Ashburton Guardian, Thursday, September 22, 2022

Keeping dance alive

Keeping dancing alive in Mid Canterbury schools is the focus of a local academy.

Life Dance Academy is bring ing all the moves to the schools to give everyone the opportunity to dance. One way of doing that was at the recent Mid Canterbury Dance Champs.

“The heart for this competi tion is to let every child have the

Cover

opportunity to dance, we realise there are lots of circumstances that stop children from being able to attend after-school class es such as physical, financial or just general business,” dance teacher Madi Wilson said. This was the second time the competition had run, with Cov id-19 lockdowns putting a pause on the event for the past two years.

“This year has been amazing, back to our full-scale event, and it has grown beyond what we ever

imagined. We are so excited and proud of all of our schools.”

This year saw 26 dance groups from 12 schools compete in two categories – royal crews, which are a small group of students, and mega crews, with a large number of students capturing a class feel. Within these sections are two age groups: our juniors who are years 1-5 and our seniors who are years 6-8.

“We were lucky enough to have so many local schools this year including St Joseph’s, Lagmhor,

Ashburton Christian, Allenton, Tinwald, Longbeach, Netherby, Mayfield, Ashburton Interme diate and Wakanui, Mount Hutt College and Hinds.”

Wilson said it has been amaz ing to see all the schools involved embrace the competition to its fullest.

“Schools organised their own teams, each school approaching it in their own way. Some have passionate teachers with secret talents, others with student lead ers, and some with keen parents.”

The next major event for the academy are the end-of-year shows.

“We are now gearing up for our six Christmas showcases held in November. Our LDA (Life Dance Academy) students have been practising hard and we cannot wait to share all of the dancing goodness with everyone,” Wilson said

The Christmas concert is on November 19 at 9am, 11.15am, 2.30pm, 5pm and November 20, 2.30pm and 5pm.

Call for more police on the beat

By Daniel Alvey

Ashburton’s Neighbourhood Sup port wants to see a greater police presence in the community after a worrying increase in crime.

In the first six months of the year there’s been a 40 per cent increase in theft reported in the Ashbur ton District, lifting from 169 up to 235 incidents. There were also 13 more assaults in the same period.

Neighbourhood Support for Ashburton co-ordinator Sue Abel said she was “concerned’’ to

see such an increase, which had prompted her call to see more po lice on the beat.

“Once upon a time you’d know all the local police by name, which doesn’t happen now,” Abel said.

Abel also acknowledged the need for a more united and con sistent front to the community on crime prevention advice was needed from both Neighbour hood Support and police.

“At the moment it is a bit frag mented,’’ she said.

“Police say one thing and

Neighbourhood Support say an other thing.”

Hot on the heels of the biggest drug bust and gang activity raid in Ashburton, which resulted in 18 arrests, Abel didn’t think the latest crime figures further eroded the town’s innocence.

But she said people needed to be more vigilant on what was hap

pening in their community.

A police spokesperson said the raw data didn’t “always provide the full story”.

“In saying that, any increase in actual incidents would be of con cern to police,’’ the spokesperson said

“However, increases in report ing of incidents can reflect vic

tims’ willingness to come forward, which is pleasing.’’

The spokesperson also ac knowledged that some victims may wrongly feel that their inci dent was not “significant enough’’ to report.

“However, we would absolutely encourage anyone who is the vic tim of crime to report it.

“This allows police to form a better picture of what is happen ing in our communities and help inform our deployment deci sions.”

Dancing up a storm: Dazzling Dancers from Ashburton Christian School performing to Footloose in the junior mega category at this year’s Mid Canterbury Dance Champs.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Daniel Alvey

Once upon a time you’d know all the local police by name ... “

The wild, wild West Ward

BY JONATHAN LEASK

Incumbent Ashburton councillor Rodger Letham has accused challenger Dame Lynda Topp of displaying “a lot of naivety” in a public candidates’ session.

The pair, vying for two council seats from the Western Ward, along with existing Ashburton District Council deputy mayor Liz McMillan, crossed swords at the Grey Power meet-the- candidates meeting.

It took place when Letham answered a question around the proposed Ashburton Airport 30-year development plan, which Dame Lynda fired back at, demanding existing councillors not rush things through during the election.

“We don’t know half of what’s going on with that plan,’’ she said.

“It’s not fair that people, who are standing now as new candidates, are going to inherit things this council is trying to push through in a rush.”

Letham took umbrage at her comments, outlining the process of the proposed development plan. That plan was due to come back to the council on October 5, which would be the current council’s last week on the job.

“There’s a lot of naivety there in the comments that have been made,’’ Letham said.

The public – including any potential candidates – had the opportunity to submit on the plan during the consultation process, he said.

There were 109 submissions received, with many of those speaking at the hearing.

“Those submissions will be taken into account and a new plan, including the submissions that were made, will be put before the council on October 5,” Letham said.

“To say that incoming councillors, or possible incoming councillors, haven’t had an opportunity is not true.

“Everybody in this district has had equal opportunity to have made a submission and have a look at the development plan.

“With all due respect to Lynda, there is a little bit of naivety there, jumping the gun.”

Earlier Dame Lynda had used her stage presence to deliver a passionate speech, calling herself “the new cow gal for the western ward”.

She criticised the council spending money on the beautification of Ashburton when the roads and footpaths were in dire need. She even quoted some sage advice from her 93-year-old mother.

“There is no point in having a fancy garden if you can’t get to it.’’

Dame Lynda came out swinging, saying the time was up for some existing councillors and “what we need is some new blood”.

“I’m the new blood in the Western Ward.”

Mayoral candidates’

first face off falls

Jonathan Leask

Ashburton’s two mayoral candidates faced off for the first time without a shot being fired.

Neil Brown and Jeff Swindley both attended Grey Power Ashburton’s meet the candidates event on Monday and while it was the first time the two candidates shared the stage there was no debate or exchange –just two candidates with different approaches.

Incumbent mayor Brown used the platform to outline how he has navigated a tumultuous first term, while Swindley’s first public appearance was an introduction that fell short on policy.

Swindley used his time to shed light on his background and reasons for standing, but ran out of time to touch on any policy.

He said his decision to run for mayor was based on his opposition to the Government’s “unlawful” traffic light system.

He said he has been a Christian for over 35 years “so my way of life has always been based on the Bible”.

“When I see an injustice and things like that, I actually make a stand.”

He said he was “ridiculed by the community” for his open stance on the traffic light system.

“So I started my society [the Bald Barber Private Society to circumvent the traffic light

rules] and I got ridiculed for that, but all the time it’s about the community and where I stand in my walk as a Christian, as a businessman, as a father, as a husband.

“Integrity is what I stand on.”

Just as Swindley started to ramp up into some policy, talking about the “vast amount of legal acts that are coming down”, his time was up.

When his opponent had his turn, Brown rattled off his successes in what has been a troublesome first term as mayor dealing with the Covid pandemic, historic floods and Three Waters reform.

He also touched on some highlights, but said he hasn’t achieved anything on his own, leading the council as a team “to achieve prosperity for the district”.

Brown outlined the challenges that lay ahead for the council in the next term as completing the library and civic centre, Te Pātaka a kā Tuhituhi and Te Waharoa a Hine Paaka, contesting Three Waters Reform, lobbying the Government to fund the second urban bridge, and to do better with the roading network.

“I’ve proved capable, reliable and ready for challenges –

whatever they are,” Brown said.

“Let’s keep going.”

There is another meet-the-candidates evening in Rakaia tonight featuring the Eastern Ward candidates, and Brown will also attend, but Swindley has declined as he is holding his own event.

Ashburton mayoral candidate Jeff Swindley addressing the crowd at Greypower’s meet-the-candidates session.

PHOTO JONATHAN LEASK/LDR

“Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air”

Hidden cost of public holiday

delays and to add one more delay, I can understand people being pretty upset,” Holdaway said.

But she can see both sides for and against the public holiday, honouring the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

other paid holiday for the employers to pay out.”

A minute’s silence

Businesses and medical practices have been left scrambling to work around the one-off public holiday.

On Monday New Zealand will have a one-off public holiday to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, adding an extra paid day off to the 12 other public holidays. And that’s not including Canterbury Anniversary Day.

One is the medical field, with clinics running skeleton crews to deal with emergency patients.

Ashburton GP spokesperson Penny Holdaway said under normal circumstances they would

know when all the public holidays were and been able to schedule appointments around them, but this time they only had two weeks’ notice.

She said that the both GPs and hospitals were just getting on top of things as winter illnesses and Covid-19 cases flatten off.

“A lot of people have already had

Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury rural health services general manager, Berni Marra, said anyone who has an appointment on the day will contacted directly if it will be rescheduled. She could not confirm the number of patients affected at Ashburton Hospital.

Another industry that was adversely affected by the additional public holiday was the building industry.

Local builder Jim Reed said the holiday was a nice idea, just not properly thought out.

“I don’t want to begrudge peoples holidays, I just begrudge an-

Often builders have their days scheduled out months in advance to help plan. On the public holiday Reed had a roof installation happening, something that would now have to be rescheduled.

“We are already with all the bad weather, adding the extra day just adds pain to the customer,” Reed said.

He was confused that despite a special day being put aside to mark the passing, many memorial services, including Ashburton’s, were not being held on the public holiday.

He also acknowledged that the passing had to recognise it somehow, admitting to being a bit of a royalist. Reed just wasn’t sure the public holiday was the right way to go.

Connector ‘needs more time’

BOOKING

A minute’s silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II will be held across the country. At 2pm on Monday, September 26, on the one-o public holiday, Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day. “The minute’s silence is a way for people, wherever they might be in New Zealand, to stand together to mark an extraordinary 70 years of service,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement.

Ashburton’s Market Day, which falls on the same day will honour the minute’s silence. Organiser Carol Johns said it will be announced over the PA system.

