17 May Blenheim Sun Newspaper

Showcasing the true colours of Marlborough

Continued from page 1.

The storyline is loaded with silliness and fast rhetoric, but there is a “love and live happily ever after” aspect. Outright success comes from the spectacular, over-the-top flamboyancy of drag queens Mitzi Mitosis, nicknamed Tick (Andrew Simon) Felicia (Daniel Brunel) and a recently bereaved transgender woman Bernadette (Dave Barrett) who travels to Alice Springs in “Priscilla”, a pink bus.

After being the bridesmaid in numerous BMT theatre restaurant shows, Dave is officially the quintessential Priscilla bride and interprets Bernadette graciously with natural aplomb and disposition. His dancing repertoire showcases an authenticity that fits the older matriarch.

Hilariously awkward situations and encounters in the great Aussie outback totally captivate, as the trio dance and gyrate in their platform heels, sequins and feathers, before reaching their destination, a cabaret show in Alice Springs.

The implementation of an AV screen throughout the production was an authentic, contextual element and brought a sense of riding the journey of fabulous as a collective audience. A lovely subtlety indeed.

Full marks to choreographer Elly Molloy for the pace and energy in the ensemble dancing sequences, and to vocal director Con O’Brien who has allowed the principals, divas and ensemble to find their respective vocal ability and inter-

pretation.

One of the more recognised moments of the production is the scene featuring Felicia in drag, miming to Joan Carden’s performance of ‘Sempre libera (Free Forever)’ from Act I of Verdi’s La Traviata (1853) – all while standing on top of a bus driving through the Australian desert. Sam Baxter’s vocal opera on this is nothing short of outstanding and befits the talent she possesses as a classical singer.

Brilliant costuming, outrageous hair designs and make up, luscious eye-lashes, and no chest hair or leg stubble to be seen are a talking point in themselves. As for Daniel Brunel’s legs - they are as long and luscious as the Taylor River. Hello

single ladies.

The five divas certainly dictate the pace of the vocal narrative and all five suggest the future of Blenheim

Musical Theatre is in good hands from a maternal perspective. Future, budding thespians should be only too proud of their Mum’s and the reason why Dad has had to cook (try to) over the past five months.

Various cameo appearances added to the mayhem and humour, and a little boy named Benji (Bastian McFadden) brought a few emotional moments of total silence. It’s amazing what young ones can pick up on and the backstory behind the story.

Andrew Simon as Tick (in his first major production) is testimony to the directorial vision of

Peter Meikle who unquestionably recognises potential. Andrew’s self-development of character is why theatre resonates with all walks of life and indeed, doesn’t discriminate. You Were Always on My Mind was a personal favourite and showed the purpose of Tick’s self-confessed journey and motivation. As was True Colours where Bernadette and Felicia support and encourage Tick to find ‘her true colours’. Aah yes, musical theatre, a wonderful escapism in every sense. With a cost of living crisis and climate change all over social media, the celebration that is Priscilla is far from being a drag and something worth catching the bus for.

comfort and peace at

The Divas vocals are a highlight at the production. Photo: Graham H Brooks

Bob Barnes Thelma & Alistair Sowman Barry Holmwood Ethan Williams Terry Ryan Faye Partridge

Marlborough’s new library open

A fter years of planning and months of preparation, Marlborough’s new library opened at midday last Friday.

Staff had been busy shifting into the new High Street premises and becoming familiar with the bigger purpose-built facility.

Libraries Manager Glenn Webster said staff were “very excited” about the opening and he encouraged people to visit once the doors opened.

Art Gallery Director Cressida Bishop is also looking forward to welcoming visitors with a special exhibition, Threads of Whātonga, which opens this week. It includes works from the gallery’s collection and mana whenua exhibitions held at the former Millennium Public Art Gallery to mark significant events.

“The exhibition will bring together historical and contemporary art to mark Marlborough’s f i rst purpose-built art gallery opening in central Blenheim,” she says. “It acknowledges the relationships, stories and experiences of the past, which we are mindful of as we take our next steps.”

Art works on show were gifted to the former premises and are part of the gallery’s permanent collection. She said the gallery had hoped to open alongside the library but the air conditioning system - which is critical for the

storage of art works - needed further fine-tuning.

The new library and art gallery was officially acknowledged by tangata/mana whenua Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Toa Rangatira at a dawn blessing last month.

Mayor Nadine Taylor said the new facilities had been 10 years in the making and would be a centre of knowledge, information and activity for everyone in Marlborough.

“This is one of the most significant projects ever undertaken by

The Jump Solar Jump Start battery pack is perfect for recharging flat batteries in caravans, motorhomes, and other vehicles too. With the versatility to also be used for smaller appliances such as phones and tablets, this jump start battery pack makes itself valuable in many situations.

Council and has been the work of many hands.”

“The project was initiated in 2013 as part of the ‘Growing Marlborough’ process, which found that our public art gallery and library facilities were no longer adequate. I’d like to thank previous councils - particularly former mayors John Leggett and Alistair Sowman, former deputy mayor Terry Sloan and former councillor Cynthia Brooks for their foresight in pushing the project forward.”

“I’d also like to thank archi-

tects Warren and Mahoney and Robinson Construction for their superb work that has resulted in this magnificent building, which will serve Marlborough for generations to come.”

“There are many others to mention who I will thank at the official naming and opening ceremony on 30 June.”

The $20 million dollar complex was a ‘shovel ready’ project and allocated $11 million in funding from the Government’s Kānoa Regional and Economic Development Unit.

Sun The

Annual food prices increase 12.5 percent

Food prices were 12.5 percent higher in April 2023 than they were in April 2022, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

“The 12.5 percent annual increase in April 2023 was the largest since September 1987 which included the introduction of GST in 1986,” consumer prices manager James Mitchell said.

Tempo Concert

The Tempo Concert is on late May with special guest artist Abbey Burns featuring. Tempo is an opportunity for emerging musicians to perform onstage. Tempo showcases Marlborough’s school-aged musicians and singers of any ability or genre, to thrive and grow in confidence, musical ability and performance skills.

The concert is Friday, May 26, 7pm, Wesley Centre $5 per person or $15 per family.

PSA library workers celebrate deal

Workers at the new Marlborough District Library are welcoming agreement with the MDC which will allow the library to better serve its community with longer hours. The longer hours mean a change to rosters and terms and conditions for staff, something the Council and the PSA have been working together on for nearly two years.

“The opening of this library is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our staff. From day one we knew this new library would require more staff and expanded hours and our members worked closely together to ensure we got the resources needed to expand staff and protect those conditions,” PSA Union Delegate Tania Miller says.

Multi-Function Jump Start Battery Pack

Features

• Powerful 16V Jump Starting: 800A, (1000A <3s Peak)

• Suits 12V starting for petrol or diesel engines up to 6 litres

• Jump start cable with smart electronic protection module

• Qi 10W Wireless mobile phone charging

• USB3.0 output socket for fast charging devices via USB cable

• USB2.0 output socket for charging devices via USB cable

• USB-C input socket for recharging Jump Solar

• LED torch/strobe/SOS

• LCD display showing % battery remaining

• 16,000mAh battery capacity

• Convenient, compact, zip-up carry case

• 1 year return to base warranty

$240.00 +GST

$276.00 Incl GST

Includes USB cable, jump start cable, and carry case

DOORS ARE OPEN: The public checkout the new library and art gallery last Friday.

An injustice to Marlborough

By Chris Valli

After 25 years of supporting Marlborough schools with programmes involving heritage, a local educator and historian is dismayed that the current service will end at the end of Term 2.

The Ministry of Education funding for the programme ended at the end of Term 2, 2022.

The Ministry of Education has decided to allocate all of its funding for the Top of the South region, to Nelson and Buller based programmes, from Term 3. The irony being the Ministry of Education is refocusing the New Zealand school curriculum to have an emphasis on the ‘Aotearoa/New Zealand Histories - especially local histories.’

Marlborough Historical Society

Vice President John Orchard says Marlborough is now the only province to have no Government funding for what was or iginally known as Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (LEOTC).

“This seems so unfair to our schools,” he says. “The Ministry indicated that Marlborough schools would be serviced by the Nelson and Buller based programmes that they had given three-year contracts to.

The reality is that there has been no service provided to our Marlborough Schools, from Nelson, that we or local teachers

are aware of.”

