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Ashburton
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
FIRST PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 27, 1879
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BOXING DAY RACES
Warning: Bad behaviour will not be tolerated A tough line on behaviour will be taken by security teams at today’s Boxing Day race meeting at Ashburton. In the past the meeting was often marred by the out-ofcontrol behaviour or patrons partying in the racecourse carpark, but in recent years, the Ashburton Trotting Club has increased its security patrols. Last year the new hard line resulted in a well-behaved crowd, said club secretary Gareth Murfitt. “We don’t allow furniture into the carpark and this year we’ve stepped up security again and staff have been told if there’s any unruly behaviour, the offenders will be trespassed from the course.” For race-goers who want to set up camp early, gates to the
carpark will open at 9am and will be locked at 8pm. The next morning they’ll be opened at 6am for people who need to return to reclaim cars left in the grounds overnight. Food will be available in the carpark area with Lions Club members cooking sausages in an effort to ensure drinking patrons balance their intake with some food. Security will also be tight in the licensed area, which runs inside the entry turnstiles. Race-goers are able to bring alcohol into this area, but the limit of six bottles of beer or one bottle of wine per person will be strictly enforced, Mr Murfitt said. “When that’s gone, that’s it. They’ll have to buy from the bar.” And that will mean they’ll come under the eagle eye of Ashburton Trust staff who will be keeping a very close eye on
intoxication levels, said duty manager Sandra May. A range of food will be available in the licensed area, from pies and chips through to full meals. The weather may be the ultimate determiner for behaviour, with rain on the radar, dampening the opportunity for people to sit and drink in the sun. The MetService is forecasting occasional rain and southerlies. Police are not expecting the weather to provide them with an easy ride through the day, however, senior sergeant Grant Russell said. “We’re warning race-goers not to become intoxicated. You don’t have to drink to have a good time,” he said. Dehydration added another layer to the effects of alcohol for people drinking in the sun, Mr Russell said. “Wet weather could see peo-
ple drink just as much and behave just as stupidly. “We’re saying, basically, enjoy yourself but don’t do so at other people’s expense.” Mr Russell said there would be many children and families attending, and it was important they did not have to put up with drunken behaviour. Police met with the Ashburton District Council, Acads, the Ashburton Trust and the race committee in November. “We do that every year just to finalise what’s going to happen, who is doing what. Just to make sure everyone is aware of their obligations on the day.” While historically there had been drunk and disorderly behaviour and drink driving concerns around the event, Mr Russell said in recent years police had had very few incidents. “The incidents are getting fewer and fewer every year.”
Santa’s helper hands in his sleigh By Susan Sandys One of Santa’s esteemed helpers had his last day on the job at the Ashburton Arcade on Christmas Eve. The arcade’s Father Christmas has been helping out the big man in red for 56 years, and has been at the busy town centre shopping mall for the past 15. And while through his work as a helper he has become a local identity, he refused to let the Guardian include his name in this story. “It’s just ‘Father Christmas’, it’s not about me,” he said. Aged in his 80s, he said he would be continuing as Father Christmas for organisations such as resthomes, but December 24 would be his last day at the arcade. There would be another helper coming along to fill that role.
Photo Kirsty Graham 241212-KG-022
Father Christmas in The Arcade in Ashburton is stepping back from the limelight. He is pictured with Rachell-Lyn Bernarte, 7, who wanted a bicycle, on his knee on Christmas Eve. He said one of the biggest changes over the years had been the types of toys requested by children. “What do they call that pod thing?” he said when asked what
was one of the most popular requests this year. That was an i-Pod, Santa photographer Hazel Redmond reminded him. “A lot of kids are asking
for technology, things I don’t understand. They have names I wouldn’t have a clue,” he said. “I think every year there’s always something different.” Some requests had not changed though, such as for bicycles, scooters, horses and other pets. “One girl the other day wanted a pony stable,” he said. And it was not just kids who sat on his knee, but also adults. Their requests had included a new wife, a new husband, a new car, a motorbike, and for good health. “I have done it for the love of it, I don’t do it for myself, I do it for the families, all the kids, to put a smile on their face, and adults as well.” He was now up to his third generation of Ashburton families, with grandparents who had sat on his knee as children bringing along their grandchildren.
Photo Kirsty Graham 251212-KG-008
Ashburton’s Christmas Day community lunch volunteer Geoff Horrell carves up the ham ready to share amongst a packed Sinclair Centre yesterday.
Festive lunch and goodwill to all By Sue Newman Ashburton’s Sinclair Centre was packed to overflowing yesterday with food, festivities and best of all, with goodwill. About 135 people joined to share a community Christmas lunch, that was the perfect example of the true Christmas spirit of caring and sharing. From the big team of volunteers who gave up the opportunity to have Christmas dinner with their own families to the big team of diners who chose to share the day with strangers, it was a perfect community day out. And those who turned out to the shared lunch came for dozens of reasons. Some because they would have been alone, others because they could not afford to provide a festive lunch for their family and others who were strangers in a new town. It was a day that was designed to send everyone home with a full tum and a smile on their face. From the moment diners arrived, they were fussed over and made to feel special. Some chose to dine with people they knew, others knew no-one but
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By Sue Newman and Susan Sandys
To see more or purchase photos went away after the meal with new friends. The Sinclair Centre was a place of plenty. Two large hams were finely carved, lamb had been roasted to perfection and turkey and stuffing rounded out the meats. Add to that the traditional Christmas vegetable fare, top it off with pavlova, icecream and fruit salad and Christmas lunch community style in Ashburton was a winner. Many at the lunch were regulars. Some said they were quite shy about attending their first year, but with a few years behind
them it was an event that was marked on the calendar. A couple, new to town with a toddler, said that without the community lunch they would have been alone. Another couple said that on a benefit, providing lunch for themselves and their adult daughter was impossible. Their money did not stretch that far. And for many of the older diners, the community lunch was a much nicer option that eating alone. Veteran volunteers Jeannie and Geoff Horrell say it is their way of giving something back to a community that has been good to them over the years. Organiser Maureen Bishop said numbers this year were down a little, after a recordbreaking 165 diners last year. Actual numbers were still to be calculated because a number of people simply turn up on the day rather than registering in advance. “But it doesn’t matter how many we have, no-one will be turned away,” she said. At the end of the lunch, diners were given a package of homebaked goodies to take home.
Today’s weather
HIGH LOW
23
SPACE
FREEDOM
SECURITY
10