The Ashburton District’s only public transport service “needs more time” to have a chance to become viable.

Safer Communities Ashburton District chairperson, deputy mayor Liz McMillan, says the Mid Canterbury Connector service isn’t worth scrapping just yet.

“I know it doesn’t look good now. Give us another year,” McMillan said.

“We are getting more and more people on it.

“It’s just that Covid, the people that would have used it are elderly people and they didn’t feel comfortable getting in a van and going somewhere.”

The connector is a volunteer-driven vehicle linking the likes of Methven and Rakaia to each other and Ashburton for a small fee, run by the Community Vehicle Trust network.

When it started it ran on certain days for certain locations, but McMillan said after a review the feedback was for it to operate five days a week and to do so it sourced its own vehicle in February.

The connector is funded by En-

vironment Canterbury and Waka Kotahi, around $10,000 annually, and is rated to every property outside the Ashburton township boundary at $1.17 per rating unit and is a total of $5000.

McMillan said it’s a necessary service, but has so far been impacted by Covid.

“The main idea is to combat isolation so that those who can’t drive can get somewhere to visit friends or wander around the shops and see people rather than being stuck at home.

“We just need to encourage

people to use it and get more people on board to make it viable.”

The service is also reliant on volunteer drivers and McMillan said they are always looking for more.

Most of the passengers are from Methven, using the service to travel into Ashburton for medical appointments or to visit the Bookbarn in Chertsey.

Councillor Leen Braam questioned if it was working or if an alternative should be looked at, and that the cost was “complete-

The Mid Canterbury Connector, is an ondemand service that people can book Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4.30pm for transport between rural locations and to and from Ashburton.

ly out of kilter”.

With no other public transport options available McMillan said the connector service just needed more time and now that the Covid restrictions have been relaxed there will be a big push to grow patronage.

Those plans include a school holiday promotion encouraging rural-based people 14 and over to utilise the service to head into Ashburton, or between rural towns.

U3A guest speaker

An academic whose work focuses on understanding how changes in the sun influence the atmosphere and climate on earth, particularly in the polar regions, is U3A’s guest speaker at the Ashburton Event Centre on September 27. Dr Annika Seppala, originally from Finland, studied space physics at the University of Helsinki. She moved to New Zealand with her family in 2017 to take on a new role as an academic at Otago University’s physics department.

Pools manager

“Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air”

A new general manager has been announced for Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa. Matt Turner has been acting general manager since February. The Methven Adventures board of directors confirmed Turner’s appointment last week. “The Methven Adventures Board have every confidence in Matt’s commitment to ensuring the Ōpuke team are thriving and exceeding the expectations of our guests and delivering the industry-leading standards that the Ōpuke experience is setting,” Methven Adventures director James McKenzie said.

Dr Annika Seppala

Adi Avnit, trustee of the Mid Canterbury Vehicle Trust, with the Mid Canterbury Connector vehicle.

PHOTO JONATHAN LEASK/LDR

Daniel Alvey

Penny Holdaway

Jonathan Leask

Stop hiding from Covid and ‘get out now’

Jonathan Leask

“It’s safe to come out.”

Councillor Lynette Lovett believes that’s the message to get out to people, that they have a life to live in the outside world and not hiding away from Covid.

Lovett suggested a campaign to get people back out in the community now Covid restrictions are relaxed to Safer Communities representatives at the Ashburton District Council’s funded agencies’ six-monthly update.

She said that on a trip to the supermarket the day after the Government announced the end of the traffic light system there were a lot of people still wearing masks out of fear.

Author was familiar with subject matter

“They are too scared to take them off some people, especially the older ones, in case they catch Covid and it’s not safe,” she said.

“We need to say to people to leave Covid behind and get out now and start enjoying the space.

“We need to encourage these people to leave their houses and start communicating with other people.

“Put down their mask and come and join society again.”

was discarded on September 12 meaning all mask-wearing requirements were removed, except for in healthcare and agedcare facilities.

In making that announcement, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that as the most recent health advice was that with the lowest cases and hospitalisations since February, the population being well vaccinated, and expanded access to anti-viral medicines, New Zealand was in a position to move forward.

Lovett believes that message needs to be delivered throughout the community to encourage people to start to move on and get back to normal.

Covid still exists but people have lives to live she said.

It helps when your mother knows what you’re writing about.

The central character in the winning short story competition, organised by the Ashburton Writers’ Group, wrote a murder mystery about a pharmacist.

John Fraser was the pharmacist –or the apothecarist – in the story, who was jilted by Mary Mackay, as a young man.

When, later in life Mary’s housekeeper, Mrs Kerr, came to him for medicine to cure Mary’s illness, he added poison to the mixture.

She died, Fraser was arrested and, from prison, before taking his own life, he wrote “I couldn’t be with her in this life, but I’ll find her again in the next”. It had a sad but satisfying ending.

The judges had no knowledge of the authors’ names but were amused when the writer of the winning crime story was Milly O’Brien, daughter of Ashburton pharmacist, Carolyn Cameron.

Growing up, Milly became familiar with pharmacies and wrote about the familiar, pointing out the storyline and evil pharmacist was entirely her own creation.

Currently completing a degree, she studied with Liam McIlvanney, who is an an international crime writer, who’s also

an academic at Otago University.

He encouraged her to read Lee Child (Jack Reacher) and Ian Fleming (James Bond) and her short story contained elements of that winning formula.

Second in the adult section was Angelina Trail and third was Adrienne Moodie.

In the 11 years and under section, Tadhg Simpson from Hinds School came first, Molly McKernan from Intermediate was second and Shusma Gurung was third.

Jack Gorrie from Mt Somers Springburn came first in the 12-15 year competition, Olivia Becroft from Hinds School second and Anabel Gorman third.

Lovett said some people may still need to wear masks for their own health concerns or peace of mind and they should do so back in the public realm without fear or judgement, rather than hiding away.

The Covid-19 Protection Framework – also known as the traffic light system –

Rodger Letham

Same

“Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air”

We need to say to people to leave Covid behind and get out now and start enjoying the space.

“

The winners of the Ashburton Writers’ Group short story competition celebrate their talent. Front row (from left): Molly McKernan, Tadhg Simpson and Shusma Gurung. (back) Anabel Gorman, Adrienne Moodie, Jack Gorrie and Milly O’Brien. Absent due to illness, Olivia Becroft and Angelina Trail.

The Ashburton Writers’ Group short story winner was Milly O’Brien, pictured with her mother Carolyn Cameron.

Malcolm Hopwood

Lynette Lovett

New reservoir ready to boost storage

The filling of the first of Methven’s new drinking water reservoirs this week marks a milestone in major work to upgrade the town’s water supply.

About $9.6 million will be spent boosting storage and building a new membrane treatment plant by the time both projects are finished next year.

Methven residents were asked to conserve water during the reservoir filling and commissioning process, but Infrastructure Services Group Manager Neil McCann said it would be the last of the conserve water notices connected with the upgrade work for a while.

“We’ve had to ask Methven residents several times in the past few months to use water conservatively and we thank them for their efforts. We expect this will be the last one until we commission the second new storage tank in February next year.”

The two new storage tanks will replace Methven’s old concrete reservoir. Once the first new tank is commissioned and tested, the old reservoir will be drained and structurally inspected to see if it can be safely used for additional storage in the future.

The contractor will now focus on constructing the second new steel and glass tank, with parts on their way from the United Kingdom.

The two new tanks will have a combined capacity of 1,140 cubic metres and help manage peak demand on Methven’s drinking water scheme.

Conserve water notices over the past months have allowed contractors to lay underground pipes linking the existing

treatment plant and the future membrane plant, which will include improved pretreatment and then filter the water to a much higher degree.

“The membrane plant is designed to provide effective treatment even under very poor weather conditions and should remove the need for boil water notices on the Methven scheme in the future,” Mr McCann said.

“We are aiming for the new plant to be up and running by the middle of next year.”

Commissioning the new tank this week will entail gradually filling it with water to test bolted joints and ensuring there are no leaks. The tank’s metal framework, basement and foundation will also be monitored.

Water from the new reservoir will be incorporated into the reticulation system next month.

The newly-elected Methven Community Board will be visiting the work area in November to see progress on the upgrade.

Voting papers arrive in local letterboxes

Ashburton District residents have been receiving their voting papers in the post this week for the local elections, but if yours haven’t arrived then it’s still possible to have your say.

Those who have received their papers are encouraged to vote, pack and post their voting document back by 4 October.

Simply drop your papers into a NZ Post post box or into special orange voting bins at the Ashburton Public Library, at the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall or at Council's Baring Square West offices.

If your papers don’t arrive, are damaged or you forgot to enrol to vote, you may be able to cast a special vote.

You need to be on the electoral roll to request a special vote and you can do this by visiting vote.nz, or call 0800 36 76 56, or freetext your name and address to 3676.

You will need to cast your special vote at Council's offices. See our voteashburton. nz website for more information about special votes.

All votes need to be received by the deadline of noon on Saturday 8 October.

Responsible dog owners register their pets

The annual dog report was before Council this week and it was pleasing to see a good drop in the number of dogs impounded.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2022, 79 dogs were impounded, one euthanised and 11 re-homed; that compared to 107 dogs impounded in the previous 12-month period, one euthanised and 12 re-homed.

While the report has lots of figures around compliance and regulation, one that is of the most interest to us is around dog registration – it’s been our experience that dog owners who register their pets are also pretty responsible about ensuring their dog is well-behaved and contained.

So of the 82 infringement notices we issued for the period, most were for failing to register a dog. For the record,

we had 6919 dogs registered, up from 6728 in the previous 12 months.

Council recorded 602 complaints about dogs, up from 591, and about two-thirds of these were from residents reporting wandering, barking and lost dogs.

Dog registration fees collected by Council are used to fund our animal control work and this is done by both Council staff and a contractor. The contractor covers all dog control callouts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Unfortunately we still receive and investigate reports of attacking or rushing dogs and these are assessed carefully, before appropriate action is taken.

