi-finals of the Combined competition and have worked their way through to the final of the

Southern Brad Tarbotton, Mason Briant, Adam Williamson, Logan Bonnington, Scott Martin, Eric Duff, Hamish Mackenzie ©, Maukie Otukolo, Will Mackenzie, Ben Early, Makasiale Kauvanua, James Hastings, Tom Middleton, Will Green, Thomas McCormick.

Reserves: Guy Latham, Bailey Chisnall, Jack Jarman, Jon Dampney, Ryan Nicholls, Hugo Monie, Jacob Pairama, Angus Rollinson, Jonty Tresidder.

Watters Cup, but Jon Dampney knows his side is capable of more.

And he’s hoping today’s the day it unleashes.

“There’s been glimpses of it throughout the year, but we’ve been a wee way off that perfect game of rugby,” Dampney said.

“It’s there, I know it is, but we’ve only ever really shown it in periods of games and this week we can’t afford to do that, it has to be the complete package.”

There’s been no shortage of inspirational speakers to call on this week ahead of the finals; many of the squad have been there and done it before when it comes to the Watters Cup, so the focus of the week has been on the collective performance.

“A lot of players might only get the opportunity to play in a Watters Cup final once, but we’re lucky that for a number of guys they’ve been there a lot in the past.

“It’s been more about talking about what to expect for the other players to be fair, you know – talking about those dark places you need to go to in a final if you’re going to win it and just how it will feel.”

It will come as no surprise to anyone that there’s a belief within the camp that if they are to knock over Methven today, that it’s going be the battle up front that will set the

platform toward success.

But just believing that they’ll win that little side hustle isn’t enough.

“We’ve got to be ready for the onslaught and be ready to answer back in our own way.

“It’s a case of keeping it pretty simple and doing the little things right, but what will be most critical is getting out of the blocks quickly and making our mark on the game – we can’t afford to let them away with anything early on, or there might be no looking back.”

There’s nothing but respect for the Methven side from their rivals today, with Dampney noticing just how far the side has come this season.

“They’ve been the benchmark in this competition, and we have nothing but respect for them as a team and as a club.

“It’s always such a great thing to be a part of when the two teams meet – two great country rugby clubs going at it, there’s no love lost that’s for sure.

“But equally, after the match, what has happened on the field is left behind and we can sit down and have a beer together, which is great.”

A beer, no doubt, that will taste so much sweeter if the Watters Cup is sitting on the Southern side of the changing sheds.

might only get the opportunity to “ Aplaylot inofaplayers Watters Cup final once, but we’re lucky

that for a number of guys they’ve been there a lot in the past

Southern captain, Hamish Mackenzie will look to lead his side to Watters Cup success today.

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

12 years between drinks, a walk down memory lane T here’s a dogged history when it comes to Southern and Methven in local club rugby.

Fiercely competitive rural outlying clubs, with strong memberships and supporters – and absolutely not one ounce of love lost when it comes to meeting on the paddock.

It’s somewhat surprising though, that you need to go back 12 years to find the last occasion the two proud teams squared off in Mid Canterbury Rugby’s centrepiece.

2010 at the Ashburton Showgrounds; an epic Watters Cup encounter, with Methven lifting the coveted trophy with a 16-11 victory.

It was a match that featured some of Mid Canterbury rugby’s most famous names.

John Ellis in action for Southern, who were then coached by Ken Wills; Davey Maw running the cutter for Methven while his father, John – a noted Mid Canterbury player himself in his day, ran the ship from the sideline.

In a brutal, up-front affair, it was Southern who scored first through flanker Mike Spence, after his side turned down a shot at a penalty and successfully went for their lineout drive.

Methven weren’t to be outdone though.

John Ellis (foreground) and Davey Maw were both instrumental for their sides when Methven and Southern last fought out the Watters Cup, in 2010.

Piling on the pressure themselves, they were rewarded when No.8 Pete McAndrew crashed over from close range, with Maw adding the conversion to give his side the lead 7-5 after just 10 minutes.

Ellis came into the match next, slotting his first penalty of the day to give his side the lead

back, which they carried into the sheds at halftime.

Neither side seemed prepared to give an inch early in the second half.

After a good-old bashing of each other up front, something had to give. And it did in the form of the referee’s pocket, with James Carr shown yellow

for slowing the ball down, from which Maw pushed the ball through the posts to see Methven back in front 10-8.

A further Ellis penalty turned the match around again with just 10 minutes to play as Southern wrestled back the lead, but that would be Southern’s last say.

Maw slotted another penalty to push his side out by two points, and when Southern threw everything they could at the Methven attack who were winding down the clock, a penalty ensued, and Maw closed out the match with another three pointer to see his side home 16-11.

“Absolutely stoked it was a bit of a nerve-wrecker, but we got there.

“We all knew we could do it, we just had to go out there and get it done,” Methven coach John Maw said after the match.

“We were probably a bit hesitant at times and couldn’t keep the roll on,” Wills said in his match assessment.

Full credit to Methven though, they really stepped up and it was tough and hard final just like we expected.”

Twelve years apart, but something suggests that the 2022 version of Southern v Methven in the Watters Cup is going to be just as exciting and as enthralling.

SPORT 19 It’s Super Saturday at the Showgrounds Mid Canterbury Rugby Union Finals Day. Saturday, July 30 – Ashburton Showgrounds 11.15am – Ground 3 Under 16 Final – Celtic v Methven MCRU HN Edge Cup, Russell Kelly Memorial Cup, Combined Competition Final – James Patron Memorial Trophy.

12.15pm – Ground 2 Combined Colts Final - Celtic v Tinwald Methven 12.45pm – Ground 3 Under 14.5 Final - MC Plains v MC Alps MCRU Cup 12.30pm – Main Oval Senior B Final – Methven v Hampstead 2nd Grade Cup 2.15pm – Main Oval Senior Final – Methven v Southern Watters Cup Entry: $10 adults, Under 17 free.

The players who could make or break today’s Watters Cup Matt Markham

I

t’s a team sport, for sure – rugby.

But it’s not without its individual aspects as well.

Rugby finals often come down to the moments, and those moments often materialise from individuals.

We’ve scoured the team sheets and decided on six players worth keeping an eye on during today’s match as we’re sure they’ll make a huge impact for their team, whatever the result might be.

Southern

Adam Williamson

The man affectionately known as ‘Fridge’ has been epic all season once again for Southern. A clinical key man in the scrum for his side, but an equally important member of the overall forward pack across the paddock, his work rate is impressive. The big watch for Methven today, however, is when he gets the ball in close proximity to the try-line. The man has white-line fever, and loves nothing more than grabbing another meat pie for his efforts. Deceptively quick and extremely powerful when

Southern’s Will Mackenzie isn’t shy when it comes to the tryline. the ball is in his hands, give The Fridge an inch, and he’ll take a mile every time.

Will Mackenzie

Big matches such as a Watters Cup final always tend to lend themselves toward the experienced player. Sure, the young vibrant winger out wide might score the winning try, but often it’s a direct result of the hard graft done by someone a phase or two earlier. Mackenzie is that sort of player. He’ll cause disruptions for Methven wherever he runs too.

It’s the tactical nous that comes with his years of experience that makes him a dangerous prospect out there today, and if he can get the Southern forward pack’s tails up early in the match then look out, this one is going to go the distance.

Thomas Middleton

As far as debut seasons in

Mid Canterbury rugby go, there have been few better than that of Thomas Middleton. The young talent has shone from the very first time he slipped into a Southern shirt, and he’s looked right at home ever since as well.

With 46 points on the board for the Watters Cup round alone, he’s totalled well over 100 for the season, largely from the boot but also through some deft work with the ball in hand, scoring tries and setting his team mates up with opportunities. It’s a big moment for the young man, but one he’s shown all season he’s ready for.

