Te Awamutu News | December 15, 2022

Six of the best

By Roy Pilott

Te Awamutu’s 13-year-old walk of fame now requires a few more steps.

Pou acknowledging six new additions to the walk, opened in 2013, were unveiled at Selwyn Park yesterday. The additions were announced in July.

Pou for Heather Morris, Shane and Brian Stannett, John Nicholson, Jason Wynyard and Michael Williams take the total to 34 – and they include Graham Jamieson, Katherine O’Regan,

Rewi Maniapoto, Neil and Tim Finn, Philip Tataurangi and Grant Hammond.

Inductees must have been born in or around Te Awamutu, or achieved their notable success as a resident.

The ceremony began an hour after The New went to press – so we asked Brian Stannett to check out the walk ahead of time.

He and son Shane have been recognised for their contribution to wrestling.

“It was a “hell of a honour” for him, the sport and the Te Awamutu wrestling club and its

people, he said.

Father and son will also hope the publicity will be a boost for the club, which has been pinned down by the impact of the Covid pandemic. John Nicholson, from Kihikihi, is honoured for his work in the equestrian world, Jason Wynyard (Ngati Maniapoto, Ngapuhi) is a world renowned competitive axeman, Michael Williams is acknowledged for his work as a composer, and Pirongia-born Heather Morris – whose induction was announced three years ago – wrote the bestselling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

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Dalila joins the kiwis

By Grace Odlum

Dalila Jellie moved to New Zealand eight years ago to give her children a taste of New Zealand life.

The French born administration officer’s journey to Waipā started in England, when she met Rhys Jellie.

The two married and lived in London for 20 years before deciding they wanted to be closer to his family.

They moved to New Zealand in 2014, and now Dalila, who was born near Nice, considers it her home.

She wanted to make it official – and did so last week in Waipā as one of 30 to take the oath and become a New Zealand citizen.

She was joined by: from Te Awamutu, Natasha Kelly and Robert Aughey (Ireland), and Marianne Tible (Philippines), from Cambridge, Melina Blevans (America), Stephanie Curin (Britain), William Davidson (Canada), Lewis Ferrier (Britain), Maura Furniss (America), Carmel Stock (Australia), Angeline, Christo, Eben, and Yolinda Van der Merwe (South Africa), Eduan, Pieter and Tane Venter (South Africa), Louisa Venter (Zimbabwe), Philip Butler (Ireland), Fabian Burgos Pino

(Chile), Isabelle Verriere (France), Cesar Carranza (Argentina), Barbara Brassesco (Argentina), Lorraine Marsh (Britain), Kelly Stokes (Australia), Emily Veelenturf (Britain), Christine VerrionClarke (Britain), Denise Weatherby (Britain), Sian Mansill (Britain) and from Ōhaupō, Hana Beatson (Britain).

Waipā mayor Susan O‘Regan officiated for the

On the beat

first time at a citizenship ceremony where each new citizen was given a kowhai.

The last such ceremony in Waipā was in September – the first since August 2021 - when 25 new New Zealanders were welcomed.

Rhys is the branch manager for Keith Hay Homes Waikato, while Dalila works in administration for Learning Matters in Te Awamutu.

Number three, meet number 90,000…

When Waikato University celebrated its 90,000th graduate it sparked a celebration which had a true Waipā flavour.

The student was Cole McOnie, an international class BMX rider from Te Awamutu.

To recognise the achievement, the Alumni Association invited Cole and members of his family to a morning tea where they met some of the first graduates who had attended the university in 1964.

He was introduced to Dorothy Gaunt, of Cambridge, the third person capped by the university. The first two, including the first graduate, Peter Allen, who grew up in Cambridge, have died.

Dorothy Gaunt enrolled when the university buildings comprised A block and a cow shed. Today the university complex comprises more than 100 purpose built lecture theatres.

The first 19 graduates – who all received a Bachelor of Arts - were capped in 1967 at Hamilton’s Founders’ Theatre.

At the Claudelands arena Cole, whose graduating class was almost 600-strong, received a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Resources.

We couldn’t do it without you…

This week we are in the middle of packaging the Christmas hampers. As always it is a very busy and chaotic week.

I thought at this point I should thank a number of local businesses and groups that have supported us this year.

They include Fresh Choice, Showcase Jewellers, Expleo, Silver Fern Farms, Bed Bath & Beyond, ANZ, Kereru Club from Pirongia, RSA, Regent Theatre, Pekapekarau School, Mitre 10 Mega, Te Awamutu Country Music Club and The Warehouse to name a few.

The community has been so helpful

and generous once again in helping us get products for the hampers for this year. It has been a challenging year to operate in as we try to adapt to the ever changing environment that is Covid. Just this week we had to make a difficult decision to change the usual method of assembling the hampers by using volunteers to minimise the risk of Covid transmission. This decision was a difficult one as one of the most rewarding aspects of the whole year for me is watching an army of volunteers hum along as one team.

This column will be my last for the year as

we head into the home straight.

After Christmas while everyone is starting to wind down and take holidays, Summer Policing starts to ramp up.

I’ll be working away at one of the beaches watching people do the things I want to be doing - before taking a break myself in midJanuary.

