11 September 2024 The Blenheim Sun

Mako create history

By Chris Valli

The Tasman Mako have made provincial rugby history with their first ever Ranfurly Shield win, following a nail-biting 25-24 triumph over Hawke’s Bay in Napier. In what was their fifth challenge for the shield and 51 years on from its last visit, the Log o’ Wood is returning to Nelson and Marlborough.

Continued on page 2.

FINS UP: Mako hooker and Central Rugby Club captain Quentin MacDonald on ‘shield duty’ at the Blenheim Civic Event and welcoming for Marlborough based Mako players on Monday. Pictured from left is Monu Moli, Max Hicks, MacDonald, Kyren Taumoefolau and captain Quinten

Strange. PHOTO: Chris Valli

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Generating the excitement and passion

Continued from page 1.

Formed in 2006, a merger of Nelson Bays and Marlborough, Tasman had never won the shield.

Marlborough won the shield once before on July 28, 1973 when Marlborough’s senior representative side beat Canterbury 13-6.

A civic event was held at Seymour Square in Blenheim on Monday afternoon where Mayor Nadine Taylor welcomed the players and the shield along with members of the victorious 1973 Marlborough team.

Coach Gray Cornelius says winning the shield probably sunk in’when he saw the crowd in Nelson turn up to support the team on Sunday in what he says, had been an awesome few days.

“It’s been cool - we hopped on the bus on Sunday and said what if no one is here? We were blown away by those who wanted a photo and referenced people from the past ,saying my Dad challenged for the shield or my grandad once had the shield, it was unreal. It’s crazy what a piece of wood does,” he says.

Nothing brings the best out of a rugby team than challenging for the Ranfurly Shield. And so was the case with a Mako team, who were hungry for the opportunity heading into round five of the competition.

The Mako dominated possession and territory in the first 40 minutes with wing Timoci Tavatavanawai,

a constant menace, breaking tackles and forcing the home team on the back foot. Magpies no.8 and former Tasman player Hugh Renton was sinbinned in the 22nd minute but that didn’t make it any easier for the home side. The Mako looked comfortable leading 19-5 at halftime.

A second half attack in the 52nd minute earned the Magpies a scrum on Tasman’s line, but the efforts were shut down by a resolute Mako defence. Despite Hawke’s Bay rallying in the second half, Tasman extended their lead to 22-10 after slotting another penalty.

New Hawkes Bay crowd favourite Ben O’Donnell scored at the 62nd minute and was converted by Lincoln McClutchie, closing the score to 22-17. The 76th minute saw Welsh-born Mat Protheroe dot down to level the score at 22-22 with Moana Pasifika representative Danny Toala converting to lead 24-22.

What’s that saying? Play to the 80th minute? Well play the Mako did with heartbreaking clutch play, and a sweet penalty from Campbell Parata at full time, seeing Tasman through with a 25-24 win.

On Friday, the shield will go to Motueka, and there are also plans to take it to Golden Bay, where Mako captain Quinten Strange grew up.

The Mako’s first shield defence will be this Sunday, September

15 against the Wellington Lions at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim.

In 1901 the Governor of New Zealand, the 5th Earl of Ranfurly, announced that he would present a cup to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union to be used as the prize in a competition of their choosing. It was first played for in 1904. Auckland holds the record for the greatest number of consecutive Shield defences, 61 matches between 14 September 1985 and 18 September 1993.

TAVA CHAMELEON: Mako winger Timoci Tavatavanawai, a constant menace in the first 40-minutes, constantly broke tackles and forced the home team on the back foot. PHOTO: Photosport.

Homeless man’s family found

By Chris Valli

Inquiries to find a next-of-kin for a homeless man who died in Blenheim on Friday, August 2 has resulted in family being found in Auckland through social media. The death notice appeared in the Blenheim Sun on Wednesday, August 14 for Christopher Hazelden, 67. Mr Hazelden was laid to rest, thanks to compassion shown from Geoffrey T Sowman Funeral Directors and the Marlborough District Council.

Funeral Director Barry Holmwood says extensive enquiries were made through various authorities to find Christopher’s next-of-kin, but to no avail. As a result, it was decided to proceed with a burial at Omaka Cemetery where a plot was allocated for him. The plot and interment costs were kindly covered by the Marlborough District Council in accordance with the Burial and Cremations Act 1964.

After reading about the story, Lindsey Jackson, a Marlborough Library assistant says it saddened her to think that someone could pass without next-of-kin knowing. Reaching out to Hazeldens on Facebook, she came across three relatives in Cambridge, Tauranga and Auckland.

An Auckland nephew, Gavin Hazelden, was quick to respond and the family was contacted who were able to watch the video of the

funeral service on G.T Sowman’s website.

Christopher was born in Cambridge July 5, 1957. On leaving Cambridge High School he studied and became a qualified electrician and did this for several years. He then moved on to developing a commercial building in Cambridge and working with his brother Charlie as an Automotive Transmissions Specialist.

Christopher had many challenges and found himself in Blenheim around 1996 as a seasonal worker.

Brothers Bill, Charlie, Norm and sister Betty all visited him in Blenheim over several separate trips, each trying to help him to get back on track. His brother Jim passed away in 1991 aged 42. Unfortunately, Christopher, despite

promising each time to stay in touch with family after each visit, for whatever reason, found comfort in the simple life.

Up until the time of the funeral the family understood he was living in his own house in Blenheim but simply keeping to himself. However, they did not know, and Chris certainly kept it to himself, that he was living on the street.

The family hoped he would attend the Hazelden family reunion in April 2012, however again he chose to remain in Blenheim. Chris has a son Shane who resides in Cambridge. Nephew Gavin says he was loved by his family and will be sadly missed.

The family says they would like to thank Lindsey and the library team, Sarah Western who was a

close friend for 15 years, Barry Holmwood and the G.T Sowman Funerals team, MDC, New Zealand Police, St John Ambulance, Wairau Hospital, Pollard Park gardeners, and Parker Street residents Wendy and Scott.

The farewell for Christopher led by Bob Barnes of G.T Sowman Funerals, took place at Omaka Number 2 Cemetery at 1pm on Thursday, August 15, with the sun beaming down on around 30 people who gathered to pay their respects.

Funeral Director Barry Holmwood says it was heart-warming to have next-of-kin located, and learn about Chris’s life. “Everyone has someone they are connected with, and finding Chris’s family is the best result,” says Barry.

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Pass Wide and Slow Awareness ride

For two days only, horse riders and carriage drivers from the top to the bottom of New Zealand will come together to promote a message they know will save lives.

Over 30 equestrian organisations are backing a petition to the Government for horse riders to be formally recognised as a Vulnerable Road User in transport legislation. The entire horse-riding community is united for improved status in road safety and inclusion in offroad pathways.

Local organiser Diane Thompson says they are starting this Saturday, September 14 from Meadowbank Road, Taylor Pass, Blenheim at 1045 and will finish around 1pm.

Consultation opens on Civil Defence Plan

Public consultation is now open on the draft Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan 2025-2030.

Mayor Nadine Taylor says Marlborough and the nation was exposed to more hazards than ever before, particularly with the effects of climate change. The plan, reviewed every five years, gives emergency management staff and volunteers and response agencies clarity and certainty. “It also has a greater emphasis on building community resilience ahead of such an event including working with local community organisations across all parts of our region to develop readiness plans for when the next disaster strikes,” Mayor Taylor says.

Consultation on the plan closes September 30. To have your say go to: www.marlborough.govt.nz/yourcouncil/have-your-say-consultations

FAMILY FOUND: Auckland based Gavin Hazelden (circled) is the nephew of Christopher Hazelden who was buried at Omaka Cemetery last month. Gavin says the family understood he was living in his own house in Blenheim but did not know Christopher was living on the street.

inbrief

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Council and Chamber support standalone NMIT

Council and Marlborough Chamber of Commerce are working together to encourage key local businesses to submit their views to the Government’s consultation on Vocational Education and Training Reforms.

A one-page suggested submission has been developed which businesses are welcome to use and add any points of their own before submitting it through the consultation process.

The Government recently decided to disestablish Te Pūkenga that brought together 16 polytechnics, including Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT), into one institution.

The Government is seeking input on structure(s) for the future and is proposing establishing some polytechnics as a standalone entity and some brought together into a ‘Federation’ model under the Open Polytechnic.

Marlborough was a region without a university and traditionally lost many young people to other regions for work and study, Mayor Taylor says.

Consultation closes tomorrow on 12 September.

Model Expo

The Nelson-Marlborough Truck Modellers Club 2024 Scale Model Expo is being held on the weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September from 10am both days. Redwoodtown Hall at Oliver Park. Admission is $5, free for under 12s.

Low pay? Don’t pay

By Chris Valli

The play, Low Pay Don’t Pay, which opens at the Boathouse Theatre tonight, might just strike a chord or two with local punters with all matters economic and socially.

The comedic play, marketed as ‘a political farce’ is set in a circus world where anything might happen. With wages low and prices high housewives decide to ‘strike’ and liberate their groceries. The ensuing mayhem takes digs at politicians, workers and the police.

