8 February Blenheim Sun newspaper

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Facilitator Joni Morrissey says the first of the six week hourly sessions was well received by the dads in attendance.

Les Whiteside les@blenheimsun.co.nz

“It was a fantastic evening, we all enjoyed it and the babies were all very settled. The guys were brilliant,” she says. “We did introductions for the dads and they all got handouts with instructions to follow, and those dads who were not able to bring their babies were given practice doll babies.

Joni says she is doing baby massage with them this week (Thursday) and says they are all excited about the learning ahead.

“Baby massage is not only for mothers, fathers can also participate in the process. In fact, baby massage can be an excellent way for fathers to bond with their infants and contribute to their physical and emotional well-being,” Joni says.

“By massaging their baby, fathers can

learn to understand and respond to their baby’s cues and create a special connection with them. Baby massage can be a wonderful opportunity for fathers to be an active and nurturing part of their baby’s life.”

Joni has created a Facebook page for the group to ‘keep up with everything’ and continue with robust communication.

She says she is hoping to create a community where Marlborough Dads could join in team events or support each other’s businesses.

“It’s only the second week but I’m excited,” she says.

Next week Dads of Marlborough will have Gina Wells from Wee Gems Sleep Consultant to chat with the dads about sleep routines and the role a father plays.

The group runs every Thursday until March 3, 6:30pm, 8 Beaver Road, Connect Marlborough.

Katrina Whiteside

katrina@blenheimsun.co.nz

Telephone (03) 5777-868

E-mail news@blenheimsun.co.nz

Advertising: simon@blenheimsun.co.nz

Address 72 High St, Blenheim P.O.Box 634 Blenheim www.blenheimsun.co.nz

Community urged to keep property secure after spike in theft

By Chris Valli

Police are urging the public to take extra precautions and continue to report criminal activity after an increase in theft and burglary across the Blenheim area.

Sergeant Graham Single says over December and January, there have been upwards of 63 burglaries reported and 41 car thefts.

Sergeant Single says police are committed to identifying and apprehending those responsible.

However, he says police cannot be everywhere at once and they cannot deter opportunistic thieves on their own.

Monday - Thursday 9am - 4.30pm

“It’s disappointing to see a spike in this type of crime in our community; we are working hard to hold these offenders to account,” he says.

“We encourage the community to take preventative measures such as locking your doors and windows, keeping valuables out of sight and installing an alarm system – or if you already have one, make sure you use it – and get sensor lights fitted.”

Sergeant Single says if possible, park vehicles in a garage, but if it must be parked on the road, try to park it in a well-lit area.

“Joining a neighbourhood support group can be beneficial to deterring theft, as more people in your neighbourhood can keep an eye out for suspicious activity.

Let your neighbours know if you are going away and keep an eye on their property if they’re away,” he says.

Police are also asking the community to check security cameras and

r e port any suspicious behaviour immediately.

“The sooner the crime is reported, the sooner it can be investigated,” he says.

“Report all crimes of this nature to police rather than taking matters into your own hands as this can put yourself at risk.

If you see any suspicious behaviour in or around vehicles occurring now please call 111.”

Information can also be reported to Police on 105, or anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Feel

Barry Holmwood and Faye Partridge

Joni says she is doing baby massage with them this week and says they are all excited about the learning ahead.

‘Cemetery unmarked’ poses questions

By Chris Valli

Blenheim’s Philippa Hyndman has questions after a chance discovery on a Trade Me property.

A property at 22 Burnside Avenue in Springlands is listed for sale as a ‘Lifestyle Vineyard’ which consists of 3.32 hectares. However, at the bottom of the listing and next door to the property but within the boundary is a ‘cemetery unmarked’.

“I was looking at houses for sale on Trade Me and I saw the listing with a street name I hadn’t heard of before. I scrolled to the bottom of the listing and saw where it was on the map and right next door to the property for sale it said ‘Old Renwick Cemetery Unmarked.”

I looked on Google maps and Googled the cemetery name but all I could find was a website - findagrave.com that stated - Old unmarked cemetery said to be where victims of a large drowning were buried in the 1800’s.”

The website ‘papers past’ (National Library) shows a clipping dated April 24, 1894 from the Marlborough Express with the headline ‘A Sad Occurrence’, reported Three Lives Lost in the Wairau River where Waikakaho residents one, ‘Mrs Humphries’ and her child, along with one ‘Miss Wratt’ were crossing a ford of the Wairau River in a dogcart when ‘through some mishap’ all were thrown into the water and drowned.

Philippa says she decided to put a post on Marlborough Cool Cat Chat on Facebook to see if anyone knew any more details about the ‘unmarked cemetery’.

“There were several helpful comments with a few more details about who the people in the cemetery could be but there are many more unanswered questions. Are there people buried there? Who looked after the site and

are there any marked graves? Can people visit the site as it appears to be fenced off?”

A Blenheim resident who knew the property and did not want to be named says they have lived nearby to the Burnside Avenue property.

“The site has always been a grass area with trees around it.,” the resident says. “It’s never had memorials.

One of the previous owners of the property did research finding out the history of the property. It was his goal to put a monument or plaque there to tell what had happened.

He researched council records and historical information and never came to any conclusion.

What I do know is that piece of the property has always been separated,” the resident says.

Rangitāne iwi member Keelan Walker says he read with interest the post on MCCC and after reading questions from locals suggesting it was Maori who were buried there he thought, no it’s not. It was the first time he had heard about a potential cemetery or urupa.

“Maori have been really good in marking our areas in the past where they know people are buried,” he says. “In recent years where we have toured with Iwi members we visited all the areas, this was not one of them which leads me to think that it’s not a place where Maori are buried…..but it doesn’t mean that they are not.”

Keelan says whoever is there - whether Maori or Pakeha - he commends and acknowledges the current land owners who ‘continue to give them the respect they deserve by fencing off the area’ and something that ‘not everyone would do’.

“We’ve had incidents in recent history where Maori have known there is an urupā (Maori burial ground) and they’ve put vineyards on top of that,” he says.

Philippa Hyndman has questions after discovering a Trade Me property listing in Springlands which has a ‘cemetery unmarked’. The site ‘findagrave.com’ states - Old unmarked cemetery said to be where victims of a large drowning were buried in the 1800’s.

Sun The

Renwick cycle trail moving forward

The second stage in Renwick’s vineyard cycle trail is underway.

The 6.5km section, linking the Allan Scott winery in Jacksons Road to Renwick using off-road routes, is part of a proposed 8.7km trail and connects with an existing section of off-road path along Jacksons Road that was completed in 2020.

Steve Hill, chairman of the Renwick Bike Walk group, said the trail goes along the Ōpaoa River stopbank and joins up with the Omaka River near the Old Renwick Road ford, following that to the SH63 road bridge then along road reserve to Havelock Street.

Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon

returns

The Sanitarium Weet-Bix kids TRYathlon series in back on Sunday, March 12, 9am at the Tahunanui Beach Reserve in Nelson. Registrations for 6-15 year olds are open until 12pm March 10 @ triathlon.co.nz or kids can enter the Sanitarium WeetBix Kids TRY challenge to complete a personal challenge anytime, anywhere @ trychallenge.co.nz

Funding boost for Marlborough Age friendly project

Presbyterian Support Upper South is one of twelve organisations to receive funding in the latest round of the Age friendly fund. The Office for Seniors funds grants of up to $15,000 for projects that promote the inclusion of older people and help cities and communities prepare for their ageing populations.