I hope you all have a great Christmas, A peaceful New Year and I look forward to doing it all again next year

with Constable Ryan Fleming

Cole McOnie, pictured with Dotorhy Gaunt.

Dalila, her husband Rhys, and their son Brendon and Mason (right).

Hit the target

A community newspaper advertising campaign calling for registered and enrolled nurses and midwives keen to return to work at Waikato, Thames, Te Kūiti, Taumarunui or Tokoroa hospitals has hit the target. The News understands within hours of the advert going in newspapers like ours, Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) Waikato’s lines were running hot from people wanting to return to the clinical workforce working flexible hours.

Mama…Mia!

Cambridge Community Board member Alana MacKay and husband Phil have welcomed their first child, a daughter Mia Christina McCathie MacKay, born on Monday at 1.47am weighing 3900g (8lb 6oz). Mackay fulfilled several community board duties last week, including a three hour board meeting held at the same time as the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. Phil, who was at that meeting, said he was not worried about his wife going into labour as chair Jo Davies-Colley was a midwife.

Land use plan

Changes to Waipā’s District Plan are being considered to better enable Māori to use their land for housing. A report discussed this week considered how the council can best meet community expectations around papakāinga - communal living on ancestral land.

Top five stories

Our online readers to teawamutunews.nz lapped up the Kihikihi Kindy award story last week. It was the top page with more than 16 per cent of all visitors. The rest of the top five were: CJD blood ban will be lifted, Battling for baby William, Water fluoridation getting closer and Next stop Berlin for Matthew.

Progress in ram raid fight

By Roy Pilott

Te Awamutu’s main street retailers appear to be on the same page as the district council in the fight against crime – and ram raids in particular.

The chair of the retailer’s Ram Raid Committee, James Clark, says Alexandra St shop owners are looking at two types of ram-raid proof defences along their store fronts.

What’s not on the cards are an ugly roller-door type defence or concrete block bollards.

Clark said 11 retailers already had installed barriers and following a committee survey, another 11 had indicated they wanted to protect themselves.

“It looks like every at-risk retailer has put their hand up,” he said.

The committee formed last year had set out to work with retailers and support the CommSafe organisation and its drive for volunteers. CommSafe, formed in Te Awamutu in 2006, runs community patrols, coordinates Neighbourhood Support and monitors CCTV – security cameras.

The committee was keen to see retailers follow the process rather than do work first and “seek forgiveness after”.

Retailers in Alexandra St are using two types of barriers –standalone bollards and a crash

barrier which has uprights and cross bars.

Clark said the committee had also been given useful information by Waipā District Council to get a clear understanding of the application process for retailers. In some cases where shops were recessed there would be no fee, while others which were not might have to apply for a “right to occupy” space.

He met mayor Susan O’Regan and Transportation manager Bryan Hudson last week. The committee is pushing for more and better CCTV coverage and also wants to unlock any funding streams which could be made available to help retailers help themselves.

Clark said the security issue had gained greater traction as a consequence of the killing of dairy worker Janak Patel in Sandringham, Auckland.

When the ram raid committee was formed in May, Noel Leeming had been hit three times in 14 months. It now has a post and rail protection.

Off the top of his head Clark – who was appointed chair in September - could recall about eight incidents where Te Awamutu retailers had been the victim of ram raids – “enough to cause alarm”.

District councillors met this week to discuss a working party recommendation to accelerate their installation.

Taking donuts off the menu

By Mary Anne Gill

Burn outs, donuts and excessive speed by boy racers could be a thing of the past in parts of Te Awamutu and Kihikihi following a Waipā District Council recommendation.

Transportation safety officer Julie Taylor told the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board at its meeting last night – after The News went to press – that antisocial driving was on the increase in the district.

“Much of, although not all, such behaviour occurs late

at night. As well as making other motorists feel unsafe on the roads, this behaviour is often intimidating and creates litter issues and excessive noise. In rural areas, the noise frightens stock, as well as disturbing residents,” she said.

Earlier this year Waipā councillors agreed to create a light motor vehicle prohibition register and ban the cars from selected roads between 9pm and 4am every day.

The roads chosen in Te Awamutu-Kihikihi for discussion by the board were

in the Bond Road industrial area, Puahue Rd - Parklands Rd – Chamberlain Rd loop and Arapuni/Bulmers Landings area.

The register would be created under a clause in the Waipā District Public Places Bylaw 2018. It would be an offence for the light motor vehicles to be on the roads during that time unless they had legitimate business there.

The Bond Rd area takes in Riverhurst Dve, Benson Rd, Jack Russell Dve, Bruce Berquist Dve, Livingstone Brothers Lane and Mathews Place.

“Industrial cul de sacs are ideal for light motor vehicle prohibitions as they have little legitimate night traffic and there are limited exit points for antisocial drivers to evade police,” said Taylor.

Roads in Cambridge and Pirongia are also being eyed for the ban.

Taylor said the prohibition might reduce antisocial driving activity but was only effective if police were available to respond.

“It will therefore be important that residents report activity at the time it is happening,” she said.