The local cast features; Antonia (Emma Cox), Giovanni (Blair McLean), Marguerita (Ellie Brooke), Luigi (Jared Wadsworth) and Sergeant/Inspector / Undertaker/Old Man (Jim Rawdon). The play is directed by Pam Logan and assisted by Max Ritchie.

Pam actually directed the same play (different translation) 40 years ago and says the appeal behind the 2024 version was the comedy aspect and the ‘intellectual farce’ it will provide the audience with.

“I like a new challenge,” she says. “It also speaks about things that are happening now. As a play it enables us to comment on society without taking a side or a political lens.”

Pam says that the playwright

MAKING THE IMPROBALE SEEM PROBABLE: Rehearsal pic of Antonia, Giovanni, Luigi and Marguerita in Low Pay Don’t Pay, which opens at the Boathouse Theatre tonight. Director Pam Logan says the comedy aspect and ‘intellectual farce’ will entertain audiences.

Dario Fo was a clown in Italian street theatre who married Franca Rame, also an Italian playwright, actress and political activist, who descended from the ‘Commedia dell’arte. The characters of the commedia usually represent fixed social types and stock characters such as foolish old men, devious servants, or military officers full of false bravado.

“A lot of it was about local things that were happening, such as prices and inflation going up and his take on it was to have

the housewives go on strike and liberate the groceries,” she says.

“It’s still so relevant....he (Dario) was actually banned from the stage beacuse a few years after he put the play on, it happened with housewives going on strike in a supermarket.”

Without giving too much away, Pam says one of the challenges is making the highly improbable situations seem probable. She also adds, there are audiences in Marlborough that are hungry and keen for live theatre.

“You have to choose your plays carefully. Nowadays, they (the audience) are looking for something they can relate to in some way,” she says.

“Working with people of all ages and different stages of life is what I have enjoyed with previous plays, including this one. It’s like a new family,” she says.

Low Pay, Don’t Pay will run for 10 performances and opens tonight, Wednesday, September 11 at 7:30pm - Saturday, September 21.

10 years of giving to the community

By Chris Valli

10 years ago the St John retail shop in Boyce Street, Springlands, hoped their new gift store could generate funds to buy four new life packs, valued at $22,000 each.

The location was initially half the old Video Ezy premise with the buildings refit carried out free of charge after several Marlborough registered Master Builders got involved.

Manager Marlene Weatherall is the Boyce Street original. She had experience in op shop volunteering and management.

“I knew St John wanted to open a shop so I rang them up and said can I offer my services and nine months later, we opened up here,” she recalls.

A shop report from December 2014, written by Marlene stated they ‘continue to receive wonderful support from the community with donations and buying from the retail outlet’.

“We have 29 staff and have vacancies for a few more. Several ladies have shown interest in particular areas of pricing and we now have people responsible for the pricing of books, linen, clothing, bric brac, electrical and fine china/ collectibles,” Marlene wrote.

At the time, the Springlands shop was one of the few in the country, as St John was ‘ambulance orientated’ and not ‘shop orientated’, Marlene says.

“There’s a whole heap of op shoppers in the Marlborough community and its growing, especially under the current (economic) climate.”

After the pandemic, the office closed to the general public and they now process ambulance and supporter payments at the shop with easy access to the shop with parking available.

There’s a sign at the back of the shop which reads; ‘team work – a lot of people doing what I say’. The tongue-in-cheek quote is rather apt when it comes to the wonderful team of volunteers.

“It amazes me when you start working with volunteers how little you know. They (33 of them) all come on board with individual skills. They give one day a week to the shop. We have 11 ladies here who have been here since it opened and a lot of them price clothing and are confident with what they do.”

Not surprisingly, St John personnel love coming into the shop for a natter to see the wonderful work and dynamic across the team and with the customers.

The St John retail shop in Boyce Street Springlands celebrated 10 years recently. Manager Marlene Weatherall, far right front row, says they wish to thank the wonderful volunteers who have given thousands of hours to the shop and to their valued customers for their support.

This year they have extended the hours due to customer demand opening earlier during the day and closing later on Saturdays.

“We wish to thank our wonderful volunteers who have given thousands of hours to the shop and to our valued customers for their support, help and dedication to help raise money for the St John Ambulance in Marlborough,” says Marleen. “When you buy

from a charity shop you give twice. You give yourself a purchase and you give the charity financial support.”

Marlene says they have a converted ambulance and do pick up and deliveries. Blenheim Sun readers can call 578 1754 or 027 4242265

“By donating to us you are keeping hundreds of items from going into the landfill,” she says.

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Gravel bed river project’s final findings

The results of a four-year Gravel Bed Rivers (GBR) National Research Project will be presented in Blenheim on 10 September.

Funded by the MBIE Endeavour Fund with contributions from Marlborough District Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Environment Canterbury, the study has looked at three riversthe Wairau, the Ngaruroro in Hawke’s Bay and the Selwyn/Waikirikiri in midCanterbury.

Lincoln Agritech hydrologist Scott Wilson will present the findings of the project at a public presentation titled ‘How the Wairau River fills our aquifer (or not).’

The presentation, in conjunction with Council, will be held at the Marlborough Research Centre theatre at the western end of NMIT complex, 85 Budge Street Blenheim from 6pm to 7.30pm. All welcome.

Spring Flower Show

‘Spring Extravaganza’ is hosted by the Marlborough Floral Art Group in conjunction with the Marlborough Horticultural Society. Saturday 14 September, at St Christopher’s Church and Hall on Weld Street from 10am - 3pm.

Vanita Patel from Auckland will be giving a public demonstration in the Church from 10.30am - 12.30pm. Please be seated by 10.20am. All welcome.

The first time I came to Blenheim was during summer, so it was a vibrant and busy time for the town. I was able to meet people then that have become family now. Marlborough has since become my home away from home.

I never thought Marlborough would accept us so quickly, however the way the region accepted us was extraordinary.

Letters

Letters on issues of community interest are welcomed. A maximum of 150 words please. They must be signed and a street address provided to show good faith, even when a nom de plume is provided for publication.

The editor reserves the right to

I was touched by the warm hospitality I received from the multicultural centre and the wider community. People were welcoming, always willing to offer a helping hand or simply take the time to get to know me.

I was born in the Sunshine city of Harare and arrived in Blenheim January 2023. Had lived in Auckland for 19yrs but never a place like home here. We all as a family look forward to staying here and buying our first home here.

Since 2007 I have a second home that is New Zealand, the country that welcomed me with my family and where I am happy and very grateful. I feel safe and people are always very willing to help and integrate into the community.

Freedom of speech

Everyone in town welcomed me as there were not many Asians in Blenheim in 2004. Margaret Western is the person who supported me to connect to local people and NZ culture. I’m going to celebrate my 20th anniversary in October this year.

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.

Irrational spending to the editor

We are in deep trouble with our ‘Balance of Payments’ - schools and hospitals desperately short of fundsGovernment made a big issue about how they would stop irresponsible/ criminal spending, cut costs and get us back on track so I voted for them.

I say criminal because indications are people are dying prematurely as a result of our long term underfunded health system.

Despite this, they have spent 50 million dollars on a dance programme, huge amounts on cycle ways and other non-essential stuff.

Time this sort of wildly irrational spending is stopped and return to only essential important necessary core projects and cease all donations.

Coley Ellison Picton

Jo Lorraine Debby Arthur

Dear Ed,

This is in response to a letter by Tracy Williams in the 4 September 2024 Sun, arguing against censoring Wally Richards’ gardening column to remove his occasional conspiracy fictions.

Freedom of speech does not include intentionally misleading information that can lead to damage or injury. It does not protect someone falsely shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded theatre, for example. Lies can get people killed, as we’ve seen in the recent riots in the

Wally

Dear Ed,

Richards

responds

I exercise my right of reply to Tom Powell’s comments on my article Famine, August 21.

I did omit the web source which is https:// www.globalmethanehub.org/

On Main Stream Media, from various countries and in NZ, one can see farmers in strife due to regulations and taxes. Anyone with common sense would realise that does not bode well with our food supply if they are forced out of farming.

Besides that, for normal plant growth, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the range of 400-800 parts per million (ppm) are generally considered sufficient. However, optimising CO2 levels can significantly enhance plant growth and yield.

https://www.co2.earth/daily-co2

The link above is a website that monitors the planets daily CO2 levels which is only 418.88 ppm at day of writing.

UK due to misleading information spread by social media. What happens if someone shoots down a passenger plane with the intention of stopping Wally’s fictitious ‘chem trails’ the plane is thought to be spewing? Societies and economies cannot run on lies. It is ethical and in the community’s best interests that the Sun censor Wally’s articles when he spreads untruths. Leave his gardening advice but take out the lies and conspiracies. Tom Powell Blenheim

They also state on the site: A reminder that our world is pushing the planet’s thermostat beyond safe levels of 350 ppm CO2, and that more people are needed to combine our ingenuity and resources to keep the present overshoot brief. That level, they suggest, is needed to reduce CO2 global warming means it is 50 ppm below the minimum desired level for plant/food growth of 400 plus ppm.