Presbyterian Support Upper South received $9,125 towards delivering retirement workshops that aim to provide participants with a framework to prepare for retirement. Weekly sessions over a period of six weeks will include topics such as wellbeing, health, finance, employment and community engagement. Sessions will include shared kai, stories, speakers, and discussion.

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Fishing Competition back on the calendar

BLACK DOG PROVIDES COLOUR:

Blenheim’s George Glover (middle left), family and support crew after his mammoth 300 km swim (15 loops) for Mike King’s I am Hope at Lake Rotoiti at the weekend. At the time of going to print, George’s Give a Little page had raised nearly $129,000 and continues to rise. His goal of raising $100,000 will fund private care and counselling for young people on waiting lists throughout the country. Mental Health advocate Mike King says he got a ‘small taste’ of George’s efforts by joining him and swimming 2 km. Mike says his favourite moment was seeing George emerge from the water after what was a ‘remarkable achievement’.

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You don’t need to be an athlete, but a good degree of health and fitness is a must.

By Chris Valli

Hungry for some self-caught Kai Moana? Keen to get out and see what the Sounds and all the excitement is about?

After a three year Covid interruption, the Renwick Arms Fishing Competition is set to return.

Last held in March 2020 this year’s event is to be held at the Club (92 High Street, Renwick) February 24 - 26 with the final weigh in on Sunday from 1-4pm and Prize

Giving from 5pm

The prize categories in the adult section include (among others) HEAVIEST snapper, groper, kahawai, crayfish and kingfish. There is $15,000 in prizes to be won.

The major sponsors for this year’s event are; Tira Crown, Hunting & Fishing Marlborough, Edwards Logistics, Burnsco, Evan Jones Construction, Boyd Wilson Electrical and Dave Leslie.

Entry Fees are: Members $25, non-members $30, Kids - 12years and under, $5.

Blenheim Toyota

FLASHBACK TO 2018: Blenheim’s Chris McMurtrie at the ‘weigh in’ for the Renwick Arms Fishing Competition. The popular weekend event is on this year from 24 - 26 February.

Maintaining independence and support

By Chris Valli

The Marlborough Community Vehicle Trust continues to provide invaluable support for members of the Sounds community.

Following the floods in the Sounds last year, MCVT spokesperson Brian Henstock says Keneperu and other residents had no means of attending appointments.

“We bore all other costs. The closed roads meant that taking dialysis patients to Nelson for treatment was resulting in a 12 hour day for our drivers, some of whom are aged. This caused a knock on effect for our other activities. However, we are now back to the new normal,” he says.

Brian says in conjunction with the new rescue team they lent them a car to be based in Havelock and to be used by the Sounds residents for whatever purpose, as long as it was kept full of fuel.

The Trust was set up in 2015 to provide a transport service for medical patients between their homes and appointments in Blenheim and Nelson.

Brian says at the time they had an idea but no car, no drivers and definitely no money. They have now grown into the MCVT with over 300 Trust members, 35 drivers and 10 board members.

A lack of funding at Wairau Hospital is the main reason why locals had to travel to

Nelson when dialysis machines were in situ at Wairau. Last year the impact of Covid and increased fuel prices meant that MCVT were perilously close to major financial problems.

“We were rescued by MDC which funded our operating expenses,” says Brian. “Our geographic isolation and lack of transport have resulted in the sad truth that there is now no alternative for our elderly residents or those without access to private cars to attend medical appointments.”

Brian says they are now included in the Council’s strategic plan.

“We take Picton residents to Wairau hospital for a $30 donation for the return trip. We take residents of Blenheim and Picton to Nelson hospital for $60 return. All our passengers must be members of MCVT and that requires a one-off life membership fee of $20.”

Brian says the trust foresee a bright future for their volunteers.

“It should be noted that we are now the only means for passengers to attend medical matters in either Blenheim from Picton, or Blenheim/Picton to Nelson hospital,” he says. “St John no longer operates a shuttle to Nelson. The taxi cost is prohibitive and overnight accommodation would add to the cost. Our service ensures that elderly persons without a car or driving licence can remain in their own homes and maintain their independence.”

Havelock resident Ian Cameron with a car available for Sounds residents to use in November last year.

even when a nom de plume is provided for publication.

The editor reserves the right to abridge letters or withhold letters from publication. Email them to news@blenheimsun. co.nz or present to our office at 72 High St.

Please note that your name and street address MUST be provided with emails.

Cat Safety Trust Power

Dear Ed

Don’t write to them requesting an explanation as to why you are getting a monthly increase in your power account.

I did, and the answer is a further increase of $9.91 this month. That is with no heat pump, electric blanket and oven being used. Please explain how my account can increase from $235.06 to $244.97.

I did have a phone call re my last letter. That was the last I heard. Not very satisfactory when you are on a pension!

J.M Bloy

Almost every week there’s a story about roaming cats getting into trouble. A cat caught in a possum trap, cats causing road accidents, cats shot with air rifles. Then we hear of cats catching native birds, defecating in veggie patches, cats being rescued by the fire service from trees (when the fire service should be saving people’s lives). It goes on and on.

All these stories have one thing in common, don’t they? They all involve cats allowed to roam.

I have two cats. I built a play area out of narrow-gauge wire netting so wild birds can’t get in and my cats can’t get out. There is a cat flap in the door from the house so my cats can get in and out as they please. They have a litter box for their toilet. They have fresh water automatically from a timer on an outside tap (the type used to irrigate your garden). Their play area has a spring loaded gate for us to go in and out. The world is safe from my cats and my cats are safe from the world.

Why do people take the risk with their beloved pet cat by letting it roam? The answer, of course, is that the pet cat is the only domestic animal that does not have to be controlled. Until the law changes, all we have to rely on is good old fashioned not-so-common sense.

Evan Robinson (Responsible) cat lover.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST: Vintage tractors were on show at the Marlborough Heritage Day at Brayshaw Park on Monday. Ross Cooke (Left) on an Allis Chalmers tractor and Godfrey Earle driving his rare Holder articulated tractor. The Waitangi Day celebrated all things 'heritage' with demonstrations of skills including woodwork, blacksmithing, farming and engineering.

Green light for wheelie bin rollout

Wheelie bins will soon become the chosen method for kerbside recycling and rubbish collection after Council’s Assets and Services Committee gave the new proposal the go ahead.

Assets and Services Committee chair

David Croad said consultation at the end of last year found that 76 per cent of those who made a submission supported the move to wheelie bins and expanding the kerbside collection area. “This gave Council a clear signal that the community is ready to utilise this new and improved service,” he said. Councillor Croad said a few changes have been made to the original proposal taking on board feedback from the community.

“The panel received 459 submissions and suggestions received have been worked into the final recommendation that was approved by the committee,” he said.

These include offering different size wheelie bins. Initially households were to be given two 140-litre bins, one for rubbish and one for recycling, to be collected on alternate weeks. Households would also get a separate 55-litre crate for glass which would be emptied fortnightly. However, following feedback, Council will offer residents a low (80-litre), standard (140-litre) or high (240-litre) volume wheelie bin option, each at a different cost.

Councillor Croad said it is important to recognise that people have different circumstances. “A large family might require a 240-litre bin where as an elderly person might only need a smaller 80-litre bin which would be easier for them to take out to the kerbside for collection,” he said.