We see education as a key part of our dog control work, but persistent

and serious offending can result in infringements, prosecution or fines. The vast majority of dog owners though love their pets and keep them under control, and we thank them.

Work at the Ashburton Dog Park has made good progress following the damage by floods last year. It has been held up recently by wet weather, but there’s just a gravel path to lay and some agility equipment to install before it’s officially finished. Council has received lots of positive feedback already from people using the new exercise areas there and the new carpark off Cass Street (by Kmart).

Another work in progress has been the Lakes Camp and Clearwater 30-year plan, adopted by Council on 17 August. We have been working on the first action points – which include protecting the sensitive southern side of Lake

Camp by restricting 4WDs and ATVs.

This area is home to special flora and fauna but has been ripped up by larger vehicles, which are now prohibited. Visitors to the area will see signs advising of the new rules and Council is producing information to help spread the word about what sort of behaviour is expected.

This plan is a collaborative effort with the Department of Conservation, Environment Canterbury and Lake Clearwater hut-holders and we have a solid work plan aimed at protecting this special area and improving water quality in the lakes.

We’d like to think that everyone who enjoys spending time there will be on board too.

The first of Methven's two new drinking water reservoirs is being filled this week.

Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day changes

The public holiday on Monday 26 September for New Zealanders to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II will see temporary changes to some Council services and facilities.

A state memorial service will be held in Wellington that day and Ashburton District mayor Neil Brown will be among civic leaders attending; our New Zealand flags in Baring Square West will fly at half-mast up to and including the memorial day.

Rubbish and recycling

There is no change to kerbside rubbish and recycling collections and Monday’s collection will take place as usual, with residents to have their wheelie bins out by 7.30am. Remember to use your windstrap, whether it's windy or not.

Resource Recovery Parks

The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 5pm, and closed on Monday.

The Rakaia Resource Recovery Park will be open on Saturday from 9am-3pm, and closed on Monday.

EA Networks Centre

The EA Networks Centre will be open every day during the long weekend. The gym will be open Saturday from 7am until 6pm, on Sunday from 7am until 6pm, and on Monday from 10am-5pm.

The pool will be open Saturday and Sunday from 7am until 5pm, and from 10am-5pm on Monday.

The stadium will be open Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 7pm, and from 10am

The book of condolences for Queen Elizabeth will remain at the public library until closing time tomorrow, Friday 23 September.

until 9pm on Monday to accommodate previously-booked sporting competitions.

Mt Hutt Memorial Hall

The Mt Hutt Memorial Hall at Methven will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm, and from 10am until 2pm on Monday.

Ashburton Public Library

The Ashburton Public Library will be open Saturday 10am-1pm, Sunday 1pm-4pm and closed Monday.

Art Gallery and Museum

The Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum will be open 10am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday.

Administration building Council’s administration building on Baring Square West will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday, reopening on Tuesday at 8.30am. If you have a problem or urgently need to contact us, then the afterhours/24 hours-a-day service will be operating - please phone 03 307 7700.

Emails, Snap Send Solves and website requests will be cleared Tuesday morning. Public toilets around the district will be open as usual during the long weekend. All facilities will return to normal hours on Tuesday 27 September.

Check out our human books this Sunday

Twelve interesting people who call Ashburton home will share special stories about their lives as part of the Ashburton Public Library’s human book event on Sunday 25 September.

Local Lives is an event that will bring interesting, inspiring and insightful stories from members of our community and people can book a 20-minute session to talk one-on-one and connect with them.

The event is being offered during Mental Health Awareness Week and is a collaboration between the library and Keep Learning Mid Canterbury.

Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said it offered residents a chance to connect with people they might not otherwise meet.

People can book through the Council’s website, for time slots between 1.30pm and 4pm on Sunday 25 September, and reserve time with more than one of the

human books. You are also welcome to call the library to book on 03 308 7192.

Among the human books is Haider Ahmadi, who works for the Refugee Settlement Support Service in Ashburton. Haider, who is originally from Afghanistan, can talk about his failed attempt to reach Australia 21 years ago, in a perilous journey by fishing boat.

He was rescued by the Tampa container ship and detained on Nauru Island, before being able to settle in New Zealand.

Time to spring clean your stockwater races

Spring is a great time for checking and cleaning any stockwater races on your property.

For all users to have access to the water, no matter where they are on the network, it is important that a clear and continuous flow is maintained – plastic buckets, baleage wrap, weeds and other debris can all block races and result in overflows or water being wasted on land or roads.

If you have a stockwater race running through or adjacent to your property, you are responsible for cleaning and maintaining that race to keep it clear and the water flowing.

COUNCIL OFFICE

5 Baring Square West

Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri 8.30am - 5pm

Thursday 9am - 5pm

PUBLIC NOTICES

ROAD CLOSURE

Pursuant to Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965, notice is hereby given that for the purpose of allowing Ashburton Market Days to hold Ashburton Market Day, the following road(s) will be closed to ordinary vehicular traffic (with the exception of emergency vehicles):

Roads to be closed:

• EAST STREET, from Moore Street to Havelock Street

• TANCRED STREET, from East Street to Cass Street

• BURNETT STREET, from East Street to Cass Street

Period of closure: From 7am until 6pm on MONDAY, 26 September 2022.

It will be an offence under the above regulations for any person otherwise than under authority of an authorised permit to use the roads for ordinary vehicular traffic during the period of closure.

NEIL McCANN Infrastructure Services Group Manager

RUBBISH AND RECYCLING

QUEEN ELIZABETH II MEMORIAL DAY

There is no change to kerbside rubbish and recycling collections on Monday 26 September and the kerbside collection will take place as usual. The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 5pm, and closed on Monday. The Rakaia Resource Recovery Park will be open on Saturday from 9am-3pm, and closed on Monday.

ART GALLERY & MUSEUM

Please join us for the opening of two new exhibitions at the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum on Wednesday 28 September at 6pm

The Wind of The Homeland presents faithfully documented scenes of the Canterbury region by local landscape painter Henry Lowen-Smith. Opening at the same time is Capturing People and Places, which explores the life, career and photographs of one of Ashburton's earliest female photographers, Bobbie Barwell of Barwell Studios

The event is free and light refreshments will be served.

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

UPCOMING MEETINGS

AFTERBEFORE

Make sure hedge trimmings don’t end up in races and that plastic and drench containers can’t make their way there either.

Culverts or bridge crossings on your property must also be monitored and

ASHBURTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

180 Havelock Street, Ashburton 7700

Mon - Fri 9.00am - 8.00pm

Sat 10am - 1pm | Sun 1pm - 4pm

maintained to ensure they are in good condition. Please check they are big enough for the normal water flow to pass through or under them, and that they are not damaged or broken.

EA NETWORKS CENTRE

20 River Terrace

Mon - Fri 6am-9pm (pools 7pm, gym 8pm)

Sat & Sun 7am-7pm (pools 5pm, gym 6pm)

Meetings are held in the Council Chambers, 137 Havelock Street, (unless otherwise advised).

Council Activity BriefingsWednesday 28 September, 9.30am

Audit & Risk CommitteeWednesday 28 September, 1.30pm (live-streamed)

Council Hearings (Stormwater Bylaw) - Thursday 29 September, 9.00am (live-streamed)

Council Meeting - Wednesday 5 October, 1pm (live-streamed)

ASHBURTON ART GALLERY & ASHBURTON MUSEUM

327 West Street 10am - 4pm daily

Guest artist a spontaneous sculptor

Malcolm Hopwood

A sculptor who doesn’t start with a plan is the guest artist at the Ashburton So ciety of Arts spring show, which opened to the public on Sunday.

Ruth Killoran, a full time painter and sculptor, based in Christchurch, loves the spontaneity of sculpting and paint ing, letting the flow of paint dictate the forms that gradually emerge.

“I don’t have a plan at the start. As a sculptor, I begin with a chisel and Oamaru limestone and feel my way with shapes that start to emerge,” she said.

Killoran, who completed a BA (Hons) in 3D design at Teesside University, England, and worked as a commercial interior designer in the London area, has brought four sculptures to Ashbur ton for display and sale.

She described her major work, en titled From Within, as a puzzle. “It’s a sculpture that’s satisfied me with its lines and form together with light and shadow,” she said.

Eighteen Mid Canterbury artists have contributed nearly 50 works to the spring show, which runs until Oc tober 9 at the Short Street Studio.

Right – Ruth Killoran displays her sculp ture, entitled From Within, which she says comes from her heart.

Have a chat with a human library book

“It’s like taking out a book but you borrow a person.”

The Ashburton District Library is holding its second Local Lives this Sunday, where Ashburton people can be issued with an in teresting member of the commu nity for 20 minutes.

Instead of relaxing with a nov el you can borrow any one of 12 people, chat to them and find out about their story and lives says li brary manager, Jill Watson.

“It’s the beginning of Mental Health Week, and Local Lives is a way of connecting the communi ty with people they may not oth erwise have met,” Watson said.

”It fosters understanding and brings people closer together.”

Ashburton Library has invited 12 people from different ages, backgrounds and interests to be a human book, available to the public for two hours on Sunday afternoon.

They include Haider Ahmadi, an Afghan refugee who was res cued by the Tampa off the coast of Australian, incarcerated and then travelled to New Zealand to

start a new life for himself and his family in Ashburton.

Ange Cushnie, Bernard Egan, Stacey Broadbent and John Mc Donald are other “persons to be borrowed”.

Following the success of last year’s Local Lives, Watson has in cluded two youngsters who are starting their life’s journey.

They are ballerina, Tamati Graham, who trains with South ern Ballet four times a week and has been offered a scholarship to dance at the Nervi Festival in Italy and Imogene Felton, asex ual and aromantic, who wants to discuss the world’s obsession with romance.