If the roads chosen reduces or eliminates antisocial driving, then other roads could be added.

The board was to consider the list of roads and submit its views to the Service Delivery committee at its February meeting.

“The community board members’ insight into what is happening in their area will help focus council resources to best target the locations where need is greatest and the light motor vehicle prohibitions are likely to be most effective,” Taylor said.

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James Clark, pictured outside vaping outlet Shosha, which has gone for bollards in Alexandra St.

‘Born to teach’ Kathy says farewell

By Mary Anne Gill

Kathy Miller has been a teacher for 50 years and as she contemplates life away from the classroom, she keeps coming back to the profession that was always more than a job for her.

“I was born to be a teacher,” she says as she sits in the staffroom at Te Awamutu College waiting for the farewell morning tea, she knows will be an emotional one.

Kathy has just turned 73 – time to retire from her job as a science and biology teacher at the college but the staff and students who wished her a happy retirement this week, are just as likely to see her early next term.

Relief teaching is something she is keen to continue doing and only at Te Awamutu College.

“It’s a lovely school to work in,” she says. It was 32 years ago – the summer of 1991 – when Kathy and her family moved up to Cambridge from the central Hawke’s Bay.

There were two science teaching jobs going – one at Te Awamutu and the other at Hamilton Girls. She applied for Te Awamutu and got it. For her it was like “déjà vu” –the girls’ uniform was the same as Central Hawke’s Bay College in Waipukurau, the only other school in which she has taught.

Kathy was born in Hawke’s Bay – the fifth of seven Willis children and her mother was a schoolteacher.

She obtained a science honours degree in botany at Massey University and then did her teacher training in Auckland.

Married at 20, she and her ex-husband, also a teacher, moved back to Hawke’s Bay where they raised three children, now all in their 40s.

When the family moved to Cambridge 32 years ago

Kathy Miller, pictured with Te Awamutu College principal Tony Membery, is retiring after 32 years.

Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Offering a helping hand

About 80 households Te Awamutu households will benefit from the annual Christmas Hamper appeal this year. That’s on a par with 2022 as more families adjust to doing more wht ess.

Co-organiser community constable Ryan Fleming said a “hard call” was made last week to reduce the number f volunteers sought to pack the hampers.

The resurgence of Covid in the community was behind the decision which was made to reduce risk as much as possible.

The hampers were packed yesterday in Kihikihi. Organisers are looking forward to a post-Covid environment and getting the appeal back to pre-pandemic proportions.

$9.23 – cost of a vote

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā ratepayers paid a Christchurch company $9.23 for every vote cast in the recent local body elections.

The $145,000 bill from ElectionNZ to run the election netted 15,703 votes for a 39.65 per cent return.

Details of how much candidates spent on their campaign in Waipā have also been made public this week – but in bizarre fashion after The News was told it was not known when the information would go live.

The News asked Waipā Governance manager Jo Gread on Tuesday morning when the candidate electoral donations and expenses returns would be available. She denied knowing - and told us to keep our eye on the council website.

Then, less than 90 minutes later, the information had gone live on the Waipā District Council website. The News subsequently learned the information – which by law must be made available to the public - had been with the Governance team for five days and instructions made on Monday from a staffer to post them online.

Candidates had been given a December 7 deadline to file the information - 55 days after the election result was declared on October 13.

The News went back to the council and asked it to reconsider as Rotorua Lakes Council said it spent $182,000 on the same provider. We signalled that we would go to the Ombudsman to secure the information we believe is in the public’s interest.

If all the country’s 78 local authorities spent an average $150,000, that represents more than $11.7 million on two private contractors which resulted in only one in three eligible voters having their say.

Local Government New Zealand wants a review of local elections to improve voting and make it more accessible in the 2025 elections. A centralised approach, including online voting, has been mooted.

Waipā paid just over $9000 to promote the elections.

We also asked why the council had allowed candidates to use old photos during the campaign. The rules say photos should be less than a year old.

Roger Gordon, Takina Stirling and Ange Holt were elected using photos more than 12 months old.

The rules in the candidate handbook said candidate photos had to be newer ones and in colour.

Stirling’s was an older black and white photo which had been used for promotional purposes on his website.

Cambridge Life

The figures show the biggest spender was new mayor Susan O’Regan who forked out $13,675, mostly on community newspaper advertising, and received free public relations’ advice, valued at $4800, for her 6902 votes.

During the campaign, The News asked candidates if their photos were less than 12 months old.

and Liz Stolwyk were told to change their profile photos.

O’Regan because her photo was taken on the steps of the Cambridge Town Hall, an identifiable council asset and thus against the rules, and Stolwyk because she originally submitted an older photo.

O’Regan photoshopped her photo to get rid of the background and Stolwyk found a newer photo which she resubmitted.

Ready for foot and mouth

We would like to thank the Cambridge community for their support throughout 2022.

(formerly Lifecare Cambridge) is under new management.

Chris Woodhams, who finished third with 3181 votes, spent $13,540. He reported no donations in kind or in cash and most of his spending went on community newspaper and Facebook advertising.

Only Gordon and Ruth Nicholls, who unsuccessfully stood for a seat on the Cambridge Community Board, fessed up.