Methven

Tyler Blackburn

A surprise returnee to the Methven mix late this season, but a welcome one for the side without doubt. After an injury-

enforced layoff for the majority of the year, Blackburn returned with gusto during the middle stages of the Watters Cup. His match against Southern at Methven was immense, and a big factor in their success that day and Southern will know one of the keys to getting on top of their rivals is shutting Blackburn’s control of the match down in those crucial moments. A key player in a big match, his matchup with Will Mackenzie will be worth the admission price alone.

Manasa Bari

Redemption, it’s often best served in rugby with success.

Those who trekked to Methven a few years ago to watch an epic Watters Cup final between Methven and Rakaia would well remember the moment that Manasa Bari’s world came crashing down. A broken leg meant he missed most of the second half of the match and ultimately helping his team lift the trophy. This year, the big forward has been excellent again and as if any extra motivation was required, ensuring he’s on hand this time around to hoist a Watters Cup in the air will be all the motivation he needs to produce a huge performance.

heads will tell you that Xavier Bartlett has been on their radar for a number of years. With a freakish ability to turn something into nothing, but an equally as impressive rugby brain on his shoulders he’s the kind of player who can create that bit of magic that’s required to win a big game. He’s slotted into the backline at Methven this season with ease, looking right at home. And, if given a chance by a Southern side who will know exactly what he’s capable of, he’ll look to break away and take the game into his control. A dangerous prospect.

Xavier Bartlett

Pure x-factor, wrapped up in an incredibly talented rugby player. Well-versed local rugby

Manasa Bari has some unfinished Watters Cup business to attend to.

20 SPORT

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Shooters on target for South Island champs

Bassett adds another title Matt Markham

Matt Markham It’s regarded as the largest smallbore shooting match in Australasia, and the Mid Canterbury contingent are coming in both large and hot.

Almost two dozen members of the Target Shooting Mid Canterbury group will line up on the range today for the annual South Island Teams Championship, where the senior shooters will compete for the Andrew and Faulkner Shield and the juniors for the Greenhough Shield.

Last year the championship, which outrivals any of its kind in terms of the number of shooters competing, was held in Ashburton at a purpose-constructed facility at the Ashburton Showgrounds.

This year the team travelling to Oamaru to compete with Southland, the official host.

Target Shooting Mid Canterbury’s Nina McKenzie said the sheer number of local competitors across all competitions had Mid Canterbury leading the way.

“It’s the culmination of lots of training and work for our association teams,” she said.

Jack Jones will captain the Target Shooting Mid Canterbury Junior team at the South Island Teams Championships in Oamaru today.

“This number will likely make us the most represented association at the match.”

The teams have been putting in the hard work to prepare for the event, which begins today with some serious coaching undertaken by expert club coaches, Bryan Hunter, Bruce Gray, Kevin Hooper, Keith Bonnington, Andrew McKenzie, TJ Stewart, Brian Hawksby and Steve McArthur, with Nick Stewart

and Sharon Tourle handing the managing duties.

As well as the two main events, local shooters also feature in a Combined team alongside Timaru competitors for the weekend, in what should be yet another great event for local target shooters.

Target Shooting Mid Canterbury members in action this weekend: Senior – Andrew & Faulkner Shield: Nina McKenzie (captain), Char-

lotte McKenzie, Colin Taylor, Dave Thompson, Jolie Thompson, Madi Tourle, Nick Stewart, Sandy Bennett, Sarah Clifford (with Timaru), Steve McArthur. Bryan Hunter (emergency), Garry Ellem (emergency), TJ Stewart (on call).

Junior – Greenhough Shield: Jack Jones (captain), Amelia Swan, Charlotte McKenzie, Madi Tourle, Phoebe McKenzie, Tane Moore.

Junior Combined Team Match: Sama Sooialo, Luke Rhodes, Jack McIntosh (on call), Eliza McKenzie (on call).

Ashburton Indoor Bowls’ decision to move to drawn championship events and shy away from the normal entry system continues to work wonders for the sport locally.

The annual championship triples wrapped up on Thursday night after 11 teams took to the mats a week ago to try and qualify for the knockout stage of the competition.

After struggling to get numbers to compete in events in previous years, last year the association moved to make all but one of their championship team events drawn where players express an interest in competing and then are drawn into teams on the night.

Five teams made it through to the postsection stage of Thursday night’s championship triples with Willowby indoor bowler Mat Bassett continuing his good run of form with success.

He combined with Rod Webb and Joan Hardy to take out the title, beating John Cuthbertson, Jackie Gilbert and Barry Molloy in the final.

Michael Lawson, Gaynor Hurst, Jackie Webb and Geoff Laird, Nic Andrew and Selwyn Munro were third equal.

It’s the second championship title for Bassett this season and his sixth Ashburton title overall.

Webb claimed his fourth title with the success while for Hardy it was her third.

Players get a chance to add another tomorrow when they take to the mats for the annual Men’s and Ladies Championship Singles.

The puzzle becomes clearer Matt Markham Nothing too out of the ordinary, no surprise results – just good quality netball.

As the business end of the Mid Canterbury Premier Netball competition rapidly approaches, sides across all three divisions continue to impress as the season progresses, and while the big guns continued their runs of form, those chasing them showed they might be closing the gaps ever so slightly on Thursday night.

Hampstead A were forced to work extra hard to get a win over Mt Somers in Premier 1 action to open the week, but did so even-

tually with a 39-29 win. The four competition points keep the defending champions within reach of Celtic who they play next week.

Yet to taste defeat this season, the Celtic machine kept on rolling as well, overcoming a tight first quarter in which they led by just one to pick up a 37-25 win over Methven.

Victory next week will assure them top qualifying spot in the competition, a title they’ll be keen to have heading into the semi-finals.

United did their job to remain in the top three, but had to survive a bit of a scare and come from behind to down Southern in the final match of the top-flight for the night.

Southern came out of the blocks jet-propelled and took leads both into the end of the first quarter and into the halftime

break, but a regrouped United returned in the second half and set about getting back on top of the match. They led by one heading into the final quarter and then drew away from a brave Southern to win 32-27.

Meanwhile, in Premier 2, the top of the table clash between Allenton and Rakaia was the main talking point heading into the round and it didn’t disappoint out on the court.

It was the second time the two sides had met this season, not the first as reported in Thursday’s Guardian, and the ledger now sits firmly at one win each after Allenton got over the top to go clear on the standings.

A strong second quarter put Rakaia in the box seat heading into the halftime break, but a resurgent Allenton finished too strong to take a 25-19 win and go

three-from-three for the Championship round.

Celtic B crept their way into second on the standings with a 31-20 win over Methven Shearmac, while Ashburton College A looked right on song to push for a playoff spot with a good 36-28 win over Methven B in the other match.

The match of the Hampstead teams, U18 and B, in Premier 3 went right to the wire with neither side able to be separated from the other in a 34-all draw, which changed the make-up of the grade with just two weeks remaining.

Ashburton College 10A’s win over Ashburton College B 3317 was enough to see them go clear at the top of the table, while Methven Humm got a win on the board with their 43-25 success over United B.

Short and sharp Premier 1

Hampstead A 39 beat Mt Somers 29, Celtic A 37 beat Methven 25, United A 32 beat Southern 27.

Premier 2

Celtic B 31 beat Methven Shearmac 20, AshColl A 36 beat Methven B 28, Allenton 25 beat Rakaia 19.

Premier 3

Methven Humm 43 beat United B 25, Hampstead U18 34 drew Hampstead B 34, AshColl 10A 33 beat AshColl B 17.