Watson is hoping Local Lives will give people a deeper sense of community and realise the library “is a place where we can come together in the living room of the district”.

However, she makes one stip ulation.

The invited guests are for ref erence only and “you can’t take them home and keep them until they’re overdue”.

Council seeking Better Off funding

Residents on the east side of Ashburton will be better off with Better Off.

The Ashburton District Council (ADC) is seeking $250,000 from the govern ment’s Three Waters Reform Better Off Funding to install public toilets at Digby Park.

The council says Digby Park is centrally located and well used by the community for sport, recreation and ex ercising dogs.

The Better Off funding would allow them to install two-cubicle toilets.

Toilets at the east side are among a list of fund ing requests it has made to Better Off without needing to change its opposition to Three Waters Reform.

Chairperson of the Ash burton Citizens Association, Greer Ricketts, is “absolutely amazed” at the council’s in itiative.

“We’ve approached them time and time again for toi let facilities on the east side,” she said.

She points out the appli cation is just an approach and, if the government turns them down, the council must give urgency to install ing toilets itself on the east side including Digby Park and where Ashburton cem etery is now developing its burial sites.

15 K

followers

You wanna make more money?

Do you want to increase your revenue and attract more customers quickly? en come talk to us about the rock star success that is the Guardian’s Facebook page. It’s got close to 16,000 followers, which is so far ahead of other media and marketing business wannabes in Ashburton, that it’s not even funny.

We know many Ashburton businesses are trying to promote their goods and services, and their image, on their own Facebook page, which is fantastic, but, honestly, too many are missing out on greater returns because their page follower numbers are just too low to have any impact. at’s where we come in. We’ve got the biggest audience reach (nearly 16,000 remember), plus we’re a highly regarded multi-platform marketing, sales and media business, which is recognised internationally.

at’s been proven by being accepted on to a Facebook international programme where we are working with global online sales and marketing experts.

Our aim? To help Ashburton businesses ourish and earn more money. In a way, we’re o ering another shop local campaign but this time it’s online. If that sounds like a bit of you, then get in touch. e biggest Facebook audience in Ashburton – and more money and success for your business – is just a click away.

Daryl Holden | Managing editor

Award winner: It’s about the team

Cullimore started with Meth ven LandSAR in 2015 while he was still at school.

To him there was nothing that stood out as a motivation for joining, other than something to do and get involved in.

Helping fight the Port Hills fire in the summer of 2017 and help ing rescue a lady who had broken her ankle on the side of Mt Peel stand out as some of his more memorable call-outs as a volun teer.

A volunteer firefighter, LandSAR volunteer, and charity fundraiser, is the deserving Youth Volunteer of the Year winner. He’s 25-yearold Sam Cullimore, this year’s Youth Volunteer award winner, awarded by the Ashburton Youth Council and Volunteering Mid and South Canterbury.

OPINION

The next year Cullimore de cided to join what was then the Ashburton Rural Volunteer Fire Brigade, which he spent a few years in before moving to Rolleston to study at the Christchurch Polytech where he retrained as an urban firefighter for the Rolleston Volunteer Fire Brigade.

But what he remembers the most about his time with these organisations was the team he worked alongside.

“What I remember about all of them (call-outs) was the team,” Cullimore said.

During his time in Rolleston he also found a place with Pilgrim Bandits, a group which supports

people with physical and men tal injuries from the front line of ser vice either as military or first responders, after his brigade was invited to a fundraising event they were hosting.

Volunteering Mid and South Canterbury, Mid Canterbury manger Dellwyn Moylan said Cullimore was a deserving win ner of the inaugural award, which takes people up to the age of 24 which Cullimore was when nominated for the award which was delayed due to Covid-19.

She added that highlighting the good things the youth volunteers

in the community are doing is re ally important, and she hopes the awards will continue for many years to come.

Cullimore urged anyone who was able to, to get out and do some volunteering that can help their community.

“The hardest step is always the first step.

“If you can get past that you can learn a lot of life skills and be part of a great team,” Cullimore said

“It’s hard work, but good work, motivating work.”

“So just get out and do it.”

There’s more to communication than just the written word

A man got this text message from his neighbour ... “Sir, I’m so sorry but I have this confession to make.

“I’ve been sharing your wife with you behind your back, day and night and mostly when you’re not in town.

Lisa Fenwick

Me: “Sigh. Don’t I?”

“I’ve used your wife in my bedroom, the kitchen and also in your own flat right under your nose.

“I also have to admit that I use your wife more than you do. I felt I should let you know because I feel so guilty about it, and I promise never to do it again.”

Her: “Fine, we won’t bother then.”

Me: “You do you.”

Her: “Well, you’re the one that’s grumpy.”

Me: “Well, I wasn’t …”

say if, for example, my daughter text me with: “oh mum, I’m preg nant ... With triplets”.

I might say: “oh my goodness”.

“

The man was so upset that he shot his wife dead on the spot.

A few minutes later he gets another text message.

“So sorry for the spelling mistake. I meant to write WIFI and not WIFE.”

‘oh, my goodness’ is me shocked and a bit disapproving. Probably depends on her mood on the day, how she feels about it and me not

language, relaxed or stiff and aggressive.

They can’t hear or feel the tone. We can only visualise it (and that’s a dangerous thing for some)

Irecently

had a brief conversation with an old friend via Facebook Messenger. In the end, it was a good thing she chose not to visit because there was a good chance I might not have been pleasant.

She was obviously feeling sensitive, a tad tender and I was obviously not feeling like com municating in any depth.

It went something like this: Her: “Are you home Saturday?” Me: “Should be. Why?”

Her: “Well, are you, or aren’t you?”

Me: “I just said probably. Tell me when and I’ll make sure I’m around.”

Her: “Well, you don’t sound like you even want us to visit.”

Soooo, she’s obviously tacked an emotive ‘voice’ on to my abrupt words (abrupt because I get fed up with typing on tiny keyboards with my fat fingers. Not because I’m grumpy).

I’m utterly, utterly sick to death of people putting emotions on to the written word that are not there … mostly on social media.

I see friendships end, families go feral, and young couples go off on a tangent of half-truths and assumptions.

It amazes me that some don’t understand the complexities of communication and that the English language plays only a small part in that. The visual word aspect is incomplete without body language and sound.

Take the polite reaction I may

I see friendships end, families go feral, and young couples go off on a tangent of half-truths and assumptions

Now, my two readers (my daughter because I make her and Donald Hurst (sub-editor) because he has to sub it and make it way better than it would otherwise be) may take this entirely different ways. (Bear with me because I’m trying to paint a picture using only the English language).

Daughter (oh sorry, did I forget her name? It’s Libby Fenwick. She threatened to sue me if I used her name) may be expecting a negative reaction and think that

reacting how she thinks I should or would. Guess it depends on your confirmation bias.

Old Donald, on the other hand, may “hear” the words in his head as a joyful, enthusiastic “oh my goodness”. He may visualise my eyes lighting up and a big, juicy grin on my face.

But neither of them know for sure, right? And why? Because they can’t see what my facial features are doing. Is my face showing happiness? Or shock?

They can’t see my body

We just assume, usually based off how we think that person would react or how we would feel about the situation. By the way, just for clarity daughter, I’d be rapt if you were pregnant with triplets and glad that TJ was not shooting blanks. Plus, I’d be laughing for a week.

So, first of all, stop assuming and, secondly, if it’s not clear, just ask.

We – mostly us middle-aged white wrinkly chicks – seriously need to stop being so gullible and emotive on social media/texts etc and stick to some plausible facts. Oh wait, am I falling victim to confirmation bias now?

We’ve all done it, but attaching emotions to words is just you making up your own storyline.

Volunteer master: Sam Cullimore tackled the Kepler Challenge Mountain Run in 2018 where he raised funds for Ronald McDonald House.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Daniel Alvey

Where it all started: Mike Pearce (left) and Don Geddes (right) from Methven LandSAR where Sam Cullimore’s (centre) volunteering all started, were there to see him receive his award.

RantorRave

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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.

Time

make your vote count

But forget we should not. It’s too important to not have our say on how our district is run.

And we’ve never been very good at turning out en masse when it comes to voting in the local government elections.

for the right reasons, with the best interests of Mid Canterbury at heart.

A productive, beneficial, understanding and safe path forward is vital right now as we navigate ourselves away from a

Zealand from the 78 available territories, but surely, we can also be a whole lot better than that too.

Looking through the list of candidates outlined in the Ashburton Guardian on Satur-

Atthe end of the day, it’s just a piece of paper with some options to tick. But it’s also a mightily important document to the way of life in Mid Canterbury.

Yet the chances are in the majority of homes around the plains, that this particular piece of paper will remain tucked away in the envelope it came in. That’s if it hasn’t been discarded already.

Some will have left it for a more suitable occasion to ponder over its contents. Others will simply ignore it, while some will just completely forget.

Papers have been mailed out and should have arrived in homes across the district within the last 10 days or so. And it’s now up to the people of Mid Canterbury to do something with them.

Have their say and make their vote count.

You could perhaps even argue that it’s more important now than it ever has been before.

Our rates are creeping higher by the month it seems, there’s big decisions to be made, lobbied for and to get over the line in the coming few years, and a strong, stable head table is critical to ensuring that decisions are made

few years of basic hell.

In 2019 only 55 per cent of the eligible voting public in this district returned their voting papers. That’s a huge number of no-shows.

It’s not a bad number on the national scale. We were inside the top 15 turnouts in New

day, there’s a diverse group who were willing to put their hands up and have a crack at helping drive our community. From all walks of life, with all variances of backgrounds, we’re well served in what we’ve got to choose from this year, and it appears as though there is a little bit of

something for everyone when it comes to ticking a box on the voting form.

That’s good. Diversity is key and ensuring there’s strong representatives for all corners of our region irrelevant of race, religion and political beliefs makes for a vibrant and progressive group at the helm. There’s a lot to be passionate about too. A lot that needs to be sorted out and communicated better on.