The Wairau Valley and Ward communities signalled they would prefer to continue to use their local transfer stations instead of being part of the proposed kerbside collection.

“Feedback from Ward and Wairau Valley advised the panel that the logistics of getting a wheelie bin to the gate of a rural property would be impractical,” Clr Croad said.

“The change to recycling and rubbish collection is a big decision for our region with the contract worth about $30 million. It’s one of our biggest contracts and is important to ensure the right service is provided. I’m pleased we have made these changes to the original proposal that will benefit the users of the new service,” Clr Croad said. If ratified by full Council on 2 March, the new wheelie bin contract is expected to begin on 1 July 2024.

For more information on the wheelie bin roll out and establishment of remote transfer stations visit: www.marlborough. govt.nz/services/refuse/communityconsultation-waste-services

Upcoming meetings: the future of Marlborough’s freshwater

Council wants to hear from communities, businesses and iwi about their vision for the future of Marlborough’s freshwater. This is the first of three consultation periods over the next two years, as part of the Government’s Essential Freshwater package and in particular the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

Marlborough is a large district with various needs for freshwater, so this first round of submissions is also

asking for feedback on freshwater management units (FMUs), which are six areas grouped because they are a single catchment or group of catchments with similar characteristics.

Council encourages the public to attend a public meeting, as well as make a submission.

Visit www.marlborough.govt.nz to make a submission, or pick up a hard copy at Council offices, and submit by Tuesday 28 February 2023.

We love it here campaign launches

Council has joined forces with other agencies to help spread the word and help our amazing local business community fill their talent gaps.

As part of the Innovate Marlborough activation plan, Council’s Economic Development team, along with the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Social Development, are leading this skills attraction campaign to support Marlborough business fulfil current $70,000-plus job vacancies and bring new talent to our region.

Be sure to keep an eye out at the

airport, ferry terminals, cafes, shops etc for the ‘we love it here’ brochure over the next few weeks, leading up to the Wine and Food Festival.

Current vacancies and information on the campaign can be found on the ‘we love it here’ website: www.weloveithere.nz/

Get involved by following the @weloveithere Instagram account and enter the social media competition by sharing why you love it in Marlborough. Don’t forget to share with your friends or family who might be considering a move to Marlborough.

Tues, 21 Feb 8.00 pm - 9.00 pm

*Zoom links to online meetings are available at www.marlborough.govt.nz

New freedom camping bylaw set for May

Council’s freedom camping bylaw, which allows for freedom camping at 11 sites across the district, up from just five originally proposed, is set to come into effect this May. The sites in which freedom camping will be provided for under the Responsible Camping Control Bylaw 2022 are the Wairau Diversion, Taylor Dam, Renwick Dog Park, Renwick Domain car park, Wynen Street car park, Lansdowne Park car park, Lake Elterwater road reserve (Ward), Blairich Reserve (Awatere Valley), Opouri Road (Carluke Domain), Alfred Stream (Rai Valley) and Wash Bridge recreation reserve on SH63. Many of these locations will limit the number of nights freedom campers can stay, and the number of vehicles permitted at each of the sites, for example, camping at Lansdowne Park will be limited to four vehicles and a one-night stay Monday to Thursday. Speaking at the Assets and Services Committee meeting, Mayor Nadine Taylor, who also sat on the hearings panel, noted that the bylaw has been years in the making and has been through three rounds of public consultation.

“Following a claim for judicial review by the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association in May 2021 over the limitations of the 2020 Bylaw, Council has been through two additional consultations and followed a very

robust process,” Mayor Taylor said. “The Hearings Panel conducted a thorough assessment of the sites as part of their decision-making,” she said.

The panel considering the bylaw was made up of independent commissioner Martin Williams, former Mayor John Leggett and current Mayor Nadine Taylor. The implementation of the bylaw is subject to full Council ratification on 2 March.

‘Spider’ picture recalls memories past

Roma Wright is known to many in the community for her service as a vendor at the Blenheim Rotary Boot sale Marker for over 25 years.

All the money she raises goes to charity.

Roma says selling ‘books and knickknacks’ over that time is because of the people aspect and the social dynamic every Saturday morning.

“It’s because of the people, it’s like a family,” she says. “I sell everything that is given to me for nothing. So many people have got to know me and they leave boxes of stuff at my door. I have regular clients one would say. During the week, I’m sorting and doing things.”

The painting she says was taken at Studholme Junction, where the Waimate branch railway met the main trunk line. She believes the painting was done in 1941.

The focal point of the painting depicts ‘Spider’. A horse who she recounts as being allegedly ‘vicious’. However, Roma can recall as a 10-year-old she had an uncanny ability to win him over with her youthful enthusiasm and charm.

“I used to coach him over to the railing, scrub him around the ears and he would hug me,” she says. “My brother told me years ago he was a ‘vicious old sod’ and I said no he wasn’t.”

The man on the horse is Roma’s grandfather, Thomas Rogers.

“He used to get his finger and say to us we are R-O-G-E-R-S, French. We are not Rod….bloody Irish,” she laughs.

The painting was given to Roma’s father, ‘Andy’ who inherited it and then subsequently passed it on to Roma. As the oldest child, she was given it due to being the only one ‘in sympathy with Spider.’

Speaking of her door, Roma has been living at her Main Street home for well over 50 years. The lounge resembles a ‘whose who’ of extended family with pictures of grandchildren and her own children (she had three daughters) adorning the lounge wall. She says, they have been up there for so long that at times, she doesn’t recognise them.

Roma admits she could talk the back end of a horse when it comes to reliving conversations and experiences of the picture which has been hanging on her wall for over 50 years.

“My only grandson put it up for me all those years ago when I first moved in,” she recalls.

“My brother said he bit everybody. Well, I used to get down on my knees and I would stroke his ears and give him a kiss. When Grandad died he gave me the locket which has the first cut of Spider’s mane in it,” she says.

“It’s real history. The camaraderie I had with Spider, nobody else had,” she says.

She says when she ‘pops her clogs’ (die or cease to live) her daughter Chrissie, who lives in Auckland will take possession of the painting.

Roma fundraised for the Cancer Society for a number of years. However, changed the recipient to St John due to her being rescued by the ambulance service at the time, stating she ‘didn’t

Roma receiving the Paul Harris Fellow award from St John at the Rotary Boot sale, September 2022. The Paul Harris award is the highest award you can receive within Rotary and it can be awarded to members of the public who stand out in the community for their contribution to the community.

think she’d be alive today’ if it wasn’t for the trained paramedics on board the St John Ambulances.

Between her giving to St John and to Rotary via her stall fees; Roma has donated over $15,000 to the boot sale over the years.

In September last year, Roma was recognised by Blenheim Rotary with the ‘Paul Harris Fellow’ award. Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary International back in 1905. The award is the highest in Rotary worldwide.

91-year-old Roma Wright has a picture in her lounge in her Blenheim home which tells a story or two. Roma talks to Chris Valli about the significance of a picture which evokes happy childhood memories.

“It’s real history. The camaraderie I had with Spider, nobody else had.”

The focal point of the painting depicts ‘Spider’. A horse who Roma recounts as being allegedly ‘vicious’. However, Roma can recall as a 10-year-old she had an uncanny ability to win him over with her youthful enthusiasm and charm.

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Active FAmilies

Three Blenheim churches collaborate

By Chris Valli

Nativity Anglican, Connect (Baptist) and Harvest Life (Assemblies of God) have joined forces to run Alpha, an international series exploring life, faith and meaning.