John who was the senior teacher of the Marlborough Heritage Education Programme says they have looked at other funding options, and there have been discussions about prospects, for the past six - eight months.

“We were hoping to find a solution, to keep the programme running. We are extremely grateful to Marlborough Lines and RMA Insurance, whose generosity has allowed the programme to continue for another four terms, but that funding is due to end in six weeks.”

“This funding has allowed our very experienced Heritage Teacher to continue to provide teaching services for four days per week during the last 3 terms.”

The programme has taught an average of 6,000 pupils per year, with a total of over 160,000 pupils, teachers, parents and grandparents covered by the heritage programmes.

John says the chances of saving the programme for terms three and four are grim.

“The Ministry of Education was not interested in this situation, as they no longer work on a provincial but on a regional model,” he says.

“The Ministry considers that the four programmes they have funded in Nelson are readily available to service the 34 Marlborough Schools.”

T he reality is that no Marlborough school can afford the travel and accommodation costs to bring teachers over from the Nelson programmes.

Marlborough Lines and RMA Insurance provided sufficient funding to keep the sole teacher paid for another year. (i.e. July 1st 2022 to June 30th, 2023.)

John says during that time, no other funding has been secured, although there was hope that with the MDC taking over the operation of the Marlborough Museum, it would source some funding.

“If no additional funding is found in the next few weeks, our specialist teacher will reluctantly be lost to us.”

He says that the Nelson programmes have no expertise on the special Marlborough heritage topics, where each year they usually teach up to 18 year 10 classes, at the site of the Wairau Affray, the first New Zealand land war. This involves up to 18 part days per year, and about 500 students.

“Each year we teach up to 30 years 6, 7, 8, and 12 classes for one of our ANZAC programmes. This involves about 600 students spread over 16 teaching days. The Ministry has noted this as one of the best programmes of its type in New Zealand,” John says, “Neither programme is offered by any of the four Nelson

contractors.”

John says himself and other senior Marlborough Historians are in the process of making further funding submissions to the Ministry of Education, MP Stuart Smith, and the Mayor

and Marlborough District Council. “The reality is that even if we gain some funding from this, it is unlikely before the end of 2023, so it will be too late to save the retention of our key experienced, specialist teacher.”

A Redwoodtown School class on the Wither Hills in March 2017, teaching field sketching and the history of the town from a high vantage point. Marlborough Historical Society Vice President John Orchard says it was a popular activity with senior primary school classes. After 25 years of supporting Marlborough schools with programmes involving heritage, the current service will end at the end of Term 2.

A pig, a deer and a UTE

By Chris Valli

A Toyota Hilux Ute is up for grabs and the major spot prize in the Woodbourne Tavern’s Pig and Deer Hunt next month which is set to be bigger and better than ever.

Blenheim’s Ben Norris, a keen pig hunter himself, has been part of the hunt for the past eight years. After having a beer with Woodbourne Tavern owner Rowan Ingpen one night, the chat led to how they could make the pig and deer hunt bigger and better.

“I reckon we should give away a Hilux,” he says. “So we joined forces and made it happen. It’s a great weekend, get out, catch a few pigs, have a few beers.”

“You can’t get any bigger than a ute,” he says. “You can even get a dog box to fit in the end of it.”

The 2008 SR5 Toyota Hilux is valued at $22,000 and was a trade-in at Marlborough Motor Centre in Nelson Street. The ute has

all the bells and whistles, including tool bars, everything a keen hunter would need for an adventure in the high country. Hunters don’t have to be at the tavern on the day to claim the ute.

However, hunters have to be 16 years or older in the open category.

There are three sections with the Open (16 years plus, Pig and Deer), Teens (10 - 15 years, Pig and Goat) and the Kids (hare, rabbit, and possum). The open section is $60 entry, teens, $40 and kids, $5 entry. Rowan says there will be 50 spot prizes of $100 while there are spot prizes for all sections with hunters in with the chance to win a thermal camera and over $40,000 in prizes.

Entries close at 8pm Thursday, June 1 and weigh in closes at 3pm on Sunday, June 4 The hunt is on King’s Birthday weekend June 2 - 4 and is the ninth edition of the hunt. Don’t miss out, get your entries in.

YOU BEAUTY: Woodbourne Tavern and Motel owner Rowen Ingpen and Blenheim's Ben Norris with the 2008 SR5 Toyota Hilux. The ute is a major spot prize in the Woodbourne Tavern’s Pig and Deer Hunt next month.

Q: What is your take on the new library and art gallery?

It’s an impressive building with a great outlook. I hope it will be well supported because it is occupying a prime space in town and it has come at great expense.

Brought

The new library looks amazing. I love all the different spaces to work in and enjoy the pukapuka. It will be such an asset for Marlborough.

I love it. So fresh and modern, so much more space. The kid’s area is fabulous, so inviting for them, and caters to all ages. My daughter loved the Duplo and dress ups, and the amount of different seating.

Honour your loved ones with a farewell that truly reflects their life

Who’s the intelligent one?

Okay, I’m flummoxed. The experts in AI, whose intelligence exceeds mine to about the degree that the wealth of the Lords of the Internet exceeds my wealth, appear to believe that the rise of AI, Actual Intelligence, silicon-based as opposed to carbon-based, can be prevented. Phooey.

Additional cost

It was reported in the last edition of the Sun, May 10th p3, by Chris Valli, that Alec McNeil had recommended that after the ratepayers receive their wheelie bins, that we could go out and purchase plastic bags from the local supermarket for the additional cost of between $3 and $8 to use as bin liners. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I thought the

It’s a great location and significant to all that live in Marlborough especially local iwi.

It’s a really beautiful space, I love the kids area. Hopefully it’ll inspire more people to utilise it.

The unimaginable wealth the public are pouring into computer tech will continue making the silicon chip an ever more integral part of human affairs, so that, willy-nilly, the chance of logic and rationality must get more and more influence.

I certainly am in fear of the computer as it now is, dominated by bureaucrats but even more so by the purveyors of pornography, gaming

whole idea of having the new wheelie bins, was to do away with plastic bags, not to mention to keep costs down. Was I mistaken? Also, it was reported that the logistics of lifting different size bins and servicing multiple properties, had yet to be worked out. Well, I can only report that in the narrow road no exit address, I live in, where the use of long wheeled collection trucks, are not to be used, due to extreme turning difficulties,

Truancy

Truancy is now one of New Zealand’s most significant education problems. Student absenteeism increased sharply after Covid-19, now there is evidence of a much longer, steady deep-seated decline in attendance. But is it any wonder given the example some adults set young people?

Watch on television the live screenings of New Zealand’s parliament “in action”. I’ve watched on a number of occasions and almost without exception, discerned a much, much higher rate of wagging than in schools. Statistics in this case back me up. In the first term of this year, just 46% of students regularly attended school. So 54% wagged. But my observations of Parliament “in

and fantasy and of course the disinformation wellsprings. Silicon-based intelligence, in the name of waste elimination strategies, will rule out creatures like Putin and Bashir al Assad and a host of lessor creators of destruction, who will no longer dominate the biosphere. Tough on assault-rifle salesmen, eh!

Bill Hovey

but of course are still used, even after several years of phone calls to MDC with pics of destroyed burses and trees, has yet to curtail the contractor. So, I can only hope Alex is more successful in getting the new system to work, not only reliably, but safely too. Good luck with that

Regards

Chris Davies

action” show about a dozen (of the 120 MPs) present while proposed law is being debated and voted on. That’s a 90% wagging rate for MPs.

A disturbing side effect of the gross, rampant wagging by MPs may well be shonky laws that get passed? I hear some of the dozen MPs stressing the importance of the bill being debated. But the other 90% who are not there obviously don’t agree.

When it comes to the final vote, the mass proxy votes in the House might be laughable, except for one thought - we taxpayers are paying for the truant MPs.

Tony Orman Blenheim

Tasha Knox Blenheim

Melissa Haylock Blenheim

Kat MacDonald Blenheim

Kerie Smith Blenheim

Catherine Rooney

Rob Lucas Blenheim

New library and art gallery wows the crowd

After years of planning and months of preparation, Marlborough’s new library opened its doors last Friday.

Libraries Manager Glenn Webster said it was great to see so many people visit the new bigger purpose-built facility.

