Marlborough Weekly 11th April 2023

Tuesday 11 April 2023

Celebrating inspiring youngsters

Hope after tragedy

PAULA HULBURT paula@topsouthmedia.co.nz

A Blenheim family whose lives changed forever after a tragic accident are finding hope again.

Three months ago, Mitre 10 Mega owner David Hawtin and his partner Amy Darling were seriously hurt in a horrific car accident that killed David’s dad, Graeme.

Now the pair have pledged to raise funds for the people who helped save their lives by sponsoring the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter service.

It is important to the family that something good happens out of the tragedy.

“The emergency services were so good, we couldn’t fault them and this how we want to thank them,” David says.

“There were a lot of little miracles that day, but it showed us it’s all out of our control.”

“Life can change in the blink of an

eye,” Amy says, “life is precious.”

It had been a wonderful December day, a day filled with love and laughter as the family took their boat out on Lake Rotoiti.

But as they headed home a drunk driver crashed headfirst into David’s Ford Raptor.

Family members following behind in three other vehicles watched in horror as the crash unfolded in front of them.

It all unfolded incredibly quickly, David says.

“The driver of the other car was doing between 117 to 123kph on impact.

The scariest thing for me, what stunned me, was that the gap closed in a second.

“We are lucky to be alive.”

David managed to break before impact, bringing his speed down from about 85kph to around 65kph.

The air bags deployed, smashing David’s glasses into the bridge of his nose. He also broke both feet which later required surgery.

Amy suffered three cracked ribs,

a punctured lung, lacerations to her liver and spleen, fractures to her spine and a bruised pancreas. While she is improving, she is

not yet able to return to work and struggles to walk far.

“I remember the airbags going off and then an eerie silence,” Amy

says.

“I tried to take a big breath in but couldn’t. The next thing I remember is laying on the side of the road.”

Flynn Hawtin, 16, pulled his grandfather from the car while Lettie, 19, dialled 111 and her boyfriend, Conner Te Wake-Walker, helped David move Amy from the wreck. A motorist caught up in the carnage also stopped to help.

David devoted his attentions to Amy and started CPR, believing his dad, who had been conscious and moving, was hurt but okay.

But Graeme died about 15 minutes after the crash from internal injuries.

“Mum had offered to drive a friend back from the lake who wasn’t feeling well other wise she would have been in the back of the car and probably died too,” David says.

David was taken to Wairau Hospital by ambulance, his daughter Grace going with him.

See more on page 2

“There were a lot of little miracles that day...”

Amy Darling and David Hawtin have pledged to help raise funds for the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter service. Photo: Supplied.

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Crash couple count blessings

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The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter flew Amy, accompanied by Flynn, to Wellington Hospital when it became clear her injuries were life threatening.

“It still makes me a bit upset and teary thinking about it,” Amy says.

“We didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to each other, I went off in one direction and David another. If one of us had died that would have been the last time we saw each other.”

Around six hours after the crash, the pair talked to each other on the phone.

Amy spent five days in Wellington Hospital before being transferred to Wairau

Hospital. David was discharged after two nights but had to later return for surgery.

The support from the community during this time has been “humbling” Amy says.

“The love and support, even from people we don’t know has been amazing.

“It got us through the last three months, we feel just so blessed.”

The accident has changed them for the better in many ways, David says.

“You appreciate what you have and try to simplify life and reflect on what’s important.

“We work long hours but now I’ll spend an hour catching up with someone.

“It’s bought us all closer together and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

All the action from Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka Air Show 2023

The eagerly anticipated Classic Fighters Omaka Air show took to the skies over the weekend, wowing audiences who braved the chilly temperatures to enjoy the airborne spectacular. Thousands of people flocked to the airfield to see around 60 heritage aircraft, vintage vehicles, and ground displays. See more photos on the Marlborough App. Photos: Matt Brown.

The wrecked Raptor in which the family were travelling. Photo: Supplied.