Course Coordinator Anna Harper says no formal collaboration has occurred for many years specifically in regard to the Alpha course, although it certainly has been generally and widely supported, by various churches.

“There are of course many other events on which churches collaborate- such as Christmas in the Park; the public Good Friday service held in the ASB theatre; the combined Pentecost service and the collective women’s ministry called ‘She Connects’ to name a few- and are supported by the BCMA(Blenheim Christian Ministers Association),” Anna says.

Anna says the reason for the course was for various reasons notwithstanding current life stressors such as post pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

“From my point of view, as someone who felt strongly the need to activate and run this course, we all think it has a lot to offer the many people who are experiencing anxiety and uncertainty about their future, multiple life difficulties or just feeling ‘what-the-heckis-going-on’ in our current world,” she says.

The course is run as a series of video clips, each about 25 minutes long, preceded by a supper and followed by free and open discussion of the ideas/issues raised in the videos.

“We break into smaller groups for this but no-one is compelled to comment if they don’t want to. We start with supper at

seven and finish by nine. There is no cost for attendance,” Anna says.

“Anyone is most welcome to just come and have a look and see if they want to continue. This is for all members of the community and no alignment to a particular faith, denomination or world view is required. For those who attend more details are given and we carry on each Wednesday evening for some weeks. There is no pressure, charge or follow-up unless requested.”

The series starts with an introductory/taster evening on February 18, 7pm at the Salvation Army in Henry St. It runs on Wednesday evenings from March 1.

Getting More Families Active

90% Are motivated to get/stay active

Active Families is a 6 month programme that supports children / young people and their families to get active and learn about healthy eating in a fun and affordable way.

• Suitable for ages 4 ½ to 18 years

• Tailored to suit the family

• Regular contact with a Coordinator

89% Have noticed health and fitness level changes

92% Of families feel more confident about doing physical activity

• Family challenges

• Fun activities

• Self-referrals accepted

96% Of families felt the activities suggested were appropriate

www.marboroughpho.org.nz

90% Have made changes to their diet

98%

Are satisfied with the overall service and support they were given

Alpha Course Coordinator Anna Harper says the course is run as a series of video clips, each about 25 minutes long, preceded by a supper and followed by free and open discussion of the ideas/issues raised in the videos.

Your Place Your Place House & Garden

Hot interior design trends

Undertaking a building project or doing a home renovation is a challenging time yet can be immensely enjoyable. Being open to a budget which may incur extra costs is also

Wallpaper

For design elements that are immediate, eye-catching conversation starters, it’s hard to go past wallpaper. Whether you want to go for bold drama in a whole room or a simple statement wall, the latest wallpaper designs are a good place to start.

A few drops of the right wallpaper design can instantly change a room but to really get people talking, think about designs that are unique, unexpected or even outrageous. Playful and colourful options will let you experiment with complementary paint colours in other parts of the room. Try out on-trend neutrals and textures or embrace the trend for flamboyant jungle and botanical designs. That’s a great feature of wallpapers – their versatility. You can experiment with different design and colour trends at once, whether it’s tonal neutrals, bold nature designs, glamorous geometrics or simple stripes.

important. However, sometimes less is more when it comes to colour, style or shape. And of course, it’s often to one’s choice. Yet, a well-designed interior or newly built

home will contribute an enormous amount to your health, wealth and well-being. Accept the challenges and persevere in your objectives. It will pay off for you in the end.

Whether you are looking at sprucing up your interior and or exterior this year, here are some handy tips to create a space in which you and your family will live and love.

Invoke a sense of adventure or an exotic hotel retreat with jungle themed wallpaper. Glamorous fixtures and fittings, with plenty of natural greenery will help you go for a full immersion experience that will be one to remember for your guests.

Right now at Guthrie Bowron, we’ve got FREE curtain making^ on thousands of fabrics. PLUS 15% off selected blinds, shutters and motorisation*! Inspiration starts here, at your local Guthrie Bowron

House & Garden

Home Work

PROPERTIES WANTED PROPERTIES WANTED

It should be functional and efficient but also inspiring, so sitting down to work feels uplifting. Think about the kinds of storage, shelving or surfaces you need in your office and be creative with upcycling and colour choices so your office reflects your style and personality.

Try blocks of different, tonal colours on the walls around you so you always have something to look at.

Dine in style

As different parts of our homes become co-opted for different uses, like school, work or hobbies, communal spaces where households can gather become all the more important.

A dining room can be both a social centre for your household, and a perfect canvas for some creative interior design. It need not be purely functional, even if space is at a premium. Add textured walls, bold wallpapers and plenty of soft furnishings like drapey curtains, rugs, cushions, and tablecloths and even throws to add visual warmth and soften the room’s boundaries.

Think about the shape that will work best in your space and use paint

ABOVE: Painted cork tiles make a practical but fun statement wall in an office.

LEFT: Embrace the colours of nature even when you’re inside working.

As far as colour schemes are concerned, expect more dramatic looks next year.

to play with proportions. Paint the ceiling a bold colour to visually lower a high ceiling, or try breezy pastels to brighten things up.

Your Place Your Place

House & Garden

Playful use of colour and shape that doesn't conform to the straight boundaries of walls, adds whimsy and personality to what would otherwise be a standard rectangular bedroom.

Painting

Who says painting your room needs to stick to the natural confines of your space?

Painting out sections of a wall is an excellent way to draw the eye to certain areas of a room, or carve out different small areas to break up a large room.

For example, block out a corner section by painting not just a section of the walls, but the floor and even the ceiling too, to create a

room within a room. This can be a fun way to create play spaces in a childs bedrooms or study and reading areas on landings or in living rooms. And don’t feel you need to stick to straight lines and geometric shapes. Play with organic, freehand shapes to create bold backdrops for furniture pieces, artworks or just as unique, eye-catching room features.

The houseplant trend has been with us for a few years, and is not showing signs of letting up.

Place Your Place

House & Garden

Locals supporting locals initiative

Endeavour Homes Marlborough has kicked 2023 off with a great initiative.

“Everyone knows this year is reportedly going to be tough and we want to do something to support our local community,” Nadine Norton, director of Endeavour Homes Marlborough says.

“We are very excited about our ‘Locals Supporting Locals’ referral incentive scheme.”

It’s open to anyone who recommends Endeavour Homes, resulting in an unconditional building contract.

“It’s very simple,” Nadine says.

“All you need to do is spread the word

and make sure your name is mentioned to our sales team during one of our initial consultation meetings.

“If we proceed to an unconditional building contract you will be gifted a $500 voucher from a local business of your choice as a thank you.”

But wait, there’s more!

“Not only will you receive a $500 voucher,” Nadine says, “we will also donate $500 to a local charity or non-profit organisation of your choice as well.”

So come on Marlborough. Get behind this great initiative and support local.

Summer Dining

Welcome to Restaurant Sasa! Ritual Cafe

A real gem on Maxwell Road, in the CBD of Blenheim.

Where you’ll find yourself in a unique homely setting with a great vibe.

Owner Julie McDonald welcomes you to enjoy their breakfast menu, cabinet food including vegan and gluten free options.

We have a large variety of drinks on offer, perfect for summer just around the corner. Whether it’s smoothies, fizzy, juices or Kombucha along with healthy delicious food... Come and see the team at our relaxed retro cafe today!