Jill Taylor, who successfully stood for the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board said her one was new.

All of the staff and residents would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We are now proudly part of Sound Care Group, with five homes that provide a high standard of holistic nursing care for older people across New Zealand.

•Personalised care plan

•Yummy, nutritious meals

• Personalised care plan

•Local GP services

• Yummy, nutritious meals

• Local GP services

•Full activity calendar with games, outings and entertainment

• Full activity calendar with games, outings and entertainment

•Hairdresser and beautician visits

Incumbent mayor Jim Mylchreest only spent $3843.87 for 4909 votes – just about all of it for signs and none on advertising.

“The instructions were (to) provide a photo not more than 12 months old so that is what I did - why would any prospective candidate not follow the instructions?”

The spread of foot and mouth disease in Indonesia has Emergency Management operations staff in Waipā, and the rest of New Zealand, on red alert.

• Hairdresser and beautician visits

•Podiatrist visits

•Church services

BernardWesterbaan’s low-frills $344.46 campaign secured him 687 votes.

• Podiatrist visits • Church services • Meals on Wheels

Waipā deputy chief executive Ken Morris said all candidates were told the rules and were responsible for policing the photo rule themselves.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is leading national planning, Waipā Emergency Management operations manager David Simes told the Regulatory committee this week.

•Meals on Wheels

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86 King St, Cambridge 3434 07 827 5972

soundcare.co.nz

Rest home • Hospital level • Day stay • Respite Call us to arrange a visit and experience our Culture of Care. 86 King St, Cambridge 3434 07 827 5972 manager@cambridgelife.co.nz soundcare.co.nz

Late last month The News put a series of questions to the council about the election campaign including when electoral returns would be available. We were told “late December”. We also asked why the council used an external provider and what the cost was.

The council initially declined to provide the ElectionNZ costs for running the election in Waipā saying because it was a private contractor, costs were commercially sensitive and would not be released.

“We and the community should have an expectation that anyone standing for public office would simply follow the rules. It’s disappointing some people didn’t.”

During the campaign returning officer Warwick Lampp of ElectionNZ said: “all candidates have assured me the photos are taken within the last 12 months as required by the candidate handbook.”

Asked if he would act, Lampp said he would not.

The News understands only O’Regan

Basic scenarios were worked through at national planning workshops where lessons identified during the Covid 19 pandemic were considered.

New Zealand has never had an outbreak of foot and mouth disease which is caused by a virus that infects cloven-hooved animals – cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, alpaca and llama –but not rodents, cats, dogs, birds, or horses.

It is an animal health disease and unrelated to the human hand, foot and mouth disease common in young children.

Ryan Fleming and CommSafe’s Mandy Merson with some of the boxes of good donated for this year’s appeal.

Susan O’Regan’s photoshopped picture.

New look for community board

By Mary Anne Gill

A change of name for the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board means the board needs new stationery and promotional material, chair Ange Holt says.

In her report to the board meeting last night – after The News went to print – Holt said increasing the board’s profile and public awareness was one of the areas it needed to improve.

She recommended the board obtain quotes for a new logo and updates the community board flags with the new logo using $750 of uncommitted funds.

Holt has been an enthusiastic supporter of upgraded close circuit television coverage in Te Awamutu. At the recent Black Out Street Party, the existing cameras were of little use as they could not follow people who the police were interested in.

A pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera on top of a pole in the centre of the Sloane/ Arawata/Alexandra St roundabout could have rectified this, she said.

Holt also reported the

Who Are We Te Awamutu survey results were currently being analysed and would be available in the New Year.

Just over 700 responses were received and Robin Gambrill, one of the submitters, won a grocery voucher from Pak n Save.

Holt also gave an update on Memorial Park saying she was investigating the water quality of the ponds in the park.

“I believe these reports

play an important part in determining the order of the upgrades in the park and how the duck pond is improved or modified.”

The board will also change its meeting day from the second Tuesday of the month to the fourth Wednesday of the month.

It suits the timing of council matters going through public consultation, Governance officer Keryn Phillips told the board.

Luke’s royal gesture

By Roy Pilott

All Luke East’s Christmases are coming at once.

The ardent Royal Family fan was among the prize winners at this month’s Te Awamutu Christmas parade, and now his latest project for the community is about to come to fruition.

A plaque commemorating the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Te Awamutu almost 70 years ago and her platinum jubilee will adorn the former Post Office building, occupied by House of Travel, on the Soane St- Alexandra St roundabout from Sunday. Luke, an occasional writer for The News, launched his campaign in 2021 when both the Queen and her husband were alive. He needed approval from the Waipā District Council and funding – and the seal of approval from the Queen.

The latter came in August, via a letter from

Tom Laine-Baker, assistant private secretary to the Queen who wrote “The Queen has asked me to thank you for your proposal for the installation of a plaque to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee and Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Te Awamutu in 1954… I am pleased to confirm that The Queen has given approval to your design”.

The Te Awamutu Community Board put up some money and a givealittle page added some more – but when the Queen died on September 8, Luke was still about $600 shy of what he needed.

This time the community board decided - at its last meeting before the local body elections - it would provide the funds needed.