So, don’t leave that envelope unopened Mid Canterbury.

Take the form out, ponder over it. Learn about who is standing from the multitude of information sources available out there currently and get those boxes ticked and returned as soon as you can.

We need the best we can get right now and the more that complete the relatively menial task the better.

Matt Markham

big

Why do diamonds

to

of

They are full of sunlight

of

They contain a gas that

you shine a

How tall is Mount Everest?

6225 metres

8849 metres tall

15221 metres tall

Which music star is suing the FBI to see their files kept about them?

Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the Hollies

b) Todd Rundgren of Nazz c) Micky Dolenz of the Monkees

5. Which country is trying to eliminate floppy discs that are still required for 1900 government-related procedures?

a) Japan b) Slovakia c) India

6. What does EMI in the name of the record label stand for?

a) English Music Industries b) Electrogram and Magnetic Industries

c) Electric and Musical Industries

7. Which of these words means ‘an ornament at the top of a piece of furniture’ a) Flarnecking

b) Fanon c) Finial

8. In Greek mythology, who was the father of the goddess Artemis?

a) Zeus b) Alpheus c) Dionysus

tricandMusicalIndustries,7.c) Finial,8.a)Zeus.

Diamondsarecuttogivethem lotsofsurfaces,whichectrefl lotsoflight,3.b)8849metres tall,4.c)MickyDolenzofthe Monkees,5.a)Japan,6.c)Elec-

Answers: 1b)15-18metreslong,2.a)

Steeple chasing – the sport of kings

Former Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, riding the late Queen Mother’s horse Upton Grey at Newton Abbot. He was to finish 2nd on his own horse Allibar at Ludlow on May 21, 1981.

Make extra to serve tonight and refrigerate the rest for lunch tomorrow. Add extra green vegetbles if desired.

Serves 4

1 T canola oil

2 onions, peeled and sliced

2-3 red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced

3-4cm piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped

2 t cumin seeds

1 t curry powder pinch salt

½ t ground turmeric

500g small boiling potatoes, halved juice 1 lime

200-300ml vegetable stock

■ Heat the oil in a large heavy-based frying pan.

■ Add the onions and cook over a low heat for 10 minutes or until soft.

■ Add the chillies, ginger, cumin seeds, curry powder, salt and turmeric. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

■ Add the potatoes and lime juice and mix to coat the potatoes.

■ Add the stock, bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and the sauce has reduced.

■ Stir through the peas and cook for another 5 minutes.

■ Serve.

Recipe courtesy of vegetables.co.nz

PHOTO

Recently completed, conveniently located and attractively landscaped so many boxes are ticked for those either seeking country living or looking to down-size from larger farm operations.

This three bedroom, two bathroom home is just one year old and possesses all the modern conveniences buyers have come to expect of an architecturally designed dwelling.

The living space boosts a wrap-around kitchen complete with quality appliances, a wall oven and island with breakfast bar.

The layout provides excellent separation of zones – from the sun-drenched dining and family room, discreet study nook in the entrance hall to the separate living/TV room.

Ranchsliders open out to a patio area

providing seamless indoor and outdoor flow and striking views of Mt Somers and Mt Hutt – every possible entertainment need has been thought of.

The master bedroom hosts 'his' and 'hers' walk-in wardrobe and tiled ensuite with underfloor heating. The property has a fourbay shed of which two bays are enclosed as a utility shed (or man cave).

If you've dreamed of having enough space for a menagerie of animals then look no further.

Included in this two hectare lifestyle offering are five paddocks, two with stock shelter, a chicken house and run plus a small set of sheep yards.

With all the benefits of country living, foothills location, lifestyle blocks in this Staveley area are highly sought after.

Open Home:

Sunday, 1pm - 2pm

Comfortable,

Cute Allenton package

Home

on

Snap this up

Central Living and Spacious

Allenton

Ashburton

West Side Location

111 Alford Forest Road, ALLENTON

A property with great attributes and is awaiting new owners to bring it to life.

This solid brick home with wooden joinery is set on a private back section and ticks all the boxes. It has a separate sunny lounge room and the original kitchen is open plan with the dining area. Three good sized double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and storage.

The bathroom has a shower and bath and there is a separate toilet.

Sit in the sun on the spacious covered veranda and

FINAL REMINDER

Peter Street,

location.

gorgeous

relax while your children or pets play in the large fully fenced yard. The handy location is close to schools, shops and town.

There is plenty of room for your cars in the fully lockable four-car garage. Don't miss this opportunity!

413

Offers over: $465,000 Web ID AUW3438844

View: Saturday, 10am - 10.30am

Handy Location and Available Now

21 River Terrace, ASHBURTON

Solid brick four bedroom home is ready and waiting for someone to come along and make it their own. Featuring a roomy living area with polished wooden floors, heated by a heat pump and a nightstore. The bedrooms have plenty of space with built-in wardrobes. Main bathroom has a shower and toilet plus a separate shower room. A single garage with internal access and good offstreet parking.

Offers over: $415,000 Web ID AUW3378030

View: Saturday, 10am - 10.30am

Solid Brick Home

137 Walnut Avenue, ALLENTON

This permanent material home is situated on a large tidy section of 814m2. It will appeal to many, whether it be a first home, a renovation project or an investment with subdivision potential. Located close to Ashburton Intermediate School and Ashburton College. There are two bedrooms with room for a third, kitchen/dining and separate lounge heated by a large log fire. Single car garaging and plenty of off-street parking.

Offers over: $435,000 Web ID AUW3409411

View: Saturday, 11.30am - 12 noon

low maintenance

open plan living area, two double bedrooms, both with built-in wardrobes, double car garage with storage room and laundry with easy access to the back gardens and clothesline.

one will tick all your boxes. Townhouses like this one are always sought after.

6

19A Baker

Tucked

First

Nixon Street, TINWALD

PlayPlanner

whatson@theguardian.co.nz

Every day

Mt Hutt Memorial Hall

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

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

Weekdays

Mid Canterbury Connector

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

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

Tuesdays

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

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

• Held at Methven All Saints Anglican Church Chapman St at 10.30am.

• Rakaia St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Bridge St at 1.00pm.

• Hampstead Hakatere Church Rooms, Oxford St at 1.30pm.

MSA Tai Chi

Classes at 10.30am. Cost $3 per session at the MSA on Havelock Street.

Justice of the Peace

JP available for all signing services on Tuesdays and Fridays at 12pm-2pm. No appointment necessary. No fee. Community House, 44 Cass Street.

Ashburton MSA Petanque Club Competition and social play, all welcome from 1pm at 115 Racecourse Road.

RSA Indoor Bowls

Every Tuesday at 12.45. RSA in the Doris Linton Lounge. $2, followed by a cuppa & chat.

Pickleball Ashburton EA Networks Centre from 5-7pm. Paddles are provided.

MSA indoor bowls

At MSA 7pm start. New members welcome

Mid Canterbury Badminton Club Badminton Club night from 7-9pm. All abilities welcome at EA Networks Centre.

Waireka Croquet  Club

Draw 9.45am GC Handicap Singles. Ist Tuesday in the Month Handicap Singles 19 hoops. Draw 1.15pm. Singles Handicaps -0 5; 6-9; 10-16.

Wednesdays

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

Ashburton Ladies Friendship Club 9.45am, Sinclair Centre. Speeches, morning tea, every fourth Wednesday of the month.

Wednesday Walk Group 9.30am. Meet on Walnut Avenue on the west side of the Ashburton College Auditorium entrance.

Age Concern Ashburton

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

Held at Allenton St David’s Church, Allens Rd at 9.30am.

• Held at Ashburton Buffalo Lodge Rooms, Cox St at 10.30am.

• Held at Ashburton Buffalo Lodge Rooms, Cox St at 1.30pm.

• Held at Staveley Community Hall at 2pm.

Pickleball Ashburton

Every Wednesday from 9.30am - 11.30am at EA Networks Centre.

St Stephen’s Anglican Church

What’s on Where

Do you have an event for Play Planner?

Email us with all the details

Holy Communion at 10am on Park Street.

Age Concern Ashburton

Programme for the elderly runs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am.

Hip Hop for Seniors

10am-11am at the Ashburton Seniors Centre, 206 Cameron Street, Ashburton, $5.

Ashburton open coffee mornings

All are welcome at the Plunket rooms, 222 Cameron Street. 10.30am - 12 noon.

MSA Tai Chi

Class is at 10.30am. Cost $3 per session at the MSA on Havelock Street.

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

Device Drop-In Sessions

Free Device Help Sessions at the Ashburton Public Library every Wednesday between 2pm and 4pm.

Art Addicts

Art Addicts (AA) is the Ashburton Art Gallery’s weekly art space for kids. Donations appreciated. 3 - 4.30pm.

Mid Canterbury Linedancers

Weekly beginner class 6.30pm-7.30pm, easy intermediate & intermediate 7.30pm-9pm at the Tinwald Memorial Hall.

Ashburton Silver Band Practice at the Bandrooms, Cameron Street, 7.30-9.30pm.

Waireka Croquet Club

Draw 1.15 GC Handicap Doubles. Draw 9.45am AC: Draw AC 12.45pm.

Thursdays

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

Age Concern Ashburton

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

Park Street Line Dancers 9.30am - 11am at St Stephen’s Parish Centre.

Mid Canterbury Badminton Club 9.30am-11am at EA Networks Sports Centre.

MSA Tai Chi Classes at 10.30am. Cost $3 per session at the MSA on Havelock Street.

Age Concern Ashburton

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

• Tinwald Holy Spirit Church, Thomson Street at 11am.

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

Ashburton Buffalo Lodge Rooms, Cox Street at 1pm.

Waireka Croquet Club Mahjong, 1pm, club rooms, Phillip Street.

Ashburton MSA Petanque Club From 1.30pm at 115 Racecourse Road.