Combine this with reduced levels of direct sunlight caused by more overcast and hazy skies which are common nowadays, compared to the radiant blue skies with fluffy white clouds of days gone by.

Thus farmers, commercial growers and home gardeners are not seeing the plant growth they are used to. The logical conclusion is possible famine.

Wally Richards

Gardening author and writer ph 0800 466 464

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Council adopts 20242034 Long Term Plan

Marlborough District Councillors adopted the Long Term Plan 2024-2034 (LTP) at a special emergency meeting of Council last week.

The adoption of the LTP and the setting of rates for the 2024-25 year confirms an average rate increase for Marlborough ratepayers of 13.62 per cent.

Mayor Nadine Taylor thanked councillors and staff for their work in preparing this LTP which had been “the most complex” in recent times. “This Long Term Plan has been a long time coming,” she told councillors.

The complexity was due to the flow on effects of earthquakes and storm recovery on the region, the unwinding of Council’s Covid rates subsidy, fluctuating interest rates, an inflationary environment and last but by no means least, the Sounds roads recovery project which really was now a “community resilience project”, Mayor Taylor said. “This is about ensuring our Sounds communities stay connected now and into the future.”

Mayor Taylor outlined that almost all the money budgeted in the LTP was earmarked for core infrastructure. “Central Government has said councils should focus on core infrastructure and that is exactly what we are doing.”

Mayor Taylor acknowledged the 365 public submissions received on the LTP including more than 100 submitters who presented to Council during four days of public hearings in early June.

“Submitters provided Council with some very useful information which has helped significantly in our decision making,” she said.

Invoices are being prepared and will be posted to ratepayers within the next week. Payments for the first quarter of rates will be due on 11 October with subsequent quarters due on dates consistent with previous years – 11 December 2024, 11 March 2025 and 11 June 2025.

Once invoices are issued and received rates rebates can be applied for those eligible.

Consultation opens on Marlborough CDEM Group Plan

It has never been more important to be prepared.

With public consultation now open on the draft Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan 2025-2030, Mayor Nadine Taylor said Marlborough as a region and the nation was exposed to more hazards than ever before, particularly with the effects of climate change.

“Marlborough has seen the impact of the increased intensity of weather events first hand in 2021 and 2022 with many homes evacuated for safety. Today many still have red and yellow placards as a result. Marlborough also suffered landslips and farm damage as well as the millions of dollars’ worth of damage done to our roading network. Thankfully, there was no loss of life,” Mayor Taylor said. “Ever present in our minds is the likelihood of a rupture of the Alpine Fault, the much talked about AF8.”

Council is responsible for the delivery of civil defence and emergency management response throughout the Marlborough region. Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM)

Council

is based at the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) at Wither Road in Blenheim which also becomes the headquarters of any emergency response.

Mayor Taylor said it was important people have their say on the Marlborough CDEM Group Plan as this would shape Marlborough’s strategic emergency management direction for the next five years. Council’s strategic and operational partners - Fire and Emergency NZ, Police, Health NZ and Hato Hone St Johnhave helped develop the plan’s vision, objectives and activities.

“Our plan acknowledges that every agency and stakeholder involved makes up the CDEM response, something we already demonstrate particularly well here in Marlborough. In a civil defence emergency, if you see a firefighter, a member of Police, a Māori warden or a Red Cross volunteer, you are seeing part of the wider Marlborough CDEM response and there are many more superb volunteers working in the ECC during an event,” she said.

This plan, reviewed every five years, gives emergency management staff

votes to retain Māori wards

Council has voted unanimously in favour of retaining Māori wards.

At an extraordinary meeting held last week, the unanimous vote supported keeping the ward which means the issue will now go to a binding public referendum at the 2025 local body elections.

The result from this would take effect from the 2028 local government term.

Council chambers was full for the meeting with Mayor Nadine Taylor commenting it was the largest public gallery ever hosted at Council and she acknowledged those who attended. “It is excellent to see the level of interest and support,” she said.

Mayor Taylor said the issue being voted on was not about the Māori Ward representative Councillor Allanah Burgess personally, but about the position.

“I want to be clear we are wrapping our support around you – you are part of our team and you hold your head high,” she said.

All councillors took the opportunity to speak before voting.

In moving the motion to retain the Māori ward seat, Mayor Taylor said it contributed to a valuable partnership between Council and iwi and offered a direct voice in decision-making.

Marlborough is one of 45 Councils around the country that introduced Māori wards in late 2020 – current Māori ward Councillor Allanah Burgess was voted in at the 2022 October election.

On April 4, 2024, local government minister Simeon Brown announced plans to bring back public polls to decide Māori wards.

That change forced Councils that had introduced Māori wards without a poll to either drop them or, should they retain them, then they must go to a binding referendum to let the public decide.

Marlborough residents will now get to make that decision in October next year – in line with Council elections. Māori

and volunteers and response agencies clarity and certainty. “It also has a greater emphasis on building community resilience ahead of such an event including working with local community organisations across all parts of our region to develop readiness plans for when the next disaster strikes,” Mayor Taylor said. Consultation on the plan closes 30 September. To have your say go to: www.marlborough.govt.nz/your-council/ have-your-say-consultations

Marlborough is one of just three councils in the South Island to have a Māori ward –Nelson has one and Tasman’s ward starts at the next election.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), said that Māori wards allowed Māori to be part of decision-making and have representation on local councils.

Having such wards was one way for councils to honour the partnership principle committed to in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Those who are enrolled on the Māori electoral roll vote for candidates standing for Māori wards to represent them, LGNZ said.

There are only four councils between the far north and Marlborough without Māori wards, and none exist south of Marlborough.

Of New Zealand’s 78 councils, 44 will have to drop their Māori wards ahead of the next elections or put them to a 2025 public vote. One more council has until 2028 to make this decision.

Pick up your copy of the guide from Marlborough District Council

Ongoing Sounds recovery works such as the Torea Wall (pictured) near Portage Bay form part of a very complex Long Term Plan, adopted by Council earlier this week

‘Art – my happy place’

Blenheim’s Jill Rogers is one of 51 artists, craftspeople and specialty collectors who will be displaying their art this month for the third annual Alzheimers Marlborough Art, Craft and Collections Trail 2024. She talks to Chris Valli about art and her ‘happy place’.

Coinciding with World Alzheimers Month the upcoming Alzheimers Arts Trail on September 21/22 brings arts to the community and showcases talented artists.

It’s also an opportunity to meet and talk with exhibitors and learn about the inspiration for their art. The trail also helps Alzheimers Marlborough provide services for people living with dementia and their families and carers.

For Jill Rogers, this is her first year involved in the trail and says after having painted several watercolours, she spontaneously thought why not?

“I thought it would be interesting to see how it went. So I braved up

“Although I have explored different approaches, the Reduction Woodcut printing method is a favourite.”

and offered myself in support of the trail. Having previously worked with people who had Alzheimers, I also thought it a very good cause,” she says.

Originally from Mid Canterbury, Jill arrived in the region as a young primary teacher up the Wairau Valley and says she has had ‘several other work occupations’ over the years and always made sure she had a creative project on the go.

“I have been passionate about art all my life. I took art at Teachers College, and dabbled in various night classes when my children were younger.

“In 1997 I did a one year course in Art, Craft and Design at the local

Polytech as it was known then.

It was there that I was introduced to various printmaking tech niques which I really enjoyed.

Becoming a member of the Marlborough Art Society has also been a great opportunity to attend various art classes and some excellent workshops,” she says.

Jill says essentially her art is ‘my inner need to express my numerous creative visions and ideas’.

“I am inspired by beauty, mood, and atmosphere or a feeling experienced - mostly in my love of nature and everyday life events. Alternating between painting and printmaking I enjoy getting outdoors for painting and sketching and really appreciate the opportunity to be a member of a weekly Plein Air Art group. My preferred medium of late has been the challenge of watercolour.”

Jill’s watercolour and woodcut print. She says she appreciates the opportunity to be a member of a weekly Plein Air Art group. “My preferred medium of late has been the challenge of watercolour.”

Jill says she is fortunate to have two studios where she sets up her watercolours and a few oil paintings in one studio, and her printmaking along with her ancient Printing Press in the other studio.

“Although I have explored different approaches, the Reduction Woodcut printing method is a favourite. This involves using one board and printing a different colour after carving away each layer from the board. If you carve the wrong piece out you can’t put it back, or conversely if you forget to carve out a piece it is too late once the next colour is laid in place,” she says. “It requires good concentration and good registration to place the board exactly over the previous image. Each print is hand made with professional ink on archi-

val print paper in small editions. As a fairly detailed artist it can take considerable time to complete a print with up to six colours.” She concedes art takes her to her ‘happy place’ where she loses all track of time and is simply in the moment.

“Line, shape, colour and technique as to how various mediums can be utilized in all manner of effects get my creative juices flowing…...I simply love to play. I am inspired by beauty, mood, and atmosphere or a feeling experienced - mostly in my love of nature and everyday life events,” she reflects.