“The feedback we have received so far has been fantastic. People are blown away by the space and it’s fantastic to see children and teens enjoying their new dedicated areas,” Mr Webster said.

Think pink on Friday

“We look forward to welcoming members of our community into the building over the coming weeks as they visit for the first time,” Mr Webster said.

Art Gallery Director Cressida Bishop is also looking forward to welcoming visitors with a special exhibition, Threads of Whātonga, which opens this week. It includes works from the gallery’s collection and mana whenua exhibitions held at the former Millennium Public Art Gallery to mark significant events.

You may see a lot of pink around Marlborough on Friday.

That’s because Friday 19 May is Pink Shirt Day, when Aotearoa New Zealand becomes a sea of pink as schools, workplaces and communities join the Pink Shirt Day movement.

People are encouraged to wear a pink shirt to symbolise their stance against bullying.

Council will participate with a workplace webinar and is encouraging managers to organise team coffee outings to help promote connectivity and inclusion.

Health and Safety Advisor Anthea Merwood said Pink Shirt Day was about working together to stamp out bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusion.

“This is the kind of Council and community we all strive for - a place where everyone feels safe, valued and respected regardless of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or cultural background,” she said.

“Diversity is more visible now than ever as we continue to embrace different cultures and identities and as we spend most of our time at work, we all deserve to feel comfortable within the workplace.”

Seymour Square’s clock tower will shine pink in celebration of Pink Shirt Day. For more information on Pink Shirt Day go to https://pinkshirtday.org.nz

Seeking owners of abandoned vessels

The Marlborough Harbourmaster is seeking the owners of the two vessels pictured.

If you are the owner of any of these vessels, or have information on the vessels or the owners please contact the

Harbourmaster on Ph: 03 520 7400. These vessels are now in possession of the Harbourmaster.  If they remain unclaimed for 30 days they may be sold or destroyed.

Youth Councillors sworn in

Ensuring young people have a say in decision making is the aim of Marlborough’s Youth Council.

Twenty one students from Marlborough Boys’ and Girls’ Colleges, Queen Charlotte College, Richmond View College and one home-schooled were officially sworn in as this year’s Councillors in early May.

The 14 to 18-year-olds bring a range of interests including art, the environment and sport and have clear ideas about how they can contribute to the community and make a difference to the region.

The Youth Council is a forum that recognises the valuable input and

contributions young people make, Community Partnerships Advisor Jodie Griffiths said.

“They bring aspirations and wishes on behalf of young people plus have an opportunity to raise issues and become involved in the democratic process and learn about local government,” she said.

During the year the Youth Council involves itself in youth focused projects and contributes to Council’s decision making by providing a youth perspective.

The Council meets monthly with Mayor Nadine Taylor and Councillors Jonathan Rosene and Allanah Burgess.

Marlborough’s Youth Councillors with Mayor Nadine Taylor and Councillor Allanah Burgess at the recent swearing in ceremony

‘Hot mustard’

Vessel name is unknown

Collections Librarian Tania Miller with a happy customer

Rose and Phil Bradfield in the new facility

Naomi Taupau enjoys the children’s area

Herema and Naomi Taupau were amongst the first to arrive

one on one with the Sun

A lifetime of caring

Sowman

Barry Holmwood was born and educated in Nelson and attended Nayland College. After leaving school he wanted a trade and secured an apprenticeship (timber machinist) through the firm of W. E. Wilkes, synonymous with house building in Richmond but began in a much smaller way – as undertakers and coffin manufacturing.

“I remember as a young boy of 17 sitting in the smoko room and the old fellas saying, Boy, you know where you’re having your smoko? But the smoko room was the mortuary where they used to place the bodies out. That’s how I got the taste of funeral directing.”

After finishing his apprenticeship Barry’s perseverance paid off when as a 20-year-old an opportunity presented itself to find ‘a fit’ in the industry.

and I replied, ‘when do I start?’ ”

The introduction to the industry saw Barry being mentored and taken under the wing of manager Graham Shirley. Barry also built caskets in the early days, embalmed, arranged, and directed funerals.

When asked what makes an effective funeral director Barry says the role is 90% listening and 10% talking.

“If you listen to the families and study behavioural science, the body language tells everything. Their tone, how they talk, how they move,” he says. “You pick up so much from the person you are talking with…it depends on the family you are working with.”

“I’ve had many families where there is more laughter in the arrangement room than anything else. Once you find out about the person who has died and what they did in their lives and put the picture together to develop what they wanted for their funeral, you are celebrating their life.”

Directors,

“We used to machine Coffin Moulding for a funeral firm in Nelson which went on the bottom of the caskets,” he said. “We used to make Rimu, Mahogany and Oak which was five millimetres thick, and I used to machine it. When I found out what funeral home it went to, I approached them after my (future) wife’s grandmother died.

“I got talking to the manager and asked if he had anything as I was keen to build caskets, which funeral homes did back in the early 80s. He was very much a gentleman and said there were no jobs building caskets, but I kept hounding him. Six months later a job for a funeral director came up. He asked if I would be interested

He says the role as a funeral director is not nine to five and you have to be committed to the work, whether that is getting up at 2am to do a transfer from a rest home or a private residence. Or getting a phone call at 11pm saying that Dad has died in the hospital with family members asking what do we do?

“Once we receive that phone call, we can help them, guide them, they are more at ease,” he says. “They just need an answer, what do we do, and we have that conversation … this is what WE can do.”

Speaking of guiding, the story of the Phantom of the Opera is one which shows the ‘attention to detail’.

A lady had died (in 2019) at home and didn’t get the chance to see the show at the ASB Theatre. Barry says the police were involved and found her at home. Conversations with the family around her love for theatre and how much she was looking forward to the Phantom

got Barry thinking.

“I thought why don’t we bring the Phantom to her?” says Barry. “The family looked at me as if to say how are you going to do that? Leave it with me,” I said.

Barry adorned the chapel with Phantom posters accordingly and knew who to get hold of. Cue Havelock policeman and local theatre talent Spencer Kingi, who had the lead role in the Blenheim Musical Theatre production.

“I rang Spencer up and said I need a favour, could you sing at her funeral, the Music of the Night and he didn’t hesitate and said when is it? The family looked at each other when Spencer entered the back of the chapel and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

When asked if he has ever felt connected to the grief or the

loss of a loved one and affected personally, his response shows the fundamental humanity and compassion of the role.

“I have to say yes to that because funeral directors are human as well,” he says. “We have a professional job to do and I use the analogy of a brick wall when talking to families. The tears are over there and for me to understand what they are going through I take my brick wall down and your tears come over to my side. I don’t want a flood of it, I build it back up again to stop those tears. The mortar never sets … it’s moveable.”

The 58-year-old has led and directed funeral services for immediate family including his own father who died at Kaikoura on Anzac Day 2007.

Barry and wife Evelyn have

lived in Blenheim for seven years. The couple has two daughters, one in Nelson and the other in Wellington. “Evelyn has been a godsend and great support to me within my role as a funeral director, I sometimes miss birthdays, Ch ristmases and other family events due to work commitments. Many times, Evelyn has helped me with out-of-town funeral services, eg Kaikoura, Rai Valley and sometimes further away.

So, who is Barry outside of being a funeral director?

“For me it’s my shed at home, that’s my relaxing time. I like pulling things apart and putting them back together. I have a Yamaha 650 Special, convertible Crossfire SRT6, an old 1970 arcade duck hunt machine that I’ve had for years, to keep me happy in my shed.”

Barry Holmwood, manager and funeral director at Geoffrey T

Funeral

talks to Chris Valli about a career which he has known for 28 years and supporting those with the loss of a loved one by focusing on the details that matter.

“Funeral directing - 90% listening and 10% talking”

Barry is the recipient of the Noel McNee Memorial Award for excellence in practical embalming in 2004 (only person in Marlborough to hold this) and has trained two other embalmers who were also recipients of this award.

Manu Ora calls for kai

By Chris Valli

The aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle is having an effect on food supplies for patients at Blenheim’s Manu Ora.

Manu Ora, in Howick Road, is a charitable, non-profit service who provides high quality, culturally appropriate primary health care, focusing on all aspects of haoura in a more flexible, whānau-centred way. However, stocks in their food pantry or pātaka - which provides free kai for anyone to take - is becoming less plentiful in recent weeks.