PAULA HULBURT

Changing of the guard at Stadium News In Brief

Luke van Velthooven stood in the heart of the Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 building as the applause echoed.

It was a fitting end; a farewell tribute held in the very facility he had helped bring to fruition.

The former chair of the stadium trust was officially farewelled from the role by friends and colleagues on Wednesday evening.

After 25 years at the helm of the trust that spearheaded the stadium project, Luke was quick to praise all who had helped make it the first-class centre it is today.

“Why is the stadium a success?

Because it delivered what it promised it would deliver.

‘The main reason for its success is the people, it’s by the people, for the people and it achieved all it set out to do.

“People respect it because it’s part of them, this place doesn’t get tagged … it’s part of what everyone enjoys.”

Four generations of the van Velthooven family were at the stadium to mark the milestone, including his six-month old granddaughter.

It was a proud moment for the family who listened as speakers,

including master of ceremonies

Duncan McKenzie, councillor

Gerald Hope and incoming chair

Matt Kerr, paid tribute.

Matt said he clearly remembered first meeting Luke.

“I remember this very, very young guy got up introducing himself to the audience as chairman of Stadium 2000.

“It occurred to me, when I was looking at this guy, that he was bloody young to be leading such a big community project but the other thing that occurred to me was that he clearly had passion and determination to make this

thing happen.

“In the 19 years I’ve worked with Luke I can honestly say that the determination and passion for the stadium hasn’t waned one bit.

“Long service of trustees has been a hallmark of the stadium. We are all incredibly passionate about what we have as a community,” Matt said.

Luke was appointed Patron of the Trust taking over from Roger Rose.

Thanking those who he has worked with over the years, Luke said he knew it was the right time

for him to step aside. He said he was confident that those coming in were the right team for the job.

“There was a great docu called The Pecking Order, and there’s an old duck in that who refuses to give up the chair and it was quite insightful and made me think.

“The energy was coming back and I wasn’t quite keeping up, I wish I was.

“There are some wonderful things ahead and what a great management team we have, we had that back in the day too. We are in very, very good hands.”

WORKPLACE DEATH

One person has died following a workplace incident in Blenheim. Emergency services were called to Main St around 2am on Monday where a fatally injured man was found underneath a truck. There was only one vehicle involved and the incident has been referred to the coroner and Worksafe.

FERRY DELAYS

Police were called out to Picton’s ferry terminal on Tuesday last week amid ongoing cancellations and rising tempers among passengers. Police say they were called to the Bluebridge terminal at around 12.30pm due to a large number of irate passengers who had their sailings cancelled. The spokesperson said there was no specific incident of abuse, but that officers patrolled the area regardless.

CONGRATULATIONS

McKendry Ford in Blenheim have been awarded the 2022 Ford President’s Award again. The award is presented by Ford New Zealand for outstanding achievement across all aspects of Ford dealership operations.

Former Marlborough Stadium Trust chair Luke van Velthooven, back centre, celebrated his achievement with his family. Photo: Paula Hulburt.

Lucky escape for truck crash drivers

Drivers of two truck and trailer units have had a lucky escape after a crash tipped their vehicles and spilled grapes across State Highway 1. Emergency services were called to the scene, by the entrance of Cloudy Bay industrial park outside Blenheim, just before 4pm on Saturday.

Police said there were no reported injuries.

The road closed for several hours while the road was cleared and traffic management put in place.

Vape theft up in smoke

A central Blenheim business has been targeted by would-be thieves - this time in a ram raid. Vape shop Hot Boxx on Charles Street was damaged in the incident on Wednesday which saw two youths arrested.

The two youths have also allegedly been involved in the theft of several vehicles in the Marlborough area over the past month. The pair have been referred to Youth Services. It is the fifth time the store has been targeted by thieves.

Musical tribute to honour war heroes

Two Marlborough bands are joining forces for a musical tribute to honour Marlborough’s war heroes.

Marlborough District Brass Band, with guest appearances from Blenheim & District Highland Pipe Band, will perform separately and together in a musical tribute.