Other artists also greatly in-

spire her she says like when she attended the Watercolour New Zealand four day Paintaway at Lake Brunner in May.

“Seeing everyone’s work displayed each day was truly motivational. Seeing art exhibitions, reading books, watching art videos all help in the consideration of the process, but I always like to draw from my own original concepts,” she admits.

Jill owns a printing press, discovered in the Greytown Antique Shop. She says she feels fortunate to have stumbled upon the ancient proof press back in the late 1990s, which was made in Copenhagen, Denmark, in June 1908.

“It was originally used to proof the first pages of the newspapers in the early 1900s. Costing me only $50, I thought it a bargain, though weighing well over a ton it cost me $150 to get it to Blenheim. Then to get it into my studio I had to take the Ranchslider off, and winch it to a walnut tree to ease it in gradually to land it in the just the right spot inside.

“I managed to adapt it for my art by removing the old print letters and fitting a piece of formica board on its print bed. From memory I also removed a set of rollers. So well over 100 years later, being manually operated it keeps going like a charm.”

‘Valuable tools for mental wellbeing’

By Chris Valli

A free, new antenatal program for Marlborough mums next month is on offer with less than 10 spots left.

Maternal Mental Wellbeing Marlborough (previously Postnatal Depression Marlborough Charitable Trust) was established in 2005 and is a lifeline in the community for many women (and men) and families who struggle with postnatal depression.

Chairperson Mandy Li says the program, which starts on October 15, is an opportunity for expecting Mums who may benefit from a maternal mental wellbeing programme.

“The 10-week course is designed to support expecting mothers in various aspects of their mental well-being. The program is run by Rosemary and Hannah, both lovely professionals in maternal mental health,” says Mandy.

The program offers ‘substantial benefits’ for expecting mums, including emotional support, stress management techniques, and tools to foster a positive mindset during pregnancy and beyond.

“Mums can self-refer through our website: www.maternalmentalwellbeing.com. We encourage early registration as we have fewer than 10 spaces available for this year,” says Mandy.

The sessions will be held on Monday or Tuesday evenings (specific day to be confirmed). If Blenheim Sun readers have any questions, email maternalmentalwellbeing@gmail.com

New name, same great team and service

The team at Marlborough Medical Imaging (MMI) have taken over from Enhanceskin. Dr David Orsbourn and Lindsay McCallum will continue their 12-year working relationship to offer a vein clinic filling a vital gap in Marlborough’s health care services. The clinic will offer a range of services including Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy, EndoVenous Laser Ablation and VenaSeal Closure System. All treatments are walk in walk out procedures and most people can return to work the following day.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer this to the Marlborough community. While we won’t be

running clinics in Nelson at this stage we are more than happy to accommodate referrals from out of town.” Practice Manager

Jemimah Price says.

Around 1 in 4 people will have varicose veins and more so as we age, so in fact, about half of people over 50 years of age have some degree of varicose veins. Varicose veins can cause ulcers, bleeding and skin discoloration if left untreated.

Severe varicose veins may be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency. This condition affects your veins ability to pump blood to your heart. People who have varicose veins may be more likely to develop blood clots.

So, early detection and treatment is important.

This is where the team at Marlborough Medical Imaging can help.

“No referral is necessary, just call or email us to make an appointment for a free no obligation vein assessment,” Jemimah says.

For Southern Cross clients, it couldn’t be easier. MMI are a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider.

They are located on the Wairau Hospital grounds in the Churchill Private Hospital building and can be contacted either via bookings@mmimaging.co.nz or calling 03 578 9109.

Parking penalties apply from October

Council has been tasked by Central Government with implementing new infringement fees announced last week.

Local Authorities have no control over the setting of infringement fees; they are the delegated authority for monitoring and enforcing stationary parking offences.

For most fees, Ministry of Transport has applied a CPI adjustment but as this is the first review since 2004 this has resulted in at least a 70 per cent increase in infringement fees across the board. For example, the penalty for overstaying in a car park for more than 30 minutes has gone from $12 to $20. The increases apply to stationary vehicle offences only with offences relating to vehicle compliance such as REGOs, WOFs and COFs excluded at this point.

Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston and Transport Minister Simeon Brown says the Government would be cracking down on people who misused car parks for disabled people, ensuring towage fees do not leave tow-truck operators out of pocket, and adjusting parking fines for inflation when announcing the new penalties earlier this week. This includes a $750 infringement fee for misuse of a mobility parking space – an increase from $150.

“Parking infringement fees have not been updated in two decades, making councils’ role in managing public parking increasingly difficult,” Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. The new stationary vehicle infringement fees take effect from 1 October 2024.

For more details on the new infringement fees go to: www.marlborough.govt.nz/services/ parking/parking-infringements

Varicose eczema

Three wonderful facilitators: Sarah O’Connor, Rosemary Crockett and Hannah Reeve. Rosemary and Hannah are running the antenatal class while Sarah and Rosemary run the postnatal group.

RNZAF wing commander passing on emergency lessons

Wing Commander Bill Rowling is someone you want to have on your team in an emergency.

With 43 years of service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and a second career in emergency management, he is one of the many former New Zealand Defence Force uniformed and civilian staff who volunteer their time to support local communities.

Wing Commander Rowling is in the RNZAF Active Reserves, sharing his time and expertise between RNZAF Base Woodbourne and the Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Team.

When the Interislander ferry Aratere grounded in June, Wing Commander Rowling jumped into action as operational planner for the Marlborough Civil Defence and Emergency Management incident management team.

“From an operational planning perspective, the event was relatively straightforward. The priorities were the preservation of life, protection of infrastructure - the ship, and protection of the environment including marine and land-based wildlife.

“Where the complexity of this operation came in was the tactical execution of the plan, which required several specialist agencies providing expert advice and action.”

Wing Commander Rowling moved into emergency management as part of his planned transition to civilian life after ser-

vice, which started in 2013 when he started training for emergency responses.

Wing Commander Rowling was based in Marlborough in the early 1980s but spent most of his RNZAF career with the P-3 Orion and the Airborne Surveillance and Response Force as an armourer, air ordnanceman, air electronics operator and air warfare officer.

He took part in numerous search and rescues, maritime and border resource protection operations, and military air operations. He also served on one deployment to East Timor and three to the Middle East. He moved to Blenheim in 2022 and has since updated RNZAF Base Woodbourne’s standing orders for incident management.

“The difference between Woodbourne and its sister bases, Auckland and Ohakea, is that by virtue of its smaller size in a smaller region, the base is more connected to the community and faces different challenges. Base Woodbourne is often called on to support community responses to the prevalent floods and fires throughout Marlborough, Tasman and West Coast civil defence regions.”

“My biggest takeaways for an emergency are that communication and situational awareness are key to any response; ensuring information is being passed to the right people at the right time – just like any military operation,” he says. “Recovery is also often overlooked as an incident response winds down and we shift our focus to the next crocodile closest to the boat. Each phase – risk

Commander Bill

reduction, readiness, response and recovery - holds equal importance to any event.”

He says people should have a plan for individuals and their whānau to be self-reliant for a period of three to seven days in case main

supply lines or utilities are cut off.

“These plans should include individual grab bags, contact lists, reserves of food, water and medication, lighting and cooking methods.”

Wing

Rowling is passing on his expertise in responding to Marlborough emergencies, which he has picked up in 43 years with the RNZAF. He is pictured with son James on Anzac Day this year. Aircraftman Rowling is also in the RNZAF.

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Sheer lunacy

By Chris Valli

A Text Talk to the Blenheim Sun Newspaper, August 28, regarding the actions of an E scooter rider titled ‘Sheer Lunacy’ has raised the question, what are the rules for E scooters on Marlborough roads?

The text read as follows:

The actions of the rider of the mini motorised skateboard style scooter (very wobbly) negotiating the New World roundabout and then travelling off at speed late on Thursday morning, 22 August. The absence of any safety device on these ‘vehicles’ (on this occasion, your safety helmet) means the users are prime candidates as customers for Funeral Directors.

In short, these ‘vehicles’ are not designed for, or suitable for use on roads. Think of your families and friends who will miss you and the victims (legal and responsible road users) you are highly likely to crash into. Stay safe and alive. Stay off the roads. There have already been far too many deaths attributable to these ‘fun toys’.

According to Waka Kotahi, E-scooters can be used on the footpath or the road, ‘except in designated cycle lanes that are part of the road and designed for the sole use of cyclists’.

On the footpath, e-scooter riders must drive in a ‘careful and considerate manner, ride at a speed that doesn’t put other footpath users at risk, and give way to both pedestrians and drivers of mobility devices’.

On the road, e-scooters must be operated as near as practicable to the edge of

the roadway. A helmet was not legally required by e-scooter riders, but was recommended, Waka Kotahi says.

The Blenheim Sun contacted the Marlborough District Council, and a spokesperson says they are ‘not responsible for the policing of vehicles or wheeled devices on the roads and footpaths’.