Serving modern Japanese and Asian food made with tradition in mind, we offer you a unique dining experience in the Riverside Hotel along the river in Mayfield. You will enjoy from your favourite classic Japanese dishes to modern “Izakaya” style dining which is all about eating, drinking and being happy! Why not start your night with fresh sashimi, tempura or spicy chicken along with a cup of gold flake sake, then, go for Korean stone bowl beef or salmon bibimbap to complete your dinner. For someone who wishes to have something simple and delicious, try our sizzling surf n turf menu - ribeye steak, teriyaki salmon and prawns are served on a sizzling hot plate. Whether you are stopping by for quick dinner or special occasion, Sasa will have you covered. So pay us a visit here on 20 nelson St - we can’t wait to have you in.

Thai 9

The distinctive taste of Thailand is what brings customers back to Thai 9 Restaurant time and time again.

Located in the CBD of Blenheim, we offer an extensive menu for your enjoyment. Checkout our popular lunch specials, consisting of a starter and a main.

Thai 9 has also become well known for its Keto selection from the menu as well as gluten free choices and convenient takeaway snacks from our cabinet.

The restaurant is open seven days with Sunday and Monday only open for evening dining. Discover the taste of Thai.

31 Scott St, Blenheim

OPen 7 dayS

10 .30am – 14.00pm, 16.30pm – 21.30pm

Speights a le House

Generous To A Fault...serving up southern hospitality to locals and visitors in modern and comfortable surroundings!

Open 7 days with a range of award winning traditional ales and beers complimented by an all day menu and in house baristas. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with live sport screenings, events, food and drink promotions!

Book online via alehouseblenheim.co.nz or call 03 577 9992.

Middle Renwick Road, Springlands

Good Home

THERE IS A PLACE LIKE HOME.

Come on in, put your feet up, stay a while... We are a pub with an eye for the different and the delicious. We are your new local, look forward to our enticing array of drinks at the bar, the tempting treats on the menu and the smiles of the friendly folk who’ll serve them to you. Even though it’s hard to define what home means to everyone, there is something it does share. It’s a feeling. We’ve recreated this feeling by fashioning spaces for you to feel at ease in and call your own. Spaces to relax; hang with a bunch of friends or the GOOD crew from the office.

Ph 03 5776 495

www.goodhomebar.co.nz

70 Queen Street, Blenheim

Ph 5777 868 or email: simon@blenheimsun.co.nz

katrina@blenheimsun.co.nz

Vaping

What a load of rubbish now seeing the older generation partaking in this ridiculous act. Can’t wait to see what’s next into making some people look stupid.

Awesome guys

A BIG shout out to Bridgestone Tyres on Grove Road for fixing my punctured tyre for free!! You guys are AWESOME

Bowel test

What an insult to people that TV ad where a man being told go to the toilet then grandson telling him to poop and then people cheering him to post the test. I am sure it is written in different languages.

Council vs cat

Recently read this article and I’m totally floored with such barbaric childish crap.

I am a animal lover yes but this is irrelevant at this point. But my question is... if the council have the *power* to do this over one person’s hatred. Coz that’s what it looks like. A lot of cats roam yes and do their business elsewhere.. but stating its destroyed vegetables that’s not a cats doing. To me this person who’s complained is a narcissistic person. I believe also this same person inflicted injuries to the other cat also. If the council have this *power* its been barking at the wrong tree. How about the council have the *power* to penalize the people who have such animosity to animals. Start looking at the abuse and anxiety its bringing. Or.. if I’m still on a roll here, have the *power* to decrease our rates or leases on buildings. Its a sad sad state when you create such an unnecessary issue when there is bigger issues out there..or we cant discuss that.

Grateful

Never before have I felt the need to express gratitude to a former Prime Minister but do so now. Thank you Jacinda Ardern for the manner in which you coped with the Covid pandemic and other difficult situations during your term. I had confidence in your leadership and felt reassured by actions taken. Your time as Prime Minister was outstanding.

Clubs of Marlborough

I don’t know why they had a meeting its not going to open again, staff all got new jobs now. Let it be, we all knew it was going to close.

Talk of the week

Flight path

In answer to the text about the Taylor pass aircraft flight path.

As a local pilot I would like to state that this is the runway that is used the most, due to the prevailing wind.

The flight path approach can never be changed to this runway.

You should be pursuing the MDC who gave you false information if that’s what you think it is.

Look UP!

When you buy a property LOOK UP.

Aircraft have been flying into Omaka Airport over the Taylor Pass Rd for about 100 years. It’s not new. Should have looked up when you looked at buying the place. Likewise the beautiful gum tree in Rema Place. It’s been there 100 years. Why should we lose it because you didn’t look up?

Kaitaki

So the Kaitaki with 4 diesel engines and two propeller shafts stopped with a total loss of power. What shocking engine management system allowed that to happen. Imagine if this happened at the Tory Channel entrance on a stormy night.

Frustrated driver

I allow plenty of time to get to work on time from Picton. However it doesn’t help when slow drivers drive at 80km/hour the whole way from Picton to Blenheim. The road is not that scary or hard to drive. Even when there are no road work delays why are they going so slow?? So frustrating.

Climate crisis

Oh dear what a state the world is in. Climate wise we ( all of us). The biggest problem is the none believers. The people who have trillions of dollars don’t care and they are the ones who can change how things go. We must all start to worry not say not in my lifetime. Remember we all have children.

Common sense

On Thursday 26 Jan. at 9-30 a.m. at Jacksons Rd/Old Renwick Rd intersection, there was a stationary newish, large John Deere tractor and towed unit parked well across Old Renwick Road with hazard lights on, but obscuring line of vision and blocking flow of traffic for south-bound/west-bound traffic. The male driver was in the cab.

If he had broken down, the least he could have done would have been to direct the traffic behind him safely across Old Renwick Road. Sadly, I was in a hurry, otherwise I would have taken photos. I’m hoping no-one was T-boned because of this.

Cats

We had poor Milo two weeks ago and now we got Poppy. Hope you find the person that did that to your cat. Put that prick in a cage like that. I am so sorry for your loss.

Thank you

I would like to say a big thank you to the guy that mows the lawn at Simonson reserve down Malt House Road. I had to put down my cat of old age 17years and we live in a rental so couldn’t bury her here because we wouldn’t be able to visit her when we move. So I decided to bury her at the reserve and I went and visited her the other day to put flowers on and to tidy it up and noticed the mower man went around it. Thank you so much you’re a kind person and have a heart. BIG HUG.

Priorities

Interislander has big $’s to spend on fireworks. Pity that their sponsorship isn’t used to pay for people to get their long- awaited cataract, knee and hip ops done and paid for. Better to restore sight to the almost blind and help the lame to walk. When NZ is drowning in money, then we can have other frivolous distractions. We need to get our priorities sorted out.

Speed changes

50kph and 80kph all the way along New Renwick Rd, Old Renwick Rd, Middle Renwick Rd but, wait for it, 100kph along all traversing roads, like St Leonard’s Rd, Jackson Rd, Bells Rd and others. Time to use common sense.... again?

Thank you A&E Staff!

A huge thank you to all of the wonderful staff at A&E who attended to me while I visited in early January. I was so well cared for during my visit. Fellow Marlburians, we are so lucky to have such caring and thorough staff working at our hospital.

Poppy

So very sorry to read about gorgeous Poppy. I hope someone is held responsible. That is a lovely photo of her. You will have your memories of the good times with her.