Selections from Glenn Millar, Andrews Sisters, and Vera Lynne will celebrate the messages of

hope and optimism of the music of the era.

This will be contrasted with a performance of Passchendaele, October 12 1917 by New Zealander Dwayne Bloomfield which describes New Zealand’s darkest day; the WW1 battle near the Belgium city of Ypres Musical Director Robin Randall says another highlight of the concert will be the poignant In Memoriam: For the Fallen which will be presented by Marlborough Brass and narrated by Duncan

Mackenzie.

The concert is at ASB Theatre Marlborough at 7:30pm on Saturday 22 April.

Both bands will also be on parade on ANZAC Day at the Blenheim ANZAC Service, with the Pipe Band also attending services at Picton and Renwick, whilst individual members will attend services at Seddon, Renwick and Ward.

Tickets are available for the concert at the Theatre box office or online at www.asbthetare.com.

Neil MacDonald, Reiss Cootes, Jesse Sawer, Ella Kernick-Harvey, Ariel Rolf, and Kathy Moseley check the wall of remembrance ahead of Saturday’s concert. Photo: Supplied.

STAFF REPORTER

A two truck and trailer unit accident was the latest in a series of crashes over the 2023 harvest period. Photos: Matt Brown.

No one was injured in the crash on Saturday afternoon.

Hot Boxx on Charles Street was targeted by thieves for the fifth time on Wednesday. Photo: Matt Brown.

Young stroke survivor’s marathon celebration

A young stroke survivor has a marathon goal in mind to mark the fourth anniversary of the day she beat the odds.

Blenheim woman Irene Anderson was just 22 years old when she suffered a severe stroke.

Now the electrical engineer is retracing her footsteps in the St Clair half marathon next month to celebrate her new lease on life.

Two days after completing the 21.1km course in 2019, Irene suffered a stroke at home in Blenheim. The keen runner was partially paralysed as her brain swelled to dangerous proportions.

“I was told I wouldn’t be able to walk again,” Irene says. “My brain swelled and they had to take away a third of my skull.”

The Marlborough Lines engineer had been in Blenheim just three months when she collapsed, with surgeons later revealing she was lucky to be alive.

As the anniversary of that day in May approaches, Irene, now

26, has mixed feelings about it. But she was determined to do something positive.

“I’m a bit apprehensive but want to celebrate too. It will be good to claim that [the half marathon] back.”

Initially, Irene blamed ongoing calf pain on a sports injury but competed in the 2019 half marathon regardless.

She says she remembers running and struggling to breathe.

She knows now that she had a blood clot which moved from her calf to her lungs and then her brain.

On the day of the stroke, Irene says she struggled to even walk to work and knew something wasn’t right. But it was only when she collapsed at home that she real ised how sick she truly was.

“To start with I thought I’d just fainted but half my body wouldn’t work. I called my friend and thought I was talk ing but she hung up as I wasn’t saying anything,” Irene says.

“She was worried and came round. Friends knew straight away what had happened and called an ambulance.”

Only 25 to 30 per cent of strokes are experienced by people under the age of 65 years in New Zealand.

A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to part of the brain causing it to stop working and eventually damaging brain cells. Consequences can be debilitating and last a lifetime.

After a three week stay in Christchurch Hospital and then three weeks at Burwood Hospital for rehabilitation, Irene, now 26 years old, was well enough to be discharged. Her left hand still causes her some issues and she battles constant fatigue, she says. But within months of being discharged, the tenacious runner was back in her sneakers,

Irene Anderson will mark four years since she suffered a stroke when she returns to the St Clair Half. Photo: Paula Hulburt.