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Morrison out to snare rich Addington spoils

SPORT 21

Legend Locky signs off on his career Matt Markham

Matt Markham The big money is up for offer at Addington Raceway tomorrow, and John Morrison is quite keen to get his hands on some of it.

Tomorrow’s bumper meeting marks the finals of the Winter Rewards Series introduced

by Harness Racing New Zealand earlier in the year.

Horses compete over the course of a period of time, earning points for starts and subsequent placings and then from those points, fields are assembled for $20,000 finals, with five on offer at tomorrow’s meeting.

It’s a real boost to the often-dull winter racing months, and has without doubt helped keep field sizes through the past two months at a decent number.

“They are a great initiative,” Morrison said.

“I think a lot of trainers have kept horses in work that they otherwise would have turned out just so they can target this meeting tomorrow with them, and it’s proven worthwhile because they are really good even fields.”

Morrison hopes that the completion of the Winter Rewards Series will see the announcement of something similar for the first stage of the grass track racing season, which kicks off at Methven on Sunday, September 4.

“There’s a lot of scope there for something similar, the grass track racing is already so competitive but to have something to aim for would be great.”

Morrison heads to Christchurch tomorrow with a book of seven drives for the meeting, four of those which fall into the Winter Rewards Series Finals.

He marked the Dean Taylor-trained Best Trio as one of his better chances for the day.

“He’s not had a lot of luck, but he’s been very consistent throughout the winter – there wouldn’t be too many more deserving of getting a win in a race like this than him.

“The good thing about him is that he’s quite adaptable, you can drive him how you want and if he gets a little bit of luck then I don’t think he’ll be that far away from them at the finish.”

Ashburton trainer Brent White gives the young driver, who last week picked up his 250th driving success, another royal chance in the shape of in-form trotter, Majestic Rollon.

Excellent in winning last week, the five-

John Morrison has a strong book of drives on Winter Rewards Finals day at Addington tomorrow.

PHOTO SUPPLIED.

year-old mare is right in the zone at the moment.

“She’s trotting really well and most importantly, doing everything right.

“I’ve been impressed with the speed she’s shown recently and if he she can get handy enough to them, it’s the sort of race that might come down to who gets the best run in transit.”

Classy Dancer and Take After Me round out Morrison’s chances in the finals, and both – he believes – can run in the money if

M8 NZ Metro harness

things pan out right for them in their respective races.

As well as the winter finals, he’ll also jump aboard first-starter Rockin To The Dawn and talented pacer Caster Semenya for big supporter Tony Barron, and also in-form maiden pacer Trouble Supreme for Michael Heenan.

With 37 driving wins for the season, Morrison – who has returned to Ashburton – is firmly entrenched in the top 10 drivers in the country on the premiership in his first full season out of the junior driving ranks.

He might not have won as many races as some of the biggest names in the game, but Steve Lock said goodbye to his career as a harness racing trainer with his head held high on Thursday night at Addington.

The popular and colourful Lock, who has called Ashburton home for the past 18 months, lined up his last ever runner at the races on Thursday night when Honour Scroll went around in the second race of the night.

There was no fairytale finish to the career, with the horse finishing eighth, but an incredible contribution to the industry didn’t go by without notice.

The 70-year-old fought back a few tears as he looked back on his career after the race – a career that’s spanned almost 35 years with close to 3400 starters at the races.

“I’ve had a lot of fun, but it’s also a sad night for me,” Lock said. “I will miss it, but I can’t afford to carry on.”

Rising costs and the price of fuel, coupled with small returns for racing horses have led to Lock making the decision to step away from the game. A noted traveller with no fear in jumping on the road and heading to meetings across the South Island, Lock has clocked up more miles than most.

“It’s tough for the small guy in the industry, and it’s the old story – if you can’t handle the heat you have to get out of the kitchen.”

Lock’s years as a trainer have seen him net 80 winners, the latest, Nordic Prince earlier this year.

Renowned for getting other trainers’ cast-offs and trying to turn them around, those 80 winners featured 50 individual winners with his best-performed horses Snow Fella who won six in the early 90s and then Kansas City Jim who won five and has just recently been retired.

While Ashburton has been home, Lock will now look to head back to his original homeland of Southland and was looking forward to getting back into one of his other loves, motorsport.

Tomorrow at Addington Raceway

R1 IRT. YOUR HORSE. OUR PASSION. PACE $9,000 2600m 13:10 1 8 Gliding High T M Williams 2 44x43 Floras Diamond Deal R D Close 3 5 Rebound K G Cameron 4 34225 Pure Courage G A Shand 5 87774 Airies Gold J R Dunn 6 33538 Sports Babe M J Williamson 7 400 Knight Sky T S Chmiel 8 7440 Rapid Response 9 Rockin To The Dawn John Morrison B N Orange 10 6267 The Elite Athlete Craig D Thornley 11 90x Hanoi Franco R2 GARRARDS PACE $9,000 2000m 13:35 1 737x0 Major Memphis S J Ottley J Herbert 2 4x312 Let’s Go Ringo Scott Iremonger 3 26539 Motor Mouth G D O’Reilly 4 8139 Megarock J R Dunn 5 76175 Petrify T M Williams 6 94200 The Conqueror C J DeFilippi 7 87x47 Bettor Believe It D J White 8 16762 Swagger Man Sheree Tomlinson 9 8060 Mark Dunnett 10 6634x Chris Kyle 11 90649 Moody River Sarah O’Reilly 12 3444 Seapris John Morrison 13 138x3 Caster Semenya Craig D Thornley 14 6003 Apatchofgold 15 71074 Star Magic T S Chmiel 16 1086 Itz Magical Meg B N Orange 17 57x06 Southerly Change R D Close 18 61548 Yankee Jay

R3 PAUL RENWICK JOINERY WINTER REWARDS HANDICAP TROT $20,000 2600m 14:01 1 92905 Tres Magnifique B Weaver Korbyn Newman 2 98309 Gotta Ticket 3 64686 Bourbon On The Rocks J P Versteeg 4 9x300 Reindeer Trouble R D Holmes 5 47608 Mickey Jay Sheree Tomlinson 6 42337 Zsahara I R Cameron 7 75527 Ginas Majesty G D O’Reilly 8 22170 Slainte Sarah O’Reilly 9 16384 Majestic Whisper T M Williams 10 93995 Wynberg Watch K A Butt 11 8633 Sky High Flyer John Morrison 12 46966 Take After Me J R Dunn 13 1402 Make My Sundon J W Smith 14 25241 Lookslikeatrixter Jason Ford 15 24633 Navara B N Orange 16 00x17 Kohli Trouble M J Williamson 17 3540 Granny Rose S J Ottley 18 6227 Murano R4 LAMB & HAYWARD MBL PACE $9000 1980m 14:35 1 0x4 Terror Eyes B N Orange K M Cox 2 x3980 Watch Me 3 5705 Macy Black T S Chmiel 4 3480x Vincent Vega Wilson House 5 54456 Wriggles Rufus R D Close 6 Sista Bliss 7 68x87 Pembrook’s Princess Ben Hope John Morrison 8 x2544 Trouble Supreme Sam Thornley 9 5 Olivia’s Star T M Williams 10 54976 Sheza Manipulator R M Cameron 11 48574 Prettyboycoby