“Central Government is responsible for legislation governing devices and vehicles and how they are allowed to operate on New Zealand roads and footpaths. Police are responsible for making sure everyone abides by that legislation. Council is not responsible for the policing of vehicles or wheeled devices on the roads and footpaths. As there is no legislation around helmet wearing for e-scooters (as there is for cyclists and motorcyclists), this cannot be enforced by Police or Council.”

A Waka Kotahi/government safety report released one year ago, found E-scooter riders were ‘a bigger risk to themselves than to pedestrians’ with the vast majority of admissions to hospital riders with injuries, not pedestrians.

Waka Kotahi describes e-scooters, mobility devices, and power-assisted cycles as low-powered vehicles that do not require registration or a driver licence. Furthermore, the wheels on e-scooters must not exceed 355mm and the motor must have a maximum power output of 300W.

Between 2018 and 2022, ACC reported 10,000 e-scooter injury claims worth $30m. This number spiked at 3100 in 2019, then fell back to 2500 last yearwith the cost per claim dropping steadily.

Blue Cod findings ‘disheartening’

By Chris Valli

Year 12 Marlborough Girls’ College and Environmental Sustainability students Jess Beamsley and Amelia Boyce have been researching about the decreasing number of Blue Cod in the Marlborough Sounds and have found the results ‘disheartening’.

“We discovered that Blue Cod are being fished far quicker than the reproduction rates of the species, and they can’t keep up,” says Jess.

The pair has learnt that overfishing of Blue Cod has been a relevant issue for a long time. Between 1995 and 2001, stocks in the Marlborough Sounds decreased by one third to one half due to recreational fishing pressure.

“Throughout our project, we were lucky enough to talk to Eric Jorgensen, an expert in Blue Cod and associated fishing issues. He described the fishing conditions in the Sounds as a race to catch the last fish if we don’t take different actions than those used to date”.

Their findings showed almost 96 percent of reported commercial catch of Blue Cod has been taken by targeted fisheries within 2009-2014. The other 4 percent is bycatch of nine other targeted fisheries, which include Flatfish, Red Gurnard, Butterfish, School Shark, Tarakihi, Red Cod, John Dory, Hapuku and Leather Jacket.

“Commercial fishing catches a lot of Blue Cod, however they do have strict limits on the amount they are able to catch unlike recreational fishers who have a combined maximum daily bag limit of 20 for finfish,” explains Jess.

Year 12 Marlborough Girls’ College and Environmental Sustainability students Amelia Boyce and Jess Beamsley are encouraging recreational fishers to stop targeting Blue Cod in the Marlborough Sounds and to utilise other species.

dredging and loss of habitat. Evidence points to the main cause of depletion in the Marlborough Sounds being recreational fishing. “ Jess says the removal of dominant Blue Cod males prompts the sex change among the females. Over 50 percent of the female Blue Cod in a group she says will change sex to make up for the lost male. One survey conducted in 2021 found that 76 percent of the sample was male. “This uneven ratio is harmful as it hinders breeding,” says Jess.

Blue Cod, they say, are not actually a cod but a type of perch and have learnt they are territorial fish that do not stray far from their established habitat.

“They are capable of changing sex. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat practically anything that comes their way. This, combined with being territorial, makes the species especially susceptible to overfishing,” says Amelia.

“We also found that there are multiple stressors on the population that have contributed to the depletion of the species. These include climate change impacts, sedimentation,

The pair’s advice to Blenheim Sun readers and recreational fishers is to learn to use circle hooks which effectively hook the fish in the mouth, and due to their size and shape are not likely to be swallowed or left in the fish, allowing fish to be returned unharmed.

“Stop targeting them. Utilise the many other species available in the Marlborough Sounds such as snapper and gurnard, there’s plenty of other fish in the sea,” they say. “If you’re out fishing and constantly catching undersized fish, move to a different fishing location. When returning undersized fish, distract nearby shags. For example you could make a throwing motion and splash in the opposite direction before lowering the fish into the water quietly.”

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NZTA funding for Sounds road repairs

Marlborough can “accelerate” its road to recovery with the announcement that NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will fund the repair stage of the Phase Three of the Sounds recovery roading programme.

“This is the most welcome and excellent news. This is the confirmation we needed to accelerate work on the road repairs required,” Mayor Nadine Taylor says. The NZTA Board has approved funding for Phase Three repair works for the five Sounds zones at a Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) of 71 per cent. The work is estimated to cost $141.4M meaning NZTA will contribute $100.4M. This is in addition to the approximately $130M already allocated in Phases One and Two. The funding will be used to address more than 1,500 outstanding faults that remain on the local road network that need repairs.

“Our priority is to get the Kenepuru Road open to a state where we have full public access and we can also allow trucks through. We know the Kenepuru community has been waiting for a long time for this certainty. Because of the cost of the repairs, we needed the NZTA funding confirmed to proceed with confidence to get the work done and let residents and businesses in the area to get back to normal,” said Mayor Taylor. NZTA have also confirmed regarding future transport improvement funding

that the business case phase for this will be considered in the current 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). NZTA Regional Manager –Lower North Island/Top of the South Mark Owen said in December 2023 the NZTA Board indicated its willingness to also fund 51 per cent of Road Improvements subject to further detailed design work. “Funding for road improvements will be subject to further Board decisions and business case processes over the coming National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) period,” Mr Owen said.

Mayor Taylor says Council would continue to work with NZTA to confirm the appropriate business case approach for the road improvements and the expected timeline for that work.

“Of course, we hoped for approval for the entire Programme Business Case for the Sounds roads but if we have a little bit further to travel to secure the remaining funds required for road improvements, then that is what we will do on behalf of our affected communities.”

“The Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study (MSFAS) has been a long and complex piece of work for Council. Many in the Marlborough Sounds have been living with broken roads, uncertainty and challenging connections for three years. We now have a big part of the answer our Sounds communities have been waiting

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and hoping for – to them I say, you have been patient and your patience has been rewarded,” Mayor Taylor says.

“This is not only about roads – it is about real people who are at the heart of Marlborough’s largest recovery project. I hope today’s decision brings some comfort to those affected that we can now proceed with confidence to repair these roads,” she said.

Council Chief Executive John Boswell says the work required to complete the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study (MSFAS) was immense.

Council embarked on the MSFAS in November 2022 to identify options and the associated costs of safe and resilient long-term access solutions for the Sounds, both for Council and to support a Programme Business Case (PBC) for funding assistance as required by NZTA. It took 10 months to complete with the final PBC submitted to NZTA for consideration in October 2023.

“I want to acknowledge all those involved in the consultation – our communities, our ratepayers, our councillors, staff across Council who have worked on this and Stantec who led the development of the MSFAS. This announcement is a great leap forward but clearly there is still work to be done and Council will undertake to do that,” Mr Boswell said.

Council Chief Executive John Boswell says the funding announcement from NZTA is a great leap forward but ‘clearly there is still work to be done and Council will undertake to do that,’ he says.

A movement of hope

By Chris Valli

This weekend’s Hope Walk Blenheim has a rather special and courageous guest speaker, a suicide survivor, who believes listening without judgement is a key to those suffering depression.

Hopewalk is a movement of hope and brings awareness to suicide, and promoting prevention agencies and organisations.

“Try listening without judgement. The moment a person is listened to

without judgement is the moment they can choose to begin their healing journey. If you are helping someone, you don’t have to solve all their problems,” says Rob Mokaraka.

In 2009, actor Rob’s mental health woes played out on a very public stage, so he took to the stage to help in his own, and others’ recovery.

He’d set himself up to be shot by police, and fortunately only ended up in hospital. Depressed, he rang police to report the sighting of an

Hopewalk Blenheim

Rob says Hopewalk Blenheim organiser Bary Neal has kindly invited him a few times, to be a speaker for Hopewalk but ‘schedules were not lining up’ as Rob got Covid on one occasion and was pre-booked for Hopewalk Rotorua another time.

“Bary and I stay connected via social media and I feel like I’m arriving to meet a long lost brother, Bary,” he says.

Rob has been to Blenheim before thanks to Trish Little and Dr Lorraine Eade from Te hauora O Ngāti Rārua and says he was fortunate enough to do a couple of presentations from Shot Bro – the wellbeing and suicide prevention kaupapa for the community of Blenheim in 2020.

Rob believes everything is about reflecting people’s internal light back to them when they are feeling lost.

“I am a suicide survivor giving insights from my heart and knowledge to communities and organisations around Australasia and will

armed man, describing his own appearance and then walked up the street with what appeared to be a firearm. When confronted by armed police he refused orders to stand down and was shot in the chest.

Rob took his experience of what came before, during and after that point and packaged it into a one-man play called Shot Bro: Confessions of a Depressed Bullet, which he’s toured all over New Zealand.

aroha

gage the feelings of families and community in attendance. One of many messages I will share is; be the hero your younger self needs, as well as, you aren’t crazy, you are hurting and deserve help,” he says.

Hopewalk Blenheim is this Saturday, September 14 at Seymour Square from 11am – 1pm. Sun readers are asked to check Hopewalk Blenheim Facebook page for updates.