Winner of the “Who Are We Te Awamutu “ survey prize Robin Gambrill being presented his voucher by PaknSave owner Mike Goble.

Luke East, pictured during the Te Awamutu Christmas parade and with the plaque.

Santa’s secret Te Awamutu hideaway

We all know Santa spends most of the year at the North Pole.

But it turns out he also spends a fair bit of time in an attic in Te Awamutu’s Tawhiao Street.

It’s the home of Barbara and Brian Fleck, and Barbara – a member of the Te Awamutu News delivery team - is an avid Santa fan.

Her collection of Christmas goodies grows every year.

“I’ve been collecting for most of our married life - that’s nearly 58 years,” Barbara told The News.

Some carry special memories – such as one of Santa in sunnies on a motorbike, which is a reminder of Stephen, a late nephew.

But finding the oldest piece of her collection was a challenge – and Barbara returned a short while later to explain she hasn’t got it out this year – “there’s no space”.

Every surface in the lounge and dining

room celebrate Santa, and he’s also to be found in various parts of the garden in full bloom outside, home of Brian’s immaculately coiffured grass lawn.

Barbara’s Christmas show has had no shortage of visitors – the couple have eight grandchildren ranging from 10 to 29.

They have spent all their lives in Waipā and moved into their new home seven y ears ago. Brian worked in banking and Barbara, who trained to be a kindergarten teacher when she was 50, has had a variety of jobs.

Journalists are not permitted to accept rewards for stories, but with Santa’s blessing we went home with one of the Christmas goody bags Barbara has prepared for guests. You can’t turn down shortbread as good as that.

And where does Santa go after Christmas?

“He goes back into the attic,” Brian explained.

FAITH IN WAIPĀ

Take a fresh look at life

Phil Strong, Senior Leader, Zion

With the end of year in our sights, we can breathe a little easier knowing that a rest is coming soon. This year has been a real challenge as we navigate the fallout of Covid and its effects on society. I bet many of you feel like you’ve lived the entire year with a Covid hangover, of sorts. And I guess some of you have.

I read recently the Government is lamenting on its achievements, or lack of, citing too many ambitious projects to complete. “Not enough time,” they say, and I might add, “and not enough capacity or competence.” But we must all take a deep breath and be kind. I suspect none of us can escape the overwhelming feeling of just not reaching our self-imposed expectations.

Normally the end of the year involves me setting personal goals for the year to come. But, with my head still throbbing from the chaos of 202021, I’ve just not gone there. Truth be told, we have so many exciting plans

in the mix here at Zion, we’ve decided to finish them well before starting something new.

It’s been a reflective end of the year for me, with the last quarter of the year spent reviewing the past season and its many ups and downs. I’ve spent time and energy on self-reflection and taken a deep dive into my personal life to seek to uncover a healthy, effective and sustainable way to move forward into 2023.

Just as the Government are taking stock on their lives in leadership, I encourage you to take a long, slow, thoughtful and challenging look at the way you lead your own life.

When we take stock of our lives, we will finally realise we need to take a rest from our lives. If you feel like a hamster on a spinning wheel going nowhere, you’ll be grinning as you read this. Yes, you and I are both in this camp. Jesus continues His invitation; “Get away with me and you’ll recover

your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”

Oh, how we need a different way of living, significantly better than our dysfunctional habits of 2022.

Only once we have been reflective enough to take stock and prudent enough to take a real rest, can we finally take a fresh look at our lives. I’ve decided this is my most essential task for this season. I’ve decided to submit myself to the close of this invitation of Jesus, one that He offers to anyone who will listen.

“Walk with me and work with me— watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Perhaps it’s time for you to walk more closely with Jesus.

AGE OF REASON

Looking through a new lens

By Peter Carr

It’s been an interesting fortnight since my last offering to this august journal. The first week involved working the full four days at Fieldays and the following week involved a nervous wait for, and execution, of a double cataract operation.

So, this comes to you with my pecking at a keyboard complete with very dark glasses impersonating one of the Blues Brothers... but not earning their money!

A Fieldays clear of cold, foggy Winter mornings was something board members (including myself) had hankered for over several years. Traditionally the annual event was aligned with the ‘quiet’ part of the dairy farm calendar until the pandemic created (or caused) major change. But in keeping faith with the large number of exhibitors the Fieldays Society attempted an early summer offering. The public, with the agricultural fraternity busy with double milking and silage preparation, spoke out by staying on the land. Interestingly the smaller crowd gave the exhibitors more quality time with their clients – prospective or actual – but essentially many visitors were feeling the financial pinch in the pocket.

So turning to the second week I followed up on the recommendation of the optometrist and the eye surgeon to ‘do the double’ and permit the creation of new eye lenses preceded by the destruction of both cataracts. As I write (or rather struggle to tap this due to the aforementioned dark glasses) I have to admit that just three days after the fairly short, side by side, operations the vision is greatly improved.

Cambridge Life

Cambridge Life

(formerly Lifecare Cambridge) is under new management.

We are now proudly part of Sound Care Group, with five homes that provide a high standard of holistic nursing care for older people across New Zealand.