PAULA HULBURT

1. Jared Morris and Denis Tocker

2. Jodie McMurtrie and Sophie Smith

3. Alex Craig with Brendon and Cameron Clemett

4. Mark and Viv Peters with Carolyn and Alan Gibbons

5. Emily Stenhouse, Aroha Minhinnick and Lynda Shanks

6. Neve McKenzie, Bek Scherp, Kate Vavasour, Alice Parkinson, Mel Morris and Emma Coldwell

7. Zach and Shannyn Mitchell

8. Jo Burrell and Debbie Groome

9. Amy Darling, David Hawtin, Grace Hawtin, Jaco du Plessis and Flynn Hawtin

Inspire 7

Foundation Awards 2 5 8

6

3 1 4

HAVING A PARTY OR EVENT: Call our photographer PH 928 4121 03 578 4719 | Cnr Hutcheson & Parker Sts, Blenheim | www.sowmans.co.nz PREPLAN · PREPAY Join us as we celebrate our newly upgraded and modernized Mayfield Chapel and facilities. OPEN DAY Saturday 15 April 10am-2pm Our open day is a perfect opportunity for you to explore our renovated chapel with state-of-the-art technology, and see our comfortable arrangement rooms and catering lounge. Our team will be on hand to answer any questions. “Geoffrey T Sowman - where lasting memories are made, and legacies honoured.”

Out&About

Hospital equipment amnesty

Do you have any Nelson or Wairau Hospital equipment that you are no longer needing? A shower stool in your back shed? A raised toilet seat in a hall cupboard? Or even something in the garage - perhaps a walking frame that’s now home to a spider?

If hospital equipment has served its purpose in helping you or a loved one, please return it so the equipment can go on helping more people. On average, 350 items leave the Nelson Hospital store every week, so getting items back that are no longer in use is very important.

You can identify equipment as belonging to the hospital if it has a grey barcode sticker with hospital identification on it. Monday to Friday, drop it by:

Nelson

The Allied Health Store, Motueka Street, next to Taylor’s Laundry 8am to 4:30pm

Takaka

Golden Bay Community Health, 10 Central Street

8:30am to 5pm

Motueka

Motueka Health Centre, 15 Courtney Street

8am to 4:30pm

Blenheim

Taylor Pass Road, southern entrance to the hospital via the service entrance 8am to 2:30pm

We’ll clean it, check it for health and safety criteria, and reissue it to another patient in need.

We really appreciate your assistance in helping us help others.

Many thanks from the Occupational Therapists and the Physiotherapists of Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough.

Reduce pressure on the ED by staying well this winter

DR NICK BAKER Chief Medical Officer/ Paediatrician for Te Whatu OraNelson Marlborough

Every winter, New Zealand sees an increase in coughs, colds and other respiratory illnesses such as asthma and flu. This happens as the weather cools off letting infectious droplets spread more easily and people gather closer together.

So, we must prepare for as increase in demand for healthcare services and do everything we can to prevent illnesses over the winter months.

Many minor illnesses get better by themselves. If you become unwell, stay and home, take a RAT test to check for COVID-19, and rest.

Staying home if you’re sick and keeping away from others, especially people vulnerable to infections, helps prevent the spread of infection.

Flu can be a very serious illness for the very young, for older people, and for anyone who has a condition that makes it harder to cough and breathe easily.

As people are mixing and gathering at normal pre-COVID-19 levels, there is a high risk that the 2023 flu season could be one of the worst experienced in many years.

If you are sick, or if you’re concerned about getting sick, we recommend you limit mixing with others and wear a mask. Good ventilation dilutes and removes the infectious droplets from the air we breathe. So fresh air is your friend.

It is important to avoid overcrowding and we recommend taking actions that increase air flow such as opening windows, as the weather allows, in places where people gather.

Autumn is often a time when

people get a flare up of chest problems and need to look at their needs for medications, particularly for asthma preven tors.

For those with a chronic condi tion it is better to get help early and not wait until you or your tamariki are very unwell. Another important step to save yourself pain and ease burden on health services is knowing that up to 90% of injuries can be pre vented and many injuries happen in your own home.

Now is a good time to do a home safety check before winter to re duce trips and falls and protect our tamariki.

DIY tasks around the house and garden demand proper safety gear (safety glasses, dust masks, etc), and careful planning especially if they involve ladders, chainsaws, mowers or power tools. Check https://www.acc.co.nz/ preventing-injury/staying-safe-inyour-home/ for more.