Dewhirst Labour’s Kaikoura candidate

Emma Dewhirst, a 33-year- old businesswoman with long-established far ming family connections in Marlborough, has been chosen to represent Labour in the Kaikōura electorate for the October General Election.

Ms Dewhirst, who lives in Blenheim, was confirmed as Labour’s candidate last Friday night.

“I am honoured to be chosen to represent Labour in this wonderfully diverse and sprawling electorate. I want to contribute my skills

to help the next Labour Government to continue improving our water quality and environment and st r engthen our resolve to deal with climate change.

Margot Wilson, Labour’s Campaign Chair for the Kaikōura electorate says Emma is a fantastic candidate for the party.

“Our members are really excited at having Emma stand for Labour in this seat. We think it gives us a real prospect and are forming a strong team behind her campaign.”

Manu Ora GP Dr Sara Simmons says the health care team have had supply issues due to most of the food banks diverting stock to help those in need to the affected areas in the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

“We’ve had a great deal of support from the foodbanks locally and were getting ‘add ons’ such as tinned food and sauces weekly, and we would top it off with pasta and rice,” she says.

“It’s an ongoing challenge for us to source kai and often the practice ends up buying supplies from the supermarket to stock it,” she says.

Services, like the pātaka, were in response to whānau (patients) basic needs. Dr Sara says it’s really hard to focus on health without a home or food.

Manu Ora had set up a ‘close liaison’ with Christchurch Methodist Mission, who have a connection with the Ministry of Social Development and Kāinga Ora (providing rental opportunities) with the ‘kai solution’ to set up the pātaka.

“It’s supplied by donations.

Manu Ora contributions with people or staff bringing in fresh produce from their garden. People can take what they need, as much as they need and whenever they need it,” says Dr Sara.

The short-term solution was for the team to ‘reach out’ to people they knew in the community to donate.

“We’re lucky in Marlborough. People have been dropping off bags of groceries,” she says. “We’ve had Constellation Brands (Kim Crawford Winery) donating their leftover meals from harvest. We know our whanau well so the team just called who they knew and said there are some meals here we can get them to you.

“However, it’s tough for people. There’s not a lot of extra out there,” says Dr Sara. “By having it there (pātaka) they don’t have to ask and we don’t have to ask. It’s just there

for them to take.”

Dr Sara said it was great to see whanau that weren’t necessarily their patients helping themselves to the kai which meant people had choice with regards to what they were wanting.

“Kai nourishes in far more aspects than being a food. Make sure that you have time to have a korero and build relationships. Kai is super important. The importance and impact of the pātaka has had a positive difference on whanau and kaimahi (staff) it’s rewarding when times are tough to say, take some kai.”

The meaning or origin of pātaka, is a storehouse which is used to keep preserved food – fish, birds, kao (a kūmara preparation) – or seed safe from kiore (Pacific rats) in winter. ‘Manu Ora’ refers to a bird taking flight having achieved hauora or wellbeing.

A CALL FOR MORE KAI: Manu Ora's Dr Rachel Inder and Dr Sara Simmons with the food pantry or pātaka - which provides free kai for anyone to take - is becoming less plentiful in recent weeks. The short-term solution was for the team to ‘reach out’ to people they knew in the community to donate.

Emma Dewhirst, a 33-year-old businesswoman with long-established farming family connections in Marlborough, has been chosen to represent Labour in the Kaikōura electorate for the October General Election.

Hospice

Awareness Week - May 15-21

RAising AWAReness...

Helen – ‘it’s a privilege to be part of their journey’

By Chris Valli

Helen Reriti started in her new role with a few nerves on Monday. They were “good nerves” she says.

Hospice Marlborough’s Clinical Services Manager’s role is to support the medical, nursing and allied health teams. Helen has an extensive resume including 30 years in the health industry with recent roles working on the West Coast in primary care, hospital and education roles in clinical nursing. She was also the Chief Executive of the West Coast Primary Health Organisation before the lure of Marlborough’s lifestyle prompted her move.

“Eight months ago, we (husband Don) made a decision to make a lifestyle change and move up to Blenheim and I started work with the Marlborough PHO as their associate director of nursing,” she says. The weather has certainly been better even though locals have told me lately it’s been rather wet.”

“Really the opportunity (at Hospice) arose to be part of a smaller team and one that is more focused on the journey and moving away from the bigger picture health system. I’m looking forward to transferring my skills and meeting new people and making those relationships with the wonderful team at Hospice Marlborough”.

Helen says it’s been a “full circle journey” after working in palliative care when she began working as a nurse. “To support the Marlborough community is really important to me, it is a privilege to be part of a person’s life journey” she says.

One of the key goals in her role she says is

for the organisation to continue to help the wider community understand that hospice is not just a physical place where you come to die.

“It’s about recognising the work that the whole team does here and supporting whanau to have the best end of life journey for their loved ones. 99% of the time that

is often at their own home. That’s really important to me.”

“The value of hospice is that we have the extended team(s), nursing, doctors, allied team, kaiāwhina to support those to live the best that they can towards the end of their life. The teamwork, coordination, social support and services is the key forte of the Hospice.”

“Most people don’t know about Hospice until someone they love needs their services”

philosophy

Clinical Services Manager Helen Reriti says the team at hospice is about supporting whanau.

Hospice Awareness Week

OK to feel how you feel’

By Chris Valli

The numbers from Marlborough Hospice tell a story - about care, connection and support.

Across the hospice services in April 2023 the Marlborough Hospice team;

• Cared for 102 patients

• Made 212 community connections

• Engaged in 340 family and bereavement support sessions

• Welcomed 10 IPU admissions

• Dealt with 19 deaths

Hospice Awareness Week is this week. (15 – 21 May).The week is a national campaign that this year is focussing on “It’s OK to feel how you feel.”

Hospice Marlborough Chief Executive Carole Crawford has been in the role since mid-December last year. She believes she was drawn to the role when her dad and mother died, from a freak accident and cancer, at 48 and 53 respectively.

“Earlier in my life I had decided that at some point in my career I wanted to work somewhere in the end-of-life sector,” she says. “This goal was formulated as the result of witnessing my father and then five years later my mother die, with very limited personal support given to me. I believed there must be a better way to support those watching loved ones die.”

Carole says the role re-kindled

her desire and as a result she researched hospices and the work they do saying she was inspired.

So how has she found the position?

“It’s amazing. The challenges to date have primarily focussed on recruiting and retaining specialised staff in an environment of limited government resources. However, in April we received money to help address pay parity for our nurses and health care assistants which helps. The reality is that our funding only

covers just over 50% of our costs, so our fundraising events, community donations, charity shop sales, bequests and voluntary workforce are critical for our continued services,” she says.

Carole says hospice puts the patient at the centre of what they do, with wrap-around supports for the whanau and family.

“The existing staff are just so professional and dedicated that our 24/7 services are highly regarded by those we work w ith and support,” she says.

“Many individuals, families and organisations across Marlborough already support us by r aising funds, some regularly donating a few dollars a week while others provide substantial money specifically targeted, for example, to purchase specialised equipment, or bequest money in their wills. Attending our fundraising events or purchasing items from our charity shops all supports our sustainability. We are extremely grateful to our valued supporters.”

CEO Carole Crawford says hospice puts the patient at the centre of what they do.

‘It’s

Carole is charged with leading the organisation to achieve strategic goals set by the Marlborough Hospice Trust Board (MHT). This includes; leading and supporting the dedicated clinical and business support teams, delivering specialised servicesboth in the In-Patient Unit facility as well as out in the community. Other responsibilities include the financial management of hospice ‘to ensure their sustainability, identifying efficiencies and eliminating waste’ goals are being met.

When a patient is diagnosed with a life-limiting condition by their primary health provider Hospice Marlborough receives the referral. Carole says her teams then connect with the patient who then is offered the range of hospice services. “Hospice Marlborough palliative care specialist staff (doctors, nurses, social worker, Kaiawhina, grief and loss, bereavement and massage therapist) work closely with staff at GP practices, aged residential care facilities and in the hospital providing specialist palliative consultations, advice and education,” says Carole.

“Walking alongside the patient and their whanau is our role.”