Cambridge Life

We are now proudly part of Sound Care Group, with five homes that provide a high standard of holistic nursing care for older people across New Zealand.

We are now proudly part of Sound Care Group, with five homes that provide a high standard of holistic nursing care for older people across New Zealand.

•Personalised care plan

•Personalised care plan

•

Rest

•Yummy, nutritious meals •Local GP services

•Yummy, nutritious meals

• Full activity calendar with games, outings and entertainment

Rest home • Hospital level

•Hairdresser and beautician visits

(formerly Lifecare Cambridge) is under new management.

•Hairdresser and beautician visits •Podiatrist visits • Church services •Meals on Wheels

•Podiatrist visits

The late Fred Hollows, having been brought up in the Manawatū, initially set off to be trained as a minister of the church but, after a student holiday job in a mental facility, changed to study medicine in general and ocular matters in particular. By this time, he was in Australia and later the United Kingdom educating himself in a high degree of medical vision support. He also had a love for scaling rocks in high places – including in Nepal - and was, for a period, a close friend of Sir Edmund Hillary. His introduction to socioeconomically depleted Nepal and other similar countries took him to persuading manufacturers of intraocular lenses in those areas to do so at a minimal cost. It enabled him to start the main thrust of his career improving the sight of people in deprived regions.

Call us to arrange a visit and experence our Culture of Care.

Rest home • Hospital level • Day stay • Respite

86 King St, Cambridge 3434 07 827 5972

Call us to arrange a visit and experence our Culture of Care. 86 King St, Cambridge 3434 07 827 5972

86 King St, Cambridge 3434 07 827 5972

manager@cambridgelife.co.nz soundcare.co.nz

The resultant Fred Hollows Foundation is an excellent reminder of Dr Hollows’ magnificent work which came to an end when he died in 1993. I knew little of the detail but my brush with defective sight caused me to read up on that fine man whose dedication and skills are treasured by many thousands of people around the world.

Sight – along with hearing, smell and touch - are birthgiven skills that we too often take for granted. The smell of a blooming flower, the bouquet of a shiraz and the touch of a hand on one’s cheek are to be treasured. Should any one of them be frustrated for any reason we fret and miss them terribly.

See you all in the New Year – the essence of a good Christmas with your family is arriving there safely. Take care.

Barbara Fleck with part of her Christmas collection.

Regional chair for Graf

By Mary Anne Gill

Waipā-King Country’s Clyde Graf has been elected Waikato Regional Council’s environmental performance committee chair.

And in a shock, his experienced colleague Stu Kneebone of Cambridge missed out on chairing any of the key “discretionary” council committees.

The election of chairs and deputy chairs follows a tumultuous few weeks since the local body election which resulted in an even split – seven for Pamela Storey and seven for Kneebone.

Because of the impasse, Storey’s name was pulled from a hat to become regional council chair.

Five Storey supporters - Graf, Robert Cookson, Mich’eal Downard, Chris Hughes and Warren Maher – picked up strategy and

policy, integrated catchment management, finance and services and regional transport committees. The climate action committee will be chaired by Kneebone supporter Jennifer Nickel.

Kneebone, who has been a regional councillor since 2010, and supporters Noel Smith, Kataraina Hodge, Tipa Mahuta and Angela Strange all have deputy chairperson roles.

Graf, who lives in Hamilton but represents Waipā-King Country, chaired the environmental performance committee in his last term on the council between 2013 and 2016.

The council at today’s meeting in Hamilton – held after The News went to press – was to discuss remuneration for the council from its $933,748 pool.

Storey gets $163,254, which is set by the

Remuneration Authority and not part of the pool.

The recommendations are that deputy chair Bruce Clarkson gets $85,184 and committee chairs, Cookson, Downard, Graf, Hughes, Maher and Nickel get $75,355.

Smith would get $68,802 as deputy chair of the critical integrated catchment committee which the other five councillors would get $65,526.

The regional council chairs and deputy chairs are:

• Environmental Performance Committee: Clyde Graf; deputy chair Kataraina Hodge

• Climate Action Committee: Jennifer Nickel; deputy chair Tipa Mahuta

• Finance and Services Committee: Chris Hughes; deputy chair Angela Strange

• Strategy and Policy Committee: Warren Maher; deputy chair Stu Kneebone

Forty years of giving advice

About 40 past a present volunteers for the Te Awamutu Citizens Advice Bureau celebrated its 40th anniversary this week.

The anniversary cake was cut by Sandra Metcalfe, the Bureau’s patron, and Mary Strack, the longest serving current volunteer who has given more than 30 years’ service to the community.

Sandra reminded attendees of the small beginnings in the old Plunket rooms next door to the public toilet by the swimming pool in Bank Street.

Spokesperson Meryl Reardon told The News that at that time volunteers used a card system, filed in a shoebox.

“Currently, our CAB is dealing with over 6000 enquiries a year, has

a database of more than 600 local community organisations and sports clubs and access to a huge national database with up-to-date information, including current legislation.”

In recent years volunteers have continued to provide information to people throughout the pandemic and lockdowns by working from home, and also helped the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by calling people aged over 70 throughout the country to ensure everyone had what they needed.