R5 SPECTATORS BAR MBL PACE $9000 1980m 14:59 1 67095 Kali B K Butt R D Holmes 2 0x968 Playboy Prince J R Dunn 3 76420 Tisbury Rocks J W Cox 4 92584 Hes Santas Excuse Ben Hope 5 74336 Bettorlini 6 1968 Sportscam L F O’Reilly 7 40264 Maren Franco T S Chmiel 8 50801 Deja Blue 9 801 Tiger Taylor B N Orange 10 0x074 Sky Vale Max Hill 11 43527 Sargent Best C J DeFilippi 12 56841 Ultimate Bird Sheree Tomlinson 13 x3622 Katherine G D O’Reilly 14 16875 Shanika R6 CLARKSON SIGNS WINTER REWARDS MBL PACE $20,000 2600m 15:24 1 36663 Sweet Belle Sarah O’Reilly C J DeFilippi 2 41132 Happy Place Wilson House 3 64130 Smokin Annie R D Holmes 4 72371 Off The Edge 5 44811 Emma’s Boy Sheree Tomlinson 6 85701 Shards Fury B N Orange 7 11436 Serious Moonlite R D Close 8 21418 Cheezel J R Dunn 9 51211 Smiffy’s Terror M J Williamson 10 13114 Evangalist Olivia Thornley 11 61310 First Class John Morrison 12 98441 Classy Dancer A J Tomlinson 13 84861 Hazer C J Dalgety 14 72011 Khal Drogo R7 HAGLEY WINDOWS & DOORS WINTER REWARDS

TROT $20,000 2600m 15:49 1 71441 Mc Squared S J Ottley B N Orange 2 310 It’s So Easy M J Williamson 3 12864 Cody Banner R D Holmes 4 47522 Madeleine Stowe A L Lethaby 5 1773 Racey Krusa Sarah O’Reilly 6 645x1 The Bloss John Morrison 7 32041 Majestic Rollon R D Close 8 98704 Harry Potter 9 60310 Simone Lindenny I R Cameron 10 46866 Bright Glow Craig D Thornley 11 86128 Clyde 12 155 Beyond The Horizon J W Smith J D Markham 13 65411 DD’s Super Stuart Ben Hope 14 4403 King Of Love P J Davis 15 10131 The Fox Gemma Thornley 16 2228 Sioux Princess D D Mccormick 17 31414 Maui R8 STORER MOTORS WINTER REWARDS MOBILE PACE $20,000 2600m 16:21 1 83221 Tane J J Sheree Tomlinson J W Cox 2 42743 Four Starzzz Shiraz 3 33798 Rock’n Kiwi Wilson House 4 22039 Taliesin S J Ottley 5 94790 Songbird T M Williams 6 53221 Millwood Melody John Morrison 7 29353 Best Trio J R Dunn 8 84951 Get Back G D O’Reilly 9 18437 Morrissey M J Williamson 10 23564 Kingsdown Atom Ben Hope 11 38517 Westar Lad B N Orange 12 64302 The Cobbler

T S Chmiel 13 6051 Lizzie Richter R D Close 14 34316 Violet Knight R9 FIRST DIRECT TAXIS WINTER REWARDS MOBILE PACE $20,000 2600m 16:46 1 43264 Jordy J R Dunn Sarah O’Reilly 2 12548 Ruby’s A Delight R M Cameron 3 32211 King Arthur T M Williams 4 91913 The Hornet Sam Thornley 5 1434 Luminite T S Chmiel 6 3811 U R The One B N Orange 7 66086 Rake R D Close 8 91117 Victor Bravo 9 16722 Loyalist 10 32047 Mossdale Mac Korbyn Newman 11 13588 Arizonawildcat M J Williamson 12 17415 Rocknroll Diva S J Ottley 13 18746 Olive Cook C J Dalgety 14 29581 Sonic Reign

Matt Markham’s Addington Selections Race 1: Rapid Response, Rebound, Pure Courage, Sports Babe Race 2: Bettor Believe It, Caster Semenya, Major Memphis, Let’s Go Ringo Race 3: Navara, Make My Sundon, Murano, Kohli Trouble Race 4: Terror Eyes, Pembrook’s Princess, Prettyboycoby, Trouble Supreme Race 5: Katherine, Maren Franco, He’s Santa’s Excuse, Shanika Race 6: Smiffy’s Terror, Serious Moonlite, First Class, Cheezel Race 7: The Fox, The Bloss, Maui, DD’s Super Stuart Race 8: Best Trio, The Cobbler, Tane JJ, Four Starzzz Shiraz Race 9: Ruby’s A Delight, Victor Bravo, Jordy, Loyalist BEST BET: Smiffy’s Terror (Race 6) VALUE: Navara (Race 3)

22 SPORT

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

WeeklyWorkout Exercise your grey cells with our weekly sports crossword and quiz

SPORTS QUIZ 1. In the last 10 years, before today, who has won the most Watters Cup finals? a) Rakaia b) Southern c) Methven 2. Joelle King and whom were named flagbearers for NZ at the Commonwealth Games Opening? a) Lewis Clareburt b) Tom Walsh c) Hayden Wilde 3. The Phoenix are coming home, and will open their season at Sky Stadium against which side in October? a) Melbourne City b) Adelaide United c) Brisbane Roar

4. Finn Allen helped the Black Caps to success in their first T20 on Thursday, which domestic team does he play for? a) Auckland b) Canterbury c) Wellington 5. All White midfielder, Sapreet Singh has re-signed with which German football club this week? a) Bayern Munich b) Dortmund c) FC Union Berlin 6. Jason Ryan had links with which Pacific nation before his appointment to the All Blacks? a) Manu Samoa b) Tonga c) Fiji 7. Local netballer, Kelera Nawai will play for which team in the ANZ Championship next season? a) Mainland Tactix b) Northern Stars c) Northern Mystics 8. American Jarrell Brantley signed with the NZ Breakers this week, which NBA side has he just finished playing for? a) LA Lakers b) LA Clippers C) Chicago Bulls

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Answers: 1. a) Rakaia, 2. b) Tom Walsh, 3. b) Adelaide United, 4. c) Wellington, 5. a) Bayern Munich, 6. c) Fiji, 7. b) Northern Stars, 8. b) LA Clippers

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PUZZLES 23

Puzzles and horoscopes Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Cryptic crossword 1

2

3

4

Simon Shuker’s Code-Cracker

5

8

6

Your Stars

7

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): The reason you want to know about someone is more than sheer curiosity.

You wonder about the potential. Do you share commonalities? Can you make a connection? The right questions will be key.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): You have an urge to open all the windows and doors so fresh, life-giving air can circulate. This is the same urge that sends you adventuring into the wide, busy world.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): In much of life, the first step is a point of no return. This is why arenas allowing for experimentation are so popular.

They embody play, which is to try things without serious consequence or commitment.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): As compassionate as you are, listening to talk that goes on and on meaninglessly feels like an assault. With an appreciation for pleasant, articulate brevity, craft your side of the conversation accordingly.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): To some degree you can choose your teachers and your students, though life will surprise you in this regard. You’ll get the equivalent of a weird substitute or rambunctious pupil and make the most of it.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): The work feels like a grind because it is. But at least it’s a grind that matters, as it feeds and fortifies you and others. This gets harder before it gets easier, but heavenly forces will come to your aid.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): That which disturbs you also interests you. Do you dare look into it? A tiny peek will be an interesting exercise in your sensory and emotional responses. One small dose can start your process of immunity.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Humility must be cultivated.

Without it, we are prone to mistakes of arrogance. The things we are so certain of become dangerous. A humble heart purifies your personal atmosphere and all you do there.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Just because you have the right of way doesn’t mean you should proceed. It’s best to proceed, head on a swivel, ready to yield, speed up and do whatever assists the flow.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): When you’re not strong enough to knock down the wall that closes you in, inspect it for weakness; one crack is all you need to start chipping away. Don’t see it? Look closer. There always is one.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): On a spinning planet, even the most stable and concrete relationships are changing. Don’t get off-balance. You’re at your best when you expect the road to wind.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Belonging is a feeling happening in a person, a poetic sense or a spiritual resonance. It’s not a fact. Belonging is subjective truth. The only person who can tell you where, if and how you belong is you.