Vaccination against flu is your first line of defence, reducing risks of severe illness for you and it helps stop the spread of illnesses around your community.

The flu jab is free for people aged 65 years and over, Māori and Pacific people aged 55 years and over, pregnant people, and people who have long-term conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart conditions, children aged 6 months to 12 years old, and people with mental health and addiction issues.

Make sure your tamariki have all the other vaccines they need to protect them. We are especially concerned about the risks of outbreaks of measles and whooping cough this winter – ask your healthcare provider about the MMR vaccine and the pertussis vaccine.

Having COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, will protect

worst effects of COVID-19.

From 1 April 2023, an additional Covid-19 bivalent booster is also available. This is a vaccine adapted to provide better protection against some of the newer strains of Covid-19.

All New Zealanders 30 and over can also access this booster as long as it’s been at least 6 months since their last COVID-19 booster or positive COVID-19 test. People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 will also be able to receive an additional booster, regardless of how many doses they’ve previously had.

If you cannot remember what you have had check with https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/ or discuss with your health professional. If you do get sick this winter, you can access care in your community, close to your home when you need it.

Advice and care is always available at any time of the day or night by calling Healthline (0800 611 116). Pharmacies can provide advice and care for minor ailments, or if you are unsure where to get help.

Some GPs offer telehealth consults as well as in-practice consults, and some also offer after hours services.

Urgent care clinics are for urgent medical care or after-hours care.

The Marlborough Urgent Care Centre is open daily 8AM to 8PM and is located next to Wairau Hospital.

The Nelson Medical and Injury Centre is open daily 8AM to 10PM and is located next to Nelson Hospital. Learn more and check fees on www.healthpoint.

co.nz Call an ambulance in cases of

a life or limb-threatening emergency.

Sometimes hospital visits are required if people get very sick.

The Nelson and Wairau Hospital Emergency Departments are always available for people who are very unwell. We ask that you save the ED for those who need them for emergency care.

Book your flu and COVID-19 vaccines now at www.BookMyVaccine.co.nz, call Healthline on 0800 28 29 26, or contact your GP, pharmacy or healthcare provider.

Chief Medical Officer for Te Whatu Ora - Nelson Marlborough, Dr Nick Baker. Photo: Supplied.

Develop the confidence you deserve Caci Clinic Blenheim - Krista Coningham

Taking the industry by storm, Caci Clinic Blenheim owner, Krista Coningham is proving that taking a leap of faith in life can pay dividends.

Formally from the corporate world, Krista first fell in love with the Caci brand over 25 years ago when she lived upstairs from Caci Ponsonby. Fast forward to now and Krista is sweeping up the accolades, recently adding the Westpac New Zealand Supreme Franchisee of the Year award for 2022 to her arsenal.

“I love the Caci brand because Caci are experts in their field, and what it embodies.” Moving to the region with her family seven years ago, the Caci Clinic opportunity came up in 2019 and Krista leapt at the opportunity.

Winning the 2022 Supreme award validated to Krista that her team are on the right track. “We won two awards that night including Retail

and Hospitality Franchisee of the Year. When my name was called out for the Supreme award, I thought no way! I never considered we would win and was overwhelmed with emotion and thankfulness. For me, this award was for my team, our customers and my supporters.”

The eight-strong Caci Clinic Blenheim team are about to welcome talented South African senior skin therapist, Camille on June 1.

“We are the first clinic to become accredited employers for Immigration New Zealand which allowed us to reach out globally. Camille will add another layer of expertise to the clinic, and we are really lucky to have her!”

Treating a vast range of customers, Krista says there is nothing like seeing her customers spring into the clinic six months later, with a renewed confidence.

“We help a whole spectrum of people who come to us with all sorts of differing needs. Everyone has

their own concerns or goals, and our role is to help them on their skin journey and rebuild their confidence.