Fridays

Age Concern

Senior Social Group (50+). Speaker, quiz, morning tea, exercises. All welcome. Friday’s, 10am.

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

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

Ashburton Justice of the Peace JP available for all signing services from 12-2pm. No appointment necessary. No fee. Community House. 44 Cass Street. Pickleball Ashburton EA Networks Centre from 6-8pm. Paddles provided.

Saturdays

Ashburton’s Winter Market

North end of West Street carpark, from 9am.

Ashburton MSA Petanque Club

Social play from 1.30pm at 115 Racecourse Road, Ashburton

Ashburton Aviation Museum Ashburton Airport from 10am - 3pm.

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

Seventh-Day Adventist Church 10am, Weekly worship & Bible Study.

• 11am, Sabbath singing & Sermon.

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

Vintage Car Club

86 Maronan Road, Tinwald

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

Waireka Croquet Club

AC Singles or Doubles. Draw 9.45 and 12.45, GC Draw 1.15 pm Doubles.

Sundays

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

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church 10am Morning Worship. Service led by Rev. Eric Mattock. Followed by Annual Meeting. All welcome. Sinclair Centre, Park Street.

Grace Presbyterian Church 10am at 63 Princes Street.

Hakatere Presbyterian Parish Morning Worship at 10am, Rev. Johanna Warren. 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 65 Oxford Street

• 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 127 Thomson Street Tinwald

Pickleball Ashburton

Sunday is organised competition day at EA Networks Stadium from 3-5pm. Prior registration through our facebook page is required. Some courts are available for social play.

Every Monday and Saturday

Allenton Assn Croquet Club

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

Every Tuesday and Friday Methven Museum

60 Main St. Open Tuesday and Friday 2-4pm Does Dalgetys or Wright, Stephenson & Co or Pyne Gould Guinness ring a bell? Our current display is Farm Supplier Stores of Methven & districts (history since the early 1900s). Come in and learn how the stores evolved and fill out your name if you worked at any of them. Admission is free but donations are welcome

Every Thursday and Saturday

Ashburton Toy Library

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

Every Wednesday, Saturday Allenton Golf Croquet Club

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

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

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

First Sunday of every month Methven Market

At Methven Resort, from 9am to 1pm.

Third Monday of every month

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

Second Fri of every month

In Colour, art and craft club

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

Second and fourth Friday of every month

St Stephen’s Anglican Church Seniors Coffee Club 10.30am on Park Street.

Monthly Ashburton Embroiderers’ Guild

Meet Seniors Centre, 206 Cameron Street

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

September events

St David’s Union Church

Thursday September 22, 10.00am. St David’s Union Church. Fit Kidz for pre-schoolers and caregivers. 48 Allens Road.

Friday, September 23, 6.00am. St David’s Union Church. Women’s Circuit Training. 48 Allens Road.

Sunday September 25, 9.30am. St David’s Union Church. Worship Service led by Rev Henry Mbambo. 48 Allens Road.

Monday September 26, 6.00am. St David’s Union Church.

Women’s Circuit Training. 48 Allens Road.

Tuesday September 27, 9.30am. St David’s Union Church. Walking Group meets outside church, 48 Allens Road.

Wednesday September 28, 6.00am. St David’s Union Church. Women’s Circuit Training. 48 Allens Road.

Wednesday September 28, 9.30am. St David’s Union Church. Steady As You Go Exercise Group. 48 Allens Road.

Wednesday September 28, 5.30pm. St David’s Union Church. Youth Group. 48 Allens Road.

Thursday September 29, 10.00am. St David’s Union Church. Fit Kidz for pre-schoolers and caregivers. 48 Allens Road.

Friday September 30, 6.00am. St David’s Union Church. Women’s Circuit Training. 48 Allens Road.

Ashburton Horticultural Society

Our meetings are held on third Friday each month. No meetings June, July, December.

Handbags & Gladrags 2022 September 23, 7pm, at the MSA. Mystery handbag auction, silent auction, raffles, music by Luke Glendining. Tickets $30pp (tables of 6) includes glass of bubbles and anti-pasto platter. Tickets from Safer Mid Canterbury, 44 Cass Street, annaarrowsmith@hotmail.co.nz Proceeds to local White Ribbon & CanBead.

Waireka Croquet Club

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

all details to whatson@ theguardian.co.nz

Ashburton Electronic Organ and Keyboard Club

Alison – it was lovely to arrive outside the building and hear your music com ing from within – set the evening off on the right note. Iain and Robin kicked off the evening singing together with their ukuleles, with some lovely harmonising, Lets Grow Old Together, Nearest Thing to Heaven, Lovin Arms and Diana. Iain, it was extra special to hear your lovely deep voice – Johnny Cash suits you!

With it being Maori language week, singing Diana in Te Reo was fantastic, well done to you both! Accordion group – with Bernard on his keyboard and accordions played by Alison, Irene, Mi chael, Robin and Rose, there were lots of bright, breezy and rousing tunes includ ing Blaze Away/Sunshine Of Your Smile, Wee Doch & Doris/I Love A Lassie/Four Leaf Clover, Leave the Dishes/When You Wore a Tulip/Yankee Doodle, Drovers Dream/Click Go the Shears/John Browns Body and finishing with Dear Old Don egal/McNamara’s Band/If You’re Irish –the brackets all sounded great! Michael – played an enjoyable selection of tunes with a variety of rhythms.  One was a tribute to the Queen called In a Golden Coach. This was followed with Biscaya, Once Upon a Time in the West, Let’s Do It, Brown Eyed Girl, Venus and Red Roses For You. Irene & Karen – Irene played her accordion with Karen on the piano and both ladies wore tartan to support their Scottish tunes of These Are My Mountains/Grannies Highland Hame/Song of The Clyde, Way Up in Clachan/The Northern Lights of Aber deen/Jock Mackay, and The Thistle Of Scotland/No Awa Tae Bide Awa/ Keep Right On To The End of The Road.

Ann – dusting off her keyboard, Ann played sing-along favourites of King of the Road, Never My Love, Crazy, Al ways On My Mind and Stand By Your Man.  There was lots of humming and swaying in the audience as they enjoyed the tunes.

Skiffle group – this is a large group com prising of a variety of instruments and singers. They played Singing the Blues, Walking’ In The Sunshine, Ain’t We Got Fun, Sioux City Sue, Good Luck Charm and I’m going to Knock on Your Door. Thank you to everyone for a great night’s entertainment and to Rose for her organising.

Ashburton Friendship and Entertainment Club

After a few words from our President the show began with our orchestra do ing what they do well. Lorraine, Shirley, Robin and Neil played in their usual style with our visiting friend Gary from Christchurch joining in. They play easy listening music and as they are old fa vourites a few singing voices can be heard as well.

Our guest artist was Philip Chapman who is a regular at places like the RSA and has family in Ashburton. He gave us some rock and roll, and with those pink shoes and tie he looked the part. He got Suzie up on the piano to accompany him. On the spot she did very well. Phil ip was then going to Dowell Petersons 90th birthday and that was a good af ternoon by all accounts. Happy birthday Dowell.

Next up were our resident comedians Graham and Harold. Oh, our poor Pope! Accordion player Shirley followed the sketch. Great tunes and thoroughly en joyed by all. Our resident duo Neil and Jessie sang a few numbers. Easy to lis ten to and very well received as usual. Neil and Jessie play at a rest home so some of our audience get to hear them regularly.

Gary Watts from Christchurch came and joined us for our last show of the year. He is a trumpeter and joined in with vari ous groups during the afternoon and did a solo spot. He also gave Craig a bone of good fellowship badge from his old Christchurch Savage Club (now in re cession). Gary and another Christchurch performer Lilian are joining us in Blen heim in October. Our Cross Street Gang performed a few songs and had every one singing. They are always most en joyable.

We stopped for afternoon tea and raffles and continued after this with the skiffle group which is always a lot of fun. Last up and last slot for the season was Alan Andrews on his keyboard. Alan plays beautiful soothing music and because we have two keyboard players who are both extremely talented and play differ ent styles we have been able to have a

variety on our club days.

Thank you to our helpers Jessie, Donal da, Jim and Graham for your assistance on the day. I must thank each and every entertainer over the past eight concerts as you are what makes a show. Our au dience has grown and this is because we decided to have afternoon concerts. Unfortunately, we do have a couple of musicians who can’t come Sunday af ternoon so we have some thinking to do before next season.

Until next season.

Ashburton Golf Club

Captain Tom held the only trophy he is likely to get this season aloft last Sat urday. It seems that the team for Pres ident Bruce, all wearing their wonderful hand-crafted red flowers, took the Guin ness and ran. I reckon Bruce should be looking for a few refunds this week.

After the dust had settled the captains team had two more wins than the pres idents. Great day, big field and lots of banter.

All eyes turn to Club Champs finals this Saturday. 36 holes of matchplay to find the Champions. Jeff Hewitt and Dave Morrison play for the Senior Cup. Both are Aorangi team members. Jeff a tad longer off the tee. Dave a short game magician. Two great clubmen and allround top blokes. Will be a great game to watch. Ladies Silver will be between Sharon Bradford and Pauline Bell. Two good friends and great golfers. Sharon is the reigning champ. Polly has got “a couple” of titles tucked away. They al ways have great tussles and I’m sure this will be no different.

Intermediate mens has the battle of the bionic hips Paddy Bradford and Chris Lovelock. They both know how to win the final, having been there before. Chris is an unassuming, quiet achiever and Paddy, I’m told, is just the same, should be a cracker.

Ladies Bronze 1 is between Daphne McDonnell and Jenny Stoddart, anoth er two lovely ladies with very similar, consistent games. Though 36 holes will certainly test their mettle. May well go further.