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ACROSS 1. One needs such fasteners down as one gets to work (7) 5. Put question of getting work back, used without starting (5) 8. Nails one lost backing Edward, having had the inclination (7) 9. Spirit given back, hot and heartless when it’s dark (5) 10. Old copper is given tick to make one lose reputation (9) 12. A child: Sol, by the sound of him (3) 13. Heated situation gives USA an altered aspect (5) 17. The manner on which one is broadcasting (3) 19. Being hesitant, is loudly making changes (9) 21. Thought fifty couldn’t be bettered (5) 22. One in a boat as Norma is put out (7) 24. Too quick for yachts to be scattered when captain’s first lost (5) 25. Thus give me a light time at an indefinite date (4,3) DOWN 1. Also, be attached to the team (6) 2. Seals thus broken in the Diplomatic Corps are graded (7) 3. There’s a good deal that may come under the hammer (3) 4. Having favoured one party, is given up for dead after a loss (5) 5. Get through to writer and, being French, tear about (9) 6. These may be heaved sorrowfully for dimension one hears (5) 7. Can appear, in a terrier, to be foolishly fond (6) 11. The others completely capable of being soothingly employed (9) 14. One with very little measure in toboggan lost weight (7) 15. Right away the glossy coat will disappear (6) 16. Sort of business will get older number in New York (6) 18. Plants these in the mouths of wind players (5) 20. Appears to be all right but in unending loss (5) 23. Rather unusual meal starters: that’s the spirit! (3)

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anti-clockwise.

O N

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8 9

10

G R O M

1068

283

A ?

Insert the missing letter to complete an

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ACROSS 1. Amounts (4) 3. Obeys orders (8) 9. Soiled (7) 10. Trench (5) 11. Barrier to career progression (5,7) 13. Foolish (6) 15. Concurrence (6) 17. Layer around Earth (12) 20. Boredom (Fr) (5) 21. Flower seller (7) 22. Recently married (8) 23. Daze (4)

21

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DOWN 1. Slow-moving (8) 2. Islam’s holiest city (5) 4. Imperial units of weight (6) 5. Shallow bathing area (8,4) 6. Means (7) 7. Area of central London (4) 8. Astuteness (12) 12. Unconquered (8) 14. Until this time (2,2,3) 16. Chewy confectionery (6) 18. Proclamation (5) 19. Carved (4)

Previous cryptic solution

Good Very Good How 9many words 14 of Excellent three or 17 more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed.

There’s atsolution: least one five-letter word.

Previous ale, elf, elm, fale, Goodflam, 9 Very Goodflea, 14 Excellent fame, flame, lam, lame,17lea, leaf, male, meal

eight-letter word reading clockwise or Previous solution: LIBERATE anticlockwise. Previous solution: LIBERATE

11

283

S A E P D WordBuilder How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make AusingE from theS five letters, each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed.

Pone five-letter D word.

There’s at least

WordWheel

Quick crossword 1

WordBuilder WordBuilder

WordWheel

Across: 1. Bread 4. Well off 8. Drift 9. Set sail 10. Ire 11. Valentine 12. Eats 13. Sort 18. Alabaster 20. Err 21. Neighed 22. Adieu 23. Residue 24. Teeth 6 Down: 1. Bedside manner 2. 7 Evident 3. Dative 4. Wisely 5. Latent 6. Okapi 7. Fallen through 14.

One-time 6 5 4 15. Dashed 16. Stodge 17. Arrant 19. Aries

7 8 9 3 6 Previous quick solution 1 Across: 1. Bitterness 7. Owner 8.9Explore 10. Sporadic 7 Balanced 2 11. Verb 13. Anchor 15. Grotto 17. Tend 18.

21. Yearned 22. Ruler 23. Determines 8 3 Down: 1. Bingo 2. Toreador 3. Emetic 4. Nape 5. Slowest Previous solution: ale, elf, elm, fale, www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz 8 7 2 4 6. Constantly 9. Embroiders 12. Trial run 14. Concave fame, flam, flame, flea, lam, lame, lea, leaf, male, meal 16. Random 19. Culls 20. Once 2 1 5 30/7 6 8 2 4 2 2 9 3 PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS Sudoku Fill the grid so that every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

77 4 5 9 1 62 3 8 2 6 6 1 3 75 2 8 4 37 9 9 2 6 23 8 9 3 7 47 6 1 5 8 9 7 6 3 1 5 2 4 4 2 9 4 5 7 1 1 8 4 1 3 4 7 5 2 9 6 8 7 8 5 6 2 8 4 9 1 3 7 7 8 1 8 3 1 5 4 3 9 5 8 1 6 7 2 44 7 3 2 1 4 8 5 7 9 6 1 5 9 4 4 8 9 7 4 7

1 9 3

6

6 8 1 3 5 8 4 2 3 6 4

8

2 3

5 2 8 7

9

1

3 7

4 7 6 2 9 3 8 5 1

8 5

2 5 3 4 7 8 6 9 1

9 6 1 5 3 2 7 8 4

6 3 5 8 4 7 1 2 9

7 2 4 9 6 1 8 5 3

1 8 9 2 5 3 4 7 6

5 7 6 3 9 4 2 1 8

4 9 8 1 2 5 3 6 7

3 1 2 7 8 6 9 4 5

2 HARD

MEDIUM

8 4 7 6 1 9 5 3 2

6

2 3 7 8 4 5 9 1 6

4 1 6 3 9 2 5 8 7

8 9 5 1 7 6 2 4 3

7 5 8 6 2 3 1 9 4

9 6 1 7 8 4 3 2 5

3 4 2 5 1 9 7 6 8

Ray Ray White White have have buyers buyers looking looking to to step step into into property. property.

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6 2 7 4 3 9 1 8 5

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9 3 5 2 4 8 6 1 7

4 6 2 1 7 5 8 9 3

8 7 1 3 9 6 5 4 2

2 1 3 5 8 4 9 7 6

5 8 6 9 2 7 4 3 1

7 4 9 6 1 3 2 5 8

RayRay White� White�

T 03 307 8317 T 03 307 8317 E ashburton.nz@raywhite.com E ashburton.nz@raywhite.com 96 Tancred96 Street, Tancred Ashburton Street, Ashburton 7700 7700 rwashburton.co.nz rwashburton.co.nz Real Estate Mid Canterbury Real EstateProperty Mid Canterbury Limited Licensed Property Limited Licensed REAA 2008 REAA 2008

2

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24

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

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Hartley Curd phone 0800 788 393 or 021 328 301 57 Dobson Street, Ashburton.

CLASSIFIEDS 25

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

SITUATIONS VACANT

Butchery Assistant – New World Ashburton New World Ashburton is a locally owned and operated store with a reputation for providing excellent customer service.

We take pride in our Butchery department being able to produce fresh and quality cuts to our customers.

We are looking for someone to assist with packaging and labelling our products and who will take pride in presenting product to our high standards. As an Assistant you will also be required to assist our Butchers in the final steps of producing the quality cuts which they are famous for.

You will be: • • • • •

Motivated and use your initiative Someone who is an excellent communicator & team player Reliable and customer focused Able to follow our Food Safety and Health and Safety procedures Physically fit and capable of heavy lifting

This position will be for 39.5 hours over four days: Monday 9.00am – 7.30pm Thursday 9.00am – 7.00pm Friday 9.00am – 7.30pm Saturday 8.30am – 7.00pm If you are looking for the opportunity to join a great team environment we would love to hear from you!