“There can be many emotional moments in the clinic both before and after their journey. Our team is very experienced, always going above and beyond for their customers, and having a huge amount of care and passion for what they do.”

Caci is an inspirational brand, says Krista. “Caci is the only self-regulated business in the industry, where a panel of Dr’s and Surgeons oversee everything, ensuring a professional, experienced, highly qualified brand is maintained.

“I encourage anyone to book a free consultation and see how friendly, professional, welcoming and personalised our advice and services are, and make their first step to skin confidence.

“Come and experience how incredibly down to-earth and encouraging, our experts are.”

Krista Coningham, owner of Caci Clinic Blenheim.

Photo: Matt Brown.

AMY RUSS

Providing a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere

Columbus Coffee - Tracey Nicholl and Shona Binnington

Providing fresh, wholesome food within a friendly and caring environment, the owners of Columbus Coffee at Mitre 10 Marlborough on Alabama Road, Tracey and Shona are proving themselves to be a formidable team in the hospitality sector.

Purchasing the cafe in 2017, Tracey had the advantage of the inner workings of the business having managed the cafe for two years previously.

“I was the manager before we purchased the café from my stepmother, Anne Robinson. Anne had owned the café since Mitre 10 opened in 2007 and had a long history in hospitality around Marlborough. I would always end up working where she was, from an early age. Shona has a background in office administration and logistics so together we are a

great team!” It was the energetic and positive culture of the Colombus Coffee brand that resonated with the couple, complementing their passion for the industry, perfectly. Providing an excellent customer experience, nourishing growth within their team and tackling challenges head on is what Tracey and Shona are most passionate about. “It is incredibly rewarding and humbling to see your customers come back week after week, enjoying our company, our coffee and our food. We are incredibly proud of what we do and love seeing customers enjoy the café to catch up with family and friends.”

Attributing a portion of resilience and an incredible amount of hard work to the success of the business, Tracey and Shona are incredibly grateful to their staff members and the wider community for the continued support over the years.

“A can-do attitude and not being afraid to ask for support and help when needed is vital to succeed. Being open minded to change, sharing the load with people who care and respect you, but most of all believing in what we do and backing our team along the way. We are very grateful to our staff for the work they do, and to our customers, for continuing to choose to visit us. Our work family and our customers are a highlight every day. We love that our staff love coming to work in our café as much as we love that our customers love coming to our café!

“Our staff are an extension of our family, and we are proud of our team and hope the positivity shows to all our customers. We are not a business without our people, it is such a privilege to get to know them on a personal level, they matter, and we are extremely grateful to all of them.”

Tracey Nicholl and Shona Binnington, owners of Columbus Coffee at Mitre 10 Mega on Alabama Road. Photo: Supplied.

AMY RUSS

Egg-citing school holidays

Have a crack at our egg-cellent activities

BAKING

Try these eggs-tra tasty treats!

Egg-tastic tip: Use your own counters so you can reuse the game board.

NOUGHTS & CROSSES

Each person takes their turn to fill a space on the board. The winner is the person who manages to fill three squares in a row, either across, down or diagonally.

Ingredients

Butter, for greasing

4 Mars bars, chopped

100g Unsalted butter

3 cups Rice bubbles

Assorted mini Easter eggs

Did you know?

A baby rabbit is called a kit, a female is called a doe and a male is called a buck.

Method

STEP 1: Grease and line the bases of a muffin tin.

STEP 2: Place Mars bars and butter in a medium saucepan. Stir over a low heat for 5 minutes or until melted.

STEP 3: Place rice bubbles in a large heatproof bowl. Add melted Mars bar mixture and stir to combine. Allow to cool, then divide mixture among muffin tin holes and shape into nests.

Can you eggs-cape the maze? Get the bunny to his eggs.

MAZE

Did you know?

A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing! Instead, they’re gradually worn down as the rabbit chews on their food.

Did you know?

Like cats, happy rabbits purr when they’re content and relaxed.

STEP 4: Refrigerate until firm. Store in refrigerator until just before serving.