Hospice currently has four funded beds in their In-Patient Unit (IPU). Carole says admissions to the IPU fluctuates, often daily, but during March they had 16 patients in the IPU, with 10 during April excluding over 100 patients they support in the community (at home, in Aged Care or hospital).

Carole says they recorded 22 deaths in March and 19 during April.

“Our whanau team continues to support families for up to 12 months after the death of their loved-one, if needed,” says Carole.

“The community is welcome to visit Hospice Marlborough, as an individual, a family or a group.”

“We are very happy to show people around and discuss our services,” she says.

“To ensure a team member is available, call 03 578 9492 to arrange.”

Hospice Awareness Week is the ideal time to make a donation to ensure Marlburians have access to high quality palliative care in the future.

Hospice supports families 12 months after the death of a loved one.

Smoke alarms save lives

When you’re asleep, you lose your sense of smell. Don’t assume your smoke alarms are working. Press the button to check.

When you are buying smoke alarms, Fire and Emergency NZ recommends hardwired and interconnected smoke alarms are

installed.

If your alarms cannot be hard-wired, it’s recommended to use long-life photoelectric smoke alarms that rely on 10-year lithium batteries.

Inbuilt 10-year lithium batteries last as

long as the smoke alarm so you don’t need to worry about replacing them every year – you simply replace the entire smoke alarm unit once every 10 years.

There are a number of specialised smoke alarm systems available for people who are deaf or have hearing impairment. These alarms have extra features such as extra loud and/or lower pitch alarm sounds, flashing strobe lights, or vibrating devices.

Ideally, you will have hard-wired, interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms fitted with bed-shakers, strobe lights, pagers or a combination of these. However, this may be too expensive.

Contact one of the four organisations below for advice as to the most appropriate options available for you to consider.

• Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand

• Life Unlimited

• Blind Foundation

• Housing New Zealand

Photoelectric vs. Ionisation?

Smoke alarms use either photoelectric or ionisation sensors to detect smoke. Some have both types of sensor (“dual” models).

Ionisation smoke alarms are typically more effective at detecting fast flaming fires, which burn and spread quickly. Photoelectric smoke alarms are typically more ef fective at detecting slow smouldering fires, which burn for hours before bursting into flame.

Unsure which type you have? Ionisation models require a tiny amount of radioactive material to make them work. You can identify one by the radiation symbol found on the plastic body.

How many do I need?

Smoke alarms cannot detect smoke through a closed door. Therefore, we recommend installing a smoke alarm in every bedroom, hallway and living area.

Please note: The New Zealand Building Code requires an approved smoke alarm to be fitted in every escape route (hallway) and within three metres of every sleeping space (bedroom) door.

Smoke alarms are available for purchase at most major supermarkets and hardware stores across New Zealand. Prices range from $6 - $75.

Smoke alarms cannot detect smoke through a closed door. Therefore, it's recommend installing a smoke alarm in every bedroom, hallway and living area.

Is your wood stacked and ready to burn?

Chances are that most homes around Marlborough which rely on woodburners, already have their firewood seasoned, stacked and ready to burn.

But if you have found yourself caught out and on the lookout for firewood to burn this winter, be aware that you will need dry wood, and not wet or ‘green’.

Generally most firewood merchants sell dry firewood, but if it has recently been cut you will need to stack it to dry it out.

When firewood is not dried properly, many problems arise including more smoke which affects air quality, blocked chimneys which create a fire hazard and of course inefficient heating.

Most importantly though, wet wood is hard to light and keep lit, so try to source dry wood if it’s for this year’s winter.

Tips for drying wood

It’s best to cut your firewood trees at least

a year in advance. If you are trying to burn wood four months after cutting it, you’re being a little unrealistic.

A good rule of thumb is to always be a year ahead. If you can’t be a full year ahead, you should at least cut your trees in the spring or early summer to give them a good six to eight months to season.

Process the wood as soon as possible

Cut the wood into firewood lengths and split it as soon as possible. This will accelerate the drying process significantly.

As soon as the wood is processed, it is important to stack it to ensure that it dries in a timely manner.

Just add air and sunlight

Allow air circulation and sunlight to reach the firewood. Covering your firewood with a tarp is not the best idea when trying to season firewood.

Let the sun shine down and the air circulate

around the firewood. The best way to do this is to stack the firewood in an area where the sun will shine.

Safe sleep - tips on electric blankets

Don’t put your life in the hands of an old electric blanket. Any blanket older than five years should be checked by a qualified electrician or replaced.

Until then, here are some good safety practice tips for electric bedding.

Do not use warming bedding with infants or very small children, people with disabilities, anyone who is immobile or cannot operate the controls properly, anyone insensitive to heat or anyone who cannot understand these directions.

Never run the control cords between the mattress and the box springs. (This advice is similar to the advice about never running an appliance or lamp cord under a rug.) The cord could become damaged by friction or the heat from the electricity in the cord could be trapped there with no place to escape eventually becoming a fire hazard.

Never pinch any of the heating wires or the control cords in any way. Therefore do not use automatic bedding with adjustable beds, pull-out sofas, or reclining chairs where any electrical cords or heater wires could become

pinched in the mechanisms. Do not use a heated blanket and a heated mattress pad at the same time. Overheating could result.

Wrapping the cord around the controls may damage the cord. Loop loosely when storing.

The heated area of any warming bedding should always lie flat. That is, it should never be bunched up, folded or balled up (e.g. between the mattress and the footboard) such that the heat generated in the middle of that ball has no place to escape.

Do not allow pets to be around your warming bedding. A sharp claw or a tooth may puncture the wire insulation or damage the wiring itself. Do not use pins around warming bedding. They can puncture the heater wire insulation. Turn off the bedding appliance when not in use.

Never iron your electric blanket or electric mattress pad. Ironing may melt the heating wire insulation.

Never dry clean or use cleaning fluid on your product. Dry cleaning solvents may damage the heater wire insulation.

Finally if you observe your electric blanket or electric mattress pad operating unusually or improperly (e.g. seems too hot in one area or you see a scorch mark) call the manufacturer and stop using it right away.

If you haven't already seasoned your firewood for winter, try to source dry wood.

Sit less, move more

It can be hard to get enough exercise through winter, and modern offices have such a heavy reliance on technology that sitting is the default for many tasks.

But our health can benefit from simply standing up!

The Health Promotion Agency has created a campaign called ‘Sit Less Move More’ to get people moving.

Here are some tips provided to help inspire workplaces.

A workplace that supports staff to sit less and move more can benefit from more productive staff and reduced absenteeism.

Most employees spend at least eight hours each day at work, so the work environment and culture can significantly influence an employee’s health. There are a number of low or no-cost ways to encourage staff to sit less and move more, making this a very cost-effective workplace

Sitting less and moving more can be incorporated into relevant workplace practices and become part of the office culture. Examples could include the following:

• Encourage staff to walk over and talk to colleagues, rather than emailing

• Encourage staff to take a break each day so they have a chance to walk or do something active, for example between 12pm and 1pm

• Support staff who want alternatives to chairs (such as swiss balls)

• Activate or install a computer programme that prompts staff to take micro-breaks and

stand regularly.

• Organise staff challenges such as walking, pedometer or stair challenges

• Establish a ‘walk or cycle to work’ day each month

• Set up workplace sports teams

• Set up a lunchtime walking or jogging group

• Sponsor entry in fun-runs or other events for staff

• Offer telephone headsets to those staff who want to stand or walk while on the phone

• Provide a stand up reading area. Existing office furniture such as filing cabinets or bookshelves can work well

• Consider replacing existing tables and chairs in one meeting room with a higher table that staff can stand at

• Centralise printers or office rubbish bins so staff have to get up to use them

• Encourage staff to use active transport by providing lockers, secure bike storage, drying facilities for wet weather clothing and adequate changing/shower facilities, if possible

• Go outside and get some fresh air every day

• Choose active transport – walk, cycle, scoot all or part of the way to and from work

• Use a desk timer or computer software to monitor sitting time and act as a reminder to stand more

• Schedule activity breaks into your daily calendar

• Keep a pair of comfortable flat shoes at work for standing or being active.

How far does a sneeze travel?

Since COVID-19 there has been a huge focus on good hygiene practices, washing your hands and covering your mouth when you sneeze.