Please send your application to donalda.hartley@newworldsi.co.nz including a cover letter and current CV. Overseas applicants must hold New Zealand permanent residency or a valid New Zealand work permit.

Applications close: 6th August 2022

SITUATIONS VACANT

Scheme Operator At MHV Water Limited (MHV) we are one of the leading water delivery and environmental management companies in NZ, servicing approximately 58,000 hectares via open race and pressurised pipe systems in the Mayfield, Hinds, Valetta and Ruapuna areas of Mid Canterbury.

Our vision is to deliver solutions that are both environmentally and economically sustainable and continue to embrace our innovative heritage.

We are seeking a Scheme Operator to join our Operations team and support the efficient and equitable delivery of water to our farmer shareholders, maintain accurate records, ensure compliance is met, and undertake general maintenance of assets. In addition, you will need to have solid computer skills with the ability to learn, use and where necessary, implement new software.

The successful applicant must have: • Strong communication skills • Solid level of computer and numeracy skills • Self motivation and be a team player • A good standard of fitness and presentation • A commitment to Health and Safety, including being Covid-19 vaccinated due to working closely in a small group.

Ideally we are looking for a practical, computer literate person to enable operation of our modern technology and infrastructure.

A competitive salary package, laptop, mobile phone and work vehicle, along with training, is available for the successful candidate, so if you are a team player with initiative and enjoy a varied work environment, this role is perfect for you. Accommodation may be available.

A position description is available on request.

Please apply with CV and Melanie Brooks, info@mhvwater.nz.

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT

cover

letter

to

CALF Rearers Assistant: Located in Lowcliffe. Hours: 8am-10am and 2:30pm4pm. Able to lift heavy, be punctual, kind caring nature, willingness to learn and can follow directions.

Please Phone 0274310053

Duty Manager – New World Ashburton Sunday to Thursday 2.00pm – 11.00pm New World Ashburton are looking for an eager individual to join our locally owned and operated store as a Duty Manager.

This position ideally would suit a motivated individual who is wanting to take a step onto the ladder of a higher management role down the track.

The successful applicant for this role will be responsible for: • •

• •

Being the go to person instore during evening shifts Taking responsibility for supervising evening shifts and organizing resources to ensure that Store presentation standards are met and exceeded Liaising with general staff, Department Managers, Store Manager and Owner / Operators when required Ensuring that any customer issues (including shoplifters) are dealt with in a professional manner

You will be: • • • • • •

A team player & customer focused Fast moving and physically able to lift heavy weights Punctual, reliable and honest Great with time management and be able to make sound decisions under pressure Passionate about the delivering excellent customer service Able to able to comply with our Food Safety and Health and Safety policy

A current Duty Managers Certificate and forklift license will be an advantage.

If you believe you are up for the challenge, please email your expression of interest to: donalda.hartley@newworldsi.co.nz including a cover letter and current CV. Overseas applicants must hold New Zealand Residency or Valid New Zealand work visa.

Applications close: 6th August 2022

Applications close Wednesday 10 August 2022.

STMS

HEB Construction are after a reliable, motivated and physically fit STMS to join our Maintenance Team based in Ashburton.

MHV Water Ltd 326 Burnett St, Ashburton 7700 www.mhvwater.nz

SITUATIONS VACANT

Key duties: • Setting up and removing site traffic management • Completing all required documentation prior to and post project • Directing incoming deliveries to site while ensuring the safety of workers and the public • Overseeing the establishment, maintenance and removal of TTM measures Role requirements: • Current STMS qualification (category A/B or level 1 practising) • A strong work ethic and a “can do” attitude • Full class 2 driver’s licence preferred • Experience on Local Roads (both Rural and Urban) • An ability to coach and train on site staff to ensure a high level of traffic management is maintained • Professional presentation and ability to communicate effectively with clients and members of the public The willingness and ability to work shifts is essential.

In addition to joining our exciting, open culture, as a STMS we can offer you:

NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION TO LEASE THE MOUNT HUTT SKI CLUB BUILDING The Minister of Conservation gives notice under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987 of an application by Mount Hutt Ski Club Incorporated for the lease of the Mount Hutt Ski Club building in the Mount Hutt Conservation Area for 30 years.

Further details of the proposed concession are available at www.doc.govt.nz/consultations Any person or organisation may make comment in writing to the DirectorGeneral for or against the proposal or make any other written submissions on the proposal. Comment submission forms may be downloaded from www.doc.govt.nz/consultations.

Objections or submissions should be sent to: Director-General Department of Conservation Christchurch Shared Services Private Bag 4715 Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140 Attention: Roseanna Spiers, Senior Permissions Advisor Email: permissionschristchurch@doc.govt.nz Submissions will be accepted up to and including 5.00 pm on Friday 26th August 2022. Once submitted, submitters’ information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.

Any person or organisation wishing to be heard in support of his/her submission, must request (within that submission) an opportunity to appear before the Director-General.

If a hearing is required, it is likely to occur in the second week of September 2022.

• Excellent training opportunities • Great Wellbeing Programme • Life insurance • Your birthday off as leave Apply online today at https://careers.heb.co.nz/home ????? – reference ????

Got something to sell?

Having a garage sale?

Call the Guardian today for your advertising requirements.

307 7900

PUBLIC NOTICES

ASHBURTON SPEEDWAY ASSOCIATION (INC) THE AGM WILL BE HELD AT THE CLUBROOMS SEAFIELD ROAD ASHBURTON ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2022 AT 2PM Business - President’s Report - Financial Report - Election of Officers and Committee - Appointment of Grade Reps - Setting Subscriptions and Fees for coming year - General Business Nominations for officers and committee, and names of grade reps to be received by the secretary at ashspeedway@gmail. com by the July 31, 2022

Salesperson

Bathroom department – Full time Mitre 10 MEGA Ashburton has a vacancy for a Salesperson in their Bathroom department.

This position is a full-time position (40 hours per week) Sunday – Thursday roster.

The successful candidate will require the following skills: • Retail experience an advantage • Interest in DIY or home renovation/decor • Reliable • Able to work in a team environment • Physically fit and able to lift • Passion for customer service Please send your CV and covering letter to HR.Ashburton@mitre10.co.nz Applications close on Thursday 11th August 2022.

For all your classified requirements.

Phone the Guardian 307 7900

ASHBURTON

For just $10*

Book your birthday greeting, including a photo, for just $10!

Ten words only*

(Under 12 children’s birthday greetings remain FREE) Phone 03 307 7900 Email classifieds@theguardian.co.nz

26 CLASSIFIEDS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

TRADES, SERVICES

• Residential & Rural New Builds • Renovations • Sheds • Staff Houses • Decks

ACCOMMODATION, RENTAL

HOUSE WANTED IN ASHBURTON

Call: Cory 027 432 4173 Email: cws.construction@outlook.com

HIRE

GRAZING

GENERAL hire.

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

Open Monday-Friday 7.00am – 5.30pm; Saturday 7.30am - 5pm; Sunday 8.30am 12.30pm - Phone 308 8061. www.ashburtonuhire.co.nz

GRAZING wanted for WHEEL alignments at store lambs.

Phone great prices. Maximise the Steve 0273216060 life of your tyres with an alignment from Neumanns LAMB grazing wanted Tyre Services Ltd, 197 Wills for the spring, top money Street. Phone 308 6737. for top feed.

Phone Mitch 0273131320

E: nicolee. ayton@safer. org.nz M: 027 236 1114 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT NEW Asian – Sweetie, Beautiful, Busty 40DD, Friendly, Good Service, Good Massage.