“The bureau has also taken part collecting data about internet access for national office, resulting in a recent submission to Parliament about

digital exclusion in the community.

The Department of Internal Affairs estimated that in 2019 20 per cent of New Zealanders experienced some form of digital exclusion,” Meryl said.

The bureau has had several homes in Te Awamutu and is now in the Ray White Arcade off Alexandra Street.

It operates with a team of more than 20 volunteers with a manager who oversees the day-to-day running of the Bureau and makes applications for funding.

“We are always looking for more volunteers as interviewers or administrative assistants, so please consider us if you have a few hours’ free time a week.”

• Submissions Subcommittee: Warren Maher; deputy chair Chris Hughes

• Regional Transport Committee: Mich’eal Downard; deputy chair Angela Strange.

• Integrated Catchment Management Committee: Robert Cookson; deputy chair Noel Smith.

Clyde Graff Stu Kneebone

Sandra Metcalfe and Mary Strack, right, cut the cake.

Special times at the Olympics

By Roy Pilott

It’s the only sporting event I can recall where the competitors make a point of approaching the media to say hello.

The national Special Olympics in Hamilton wrapped up last weekend at the somewhat stunted end of three days of competition involving 13,000 competitors across 11 sports.

“The competitors say hello to everyone,” swim coach Shelley Blair said. “It’s a truly amazing event.

“There is a lot of socialisation – it’s physically an important thing for the athletes for their health and wellbeing, but there are holistic benefits – they take responsibility for being organised.”

The event itself was robbed of a closing ceremony and social function after some athletes returned positive Covid tests – and some teams took the decision to return home on the final day rather than compete.

Waipā celebrated a cache of successes in the form of medals and personal bests.

Weightlifter Courtney Duncan from Cambridge finished the event with two silvers and two bronze

medals.

Blair, who looked after Waipā’s swimmers at Waterworld said it was a testimony to their work when six members collected medals on the final day.

There were more than 250 competitors in the pool for the national event.

And these Special Olympics are competitive as well as social.

“I’ve seen tears when one of my swimmers didn’t

finish in the top three – but then she went out and did a personal best and won a gold in a final.”

Waipā’s 50-plus strong team of swimmers went home with 11 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze medals – and a tally of 34 personal bests.

The 2023 Special Olympics will be in Canterbury – the torch has yet to be passed though, that was supposed to happen at the closing ceremony.

RIGHT: Robert van der Wee, Te Awamutu, gives it everything in one of his swimming events.

LEFT: Sorry, wrong number …. coach Shelley Blair makes some last minute adjustments to Cambridge swimmer Jarrod Gilbert’s number.

BOTTOM RIGHT: It’s high fives for David Smith after one of his swims.

Accident and Medical Centre

Open

Ph: 07 872 0923

Mega Centre, 670 Cambridge Rd, Te Awamutu

NORMAL HOURS:

HOLIDAY HOURS

Monday to Friday: 8am-8pm. Saturday & Sunday: 9am-3pm

Thursday, Dec  24 8am-6pm

Friday, Dec  25 9am-1pm

Public hoildays: 9am-3pm

Saturday, Dec 26 9am-3pm

Sunday, Dec 27 9am-3pm

Monday, Dec 28 9am-3pm

Wednesday, Dec 30 8am-8pm

Thursday, Dec 31 8am-6pm

Friday, Jan 1 9am-1pm

Saturday, Jan 2 9am-3pm

HOLIDAY HOURS

Tuesday, Dec 29 8am-8pm

Saturday 24th Dec 9am-3pm

Sunday 25th Dec 9am-1pm

Monday 26th Dec 9am-3pm

Tuesday 27th Dec 9am-3pm

Wednesday 28th Dec 8am-8pm

Thursday 29th Dec 8am-8pm

Sunday, Jan 3 9am-3pm

Monday, Jan 4 9am-3pm

Friday 30th Dec 8am-8pm

Saturday 31st Dec 9am-3pm

Sunday 1st Jan 9am-1pm

Monday 2nd Jan 9am-3pm

Tuesday 3rd Jan 9am-3pm

Wednesday 4th Jan 8am-8pm

Supporters

Supporters

Xmas hours:

Saturday 24th December 10am - 9pm

Sunday 25th December Closed

Monday 26th December 1pm - 8pm

Tuesday 27th December 1pm - 10pm

Wednesday 28th December 1pm - 8pm

Thursday 29th December 1pm - 10pm

Friday 30th December 1pm - 10pm

Saturday 31st December 10am – 1am

Sunday 1st January 1pm - 8pm

Drive, Te Awamutu

Laid-back lunch

What is a long lunch? Historically it was a great favourite with restaurant owners. It was a tradition of businesspeople to indulge in lunches of three to four hours or longer claiming ‘business deals’ were consummated over a bottle or two of expensive wine and a dozen or so oysters to start. However, financial recessions have put paid to these luxuries. Deals are finalised back in the boardroom, or these days, even on Zoom.

ITALIAN-STYLE SEAFOOD SALAD

The Southern Littleneck Clams in a 500g bag came from my local supermarket. Keep the salad chilled.