Most people understand coughing and sneezing can spread germs that cause illness, but it’s the speed and distance they can travel which might surprise you.

Researchers at the University of Bristol assessed the airborne survival of bacteria in aerosol droplets from coughs and sneezes.

They found the average sneeze or cough can send around 100,000 contagious germs into the air at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

These germs can carry viruses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenoviruses, which cause the common cold.

They can also carry bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae.

The most critical time for spread of those germs, according to the researchers, is in the first few minutes after a sneeze or cough occurs.

“This type of transmission is of special importance since it doesn’t require proximity between individuals. The droplets’ small size adds the potential to penetrate deeper in the lung,” Allen Haddrell, PhD, one of the study’s

authors, told Healthline.

While aerosols that carry the germs eventually drop to the ground, that takes time.

“Given the small size of bioaerosol droplets (diameter less than the width of a human hair), they can remain suspended in the air for prolonged periods of time, from seconds to weeks,” Allen says.

In addition to veering away from a sneezer or cougher, the following ways to ward off germs are recommended.

Keep a scarf handy

Keep a scarf on or in your purse or bag at all times when you know you’ll be indoors and around large crowds to protect your nose and mouth.

Wear a mask

If you’ll be in a healthcare facility like a hospital, consider wearing a medical face mask

Carry hand sanitizer

Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you at all times.

Wash your hands

Most importantly, wash your hands with soap and water. While the soap doesn’t have to be antibacterial, be sure to scrub your hands for 30 seconds — and wash in between your fingers and underneath your fingernails.

There are many things you can introduce into the workplace to assist staff to be active during work time.

I-Site

Sun The txt talk with

Saving tips column?

Talk of the week

A new I-Site should not go where the old Aquarium in Picton was. Don’t people use their cellphones to research what’s in Picton? How about a pier or something for the public to enjoy.

Abolished

If NZ removes the king as head of state and becomes a Republic do the Maori understand that the office of Maori King will be abolished also.

St John

St John is a world wide organisation and known as St John all over the world. Why does NZ have to call it some other unknown name.

Name change

Re: Petrol/oil prices

The NZ petroleum companies are not profiteering. I think you’ll find it’s the government who are profiting the most out of fuel by a significant margin. Their tiny subsidy is funded out of huge taxes paid by us, the motoring public every time we top up our tanks.

New Zealand

With the cost of living increase rate rocketing into double figures, suggest a new savings tips column be established by The Sun to help readers.

With the 5 best tips from readers published each week and possibly a sponsored prize (provided by one of the local supermarkets) for the best tip of the week or month?

Re: too much time

While you may have a point it’s rewriting history to pretend “Aotearoa” was the original name given to NZ by the 12th century immigrants, but then its fashionable for the PC lot of the colonisers to think otherwise.

Recycling

Today I tripped over in Bunnings, cut my hand and a few bumps. In seconds I was being helped by Joe and a woman. What real old Marlborough service. Thank you Bunnings, its always a good experience to visit you.

I agree whole heartedly with the comments in your paper on the Media/Journalists changing the name of NEW ZEALAND to Aotearoa. We are NOT we are NEW ZEALAND. With all!!! Your knowledge PLEASE remind them of the NAME OF OUR/MY Country. I am Proud of it. What an insult to those who have SERVED and still DO SERVE.

ANZAC

Well if we become Aotearoa... Then the above must morph into AAAC.

Re: virus speed

If you don’t understand the facts don’t preach about how you apply them. No lies but vocal public misconceptions.

Change

I was 1st eligible to vote in 1956 and voted for Labour in every election since. The way Jacindas govt have given Maori everything they have demanded plus more, it’s time for change. Hopefully another party will put the brakes on.

New library

A hands up to the new library, great layout and outside/inside cafe. Don’t know about food going upstairs to be consumed. Disappointed with old type of hand air dryers. Can see the need for a middle bannister in steps, if they are going to be doing step seating on one side.

And big problem with lifts for disabled electric chair users, had to help 2 people park diagonally inside, an extra 10cm would have worked wonders.

Why, why, why, Marlborough Boys’ and Girls’ college name change. Tote Tatoru o Wairau why why? Absolute garbage. Wake up NZ. Got

Aotearoa

Reading about referring New Zealand as Aotearoa, I have noticed that main stream media and T V seem to use Aotearoa all the time now instead of New Zealand. Have I missed something? Did the people of New Zealand vote for this or is it the government that is pushing it? History says New Zealand was never called Aotearoa, only the North Island.

Recognizing Grey Power...

Great to see the Armed Services pay rates have finally been rectified. That just leaves the silent (so far) Superannuitant Sector to be recognized. With nett increases of 5.9% (2022) & 7.2% (2023) in the National Superannuation rates, an increasing number of Senior Citizens are struggling big time. With an increasing number using the very moderate power subsidy to eat, pay electricity and (excessive) Council rates.

A new tax rate (of, say 10%) for low annual incomes...say under $35k p.a. in this week’s Budget would be an immense help. Could sway the General Election result too!

Re: bad thing?

Your cherry picked detail that European colonization ended slavery and cannibalism is not answerable as either good or bad because it’s missing the context of the rest of the impact that colonization brought.

Saying slavery and cannibalisation is ‘bad’ doesn’t make colonization ‘good’.

Just reading it’s going to cost ratepayers $200 a year for recycling. I hope we get better value for money with that than our current service.

Signage

New library is great but whose idea was all the virtue-signalling signage in made-up Maori?

Bins

I thought that we were getting a bin to replace rubbish bags. Wrong! We are getting a bin to hold the rubbish bags that we have to buy to put our rubbish in.

Racism

Have I got your attention? I am a middle-aged pakeha. I embrace the use of te Reo and maori place names. I don’t believe I am racist but I am sure others will disagree, as they are entitled to do so. The problem I have with the terms ‘Racism’ and ‘Racist’ is this. They are thrown around too readily and too freely. They have the effect of shutting down any meaningful debate and rendering the recipient of the label wrong. Are they really wrong? Or are they simply exercising their right to have an opinion. The flagrant use of these terms suggests a narrow minded view, one that is not open to other perspectives. Both sides of the Racism debate are guilty of this.

Worksafe

So work safe has jumped in to investigate the tragic death of the student at Abbey caves but worksafe are not investigating the tragic deaths of the two firefighters from Muriwai?

Thank you An asset Fantastic!

The Taylor river, I really do think this river should be permanently fenced from the first bridge south of Blenheim on Taylor Pass road. With native planting and track extension it would become an asset for Blenheim and help keep water weed at bay!

Visited our new library on Friday. Unbelievably fantastic, both inside and out. Meeting rooms will be a big benefit to our community. Great to already see all the kids making use of their new area. Cafe wonderful!

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.

Tree planting

Went to the King Charles tree planting in Seymour Square - what a wonderful job the Lady Mayor made of it. She introduced herself and all the guests giving them their full titles, and ran the whole works. Surely one of the council managers could have spared a Saturday morning to MC the ceremony. They were all conspicuous by their absence.

Shelley Durkin Zintl

From

Durkin ZIntl Psychology

 Are you a dog or cat person?

Dog person (but cats are a close second).

 My friends would say I am Compassionate and love a good laugh.

 The best advice I ever received was? Be yourself and do your best.

 What would you buy if money was no object? I would finally write my book!

 Local coffee haunt? Ritual.

 Favourite takeaway? Thai green curry.

 The shop you can’t walk past is? Whichever one my three girls drag me into. Also love browsing book shops.

 What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever received?

The cards, pictures and poems from my husband and kids.

 Where is your happy holiday place?

Home on the West Coast. Can’t beat beautiful Buller on a good day.

 Favourite programme or series currently watching? Yellowjackets.

 What’s one thing on your bucket list? Getting back into musical theatre. Currently working on Priscilla so get your tickets!

Visiting life underground: By

There is a saying... As above so below, and with plants and trees what is above the soil level is replicated to what is below the soil level.

With a tree it is the trunk and branches we see and mirrored under the soil is the tap root and the root system about a similar size as above. It is the root system and the medium that the roots are in that is the focus of this article.

We often refer to ‘The Soil Life’ which is a teeming mass of microbes, fungi, and soil insects including earth worms that we find in a healthy soil or the growing medium.