Phone 0 2 1 0 3 7 2 0 8 3

MOTORING

TRADES, SERVICES

LOST, FOUND A three bedvery fluffy male room property SITUATIONS WANTED MISSING Tabby and White Cat named is required long TRUCK driver looking Jasper, from Winslow, Could Casual Work. Semi- since July 17. term for great for Retired. Claas 5, Tipper, have travelled a long way.

Truck and Trailer, Digger Please phone or text if seen tenants. and Loader experience. 0210490790 or 3077474.

Contact Nicolee at the Refugee Settlement Support Service

We Help Save Lives

CWS Construction

LOCKSMITH/Door repairs.

Keys/Locks, sliding and bifold door roller repairs. Mobile service.

Call Nigel at Doors and More. Ph 027 516 7104

We help save lives every day through the research and development of improved diagnosis, better prediction and treatment of heart disease in our hospital and community.

MR Green ( Lawn and Garden Services) for all your Ride on and Rotary mowing, Anything considered. Contact spraying, fertilising, garden MISSING very fluffy male Peter on 0278151434.

Tabby and White Cat named and section tidy ups - Call Jasper, from Winslow, Pat Prendergast 0274445314 since July 17.

Could have travelled a long way. SPECIALISED Please phone or text if seen GARAGE SALES 0210490790 or 3077474. SERVICES

BIG GARAGE SALE

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, 9am onwards Bookshelves, Boxes of Craft items, Collectables.

Bring your Bags or Truck.

Signs out 62a Elizabeth Street.

FIRE Extinguisher sales and servicing. On farm contractors – trucks/ tractors/balers/combines/ cars/boats/caravans etc.

Phone Mack at Doors and More on 0273960361.

Find out how you can help by visiting:

WANTED GENUINE cash buyer, wanting Falcons, Holdens, Valients or any pre 1990 vehicles suitable for preservation. Phone 021 02914847 or 03 615 7930

WEEKEND SERVICES

www.otago.ac.nz/chchheart A University of Otago Centre of Research Excellence

Please respect any COVID-19 restrictions or requirements

MEDICAL SERVICES

HELPLINE SERVICES COMMUNITY SERVICES

services please phone Methven Medical Centre on 302 8105 or Rakaia Medical Centre on 303 5002 DUTY DOCTORS for details on how to access the For all other medical assistance outside after-hours service each weekend. of normal hours please phone your Pharmacies general practice team, 24/7, to speak with a health professional who will give Wises Pharmacy, Countdown you free health advice on what to do or Complex, East Street, will be open from 9am - 1pm Saturday, from 10am where to go if you need urgent care.

1pm Sunday.

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

Please contact directly for hours.

Please bring your Community Services Card. All non-New Zealanders should Emergency dentist bring their passport with them, New If you do not have or cannot contact Zealanders should bring some form your regular dentist, please phone 027 of ID. 683 0679 for the name of the rostered weekend dentist in Christchurch. Hours Methven & Rakaia areas 9am - 5pm, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

For weekend and emergency

Healthline is a free health advice service.

IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY PHONE 111.

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.

FAMILY NOTICES 27

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

Your opportunity to tell Mid Canterbury of your next event or meeting

How to send family notices

Daily Events is a FREE DAILY LISTING of MID CANTERBURY EVENTS to be held in the immediate future by non-commercial organisations. To arrange for events to be published in Daily Events, clip this form, fill in the applicable details and hand in to our LEVEL 3 office on Burnett Street or post to: Ashburton Guardian, P.O. Box 77, Ashburton 7740, 5 (five) working days prior to the first publication.

CONDITIONS: 1. Telephoned information NOT accepted.

2. Forms MUST be signed by an authorised representative of the organisation concerned.

3. A separate form MUST be submitted for each future event and may be lodged with the Guardian as far in advance as desired. For example: A club which meets monthly may submit, say, 12 separate forms simultaneously – one pertaining to each meeting scheduled over the following 12 months.

4. The organisation acknowledges that no responsibility for errors or omissions will be accepted by the Guardian Company.

Family notices are important to everyone and among the

IN MEMORIAM

DEATHS

DEATHS

DEATHS

DEATHS

PITHIE, Kathleen Nora (Kathie) – Passed away one year ago on July 31, 2021. Deep in our hearts a memory is kept, of a very special mum we loved and will never forget.

With love Pam, Leanne, Raewyn, Kelvyn and families.

BURROWES, Rayleen June – On July 26, 2022, passed away peacefully at Christchurch Hospital, aged 74 years. Dearly loved wife of Rodger. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Tyrone and Jessie, Kylee and Ben, Jody and Scott, and treasured Nan of Thomas, Ruby, Harrison, Jackson, and Charlotte; Cooper, Cash, and Zanthe.

Messages to the Burrowes family PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A service to celebrate Rayleen’s life will be held at the Rakaia Memorial Hall, Elizabeth Avenue, on THURSDAY August 4, commencing at 2pm, followed by private cremation at the Ashburton Crematorium.

DONALDSON, Ronald Thomas (Ron) – On July 25, 2022. Suddenly, but peacefully at home, Ashburton, in his 81st year.

Dearly loved husband of Diane. Much loved father and father-in-law of Greg and Kaye, Carolyn and Andrew Ralston, Susan and Kim Goodfellow, Jeffrey and Sue, and Callum and Karen.

Loved Grandad of Michael, Blake, and Lane; Jena, and Lauren; Tom, and Noah, and Great-Grandad of Brody.

Messages to the Donaldson family PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A service for Ron will be held at the Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, on MONDAY August 1, commencing at 1.30pm, followed by private cremation at the Ashburton Crematorium.

DONALDSON, Ronald Thomas (Ron) – On July 25, 2022. Loved eldest son of the late Tom and Nancy, brother, brotherin-law and uncle of Lionel and Shirley (deceased), Andrew, Maree, and Wendy; Jan Stonyer and Meredith Lowe, Brent Stonyer (deceased), Craig, and Ange; Noel and Nicola, Craig, Hayden, and Ben. “Will be sadly missed”

LEWTHWAITE, Ruth Elizabeth (nee Clark) – On July 28, 2022, peacefully at Terrace View Retirement Village, Ashburton, aged 81 years. Dearly loved and adored wife of John. Much loved and precious mother and mother-in-law of Stephen and Karlyn, the late Camilla, and James Widgery, and Andrew and Lara. Treasured Grandma of Jeremy and Milly, Victoria and Cory, Jesse and Anneka, Liam and Hannah, Sam and Rachael, Sophie and Tom, and Olivia.

Messages to the Lewthwaite family PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at All Saints Church, Chapman Street, Methven on WEDNESDAY August 3, commencing at 1pm, followed by interment at the Mt Somers Cemetery.

FUNERAL FURNISHERS

most well-read aspects of our

newspaper. If you would like a

MASTER MONUMENTAL MASON

E.B. CARTER LTD For all your memorial requirements New headstones and designs Renovations, Additional inscriptions, Cleaning and Concrete work Carried out by qualified tradesmen.

family notice published, be that for a death, a memorial, or an acknowledgment, then please

620 East Street Ashburton Phone 308 5369 or 0274 357 974 ebcarter@xtra.co.nz NZMMMA Member

note the following: Email all notices (not just for

DEATHS

deaths) to: deathnotices@ theguardian.co.nz Information required:

For all your classified requirements.

Please provide your full name and phone contact details.

Canterbury owned, locally operated

Patersons Funeral Services and Ashburton Crematorium Ltd Office and Chapel Corner East & Cox Streets, Ashburton

Phone the Ph 307 7433 Guardian 307 7900

Guardian ASHBUR TON

Our ne ws , online, all the time

DONALDSON, Ronald Thomas (Ron) – Brethren of Erewhon No 200 are called upon to the Funeral Service of the late Bro Ronald Thomas Donaldson at the Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, on MONDAY August 1 at 1.30pm. Brethren of sister Lodges are invited to attend.