Dressing: 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, crushed pinch each: sugar, chilli flakes 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Seafood: 1kg mussels in their shells

4 cloves garlic, crushed 2 bay leaves

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup water

500g littleneck clams, rinsed 1-2 squid tubes

freshly ground black pepper to taste 250g cooked prawns

Extras: 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed and thinly sliced Whisk the ingredients for the dressing for 1 minute and place aside.

Wash the mussels and remove the beards. Place 2 cloves of crushed garlic, the bay leaves and half the olive oil in a large saucepan. Heat gently then add the water. Add the mussels, cover and heat until the mussels just open. Remove each one as it opens to a bowl. (Discard any that don’t open.)

Place the clams in the saucepan. Cover and heat until they just open. Place aside.

Discard any cartilage from the squid tubes. Cut into 1cm rings. Toss in the remaining oil and sprinkle generously with black pepper and. Stir-fry the squid in a non-stick pan for about 2 minutes until just cooked. Place in a large bowl.

Remove the meat from the mussels and clams. Add to the bowl together with the prawns. Mix well. Pour in the dressing and mix. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Just before serving add the parsley and fennel. Serves 4-6.

TERIYAKI DUCK WITH ORANGE

Delicious served warm or cold.

Marinade: 1/4 cup dark soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon each: freshly grated root ginger, mirin, honey 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Duck: 460g (2) fresh NZ duck breasts

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Orange Salad: 2 oranges 1 cup rocket leaves

Combine the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl.

Score the skin of the duck. Place in the marinade. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Remove the duck and pat dry. Reserve the marinade. Place the duck skin-side down in a cold, non-stick frying pan. Turn the heat to medium-high. Cook for 9 minutes. The fat will melt and become the frying liquid. Flip the breasts over and continue cooking for 5 minutes. (Alternatively, cook in a 180°C oven for 5 minutes). The internal temperature should be about 60°C. Cover with foil and rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, stand the oranges on a chopping board. Using downward cuts, remove the skin and pith. Cut the segments

from the oranges between the membranes. Pour any juice into a small saucepan and add the reserved marinade. Boil for 2 minutes.

Layer the orange segments and rocket on a serving plate. Thinly slice the breasts and place on top. Drizzle with the boiled marinade. Serves 4-6.

WATERMELON & FETA SALAD

This attractive salad is an ideal long lunch selection. 200g low-salt feta cheese

1/2 cup good balsamic dressing

700g seedless watermelon, peeled 3 cups torn crisp lettuce leaves

1/2 telegraph cucumber, scored and thinly sliced

1/2 cup blueberries or pomegranate arils (seeds) or both 1/4 cup sliced, pitted kalamata olives

Cut the feta into cubes and place in a bowl. Add the balsamic dressing. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.

Quarter the watermelon and slice into 1cm-thick wedges. Arrange the lettuce, cucumber and watermelon on a serving platter.

Drain the feta, reserving a 1/4 cup of the dressing. Roughly crumble the feta.

Top the salad with the blueberries and/or the pomegranate arils, the olives and feta. Serve the dressing on the side. Serves 6.

Teriyaki duck with orange Italian-style seafood salad

The TE AWAMUTU NEWS is a weekly community newspaper that is independently owned and has a passion for serving the Te Awamutu community.

Does the following sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

• I always listen to news on radio and read news online and in print.

• I think on my feet, I can produce copy quickly and accurately – and I am a skilled interviewer.

• I’m comfortable taking pictures.

• I know my community – from sports clubs to local body politicians.

• I’m computer literate and proficient with MS Office. The Te Awamutu News reporter will report to the news editor and discuss job assignments, how stories will be presented and how to make the most of resources available. For the right candidate, this position could either be full time or part-time, but the hours will be flexible and often determined by the timing of events and the availability of contacts.

It is expected the successful applicant will have had experience in working in media. This is an all-rounder position – the successful applicant will generate stories and be adept at reworking supplied copy and assist with proof reading. This position will require the reporter to be out in the field regularly, but also able to work collegially with a small team of sales and layout staff. Applicants for this position must have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa. You will need a reliable vehicle and a clean driver’s licence.

We offer a competitive salary based on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

If this sounds like the role for you, please email your C.V. and letter of application to Roy Pilott on editor@goodlocal.nz

McCARROLL, Mark Owen – Passed away at home, aged 63 years. Loved by all those that new him. At Mark's request a private farewell has taken place. All communications c/Rosetown Funeral Home, 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800.

Deadlines

Booking and Copy Setting

5pm Monday 19 December.

Finished artwork – ready to print noon Tuesday 20 December.

Booking and Copy Setting 5pm Monday 9 January.

From the sta at the Te Awamutu News and Cambridge News to all our readers and advertisers throughout the Waipa region for supporting us this year.

Finished artwork – ready to print noon Tuesday 10 January.

Office Closes 2022 noon Wednesday 21 December.

Office reopens 2023 by appointment from Monday 9 January

We wish you a happy Christmas and a safe holiday period. Your last paper of the year is Thursday 22nd December – we take a two-week break then are back publishing again on Thursday, January 12 next year.