Virgin soil with its canopy of plants, living naturally for hundreds of years has a wealth of soil life and to have a soil like that is the goal of every keen gardener as it will, with very little effort, produce great healthy plants.

A vital part of the soil life are the fungi family called Mycorrhizae.

A mycorrhizal network (also known as a common mycorrhizal network or CMN) is an underground network which connects individual plants together and transfers water, carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrients and minerals between participants. A common example is the transfer of carbon from plants with leaves located in high-light conditions in the forest canopy, to plants located in the shaded understory where light availability limits photosynthesis. In natural ecosystems, plants may be dependent on fungal symbionts for 90% of their phosphorus requirements and 80% of their nitrogen requirements.

Mycorrhizal relationships are most commonly mutualistic, with both partners benefiting, but can be commensal or parasitic, and a single partnership may change between any of the three types of symbiosis at different times.

These networks have existed for over 400 million years, with up to 90% of all land plants participating. Mycorrhizal fungi is an incredible resource to the well being of your plants and garden and why you should encourage it and not damage it.

The No-Dig garden that we have often talked about over the years is ideal for building and maintaining these beneficial fungi.

Wally Richards

Instead of digging your garden you simply put fresh compost over the soil with other natural manures and plant into this new layer. This is repeated for every crop.

Mycorrhizal fungi can increase a plants roots catchment area by up to 800%.

The bigger the root zone the bigger and better the plants.

We can encourage Mycorrhizal fungi to grow by drenching the soil with Wallys Mycorrcin every so often like once a month around preferred plants and crops.

What we should not do is to use chemicals that will kill the Mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial microbes in the soil. Chemical sprays and man-made chemical fertilisers that leach into the soil and the worst one is your chlorinated tap water you use to water the garden with.

A housing and filter that is 10 micron carbon bonded can be snapped onto your hose tap to remove the chlorine. See http://www.0800466464. co.nz/37-water-filters-remove-fluoride-and-chlorine-

Gardeners that have filtered the chlorine out of their garden watering remark on what a difference it makes to the health of their gardens and plants.

The chlorine is added to water to kill bacteria and it is caustic in nature which is not good for soil life.

We see that Mycorrhizal fungi connects plants underground t h rough their roots and by that means can send messages to each other.

An example of this is a forest stand where the outer trees are attacked by a disease or insect pests and the trees send out a message to the fellow trees about what is happening which then allows the other trees to start building their defense systems

against possible attack.

Some plants are very hard to establish and the answer to this I learnt many years ago is that you find a mature specimen of the plant you wish to cultivate and you take some of the soil from the mature specimen root zone and you place that in the planting hole of your specimen.

Plant up and then drench the soil with Wallys Mycorrcin to aid growth and that impossible plant to grow is away laughing.

Introduction of beneficial microbes to the soil is another way of improving your gardens and plants health.

Biologically active soils have the ability to retain moisture and release nutrients ensuring greater production, faster rotation and more rapid recovery from stress.

To build a healthy biological soil we need products that can feed living organisms.

Increasing public awareness of the environmental impact of using chemical-based fertiliser has created a demand for a safe, natural and environmentally friendly fertiliser. Biological fertilisers increase nutrient availability and feed important soil organisms, such as earthworms and microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) – all essential for plant and soil health.

The product we have called Bio Marinus not only does the above but also introduces new beneficial microbes to your gardens.

Readers may recall the British comedian Kenneth Horne’s radio show, ‘Beyond Our Ken’ which featured a gardener called Arthur Fallowfield, played by Kenneth Williams.

He often said “The answer lays in the soil.”

The new library and art gallery opened on Friday. Mayor Nadine Taylor said the new facility had been 10 years in the making and would be a centre of knowledge, information and activity for everyone in Marlborough.

Blenheim Musical Theatre’s production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert opens tonight and runs through until May 27.

LEFT: Librarians Kia King and Rhys Hingston.

ABOVE: Councillors Sally Arbuckle and Jonathan Rosene. Councillor Jonathan Rosene with Collections Librarian Tania Miller.

ABOVE: DIVATASTIC: Sara Bishell, Megan Rosene, Kim Weatherhead, Georgia Ryan and Krystal Palmer.

LEFT: TICKTASTIC: Andrew Simon as drag queen Tick.

FABULOUS DARLING: Daniel Brunel embracing his inner drag as Felicia.

RIGHT: Otaki Drag queen Nova Starr and Blenheim Musical Theatre’s Priscilla choreographer Elly Molloy at the St Clair half marathon.

People of Picton photo call

By Chris Valli

The Picton Heritage & Whaling Museum are asking the people of Picton and surrounding areas to come together and create a record of people working and living their lives over the period of one week.

Curator Philippa Turley says ideally they’d like one image from each person or family living in the area, taken between 15 and 21 May, showing one or more people going about their daily lives.

“Once we’ve compiled all the pictures, we’ll mount a display in the museum in July, showing as many of them as possible, so our community can come together and get a snapshot of their lives as they see it. And we’ll have a record in the archives for future generations to refer to.”

Philippa says the committee and staff of the museum realised that some of the more recent images in their collection are nearing 50 years old.

As a result, they started wondering what images would be in the archives in 50 years’ time, when people came in asking about life in Waitohi Picton in 2023.

Philllipa says questions were asked how they could collect those pictures when everything is digital these with photo albums hardly existing anymore.

“Who’s going to be donating their digital memories? Will the images be thrown away along with a dead phone or memory stick? We really were just keen on the idea of getting the community involved in something that relates specifically to their lives, and also to see that the museum is a living,

changing entity that belongs to them.”

Philippa says the heritage museum currently has a digital and physical photo archive in the museum with images dating back to the late 1800s.

“Some of them are collections gathered over the years by individuals, some from professional photographers, and some people hand to us when they’re clearing out relatives’ estates or downsizing,” she says.

Philiipa says the Picton community is diverse and over the last 50 years there has been massive change in the area.

So what image does the committee think comes to mind which reflects Picton?

“I think we all have different thoughts of what Picton looks like, as we all come from different backgrounds. Some of our committee were born and grew up in the area and have memories of Picton from when they were young, others have arrived more recently.

“I think the working aspect of Picton harbour and the play aspect of Waikawa harbour are probably a major part of what we visualise, as well as obviously the foreshore and town area. I guess I’m more interested in who the people are that live in the area though, and how their lives interact and are played out within the boundaries of Queen Charlotte Sound and the hills around us.”

An elected committee of Picton Historical Society members operates the museum, with three part time staff running the day to day side of things. They currently have nine committee members, all locals.

If Sun readers want to be involved in the project, email info@pictonmuseum.co.nz

Th E Firewood Company, dry firewood. Ph 027 930 5447. Special dry pine 7.2 cub $500. MONSTER MARKET SALE, Saturday 27th May, Renwick Anglican Church Hall, 54 High St, 9-noon, cash only. Clothes, household items, books, puzzles, plants, artworks & more.

WANTED TO BUY Car or station wagon, auto, reg & WOF’d, petrol, CD player. Will pay up to $2000 ono. Ph 021-0251-0407

S TAM P col lections, coin collections, old toys, post cards etc Cash paid. Local Ph 021 138 8949

I, Harjinder Singh (son of Jugrajpal Singh), resident of Blenheim, New Zealand have changed my name to Harjinder Singh Sidhu.

MARLBOROUGH COMMUNITY

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

URGENT services

Urgent Care Centre: Wairau Hospital Grounds. Entry off Hospital Rd, Blenheim, 8am-8pm daily. Phone (03) 520 6377.

Ambulance: Urgent 111. Non urgent 578 0797.

After Hours Chemists: Springlands

Pharmacy: Monday - Friday 8.30am6pm. Saturday 9m - 5pm. Sunday 10am4pm. Public Holidays 10am - 4pm. Closed Christmas Day. ph 578 2271

Community Care Pharmacy: Within the Blenheim Warehouse, open 7 days 9am8pm. Only closed Christmas Day.

Lifeline Marlborough: 0800 543354, 24hr helpline.

Women’s Refuge and Sexual Violence Support Centre Marlborough: Crisis line number phone 0800 refuge or 03 5779939.

Victim Support: 0800 VICTIM (0800 842 846)

Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 AA WORKS - 0800 229 6757.

Citizens Advice Bureau: Free, friendly, confidential advice. Mon - Fri 9.30am4pm. Phone 578 4272.