Hopewalk Blenheim guest speaker Rob Mokaraka says planting seeds of

and hope for people who feel they are alone and think that no-one will ever understand them, is what his kaupapa is all about.

making animal lives a little sweeter

People across Marlborough have been encouraged to go baking mad for the animals’ sake next week.

SPCA’s sweetest fundraiser is back on September 18 and they can’t wait to see and taste all the delicious cupcakes out there.

SPCA says you don’t have to be the one that dons the apron and does the baking. Cupcake Day is for everyone, perhaps your interest is in eating and donating,” a spokesperson says.

“You can sell cupcakes on any day that

suits you. Recipes for cupcakes can be found on SPCA’s website, along with important advice, and tips on how to make ‘pupcakes’ for your canine friends.”

Help SPCA bake a difference for the animals in their care by baking and selling your tasty creations in the workplace, at your schools, or to friends and whānau in your community

Visit www.spca.nz/cupcakeday to register today.

Fifty years plus experience

Marlborough Motorcycle Riding School is based in Blenheim and run by the team of Jane and John Laing.

They have been involved in motorcycling for 50 plus years and with John’s riding experience and Jane’s organising skills they set up and have been operating rider training and licensing service successfully since the beginning of 2011.

They are accredited by New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) to train and test the basic handling skills prior to obtaining your learner motorcycle license and the CBTA assessment for your Restricted and Full Licence test.

“Currently we have a SPECIAL OFFER for anyone doing a 6R or 6F CBTA training ride with John, we’ll give you a $50 fuel voucher on completion of the ride!

“We have bikes available for people to learn on especially the basic handling skills for the learner license as most don’t have a bike at this stage. We also have a LAMS approved bike for use to help people move through their 6R or 6F license class if they don’t own a LAMS approved bike anymore.”

The Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) is an initiative that identifies motorcycles that are considered suitable for motorcycle learners until they achieve their full licence, then they can step up to a bigger bike.

John says their aim is to help Marlborough

riders

And

“It’s the

Across: 7. Nameless, 9. Pariah, 10. Lint, 11. Farfetched, 12. Fabric, 14. Canister, 15. Infuse, 16. Varied, 19. Molecule, 21. Eunuch, 23. Last resort, 24. Scan, 25. Become, 26. Parallel. Down: 1. Marina, 2. Vent, 3. Perfects, 4. Spleen, 5. Procession, 6. Take heed, 8. Strict, 13. Reflection, 15. Isolated, 17. Aperture, 18. Recoup, 20. Uneven, 22. Chapel, 24. Silo. bet, brut, brute, bur, but, butt, butte, BUTTER, rebut, ret, rub, rube, rue, rut, true, tub, tube, tuber, tut, ute, utter.

DECODER

Paint and Sip Blenheim

Paint and Sip sessions with ukrainian artist Anastasiia Shumqo have captured the imagination of locals recently with many signing up to find their ‘inner artist. Wines, nibbles, and all art supplies are included. More information can be found on the Facebook page.

Low Pay? Don’t Pay

the boathouse production’s opening night is tonight and is directed by Pam Logan. the play is a political farce set in a circus world where anything might happen. With wages low and prices high housewives decide to ‘strike’ and liberate their groceries.

PHOTOS: Max Ritchie

$2

St John retail shop celebrates 10 years

Anastasiia, Queenie and Tetiana.

Juliet, Margaret, Anastasiia, Holly Donna, James, Janice. Bottom: Shianne, Nigel Fairweather and Mike.

Ash, Queenie, Sophie, Anastasiia, Alina, Nadia and Jess showcase their artistic talents.

Jared Wadsworth (Luigi) comforts Ellie Brooks (Marguerita). ITALIAN JOB: Giovanni (Blair McLean) and Luigi up to no good.

GOOD COP, BAD COP: Jim Rawdon stuck in the middle with Marguerita and Antonia (Emma Cox).

Some of the wonderful volunteers at the St John retail shop in Springlands.

5 minutes with...

Pam Logan

Director – Low Pay? Don’t Pay

 Are you a dog or cat person?

Cat.

 My friends would say I am…

Too busy!

 The best advice I ever received was?

From my Dad: If you haven’t got something nice to say about someone, don’t say it.

 What would you buy if money was no object?

An Island holiday with ALL my family.

 Local coffee haunt?

Catalyst.

 Favourite takeaway?

Eat Thai.

 The shop you can’t walk past is...? A good bookshop.

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

An Angel Delivery of three meals from an out of town friend after the death of my husband.

 Where is your happy holiday place? Port Douglas, Australia.

 Favourite programme or series currently watching?

A highly eclectic mix – depends on my mood.

 What’s one thing on your bucket list? An Island holiday with ALL my family.

NEW SEASON: Gardening without soil: By Wally Richards

There is more than one way to grow plants besides in the soil or in containers with growing medium.

The most obvious one of these is hydroponics where a solution of nutrients is pumped into channels then it is gravity feed along the channel, past the roots of plants growing there, to return to the holding tank. This is a constant flow (CF) of nutrients which the plants take up and in doing so the solution becomes weaker and more nutrients have to be added.

The amount of nutrient is measured by a CF meter and depending on what crop is grown the CF level is increased or reduced.

The conductivity factor (CF) of dissolved salts in a given solution is a measurement of conductivity. Using the electrical conductivity between two electrodes in a water solution, the level of dissolved solids in that solution can be measured.

The nutrient flow needs to be aerated and this is often achieved by it dropping from the channel back into the holding tank otherwise an air pump and air stone are used to keep the oxygen level up and prevent the water from becoming stagnant or dead.

The reason is that plants need oxygen around their roots to prevent them from rotting.

That is why in wet times when the drainage is poor and plants are sitting in water logged soils, the roots rot and the plant dies. Mulches on the soil in wet times are deadly as they prevent the soil from breathing.

In dry times mulches are great to help conserve moisture in the soil.

Another hydroponic method is called ‘Flood & Drain’ This is when you have a bed say 20cm deep filled with sand or perlite and plants are growing in the bed. Every, say 20 minutes, the bed is flooded with nutrient and the surplus is drained back to the holding tank. A bed like this allows one to grow root crops such as carrots, onions and yams.

In both these cases a nutrient is made up from what is called A & B powders which are added to water separately and then combined when placed into the holding tank.

Because the CF level is dropping as plants take up the food, more of A & B need to be added to reach and maintain the ideal CF level for the crop grown.

Another factor occurs over time and that is the pH level which is a measurement defining the acidity or alkalinity or the nutrient.

Once again depending on what is being grown the pH should be at a level that the crop needs to be able to absorb the nutrient. A pH level too high or too low will inhibit good plant growth.

In more recent times a new method of growing was promoted called Auto Pots. The system is very interesting and containers sit in an individual or twin pot

Live

tray that has a mechanical value device connected to a holding tank.

The value opens and floods the tray and then shuts off the flow into the tray till such time as the tray becomes dry. Then the value opens again allowing a fresh lot of nutrient to flood the tray.

All the nutrient is used and there is no return to the holding tank so you are not adjusting CF or pH.

The container sitting in the tray has Coco Choir fibre or similar and your seedling is planted into that.

Nutrient rises and plants roots go down and the plant grows.

It is best suited for tomatoes, capsicum, chili, cucumber and egg plants (aubergine).

All of which are heavy feeders.

We used to sell the containers and systems when they first appeared in NZ and a few keen gardeners purchased and enjoyed the easy and different way of obtaining great results.

Along with the grow pots we sold a liquid hydroponics solution originally called Matrix, named as such because until added to water for diluting the Matrix held the A & B aspects apart. Later when we re labelled the nutrient we called it Wallys Plant Food.

It is a very powerful nutrient that with auto pots you can grow capsicums as good as the hydroponically grown ones you see in the supermarket.

Wallys Plant Food is not cheap with a litre selling retail for $30.00.

What makes matters worse with the Grow Pot growing, is things can sometimes go wrong with a value not shutting down (sometimes a slug has got into the value area) and if the tray becomes too full, nutrient will flow out of where the tube comes into the value and then a siphoning action takes place and you lose a lot of expensive food.

So having auto pots in both my glasshouses I have decided that I will use the system this season to water the plants that I am growing which will be sitting in the auto pot trays with non chlorinated water to look after their watering requirements. If any thing goes wrong I will only loose

water till I fix it. So an excellent automatic watering system.

Now for food, I intend to put Wallys Secret Tomato Food with Neem Powder in the tray which the pots sit in and also when I fill the containers with coco choir, halfway up I will place other goodies such as The Secret Tomato Food with Neem, a little Ocean Solids, a bit of Unlocking Your Soil and BioPhos, then fill the pot up with the coco choir and plant a tomato seedling, cucumber or what ever into each pot. I can then add a little Magic Botanic Liquid (MBL) to the holding tanks for some extra minerals and elements.

I will make up some molasses and MBL into 1L trigger sprayers and have that handy so when I am checking the system, I can give the foliage a spray.

That will help the plants grow better, healthier and faster even if there is not much direct sunlight.

This system is ideal in glasshouses but there is no reason that you cant use auto pots in the same way outside in a sunny sheltered area, on a porch etc.