Mens Junior A is Mitchell Lye against Gaby Jansen. This will be the only time Gaby will ever meet Mitch in a club champs game, as by next year Mitch will be a Senior and Gaby could well be a Junior B. Gaby is a hell of a matchplayer, loves the grind and Mitch is one of Matt’s up and coming prodigies. Tough game to call.

Ladies Bronze 2 is Heather Robertson against Lynn Small, two great matchplay exponents, no quarter will be given or asked for, sure to be another tight game.

Mens Junior B is Nathan Stephens and Matt Fallaver, two up and coming golf ers, both can shoot pars and birdies as well as double bogies. Who can hold their game together better over two rounds?

Nine hole mens champs will have a new name, we have Gavin Johnston taking on Stewey Bennett, both great compet itors, then in the ladies another cracker is in store with Robynne Nicholl and Jenny Mathews doing battle. The two 9 hole Sega golf finals are between Gordy Clinton and Peter Stechman for the Men, then Joy Nicholas and Fairlie Matsinger for the ladies.

The plate finals for the men are Senior, Brendon Davidson and Steve Richards. Intermediate, Brent MacGregor and Ryan Stoddart.

Junior A, Terry Molloy and Karl Snowball, then Junior B Brian Fauth and Henry Lawrence. Ladies Plates are Silver, Hilary Lovett against Alison MacGregor. Bronze 1 is Tonee Hurley against Bev Chinn or Marilyn Walker and Bronze 2 Jacqui Welch against Robin Bennett. Games will be kicking off from 8.30am and the course will be closed to other golfers until after 3pm.

Sunday is club day this week. Check website for start times. The week is sponsored by Davidson Refrigeration and Electrical, great club sponsors and highly skilled trades people.

Davo is in charge of the game of the day, so we will probably have a prize for shortest drive and most putts!!

Good golfing.

Ashburton Horticultural Society

President Joy welcomed 5 members and 1 new member to our Garden Group’s September meeting which was held at Domain Pavilion. Small number attend ed due to other commitments and sick ness.

entries: Joy Jaine – 7,3,0, Cyril Keen –1,2,0. Premier Award: Joy Jaine – Class 32 Flowering Shrub – Rhododendron –President Roosevalt. Raffle was won by Cyril Keen.

Next meeting will be Friday October 28, 2 pm at Domain Pavilion, Walnut Ave nue. This meeting is one week later due to several members being away for La bour weekend.

New members and visitors welcome.

Ashburton Inner Wheel

As September is International month, our speaker was Dr Diane Young speak ing about her 15 years as a doctor in Ma lawi. Diane, her husband Jim and three children age 7, 5, and 3 went to Malawi with the church group SIM (Serving in Mission). Diane worked as a doctor at the community clinic, while Jim worked as a minister at the African Bible Col lege.

Diane showed a fascinating power point of the complex they lived in with the hospital and their home as well. Some interesting statistics were – NZ has 314 doctors for 100,000 people while Ma lawi has 2 doctors for 100,000 people.

The number of children for a woman of child bearing age is 1.8 in NZ and 4.5in Malawi. Maize is the staple crop which harvested and left lying to dry. The ker nels are then hand pick of the cobs and ground to powder with the water car ried from the well with buckets on their heads. The powder is then made into meal and forms the base of their diet. 60% of the population is under 16.

The role of women is very different to our society with malnutrition, HIV and malaria common health problems. Diane was thanked for her excellent presenta tion.

One new member was inducted and do nations given to Look Good Feel Better, Ashburton Cancer Support, and vouch ers for the Grandparents looking after Grandchildren Group. Next week we are supplying food and serving at Bookar ama.

After hearing Dr Diane Young’s talk members realised how lucky we are to live in NZ.

Ashburton Lions Club

Max Cawte opened our tea meeting and noted some of the projects and events that we have coming up;

This year’s charity golf tournament is on 13th October and still needing some volunteers to work a full day or half day; Lions should contact David Robertson if they can help. The proceeds from this year’s tournament are being split between Alzheimers Society Ashbur

ton District, the Lions Club New Zea land Charitable Trust, and the St Johns Health Shuttle. David noted that there has been a good response so far, part ly because the recent shuttle crash has bolstered support.

There is a further opportunity for Club members to sign up for Jesus Christ Superstar at the Event Centre on Friday October 7 because we are now being joined by Ashburton County Lions and Ellesmere Lions. Graham Stewart is the contact for this event and has booked the Bradford Room for an inter-club get-together before the event, meeting from 6.30pm. There are two Trust member posts up for re-election this year; if members are interested in standing they should please contact Graham Smith. The Trust accounts are currently being audited before release. This year’s Playhouse Raffle proceeds will be going to Learn ing Resources for Preschools. Books of raffle tickets are available for members and if more books are needed please contact David Ward who is organising the raffle this year.

There will be a car trial on October 16 starting at 1.30pm at the old camping ground, next to the old nurses home. The trial has been set up to cover a vari ety of sights around Canterbury and will be followed by a BBQ – bring your own drinks and seats. For further details con tact Colin Morgan, but numbers will be taken at the October tea meeting.

There will be a Christmas function with County and Pakeke Lions on 28th No vember. The event will be a purely social (but highly competitive) series of chal lenges between the clubs and should be a lot of fun; Stuart Dunlop is organising and will provide more information near the date.

We were fortunate enough to have the Principal of Ashburton College Ross Preece as this month’s guest speak er. Ross, who grew up in Christchurch, talked about the shift in the focus ed ucation from rote learning to an em phasis on co-operation and creativity, and about the importance of teaching resilience to students. He explained that students who are most disadvantaged need the most support to become pro ductive adults, and talked about some of the challenges that disadvantaged kids face at school. Ross told us about the rebuilding work coming up at Ash Coll, during which about 70 per cent of the campus will be replaced. The first block (named after the Rangitata) will be ready for the 2024 school year and will feature 32 classrooms. He also ex tended a plea for any members who are

prepared to teach students to drive to get in touch with Anne Sheehan in the school office; the school has a vehicle for the lessons, which would be two hours a week for ten weeks.

In thanking Ross for his speech, Lion Graham Smith (himself an ex-princi pal) commended him for his continuing hard work in an undeniably challenging position, balancing expectations and demands from teachers, government, trustees and students alike.

Ashburton Toastmasters

Spring was in the air and it was the Toastmaster of the day’s background theme at this recent meeting.

Jamie led the night’s agenda and intro duced the cultural share speaker, Coby. Coby spoke about the immensely pop ular pastime of cycling in Holland. For a country about the size of the Canterbury region, there are approximately 22 mil lion bicycles. Cyclists use a well-planned infrastructure that makes cycling an easy activity. Cycling seemed an appro priate recreational pursuit with spring flourishing.

The first main speech of the evening was David with ‘Culture shock lessons from Taiwan.’ David drew on his 10 plus years of living experience in Taiwan to paint a picture of a society with differing ap proaches to social welfare, elderly care, military, and health systems. The initial phase of his speech focused on different perspectives one progresses through from the thrill of being somewhere new to noticing things that are not in favour.

Matt’s speech entitled ‘Making a meal out of your next speech’ compared the plan ning and preparation of a short speech to the making of a fine dining meal. He said the ingredients were a suitable subject and purpose of the speech. The recipe and method were the structure commonly known as the introduction, body, and conclusion. The garnish being the effective use of gestures and props.

The next meeting will be held on 28 Sep tember 2022 and will be a special one with a contest being staged. The contest will focus on events such as Table Top ics and humorous speeches. Guests and visitors are most welcome.

Our fortnightly meetings start at 7:30 pm in the Doris Linton Lounge, RSA Ashburton.

Mid Canterbury Ladies Friendship Club

The September meeting was presided over by President Julie Begg. Members stood in silence in respect of the passing of the Queen Elizabeth II. A visitor was welcomed to the meeting. Birthdays and anniversaries were celebrated, particu larly the 90th birthday of Colleen Ness.

The mini speaker was member, Dot Font who at the age of 90 years has a very in teresting story to tell of her life, particu larly of the years living in England during World War II. A visit to Coniston on 5 Oc tober has been arranged. After morning tea members were divided into tables of four, and spent the time card making.

The Thought for the Month was “Old people are fond of giving advice: it con soles them for no longer being capable of setting a bad example”. If you wish to visit our friendly group please phone ei ther Julie 3084254 or Rae 3088927, we would love to meet you.

Next meeting is 10am on 12 October 2022 at the Hotel Ashburton.

Netherby Women’s Institute

President Patsy Huggins welcomed members to this meeting held at St Da vid’s Church Hall. After the reciting of the Aspirations Patsy called for a min ute’s silence in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth.

The minutes were read and confirmed. Correspondence and general business was carried out. Several members from sister Institutes who had been invit ed including National President Jude Vaughan and Mid Canterbury Federation President Mavis Wilkins arrived for our afternoon’s entertainment. This took the form of a fashion show with clothes pro vided by the Hospice Shop Mid Canter bury. Two of their members compared the modelling of their clothes by five of our members. The audience got to see a wide variety of clothes and accessories available at the local Hospice Shop. The models bought some of the excellent ware giving new life to their wardrobes while supporting a good cause.

The two raffle prizes were won by two of our guests. Afternoon tea completed the meeting.

Ashburton College principal, Ross Preece, was guest speaker for the Ashbur ton Lions.

Ricky set for Cup Day champions parade

Matt Markham

Champion driver Ricky May is set to play a massive part in a living legends acknowledgement dur ing the biggest harness racing day of the year in November at Addington.

And he’ll get to reunite with a couple of old friends who have the day extra special for him over the years as well.

Addington Raceway has this week announced that during this year’s New Zealand Trotting Cup Day festivities a special parade will be held prior to the running of this year’s great race which will include multiple Cup winners, Terror To Love, Monkey King and Lazarus.

In a serious display of equine power, the three horses – who have a combined seven New Zea land Trotting Cup wins between them – will be joined on the track by the Crusaders Guardians, who are an integral part of any home

game for the champion rugby side over the fence at Addington.