Wairau Hospital: Hospital Visiting Hours: Daily 2.30pm - 8pm, children under 12 may visit parents only.

Maternity Ward: 10am-noon, 4pm-7pm. Children's Ward: Daily 10am-8pm. Visiting at all times is subject to the discretion of the nurse in charge of the ward.

Picton:

Ambulance: Urgent 111. Non-urgent 579 4870.

Chemist: Picton Healthcare Pharmacy. Ph 573 6420 Mon -Fri 8.30-5.30pm, Sat 9-2pm. Medical Centre Pharmacy, Ph 928 4265, Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm

PROPETY WANTED

Whitehead Park Winter Bowls

We have over 100 bowlers playing these winter months. Unfortunately we lost two days because of rain.

Wed 3 May: Open triples- 1st Bob Hunter, Adrienne Waters, John Harlow; 2nd Joe Flood, Helen McIsaac, Diane Ponder; 3rd Joe Peel, Rex Dovey, Beryl

Mckay. Sat 13 May: 1st Round of the Winter Fives- 1st Bowl-U-Over- Bertie Marshall, Sandy Marshall, Lyn Sommerville, Mike Sextus, Jo Flood; 2nd – Picton PiratesJenny Anderson, Helen McIsaac, Alissa Waters, Jo Peel, Ron Bartlett.

Learning Assistant

30 hours per week (term time only)

Start date as soon as possible

Marlborough Boys’ College is looking for a supportive learning assistant, who is committed to improving the education and life chances for our rangatahi. The position involves facilitating differentiated programs to students identified as being ‘at risk’ due to learning, social or behaviour challenges. While all applications will be considered, preference will be given to applicants with a background in education, outdoor education, social work, youth mentoring or experience with working with young people with disabilities. Practical skills and an enthusiasm to share these with our ākonga would also be very valuable.

If you are passionate about the youth of Marlborough, have a good sense of humour and enjoy working in a school environment, 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.

Small animals such as flies and hummingbirds experience time in slow motion, which is why they can avoid your newspaper swats.

PEOPLE OF PICTON: A Kapa haka group performing at 1976 centennial. L-R: Patrice Gledhill (nee Aldridge), Ruby Thomas (nee Baker), Amo Poki (nee Love), Marie Love, Sharon Timms, Joanne Huntley at rear between Marie Love and Sharon Timms. The Picton Heritage & Whaling Museum are asking Picton locals to take pictures of people 'working and living their lives' from May 15 - 21. Once compiled the pictures will be on a display in the museum in July.

Tributes paid to former Mako

By Chris Valli

Former Mako and Maori All Blacks representative Billy Guyton has been remembered as a “truly gifted” player. The death of the 33-year-old utility back, who played for Tasman and three different Super Rugby teams, was confirmed by the Tasman Rugby Union yesterday.

“It is with great sadness to hear of the passing of Billy Guyton [a 52-game Mako player, and recent coach of our FPC Mako team],” the union said on social media.

“Billy was a much-loved member of our whole Tasman Rugby Union team and had a positive impact on those he played alongside and coached. Billy has been a major contributor to the development of women’s rugby across our Tasman region.”

Guyton, who was raised in Waimate played 29 games for North Otago in the Heartland Championship from 2010 to 2012, scoring 89 points.

He started all 11 games at fullback in 2010, when the Old Golds won the Meads Cup, and earned selection in the Heartland XV.

He also played every game (10) at fullback in 2011 before showing his versatility in 2012, splitting his eight starts between the No 15 jersey and midfield.

Guyton then morphed into an exceptional halfback after signing for Tasman and played 52 games with 92 points. He was part of the winning 2013 championship team.

He played 24 games for the Blues and one each for the Hurricanes and Crusaders, and toured with the Maori All Blacks in 2016.

The number one seed, Dean Shu from Auckland, took out the Men's Singles Title at the Redwood Trust Marlborough Table Tennis last weekend. Shu beat he second seed, Max Henderson from Bay of Plenty in the final.

Shu takes Redwood Trust Open

By Chris Valli

The Redwood Trust Marlborough Table Tennis open was held last weekend, with 72 competitors from as far away as North Shore and Southland.

The Open and Under-15 events also doubled as the third qualifying tournament for National Selection for The Oceania Championships in Australia, later in the year.

The number one seed, Dean Shu from Auckland, took the Men’s Singles Title beating the second seed, Max Henderson from Bay of Plenty in the final by 8-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7.

Spokesperson Chris Hood says the men’s title was a great example of modern attacking table tennis as both players served short and pounced on any loose returns.

“Max was right in the match and it took some brilliant counter-hitting from Dean to get the win.

Adam back in the pool

By Chris Valli Blenheim’s Special Olympian

Dean reached the final with a five set win over Canterbury’s Griffin Buchanan, who had put out the third seed in the previous round.”

Simon Fenwick beat Griffin to claim third place. Marlburian Alex Kennedy qualified for post-section play and as the Open was a TTNZ qualifier, played off for 7th and 8th place. He gained seventh place after beating North Shore’s Ben Jung in five sets.

Meanwhile, Canterbury’s Abbey Webb beat fellow Cantabrian Lydia Mercer-Beumelburg by 11-6, 7-11, 12-14, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6 in the final of the Women’s Singles.

“The scoreline didn’t really reflect how close this match was, as Lydia had match points in the fifth set and had reached that point with some great flat hitting,” says Chris.

“Abbey managed to save several match points before imposing her game in the last two sets to get the win in a match that could have

gone either way.”

Local player Jacqui Wood reached the semi-final losing to Abbey in six sets in a tactical match which featured many rallies. Lydia reached the final with a win over Canterbury’s Aarya Advilkar, who had earlier beaten the top seed in the quarter finals. Jacqui beat Aarya to claim the bronze medal.

In Sunday’s Over 40 Section, the top seeded Simon Fenwick beat Marlborough’s Matt Millar in straight sets in the final. Ian says It was a great event for another local player Jason Kennedy, as he topped his pool and beat the third seed in the process.

In the Over 55 Section, the Women’s final featured two local players, with Marion Wood beating Barbara Burkhart. In the Men’s Event, Canterbury’s Gregg Davey finished top of the round robin pool, with Nelson’s Mark Nalder in second place.

swimmer

Adam Shatford was back in the pool at Stadium 2000 on Monday.

The 37-year-old has been swimming for about 20 years and had previously swum with CCS Disability Action, the largest disability support and advocacy organisation in the country.

Adam says he does about three hours in the pool a week but is looking to increase that. His eyes were firmly fixed on the swimming lane when asked about what he liked the most about swimming.

“It’s about competing and I like it because it keeps me fit. I normally concentrate on my own times,” he says. “My freestyle is going well. I’m working on my shoulders at the moment to make sure my butterfly is right up there.”

Coach Jenny Wills says a couple of years ago Adam gave up swimming wanting a change of pace with work commitments getting in the way. However, she says he missed his friends and has come back this year.

“He swam in the Ribbon Day in Nelson and in Rangiora and

is looking forward to the Ribbon Day here on (Sunday), May 28. I haven’t always been his coach. He’s been around long enough to know what to do,” she says. Ribbon day is held every May in Marlborough. Ribbon and Certificate Days are the most common kind of competition for athletes involved in Special Olympics New Zealand and are called Ribbon or Certificate Days because athletes are awarded ribbons/certificates for first to eighth place Adam got picked to be a stand by for the Special Olympics World Games a few years ago. However, nobody pulled out and the opportunity was put on hold. “He did all the training and was ready to go. He even got all the gear and was really fit,” Jenny says. “He’s a likeable chap and gets on with everybody. When he wasn’t swimming he volunteered to be a support person.” “It’s all about seeing them achieve and the friendships they develop.”

There is a squad of 14 Marlborough Special Olympian s w immers. Next year the swimming calendar will see the continuation of regional ribbon days with the nationals to be in Christchurch in 2025.

Billy Guyton in action for Tasman against Otago in 2017. The death of the 33-year-old utility back, who played for Tasman and three different Super Rugby teams, was confirmed by the Tasman Rugby Union yesterday.

Blenheim Special Olympian swimmer Adam Shatford says he likes swimming as its about competing. The 37-year-old has made a return to swimming after missing competing with his special olympian mates.