Thank you

I have been to both Maxwell Road and Hospital Medlabs in the last few weeks. Absolutely amazing! Unfortunate about the “PLEASE BE KIND” posters which seems to be needed from what I witnessed on one occasion. The whole world is understaffed so don’t be unkind to the ones who showed up - to help you!

We welcome your texts on 027 242 5266.

Limit to 70 words please. We reserve the right to publish at our discretion. Please note the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Sun management.

Gorse

Why is the gorse so high behind the marae where there was once an airfield as noted by the painted power poles?

Rob ThoRnley

Head of Mathematics

 Are you a dog or cat person?

Dog. We have two fur children Pat and Ted.

 What did you want to be when you grew up?

Lawyer initially, then Police officer.

 One thing we’d be surprised to know about you?

I lived in Hawaii for three months and worked in a wrecking yard.

 Have you met anyone famous?

Define famous! I’ve met plenty of All Blacks and professional rugby players. Gilbert Enoka and Leigh Gibbs taught me PE at high school. John Key before he was Prime Minister and Gerry Brownlee back when he was Earthquake minister.

 My favourite food to cook or eat is...? Steak, rare with a nice salad.

 The shop you can’t walk past is...? Anywhere that sells gadgets or tools.

 What’s your favourite game of sport to watch? Rugby is a clear first but if I have time I’ll watch anything that NZ is competing in. We perform so well on the international stage as a country it makes me proud to be a Kiwi.

 Your dream weekend involves....? Spending time with my wife, daughters and the dogs.

 Favourite programme or series currently watching?

Jack Ryan, I really enjoyed all the Jack Ryan novels by Tom Clancy and the series is a new take on the characters.

 What’s one thing on your bucket list? Drive Route 66.

Pollination: By Wally Richards

Most plants flower to produce seeds so their line will continue through their off spring.

When it comes to our gardening efforts we want plants such as tomatoes, zucchini and pumpkins to produce fruit which in every case contain the seeds for the next generation of those plants.

When pollination does not happen then the fruit will only develop a little and then rot.

Pollination is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma.

The goal of every living organism, including plants, is to create offspring for the next generation. One of the ways that plants can produce offspring is by making seeds. Every year I receive enquiries about what is wrong with my zucchini/pumpkin/ melon/cucumber?

They flower and the fruit appears and then it goes yellow and rots?

The reason is that the female stigma did not receive a few grains of pollen from the male flower anther.

When it comes to the likes of pumpkins, melons and zucchini I always hand pollinate to be sure of a fruit set.

Best done in the morning where you check your plants for female flowers.

That is the flower that has the embryo fruit behind the petals.

When you find one or more then you look for a young male flower (which does not have the embryo fruit) but has anther that is covered with pollen.

I prefer to pick the male flower and remove the petals exposing the anther.

Then I rub the anther against the stigma and thus pollinating it and setting the fruit. Bees, bumble bees and some other flying insects may do this for you as there is a little nectar that the flowers produce to encourage the flying insects to visit and move pollen from flower to flower. Now things don’t always work as you would like them to work and sometimes a fruiting plant does not produce any flowers.

This can happen if the plant does not get enough direct sunlight, there is not sufficient energy to produce flowers,

It can also happen if the plant is well feed and well watered instead of flowering it will vegetate producing lots of new foliage minus any flowers.

I call them fat cats, well feed and very lazy.

If this is the case with any Curcubitaceae family member which is a large family that includes melons, cucumbers, zucchini and squashes you can take male pollen from say a pumpkin flower and fertilize a female zucchini flower to set the fruit.

It could also mean that there is a lack of potash so it pays to sprinkle some Wallys Fruit and Flower Power onto the soil at the time flowering should start. Then we have self-pollinating, self-fertile and self-fruitful all mean the same thing. You can plant a self-fertile tree and expect it to pollinate itself and set fruit alone (for

example, peaches, pie cherries, apricots).

Self-fertilization, fusion of male and female gametes (sex cells) produced by the same individual.

Self-fertilization occurs in bisexual organisms, including most flowering plants, numerous protozoans, and many invertebrates.

Tomatoes are not pollinated by bees instead it is air movement on a sunny day that will do the job.

In a glasshouse or even outdoors its a good idea in the middle of a sunny day give the plants a gentle shake to set the fruit.

To grow tomatoes in the cooler months or though winter you need types that will produce pollen in the colder times to have fruit set. Summer growing tomatoes will survive with protect but may not produce fruit.

Winter ones are Russian Red and Sub Arctic Plenty (from Kings Seeds) World’s earliest tomato. Bred for the U.S. Greenland military bases to endure extremely cold climates.

Producing concentrated clusters of medium, good flavored, red fruit that ripen almost simultaneously. A very small plant with compact habit so excellent for anyone interested in growing in pots. Determinate.

Blossom end rot on tomatoes is the dark patch under the fruit that is the result of lack of moisture to move the calcium at fruit set time.

The fruit sets but the bottom has the dark patch.

After picking the bottom part can be cut off and the rest of the tomato eaten.

If not done the whole tomato will rot on vine or in a container after picking.

Tomatoes grown in containers are prone to this problem as they dry out quickly in hot weather and need watering like two or three times a day. A large saucer under the container that is full of water will help.

Corn is another one that depends on lots of sun and a bit of a breeze to move the pollen from the male stalks at the top down onto the ‘silks’ of the female cobs.

Planting lots of sweet corn plants near but not too close to each other will help.

On a still sunny day you can shake the plants to allow the pollen to drift down onto the silks.

Corn varieties will easy cross pollinate if grown near to each other so keep your pop corn, ornamental corn and maize types well

away from your sweet corn.

To sum up with fruiting vegetables and fruit we want them to be pollinated and set fruit for our food chain.

But in our flower garden the reverse applies we don’t want the flowers to be pollinated because once that happens the petals fall off and a seed pod forms.

If like on lilies you were to carefully cut off the male anthers to prevent pollination then your flowers would last a lot longer.

Once the flowers on a plant have set then if you cut them off the plant (we call it dead heading) then the plant is likely to produce more flowers as it wants to produce seeds.

We do that with roses to encourage a second flush and not only do we cut off the dead flower and rose hip (that is the seed pod) we cut back the stem a little to encourage new growth which can also produce new flowers.

Some gardeners use a small soft brush to collect pollen from male flowers to Fertilise the females and that is a nice way of achieving fruit set.

Fruit trees that flower but produce no mature fruit because of a lack of pollinators such as honey bees or bumble bees it pays to use a brush between some of the flowers on a sunny day to set some fruit on the lower branches.

Idea of planting flowering plants to attract honey bees may bring then to your bee loving plants but not to your fruit tree as bees are selective and generally speaking will work one type of flower only at any given time.

Bumble Bees are not so discrmitant and will work several different types of flowers as available.

Figs are very different: The crunchy little things that you notice when eating a fig are the seeds, each corresponding to one flower. Such a unique flower requires a unique pollinator. All fig trees are pollinated by very small wasps of the family Agaonidae.

The pollinators of fig tree flowers are tiny gall wasps belonging to several genera of the hymenopteran family Agaonidae. Gravid female gall wasps enter a developing syconium through a minute pore (the ostiole) at the end opposite the stem)

The wasp is long gone by the time the fig crosses your lips. Figs produce a chemical called “ficin” that breaks down the wasp bodies. Nature is so resourceful.