STEP 5: When ready to serve, place on a platter with Easter eggs arranged inside each nest.

MOVIE NIGHT

Egg-stremely good movies (and where to find them)

1. Hop (G) Apple TV, Google Play

2. Peter Rabbit (PG) Apple TV, Google Play

3. Rise of the Gardians (PG) Netflix, Apple TV, Google Play

4. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (PG) Apple TV, Google Play

5. Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade (G) Disney+, Apple TV

Did you know?

A rabbit’s ears can grow up to 10cm in length and they can turn their ears 180 degrees.

The power of great branding

When you hear the phrases ‘Eat Fresh’, ‘Where Everyone gets a Bargain’ or see the slogan ‘Just Do It’ what brand names immediately come to mind? Subway, The Warehouse and Nike, right?

Great branding has the power to transform a company’s fortunes by creating an emotional connection with its customers. A strong brand can communicate the unique value proposition of a product and service and can create a distinct identity that makes it easily recognizable and memorable to customers, even in a crowded market. It’s that differentiation that can create a competitive edge, helping a business attract new customers and retain

existing ones. More than just a company logo or name, your brand can extend to how you represent yourself online, through a team uniform or dress code, as a service, in a cultural sense or a bricks and mortar format. It can be personal, geographical, or corporate. So, does getting your branding right actually matter?

In short, yes. Your brand not only provides a visual identity for your target audience and engages your customers, but it can also provide immense pride within a business and create recognition and credibility.

Great branding also provides a platform for innovation and growth. A business with a strong

brand can leverage its brand equity to launch new products or expand into new markets, confident that its customers will follow it.

An opportunity to tell your story, make a statement and to share your values, it is therefore incredibly important your brand, and the message you want to convey to the market, match. Where to start?

Every new brand needs an honest base to start from. Think about your mission statement, your target audience, what defines you and how you want to be perceived. What impact do you want your ‘first impression’ to make and how can you best stand out from your competitors.

Find inspiration, online or by talking to a professional and think of colour palettes, images, logos and fonts, keeping your design simple, versatile and easily recognisable. Nike after all is known worldwide by its slick, simple tick. Creating an online presence through social media or a userfriendly website will also increase engagement, creating a ‘journey’ for customers to explore the origins of your product, your backstory, and your team, helping to increase engagement. No matter the size of a business, whether a hobbyist, a local club, sports team, or a product or service, there is plenty of market research on the effect of good

branding and customer buying behaviour. Taking into con-

sideration the effect of product quality, price points, personal income and age groups, it has been proven time and again that clever branding can be an effective marketing tool and a powerful agent for all walks of business.

“Your brand can extend to how you represent yourself online, through a team uniform, as a service, in a cultural sense or a bricks and mortar format.”

marlborough football Football kick off looms

play in the 2023 Marlborough football season is set to begin.

Senior men’s grades kick off on Saturday, April 15, with the 14 sides involved split into two sections.

Mayfield Motorworld division one will comprise six teams, regular top-echelon sides Central Buccaneers, Bottle-O BV Masters, Central Wolves and Call Care Trojans being joined by Rangers Woodbourne, the first time for many seasons a team from the Base has been involved, and Picton Wildcats, who have reluctantly been promoted from last year’s division two. There will be no Rangers Development side in division one this year. The second division will feature eight teams – Rangers Masters, Rangers Reserves, Picton Crow Tavern, Trojans Marlborough

winner, with no promotion/relegation this season, while division two teams will complete two full rounds. At the conclusion of the league season the annual Knockout Cup competition will again be played.

Also kicking off on April 15 will be the region’s flagship side, Rangers AFC.

They will open their 2023 campaign with a cup match at A&P Park, followed by their first match in the Nelson division one league on April 22, also a home fixture.

Once again, they will be guided around the paddock by player/ coach Tore Waechter, the vastly-experienced midfielder a key part of the side which secured the league/cup double in 2022.