For the holding tank of water use a 20L jerry can that you can screw a three quarter inch threaded irrigation off-take into. A short length of 13mm irrigation pipe with an end stop and the off-take connector to the value with the smaller feeder tube.

Just fill the 20L can when it gets low and that takes care of your watering.

My article, ‘Future Proof’ was sent out by email yesterday to all the several hundred readers that requested it.

I know it took me about 2 hours to send each one individually.

There was a couple of hic cups while doing it as the computer had problems keeping up so if you asked and never received please email me and I will send, but I think I got every one covered.

It ended up 78 pages, so a long read and hopefully it will give readers some ideas you can use in case of disasters, natural or man made.

Anyone wanting a copy, which I send as a pdf file, just email me wallyjr@gardenews. co.nz with Future Proof in the subject line.

Rates rise

13.62 per cent! Do all these new house builds in Rose Manor and Wai-iti not bring in a bag full of cash with all their new rates coming on stream? Add it up, it must be millions.

Dogs

How often do those dogs get out for a run that are held in runs near the recycling centre? Are they getting re-homed? What is the story, anyone?

Re Rope removed

Fancy texting a curse on people, shame on you! You seem to be unaware about the power of your words. Just an angry person.

Wairau Bar Road

It’s a dam shambles down there. Just about lost my car in one of the pot holes. There is a lot of traffic using that road, not a good look. Put a dozen or so loads of gravel on it and grade it in instead of council blowing rate payers money on bloody roundabouts.

Beds left in the rain

Last week we had a lot of rain.

I found it sad to see two addresses in Blenheim where there were single beds with bases put out on the street only to be ruined by the rain. These looked like they were fairly decent beds - before the rain, that is. What an absolute shame!

Whale trail

Several regions around NZ completed their cycle ways years ago and have reaped huge economic benefits. I fear the ambitious “Whale Trail” from Picton to Kaikoura will continue to cost millions and the world moved on if ever it’s completed. Sad but left too late.

Re ‘Kiwiland’

Nothing wrong with calling NZ ‘New Zealand’. You are free to call it what you like. ‘Aotearoa’ is also used because Te Reo is also an official language of NZ. The origin of the name ‘Aotearoa’ is irrelevant, it is now the accepted Te Reo name for New Zealand, check any Maori dictionary. PS: Sign Language is also an official language of NZ.

Re Kiwiland comment

Better to be Aotearoa than being named after an obscure province in the Netherlands.

Supermarkets

So the Commerce Commission has found that in the last quarter or two, Supermarkets have grown their profit margin. That’s just wrong. Everyone else is struggling to make it to the end of the week, and they’re just gouging away at the average kiwi family, using the cost of living crisis to push prices up even further. Shame on you!

As soon as there is another option in the market I will be boycotting the locals.

Rates increase

Council stop wasting my rate payers money on stupid wasteful things! 14% rise! Are you going to keep putting it up so we’re better off having to rent! Enough!

Ranfurly Shield

The Ranfurly Shield belongs in Blenheim aye. After all who bailed the Tasman union out, MDC by buying Lansdowne Park .Otherwise Tasman would have gone under. We cut ties from Nelson in 1859 coz they were ripping us off.

Re Council Spending

Nail on the head. Not forgetting $300k hole in the roof at the Railway Station. Stand under on a sunny day you get burnt and we know what happens on wet days.

Councillor Dalliessi brought to light a valid point regarding public toilets “They are not tourist attractions”. Looks like fellow councillors are going to let them be. Where’s ya paint brush?

I applaud you councillor - stay on their case. Where is the common sense?

La Ruca

I enjoyed the story about Sebastian and Daniela, the Chilean couple with La Ruca Food Truck. I often bump into them at different community events and they are always happy, doing what they love. If I’d known they were living in their car when they first arrived I would’ve put them up at my place.

Marlborough welcome

Was so impressed to read how well Marlborough welcomes our ‘newB’s’ from other countries! Yay everyone.

Car raceway

The Witherlea Racecourse includes Milford Street and Alana Place, but the racers are hoons in noisy cars, not horses.

Re best ad

I have to disagree with you on the annoying yapping dog being the best advert. So annoying. I change channels.

Para Olympics

Great to see so many countries competing at this years’ Para Olympics, including athletes from Refugee. Hang on, I didn’t know Refugee was a country. Wokeness and PC gone mad people.

Re Grounds for Housing

Where is all this toxic ground that cannot be built on? Hilarious.

Vandalism in Mayfield

To the brainless oxygen thief or thieves who vandalized a small perfectly useable cabinet in the hours of darkness between 7 and 8 September, then threw it onto the road - this may have been of good use to someone.

You are part of the reason why we need security cameras everywhere, and why insurance is so costly.

Please learn some respect - you never know when you might need some help.

Parking fines

Great to see that parking fines are going up, particularly for parking in a mobility space. They also need to increase the fine for using your phone while driving. $150 is just not enough of a deterrent, judging by the number of drivers I see everyday with their eyes down.

Grocery prices

Supermarkets, Electricity Providers, and the banks are enjoying record profits. So many people are struggling at the moment. Every other business is running on ever tightening margins, and kiwi families are doing it tough.

There should be a cap on their margins during times of recession like we are in now. Where’s their social conscience?

Talk of the week

Well done Hats off to you

Visited Pollard Park on Sunday and highly recommend others to do so. Spring in all it’s glory! Well done gardeners!

There’s a lady I often see between 6am and 7am who, as she takes her morning walk around Mayfield and Springlands, carries a plastic bag and collects rubbish that’s been left on the footpath and in the gutters. She’s been doing it for a few years now. I don’t know who she is, but I think she’s wonderful. Old school values that are lacking in today’s world.

Proud of olympians

Thoroughly enjoyed the coverage of the Paralympic games. The three beautiful dames, Lisa, Sophie and Val. Congrats to all the guys you did New Zealand proud.

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Great performance

Went to see HMS Pinafore on Sunday afternoon. What a great location production. Well done to all concerned, your efforts were appreciated. Thank you.

Busy bowlers

Instead of moaning about us ratepayers giving you guys a roof to get your games started earlier can I suggest all 423 of you deliver the local papers and pool your income, publishers are always short. Keeps you fit too.

Springlands Gala –something for everyone

The countdown is on to the annual Springlands School Gala and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever. All funds raised from the gala will go towards funding the first year of the Kiwi Can programme at the school. Kiwi Can is an energy-packed primary school programme run by the Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough and teaches life skills and values in an interactive, fun and engaging way.

The gala is organised by a committee of volunteers, led by co-chairs Christelle Sutton and Rob Tucker. This year they have introduced new elements such as a pre-loved clothing sale, kids mini monster truck rides and a croc charm stall, and the long-time gala classics such as bouncy castles, face painting, food stalls, plant sale and chocolate wheel.

“There will be something for everyone” says Christelle. “We’ve tried really hard to make sure we have all the gala favourites for every age. There’s a sandpit dig, candy floss, second-hand toy and books sale, bouncy castles and visits from our local fire truck and a police car. The very popular

chocolate wheel is back and we have an amazing range of experiences up for grabs in the silent auction, as well as a wellstocked plant sale, and plenty of coffee and delicious food for the grown-ups.”

Rob says it’s a great family day out and also an opportunity to start your Christmas shopping.

“With a roll of approximately 370 children and growing, we are excited to be raising funds to bring Kiwi Can to Springlands School and have it part of our weekly curriculum,” he says.

Local Marlborough businesses have once again been amazingly generous in their support and have donated a fantastic array of items for the Silent Auction. Some of the feature auction lots include a three-course degustation experience for ten people at Karaka Catering’s new Westwood venue, a Thule roofbox and a scenic flight in a Nanchang or Tiger Moth warbird airplane, as well as vouchers for local businesses and a selection of wine packs.

The Springlands School Gala is on – rain or shine – on Saturday, September 14 from 10am – 2pm.

Annual General Meeting

The Marlborough Ploughing Association (Inc.)

Date - Tuesday 17th September 2024

Time - 7.30pm

Venue - Woodbourne Tavern, Renwick, Back Bar

All Members and interested individuals are welcome to attend.

Grovetown School 2025 Enrolments

Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office.

The board has determined that 12 places are likely to be available for out-of-zone students next year. The exact number of places will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone.

Next year there will be 4 enrolment periods.

The first enrolment period begins 29th January and will be termly from then.

For students seeking enrolment within the first enrolment period, the deadline for receipt of applications for out-of-zone places is 25th October 2024.

Parents of students who live within the home zone and intend enrolling their child at any time during the next year should notify the school by 25th October 2024 to assist the school to plan appropriately for next year.

Enrolment forms can be collected from the school office, 77A Vickerman Street, Grovetown, Blenheim or by emailing office@grovetown.school.nz

If the numbers of out-of-zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot.

If a ballot for out-of-zone places is required it will be held on 31st October 2024.

Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held.

Kia ora/Welcome to Cancer Society Marlborough

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Marlborough community for their incredible support of this year’s Daffodil Day. Your generosity has once again proven that Marlborough is a community that cares, with every donation making a real difference to those affected by cancer locally.