Teddy Edward chillin' at Sheps' Park. Sophie patiently waiting for the next adventure.

Harvester and Tractor drivers

2023 Grape Harvest in Marlborough

Start date: Mid to late March 2023

End date: Late April 2023

Tractor drivers need full licence.

Harvester drivers need wheels licence.

Drug and alcohol tests prior to employment.

Competitive rates dependant on experience.

Applicants to reply to Mack Pouwhare 021 775 981 or email to admin@grapeworx.co.nz

Come join our team!

SALESPERSON

If you have a passion for furniture, experience in sales, great attention to detail, and value going the extra mile for customers, then this is the job for you! This full-time position includes regular weekend work. Further details at www.seek.co.nz/job/59831101. Come join our great team; we’re locally owned and pride ourselves in offering quality furniture and incredible customer service for over 25 years.

To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to accounts@lynfords.co.nz by Sunday 19 February.

Learning

We are looking for individuals who enjoy working with young people, who have strong relationship capabilities, who are able to work one on one and in small groups with our students with moderate levels of learning difficulties to support them to achieve academic success.

Applicants must have good literacy and numeracy skills and a medium level of computer competency.

Suitable experience and/or qualifications as a Learning Assistant will be an advantage, but is not essential. You will be part of a strong team of colleagues and will be supported, appreciated and have the satisfaction of making a difference.

Please forward your CV and a covering letter immediately to apply@mbc.school.nz

Please Note: In accordance with the Education Act 1989 and the Children’s Act 2014 a police vetting check will be required for this position.

GARDENER WANTED

10 HOURS PER MONTH (FLEXIBLE DAYS)

We are looking for a competent gardener to spend up to 10 hours per month to look after our park like garden area in Renwick. Fully flexible on what days and times of the month this is completed. Competitive rate paid to the right applicant. Please phone 027 555 6135

HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT

Full time

If you enjoy working in a team environment and have a passion for the elderly, then we would like to hear from you.

Please call at reception for an application form or email Lucy Moore reception1@ashwoodpark.co.nz

Applications close 15/02/2023

Harvest accommodation Wanted

2019 Grape Harvest Tractor & Harvester Drivers

2023 Grape Harvest Tractor & Harvester Drivers

Vintage Harvesters operates a modern fleet of harvesters and tractors throughout the Marlborough District. We are looking for experienced harvester and tractor drivers. You will need a minimum of a class 1 driver’s licence for tractor driving and a wheels endorsement for harvester driving.

Vintage Harvesters operates a modern fleet of harvesters and tractors throughout the Marlborough District. We are looking for experienced harvester and tractor drivers. You will need a minimum of a class 1 driver’s licence for tractor driving and a wheels endorsement for harvester driving.

We anticipate work will commence approximately midMarch and finishing mid-April. Drivers must be available for extended hours and weekends.

We anticipate work will commence approximately midMarch and finishing mid-April. Drivers must be available for 12 hour shifts and weekends.

Please phone the office on 578 5300, text Jason Tripe on 027 043 427 12421 or email admin@jtcvit.co.nz www.vintageharvesters.co.nz

Please phone the office on 578 5300 and leave a message or email admin@jtcvit.co.nz

Check out our website www.vintageharvesters.co.nz or to see what we get up to during harvesters click on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u97NGyMJcyU

Tractor Operator

Loveblock Farms Ltd needs a Tractor Operator for their growing family owned vineyard and wine brand in the Lower Dashwood area of the Awatere Valley. Loveblock focuses on organic or minimal intervention farming and winemaking. There are vineyards with a flat aspect and vineyards on a north facing slope, so not all boring flat stuff.

Good work ethic, health and physical fitness are important.

Extended hours are often required during the growing season for spraying.

Full drivers licence You will be involved in vineyard machinery activities and maintenance. Some vine work will be required during quieter periods. Experience will be viewed favourably, but training will be given to the right person.

Good rate of pay and allowances.

Contact: doug@loveblock.co.nz

Scottish Country Dance Club

Want to improve your health and fitness? Come along and give our introductory class a go. Starting Friday 10th Feb – 17th March 10:30-12:00pm.

At Redwood Community Hall corner of Cleghorn/Weld St. Cost $40.00

Great for:

• Fitness, stamina, coordination

• Strength, suppleness

• Confidence, self-esteem

• Improves flexibility, memory

• Helps lower blood pressure

It’s about fun, being social and building friendships

Contact Heather 021 025 87325

This is not Highland dancing.

Ryan

Lawnmowing

Blenheim Renwick Picton

022 322 6515

FLAXBOURNE A & P SHOW

Sunday 26 March

Weld Park, Ward

FREE TRADE & CRAFT

SITES available on application

Bernadette Gilmore Ph 577 7174

FLAXBOURNE A & P SHOW

T&D Construction are a local Commercial Building Company in Blenheim, with over 50 years experience in the Building Industry.

We are currently looking for experienced Carpenters / Contract Carpenters to join our team in Blenheim.

A minimum of 44 hours per week and great remuneration will be supplied to the right applicant.

To be successful you must:

• Be trade qualified (Carpenters only)

• Have a clean drivers licence

• Ability to work with no supervision

• Use of power tools

• Applicants should have a NZ Residency or valid work visa

• Great work ethic

If this sounds like you please email your CV to info@td-construction.co.nz or call our Office on (03) 578-8821

Sunday 26 March Weld Park, Ward

Schedules available or Online entries www.showdayonline.com

Entries close 24 February

FREE TRADE & CRAFT

SITES AVAILABLE on application

Bernadette Gilmore Phone 577 7174

at alistair.mcintosh@nzwineries.co.nz

ANTIQUE BUYERS

Gold Jewellery, scrap gold

Pocket watches, wrist watches

Old bank notes & old coins

Military & other medals

Sterling silver, Ivory, old pens

Paintings & Maori artifacts

Clocks, Fun Ho & tin toys

Moorcroft, Clarice Cliff etc. ph 0800 00 24 25

Eric Jackson Antique Buyers, PO Box 665, Picton

Visiting Antique Dealer Wishes To Purchase:

Old Photos - Postcards - Stamp Collections - Old Maps - Globes - Cricket & Rugby Programmes - Early NZ Hunting & Fishing Books - Exploration Stories - Early Rugby & Cricket Books.

Early Comics - Superman, The Phantom, and War Comics.

Jewellery (Even broken) - Pocket & Wrist Watches - Old Chains - Perfume

- Bottles (Old) - Pocket Knives - Fountain Pens - Old Pipes - Sterling Silver -

Vesta - Cases - Greenstone or Paua Jewellery - Rings - Bracelets - Necklaces - Compacts - Souvenir Ware.

Clocks - Radios - Cameras - Telephones - Butter Churns - Early Shotgun & Rifle - Ammunition - Reloading Gear - Telescopes - BinocularsBarometers.

Fly Rods - Reels - Gaffs - Nets - Flies - Lures - Ice Axes - Wooden Skis

- Golf Clubs - Cricket Bats - Rugby Balls - Small Wooden CabinetsMedicinal - Instruments - Bone Handled Knives - Canteens Cutlery.

Old Car Parts - Lights - Speedos - Horns - Gig Lamps - Vintage VehicleNumber Plates.

Old Tools - Planes - Saws - Chisels - Spanners - Old Padlocks & Keys. Musical Instruments - Violins - Trumpets - Accordians - Music Boxes, etc - Hat Boxes & Trunks.