(J. Battad) Wor. Master

HARRISON, Robert Charles (Bob) – Dearly loved eldest twin son of Annie and Fred Harrison (deceased), much loved brother and brother-in-law of Syd (twin brother) and Marion, Ronnie and Sheryl, Hank and Christine, and loved uncle to all his nieces and nephews. ‘Left us far too soon’.

HARRISON, Robert Charles (Bob) – On July 27, 2022, peacefully at Ashburton Hospital, surrounded by his family, aged 82 years. Dearly loved husband of Judy. Much loved father and father-in-law of Craig and Sheree, Dean and Jo, Sonya and Brent Middleton.

Treasured Grandad Bob of Ashley; Leigh, Megan, and Molly; and Tom, Ben, and Jack.

Special friend of Angie.

Messages to the Harrison family PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at the Hotel Ashburton, Racecourse Road, on TUESDAY August 2, commencing at 1.30pm, followed by interment at the Seafield Lawn Cemetery, Seafield Road, Ashburton.

.

FUNERALS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

YOUR ONLY LOCALLY AND FAMILY OWNED

Jo Metcalf

18-22 Moore Street, Ashburton | 0800 263 6679 027 637 1229 | www.memoryfunerals.nz

Ashburton Weather © Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited 2022

Saturday: Fine with morning frosts, then cloud increasing. Rain developing later.

NE, changing strong S in the evening. MAX

Midnight Saturday

Canterbury Plains

10 MIN 1

Saturday: Fine with morning frosts at first, then cloud increasing. Rain developing north of Timaru towards evening, with snow lowering to 400m. NE developing in the morning, changing strong S in the evening.

Sunday: Periods of rain easing to showers in the morning then clearing later. Snow to 200m in the north but 500m in the south at first. A SW change.

Monday: Mainly fine. Northeasterlies strengthen.

A low pressure system moves over central New Zealand on Saturday and then away to the east on Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday, a westerly flow affects the country as a ridge moves over the far north.

On This Day 30 July, 1867: Snow fell in the Canterbury district for four days. On a station near the Selwyn River, southwest of Christchurch, snow lay 120cm deep in the shallowest places. “The cows we knew must be in the paddock were not to be seen; the pigsties and fowl-house had entirely disappeared”.

Around The Region Saturday

Christchurch Darfield Lake Coleridge Methven Rakaia Timaru

10 2 9 2 8 -1 9 0 9 4 8 -2

Sunday

11 9 8 10 9 11

-2 0 -1 -1 0 -3

Monday

12 10 10 11 9 12

2 5 4 4 5 1

ELMS, John David – 20/09/1947 - 02/06/2022 Dianne, Craig, Mark and families would like to sincerely thank everyone for their help, support and expressions of sympathy following the unexpected passing of John. This was all hugely appreciated by the family, and of great comfort.

Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement from us to you. John was a cherished husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and loved friend, and mate to many. John will be greatly missed by all. A special thanks to the staff of Ashburton Hospital for the care and compassion shown to John and family.

Sunday: Occasional rain easing to showers in the morning then clearing later. A southwest change.

MAX

Canterbury High Country

11 MIN -1

Saturday Mountain weather hazards: Snow, Wind Chill.

Snow developing north of Lake Tekapo from afternoon. Partly cloudy further south.

Wind at 1000m: W 50 km/h easing and changing S 40 km/h in the afternoon.

Wind at 2000m: W 50 km/h easing and changing S 40 km/h in the afternoon.

Freezing level: 1400m, lowering to 800m by evening.

Sunday Mountain weather hazards: Snow, Wind Chill.

Periods of rain with heavy falls possible in the north, turning to showers in the morning and clearing later. Snow to 500m in the south and 200m in the north at first.

Wind at 1000m: S 60 km/h easing.

Wind at 2000m: S 60 km/h easing.

Freezing level: Lowering to 800m.

For the very latest weather information, including Weather Warnings, visit metservice.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHALMERS, Raymond George (Ray) – Neville and Andrea, Heather and Linda and family wish to sincerely thank all those who supported us following the loss of our much-loved father, grandad and greatgrandad. Thank you to those who attended the funeral service and helped to celebrate Ray’s life. We also appreciated your phone calls and those that sent flowers, cards and food. It was comforting to hear your recollections and stories of Ray and how he had touched your lives. Please accept this as a personal thank you.

WALLACE, John Crawford White – With a profound sense of loss we are sad to announce John’s passing on July 28, 2022, peacefully at Ashburton, surrounded by his family aged 81 years.

June’s soulmate, best friend and husband for 57 years.

Best friend, adored, respected and loved Dad to Gary, and Angela. Treasured Grandad to Kate, Ross, Jack, Abby, Ashley and Jake. Will be sadly missed by family here and overseas.

Always loved, he will be missed, but never forgotten.

We were so lucky to have had him in our lives.

Messages to the Wallace family PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A service to celebrate John’s life will be held in our Chapel, cnr East & Cox streets, Ashburton on TUESDAY August 2, commencing at 11am, followed by interment at the Ashburton New Lawn Cemetery.

Monday: Mainly fine. Northeasterlies strengthen.

MAX

Readings to 4pm Friday Temp °C Maximum Minimum Grass min 24hr Rain mm Month to date Wind km/h Strongest gust Sun hrs on Thu Month to date

Ashburton Airport 12.0 3.8 -1.1 1.2 158.6 NE 26 3:45pm 0.0 98.4

Methven 11.5 3.3 – – – – – – –

Tides, Sun and Moon Saturday

Sunday

12 MIN 2

Christchurch Timaru Airport Airport 12.2 12.4 1.3 2.0 -1.0 – 1.2 1.0 269.0 195.8 NE 22 NE 20 3:46pm 11:26am 0.0 – 96.5 – Tide data sourced from MetOcean Solutions

Monday

Ashburton H 4:37am 5:01pm 5:15am 5:38pm 5:56am 6:17pm Mouth L 10:46am 11:13pm 11:27am 11:53pm 12:08pm Rakaia Mouth Rangitata Mouth

H 4:45am L 10:53am H 4:21am L 10:30am

5:02pm 11:22pm 4:45pm 10:57pm

5:27am 5:42pm 11:33am 4:59am 5:22pm 11:11am 11:37pm

6:10am 6:24pm 12:01am 12:14pm 5:40am 6:01pm 11:52am

7:48am 5:32pm 7:47am 5:33pm 7:46am 5:34pm 8:56am 6:42pm 9:22am 7:48pm 9:44am 8:53pm

first qtr Aug 5

full Aug 12

last qtr Aug 19

new Aug 27

28

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, July 30, 2022

ALL-NEW MU-X

*PRE-REGISTERED. NO FEES. SAVE OVER $5,000 ON RRP!

All-new Tucson

Available now.

DEMONSTRATOR CLEARANCE 2021-2022 MODELS SAVE UP TO $25,000!

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2,000kms, top-spec model includes heated and cooled leather seats, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, surround-view camera.

2022 Isuzu MU-X LS-T

RRP $80,990 + Accessories/ORC

2021 Hyundai Staria Load 2.2 Diesel Auto

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Travelled just 6,000kms. 3.0L Diesel, top-spec MU-X includes a 3,500kg tow rating – Towbar, Tints & 20” alloys included! Snatch a deal with NO fees!

Just 500kms on the clock. Staria is the ideal workmate! Super-efficient and big on space. Black grille, black wheel upgrade and tints included!

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Mid Canterbury

Hyundai & Isuzu Mid Canterbury 91 Archibald Street, Tinwald | 03 307 2415