At Marlborough Cancer Society, we are proud to say that the funds raised through Daffodil Day stay right here in our community. Every dollar helps us continue providing vital support services, from counselling and driving assistance to practical help for those navigating the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.

We are truly grateful for the kindness and generosity shown by each and every person who contributed—whether large or small, every bit counts and makes an impact. Your support means we can continue to be here for those who need us, now and in the future.

Thank you, Marlborough. Together, we are making a difference.

Visit us online at blenheimsun.co.nz

Cancer helpline: 0800 CANCER (226 237) Cancer Society website: www.cancer.org.nz for reliable and up to date information, links and chat forums.

Georgia Ryan from Bayleys Marlborough at the 2023 Springlands School Gala. This year’s gala is raising funds for the Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough’s Kiwi Can programme at the school.

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 10am - 4pm.

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. Emergency Dentist: Contact Wairau Hospital 5209999.

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

2025 Enrolments

Enrolment at the school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details are available from the school office.

The board has determined that 23 places are likely to be available for out-of-zone students next year.

The exact number of places will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone. Next year there will be 2 enrolment periods. The first enrolment period is 29 January 2025 to 27 June 2025.

For students seeking enrolment within the first enrolment period, the deadline for receipt of applications for out-of-zone places is Friday 11 October 2024 at 3pm.

Parents of students who live within the home zone and intend enrolling their child at any time during the next year should notify the school by Monday the 14 October to assist the school to plan for next year.

If the number of out-of-zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot for out-of-zone places is required, it will be held on Wednesday 16 October 2024. Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held. Details relating to the second enrolment period are as follows. Length of enrolment period: from 14 July to 18 December 2025. Deadline for receipt of applications: 28 April 2025. Date of ballot: 5 May 2025. For queries or enrolment details please email office@rapaura.school.nz

Death notices

BURNSIDE, Sandra Jean:

08/07/1958 – 02/09/2024. Passed away at Wairau Hospital, Blenheim. All correspondence to Charlotte Macrae C/- Sainsbury Logan & Williams, P O Box 41, Napier 4140.

ERIckSoN, Ian Gregory:

On September 8, 2024, passed away peacefully at Wairau Hospital, aged 70 years. Much loved partner of the late Polly. A loved dad and step-dad of Tamara and Phil. Adored Poppa of his four grandchildren. Loved brother of Alan and loved uncle of Kyla. Messages to PO BOX 9, Blenheim, 7240, Cloudy Bay Funeral Services or www. cloudybayfunerals.co.nz. According to Ian’s wishes a private cremation has been held.

BLEE, Diane Yvonne:

On 9 September 2024, peacefully at Wairau Hospital, with family at her side, aged 83 years. A much loved mother and mother-inlaw of Donna and Grahame Morrison; Jude and John Flavin (Wellington); Shane and Tita Langridge (Hokitika); Irene and Steve Newport. An adored grandma of Ryan, Phillip, Jordan and Baileah and great grandma of Akelia, Lucas and Zoe. Messages to c/PO Box 9 Blenheim 7240 or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz Special thanks to the Doctors and nursing staff at Wairau Hospital and the carers at Nurse Maude. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Cancer Society of Marlborough (Acc. No. 06 0601 004826 00 Ref: Blee) would be appreciated or may be made at the service. A private cremation will take place with a Memorial Service to celebrate Diane’s life to be held at the Springlands Chapel, Cloudy Bay Funeral Services, 15 Boyce Street on Friday 13 September at 2.00pm. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed on the Cloudy Bay Funeral Services website.

Community Club Inc

Thank you to our sponsors Mobil Blenheim, Gin Shack, Redwood Barbers and Hunting & Fishing.

RAFFLE RESULT

DRAWN 9 September 2024 First Prize: Ticket 10391 - Pat Second Prize: Ticket 10430 – Alana Sagar Third Prize: Ticket 10377 –Robert Smart A big thank you to everyone who bought a ticket and gave us your support.

GRAHAM, Gary William:

Died peacefully at home 7 September 2024, aged 85 years. Dearly loved husband of Pauline. Much loved by all his family, Sarah and Glenn, Peter and Tanya, Rachel, Ben and Lochie, Nick, Toby, Georgia. Special thanks to wonderful Hospice Marlborough people for their constant care and support. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Marlborough Riding for the Disabled, either at the celebration or to the following bank account 03-1355-0501108-00 ref: G. Graham. Messages to: 10 McKendry St, Blenheim 7201, garygrahamfamily2024@gmail.com or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz At Gary’s request, a private cremation has taken place. A farewell celebration of Gary’s life will be held at the Rangitane Cultural Centre, 1 Fell St, Grovetown on Monday 16 September at 3pm.

SMYTHE, Peter:

Passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at Hospice Marlborough. Aged 83 years. Loved husband of Vera, loved Dad of Catherine, Yvonne, Peter, Lucky, and Teressa and loved Granddad of all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Special thanks for all the support, messages, calls and aroha. Dad was so well looked after by so many loving and caring Hospice staff and whanau, we will be forever thankful. Messages may be sent to the Smythe family, 7 Ryan Place, Springlands, Blenheim 7201. In lieu of flowers a donation to Hospice Marlborough would be appreciated and may be made to a/c 03-1369-0365207-00 Ref. SMYTHE. In accordance with Peter’s wishes a private family farewell has taken place.

PIckERING, Fenton Robert:

Aged 66, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully at Hospice Marlborough on Thursday, 5th September 2024, with his devoted wife Annie by his side. Cherished father and father-in-law to Kylie and Brian (Picton) and, Hayden and Kate (Renwick). Adored grandad to Millie. Dearly loved son of Shirley and the late Bill Pickering, and the cherished eldest brother of Lesley, Ginny, Mary, and Matthew, along with their families. A true Kiwi at heart, Fenton’s passions included shearing, hunting, and his dogs. His legacy lives on through his children and grandchild, and we find comfort in knowing he’ll be forever hunting the hills. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the exceptional staff at Hospice Marlborough and Cloudy Bay Funeral Services. Messages may be sent to 365 State Highway 63, Wairau Valley or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz In accordance with Fenton’s wishes, a private farewell and cremation have taken place.

TRAcEY, Susan Emily: On 2 September 2024 at Wairau Hospital, aged 79 years. Dearly loved wife of Tim and a loved mother and mother in-law of Sarah, Tim and Jayshree, Siobhan and Matt. A loved Grandma and Nanny Gug of Timothy and Saoirse. Sister to George, Wally (Dec), Evie (Dec) and Frankie Blennerhassett (Dec), Theresa, Zara, Cecelia, and Sharon Ward. Messages to PO Box 9, Blenheim 7240 or www.cloudybayfunerals.co.nz According to Susan’s wishes a private cremation has been held.

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s idE boaR d and a writing desk. Both good condition, can supply photos if interested. Phone 0274777517.

WhiTE baiT sock net, pole and screen, size 10 chest waders, $50 the lot. Ph 0272349583.

WoRSLEY, Mary Constance (née Bell): Passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 3, 2024, at Seaview Home, Picton. Aged 88 years. Dearly loved wife of Gordon, loved Mum of Chris and Neta, Shona, the late Brendan, Gordon and Lynley, Kathryn, Adrian and Tracy, and Steve and Sheila. Loved Nana of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Special thanks to Seaview Home staff, and Debs. Messages may be sent to P O Box 29, Waikawa Bay, Picton 7251. A farewell for Mary was held yesterday in Picton and was livestreamed, which can be accessed via our website www. sowmans.co.nz/upcoming-funerals

of zone pupils The Board of Trustees has determined that there are 21 places for out of zone New Entrant students in 2025. Please contact the school office for an application link. The deadline for applications is 14 October 2024. If the number of out of zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot.

your tips to news@blenheimsun.co.nz

Cloudy Bay Funerals

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The power of the shield

By Chris Valli

On Monday, the Log o’ Wood made a historic return trip to the province - via the Whangamoas from Nelson - with the Marlborough players in the team. A civic event was held 3.30pm at Seymour Square in Blenheim.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor welcomed the players and the shield along with members of the victorious 1973 Marlborough team.

Coach Gray Cornelius says the Blenheim contingent of the Mako had come through the club and school system in Marlborough. He says the civic reception was a way of saying thanks to the fans, families, businesses and support which allows the team to operate the way they do.

PHOTOS: Chris Valli.

Lyn Pawson.

Mako Captain Quinten Strange signing autographs.

MBC Falcons First XV members led by captain Ben Gibbons and vice-captains Leo Marfell and Finn McKenzie perform a haka to show their respect.

Wayne and Jo Young embracing the shield fever.

Locals get ready to welcome the Marlborough representatives off the Mako led by hooker and centurion Quentin Macdonald.

51 years between drinks – the class of 1973 and the class of 2024 join forces to commemorate the occasion.

Members of the victorious 1973 Marlborough Ranfurly Shield team with their 13-6 win over Canterbury at Lancaster Park.