Old Coins - Pre-Decimal especially early Crowns & Sovereigns - PoundsBanknotes, especially with Maori head.

War Badges & Medals - Uniforms - Lodge Medals - Fire Brigade Medals - Trading or Communion Tokens - Bayonets - Hunting Knives - Early Axes. Old Tins - Tea - Honey - Cigarette - Tobacco - Spice - Biscuits, etc. Gold - Alluvial - Nuggets - Dental or Coins. Old Bottles - Crocks - Whisky Jugs - Ginger Beers - Oil Bottles.

Toys - Fun Ho - Matchbox Dinky - Meccano - Hornby Trains - DollsTeddy Bears.

Cast Pots - Kettles - Irons. Maori - Statues - Carvings - Artifacts - Books.

China - China & Glassware - Belleek - Moorcroft - Doulton - ShelleySylvac - Maling - Royal Winton La Lique - Clarice Cliff - Beswick Animals Fish or Birds.

NZ Pottery - Crown Lynn - Temuka - Milton etc - Any Stuffed Animal Heads - NZ Railway & Shipping Crockery.

Advertising Signs and any pre-1950 Advertising Items.

txtOffering highest prices - will call to view - one item, whole estates or collections, will travel anywhere.

Please phone: 03 615 5290

or txt: 021 101 8469

Email: thom.taylor@xtra.co.nz

Text your thoughts to: 027 242 5266

Will be in the area Sunday 12th to Wednesday 15th February approx. If I missed your call last visit please phone again.

“Do we look like golfers?”

Alzheimers Marlborough supporters Viv Broughton and Helen Knapp are not really golfers, but they hope to see lots of Marlborough golfers at the Fairhall course on February 24 for the Alzheimers Marlborough fun tournament.

Teeing off for a good cause

Calling all Marlborough golfers – here’s a chance to have some fun, win some fabulous prizes and support a great local cause.

Alzheimers Marlborough is organising a stableford tournament to be played at the Marlborough Golf Club on Friday, February 24, teeing off at 12.30pm. We are most grateful to the team at the Marlborough Golf Club for their support and would like to acknowledge and thank Ann Rutledge for all her help with the arrangements.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” organisers and Alzheimers Marlborough Trust committee members Helen Knapp and Viv Broughton say.

“We’ve had tremendous support from the local community so there are prizes for every hole. “We’ve got more than 35 prizes and we are also running raffles during the week, which will be drawn on the day,” Helen says.

“We would love to have as many Marlborough golfers with a handicap, both men and women, come and enjoy the day while helping raise funds for this cause.

“Alzheimers affects many families in Marlborough, especially as we have an older population,” Helen, a past president of Alzheimers Marlborough, says.

“All the proceeds from the day will be used to meet the growing demand for services needed by people living with dementia and their care partners in Marlborough.”

Dementia is a condition that touches the lives of four out of every five Kiwis.

Research carried out by Alzheimers New Zealand shows around 70,000 Kiwis have dementia and the number is set to triple by 2050.

Dementia covers a range of conditions which present as a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease

Anakoha fundraiser for rescue helicopter

By Chris Valli

The Anakoha Sports day held last month raised valuable money for the Nelson-Marlborough Rescue Helicopter.

Initially held in 1907, the Anakoha Sports day was relaunched in 2022 as a fund raiser for the Nelson-Marlborough Rescue Helicopter.

Coordinator Sharyn Smith says the helicopter responded to an emergency call in December 2021, for whanau member Alan Cameron, where the sports day raised $270.50, for the NMRH.

or injury.

Symptoms can include memory loss, personality changes and impaired reasoning.

The objective of Alzheimers Marlborough is to help people living with dementia to lead a fulfilling and dignified life in their own homes for as long as possible.

Alzheimers Marlborough assists and supports carers and families dealing with dementia by offering day respite for people living with dementia; support for people with dementia, their carers and other family members; support group meetings for carers; and education for families and the wider community. Our day activities programmes are providing socialisation and stimulation for people living with dementia, in a safe and friendly environment. Last year, through the day programmes, we have provided the equivalent of nearly 5000 respite days for care partners. The demand for this increases regularly as more and more people are diagnosed with dementia and in particular Alzheimer’s.

As a not-for-profit organisation Alzheimers Marlborough relies on ongoing support from the community and the dedication of volunteers to help provide a range of services for people with dementia.

“We’re so grateful for the support we’ve had from the Marlborough community, and of course all our wonderful volunteers,” Viv says.

The tournament entry fee is $35 and you can enter at marlborough@golf.co.nz, or enter on the day at the Golf Club.

There is still time to donate and if you would like to help, you can sponsor a hole for just $500, provide a prize valued at $35 or more, or simply make a monetary donation.

Email MarlboroughAdmin@alzheimers.org. nz or phone 03-577-6172 for more information.

Marlborough home to two champions

By Chris Valli

to ensure fair play, depending on their ability and experience the players are grouped into four grades: Premier, Senior, Intermediate and Primary,” says David.

Sharyn says on the day of sports, the NMRH, was again called in for another whanau member Joel Nicklin, taking him to Nelson hospital for emergency treatment.

The service provided by NMRH, is an essential lifeline for the sounds, Sharyn says and the whanau acknowledges and supports it by raising funds at their events.

“A total of $890.00 was raised on the day through koha, raffles and auction, with another koha of $110.00 from Michelle and Oliver McManaway whanau, bringing the total to $1000.00,” she says.

With the departure of the helicopter, accompanied by whitebait patties for the crew, the sports day got underway, with running races, egg and spoon, sack races, relay and three legged races in the morning.

A HELPING HAND AND LEG: Warren and Wallace Horncastle headed forthe finish line in the three-legged race.

The Anakoha sports person for 2023 was Blake Beattie with 25points, Nico Nicklin, second, with 24 points and Nick Beattie, third with 23.

The event wrapped up with twins, Thomas and Oliver Horncastle, planting a Karaka and Miro tree at the reserve.

The 2024 event will be co-ordinated by the Tohi Mason Whanau Trust.

Spokesperson David Grigg says day one started with a bright, sunny day and out went 24 people looking forward to eight hours of play.

“This was the day of doubles where the top premier players (top half), play a round-robin between themselves to decide the winners and the primary players (lower half) do the same. Marlborough had two entries in both sections, obtaining a third in the premier section and a fourth in the primary section,” David says. Heavy rain and high winds were predicted for day two with 28 players looking forward with trepidation to a long duration of play in the rain and wind.

“Everyone was eager to finish as many of their games before the rain set in. Once again,

Marlborough shone with Brian Goodwin easily taking out the premier division and Dave Grigg winning the Senior section. Barry Masters and Jack Dijkstra were third and fourth respectively in the Intermediate section.

Croquet Marlborough oversees three clubs Blenheim, Brooklyn and Kaikoura. They have a small budget and normally only assist single entries into competitions around New Zealand. However, this year they selected their best players from the Blenheim and Brooklyn clubs (Kaikoura does not have golf croquet players) and assisted a team to enter the Top of the South Graded Croquet Tournament in Nelson. Croquet is one of a few sports where women and men play as equals and teams can be all-male, female or mixed. The tournament is open to all croquet players in the top half of the South Island.

Brian Goodwin brought home gold in the Premier Croquet Division and Dave Grigg gold in the Senior Croquet Division at Top of the South singles Golf Croquet Graded tournament in Nelson.