Their display includes a nod to Mid Canterbury as well, with one of the guardians dressed in Mid Canterbury finery.

May will join the contingent at the end of the parade, acknowl edging his place as a legend of the NZ Cup with seven driving wins in the race – the most suc cessful of all time.

Terror To Love and Monkey King both provided him with two of those wins each, so it’s a reuniting of epic proportions for both human and equine legend alike.

As well as his Cup wins with the two champions, May also saluted with Mid Canterbury pacer Inky Lord (1989), Iraklis (1997) and Mainland Banner in 2005.

Both Terror To Love and La zarus are enjoying stallion ca reers from the breeding shed, while Monkey King is retired to owner Robert Famularo’s Danc ingonmoonlight establishment and has been making his name in the show ring in recent times.

Together they amassed over $10m in stake earnings while

May, the winner of over 3000 races has career stake earnings in the sulky of more than $33 mil lion.

He’ll have a few chances to add to those figures this weekend with just four drives across the two Canterbury meetings start ing tonight at Addington.

He drives Lucinda Hest early in the night before jumping aboard the Mid Canterbury trained mare, Angel Of Montana, for Ste phen Anderson in the last race of the night.

The smart pacer has been very good since resuming from a spell and lands an excellent draw to night, which should lead toward her being a strong each-way prospect in what is a very good, but very even field to close out the night’s racing.

Then on Sunday, it’s off to the green grass of Motukarara where he will take the drive on the tal ented but enigmatic Aveross Majesty in the DG Jones Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup.

May has won the black-type feature three times, with One Apollo (2020), Harrysul (2016) and Power In Motion (2007).

Ricky May has the catch drive on Australian raider Mach Dan in the first ever edition of new-look harness racing feature - The Race. PHOTO MASH MEDIA

National squash on Ashburton’s courts

get support from local businesses as well as our members in run ning the event.”

The Ashburton Squash Club will be in the national focus this week, as they welcome a large number of squash players from around the country into their facility.

Today marks the beginning of the National Super Grade Cham pionships, of which the local club are one of a number of clubs around the country with hosting rights.

Ashburton will host the F and J Grade finals, which officially begin this morning, with more than 100 people coming into Mid Canterbury to eat, sleep and play through until Saturday night.

In a real coup for the Ashbur ton club, the chance to host such a prestigious event on the an nual national squash calendar has meant many hours of work behind the scenes by a group of dedicated people to ensure everything runs smoothly from the first game at 10am this morn ing.

Ashburton Squash Club pres ident, Phil Pavletich, said it was an honour for the club to be se lected.

“We are really excited to be hosting this year’s event and have been very fortunate to be select ed to do so.

“This is a major fundraiser for us for the year and we are lucky to

Of the 100 guests in town for the week, 70 will step out onto the court during the course of the next three days in a bid to be come national champions.

“It’s great for Ashburton, with people travelling from all over the country to come down for a week and explore what Mid Canter bury and Ashburton has to offer.”

Play officially begins this morn ing with the first round of com petition with five rounds in total, closing out around lunchtime on Saturday before prizegiving.

Pavletich said that as well as the competition on the courts, the Ashburton club had been working hard behind the scenes to provide extra entertainment for the week, with a bingo and burgers night to be held tomor row night and a Hawaiian luau on Saturday evening to complete the week.

Five teams each will compete in the men’s and women’s grades with teams from Eastern, Auck land, Canterbury, Central and Bay of Plenty in the men’s finals and teams from Eastern, Central, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Wai kato in the women’s events.

The age of players across the competition ranges from junior players aged 12 and over right through to 60, with players all of similar ability.

The competition is a roundrobin format, with teams com peting against each other in or

der to find the winner in the dual grade.

Pavletich said that the club had been lucky to have had won derful support from a dedicated group of sponsors and also plen ty of help from members within the club to help ensure that the competition runs smoothly over the three days, with plenty of

volunteer work required.

Meanwhile, a team of local players are in Whangarei to com pete in the C Grade National Su per Grade Championships.

Representing the Ashburton Squash Club, Savahn Taiko, Don na Brown, Karen Nieman, Bren da Hall and Kelly Wing will take part in the C Grade finals which

officially began yesterday. In a combined competition of 10 teams, the Ashburton women have been pooled with sides from Hamilton, Lakes, Putaruru and Marlborough, with round-robin matches being played through until tomorrow before finalists are found for Saturday’s final day of play.

■ Golf

Ashburton Golf Club

Locals claim pennants

Ashburton Vets Golf

Tinwald Golf Club

■ Bowls

Allenton Bowling Club

Donna Brown (right) and Karen Nieman are both in Whangarei this week competing in the National Superchamps C Grade finals while their home club, Ashburton Squash Club will play host to the F and J Grade finals which begin today.

There was

presence across the Pleasant Point Golf Course at the weekend as the Aorangi Golf Men’s Pennants finals

The annual interclub competition runs throughout the course of the season, but on Saturday it all came to a head

finalists went to battle on the greens in the search for success and bragging rights through the summer months. Methven Golf Club taking on Highfield in the Redpath competition, emerging victorious in Sunday’s final and emerging victorious while in an all-Mid Can terbury final in the Patterson competition the Mayfield Golf Club took on Rakaia Golf Club. The two sides were the leading teams throughout the

Erin Porter – 40 on c/b. Nearest the Pins:

Chevalier Farm Ltd – Kay Fox, No 8 Samantha Rose

– Mary-Lou Watson, No 12 Lynn’s small Salon –Pauline Bell, No 14 Todd’s of Ashburton – Jacqui Welch, No 18 2nd Shot – Jenny Williams. Twos: Jen Shepherd, Daph ne McDonnell

No

Mary-Lou Watson – No 12, Alison MacGregor, Jenny Williams – No 14.

Tinwald Golf

Matt Markham

involved in

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Throughout the time of the French band

The precise way one will force money from one (5)

Into which writers may have dipped (8)

There’s something wrong with a loud bit

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): Structure gives you a sense of grounding. In a sense, it is because of this deep security that you are able to ultimately make some of your more exciting and spontaneous moves.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Stick with the one you who brought you to the dance. Your loyalty will be rewarded. Working with a partner, you’ll accomplish what you couldn’t do alone.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): There was a time when you had to ask permission or go through someone else to get what you needed and wanted. Now you’ll celebrate your sweet autonomy.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): People around you come together or go their separate ways; you’ll be open-minded about these new configurations of a shifting social landscape, which tends to favour you.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): You’ll be drawn to the bright lights and noise of the crowd. This doesn’t have to be expensive. Resist social pressure to spend money as a form of showing off. You won’t regret spending just enough to participate.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): In a highly reactive environment, all it takes is one impulsive move to set off an entire string of events. You have more power than you realise, so go slow and calm, eyes wide open.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): You’ll be dealing in an area you could easily overthink. Instead of analysing it to death, give it the old duck test. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Only a writer or director gets angry when people go off script. You shouldn’t feel like a bit part in someone else’s movie. Ideally, interactions are more like an improvisation team building the scene together.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Pay attention to how relaxed you feel around people, it’s telling. An unconscious part of you opens up with certain people and closes off with others. Awareness of this leads to greater self-knowledge.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Avoid getting stuck in a story that isn’t helping you. Give it a rewrite. This isn’t about falsifying what happened; rather, it’s a challenge to find different, more empowering and useful aspects to focus on.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Everyone needs attention and validation, but the question is, how much? You’re careful not to wear anyone out with this or to let your energy be commandeered by the excessively needy.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Today will highlight the difference between getting love from others and sharing love with others. It takes work to nudge relationships toward health and interdependence.

HIRE

HOUSES

MOTORING

IN

Guardian

DEATHS

DAVIDSON, Walter Eric –

It is with sadness Walters’ family said farewell to Walter, on Tuesday September 20, 2022, in his 91st year. Dearly loved and respected husband to Janie for 63 years. Much loved father and father-in-law to Julie and Chris Cunneen, Mark and Jo-Anne, and Hugh and Lil. Loving Grandad of Hayley and Rob, Sean, Andrew and Jess, Jason and Kendelle, Bradley and Brittney, Larnie and Bonnie. Great-Grandad to Paisley, and Ivy. Messages to the Davidson family, PO Box 472, Ashburton 7700. Many thanks to the dedicated and wonderful staff at Rosebank for their understanding and care. At Walter’s request a private cremation has been held.

Having

FUNERAL FURNISHERS

MASTER MONUMENTAL MASON E.B. CARTER LTD

For all your memorial requirements

headstones and designs Renovations, Additional inscriptions, Cleaning

HOAR, Marjorie May –Passed away peacefully at Dunedin Hospital on September 14, 2022. Dearly loved wife of the late Ossie Hoar and cherished Mum of Kate (Kathryn) and Juergen Gnoth, treasured Nana of Daniel and Jacqui Gnoth, and Aidan Gnoth. A very special and fun loving Nannie to her great grandsons, Max, and Ollie Gnoth. Marjorie was loved and respected by many. Her positive, caring and outgoing attitude was an inspiration.

At Marjorie’s request a private service will be held.

Messages to 6 View Street, Waitati 9085.

Complete

HOLDAWAY, Natalie –

On September 18, 2022 at Christchurch Hospital, in her 91st year. Dearly loved wife of the late John for 66 years.

Loving mother and motherin-law of Chris and Christine, Kathy and Kevin Moseley, Mike and Rachel, and Iain and Linda. Loved Gran of John, Thomas and Stephen; Nicola and Julia; Jacob and Cushla; Libby and Anna, and 6 great-grandchildren.

Messages to the Holdaway Family, c/- PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A private cremation has been held. Service details to follow.

FinalWhistle

Super Champs set to begin

The Ashburton Squash Club is hosting to the New Zealand Squash National Super Champs this week with more than 70 players from around the country here to compete. Meanwhile, a group of local players are in the far north chasing their own national success.