Despite the absence of such influential players as Carl Con-

nor-McClean, Harrison Pine and Louie Poletti for this campaign, Rangers’ ranks have been bolstered by the introduction of former midfield dynamo Taine Swete, the impressive Alex Duley, Guy Nolan and Boyd Elvy, the latter two making the step up from the reserve team last year. While Rangers have a strong squad on paper, a string of recent injuries has left them light

on numbers at the outset of the season.

Aaron Hayes (concussion), Swete (ribs), Sverre Waechter (collar bone) are all sidelined at present while the availability of Scott Belsham and Sam Hickmott is up in the air. However, classy campaigners such as Jordan Columbus, Bjorn Waechter, Kane Elvy, Callum McDonald, Keagan Mortimer, keep-

er Luc Sherwood and Jack Morris will provide a solid base.

Tore expects the Nelson league to remain at eight teams this year, and is sure it will be just as competitive.

“I know we have it in us to defend our title, and that’s what we are aiming for,” he said.

“But I also know we have nothing to prove as we are consistently a top two team in this league. Dur-

The Central Buccaneers side claimed the senior men’s Knockout Cup title last year. Photos: Peter Jones.

marlborough football

marlborough football

quickly and working for each other,” added Tore.

Rangers AFC squad for 2023: Luc Sherwood (GK), Kane Elvy, Boyd Elvy, Jordan Columbus, Fynn Hawes, Alex Duley, Bjorn Waechter, Tore Waechter, Callum McDonald, Guy Nolan, Jack Morris, Keagan Mortimer, Aaron Hayes, Sam Hickmott, Sverre Waechter, Taine Swete, Scott Belsham.

Final numbers for the women’s competition have yet to be final ised with three teams confirmed and a fourth side possible. Their season begins on April 29.

Picton’s Endeavour Park and Woodbourne during the forth coming season.

Andrea said the fact they are able to spread the workload over more pitches this year will be a bonus when wet weather begins to have an impact on ground availability.

“We don’t want to have the same hassles that occurred last season with cancellations so we are

game April 15.

Marlborough senior men’s club season begins April 15

Juniors, youth, women football begin on April 29.

Tournaments in Blenheim

12th grade girls SI tournament –12th grade Gavin Roberts SI tournament - September 24-26

Tasman club rep tournaments

11-12th grades – Sept 28-29; 13th 14th grade – October 1-2

South Island Masters (approx. 50 teams) Oct 13-15

Matt Neal Memorial tournament

ing a season where we are already plagued with injury, enjoyment will be a big factor for us.

“I am really proud of the football the boys have been playing. We have put a huge focus into working as a team, not having to rely on individual strengths to get us over the line and that’s a massive positive.

“The boys have been fully onboard and committed to playing a style of football that suits everyone in the team, moving the ball

Marlborough Football general manager Andrea Smith-Scott is happy that overall team numbers have remained strong.

“I am looking forward to a real ly exciting season,” she said. “It is great to keep the same [team] numbers as last year even though a few of our players have left the province. It is also good to have a couple of new teams in division one.”

Senior games will be played on fields located at A&P Park, Oliver Park, Athletic Park, Renwick,

Junior, youth and womens football kicks off 29 April.

Rangers AFC did the league/cup double in 2022.

Photo: Supplied.

Everyone’s a winner after club rugby kick-off at Awarua

good that was. I think Central would be first to say that that was a real game of rugby.

tere lineout to dot down.

Both teams came away from the opening round of Marlborough premier rugby satisfied with their efforts.

Central, the reigning Tasman Trophy and Marlborough sub-division champs, beat Moutere 4117 under lights at Awarua Park on Thursday night, getting their 2023 campaign off to a satisfying bonus-point start.

Their opponents were also satisfied with their effort, especially after the club has been unable to field a stand-alone Magpies side in the top echelon of top of the south rugby for the past two seasons.

This year they have cobbled a side together, stepping into the void left by Renwick in premier play, and are intent on building a team capable of taking on any of the top Tasman Trophy contenders.

The Blues were a tough proposition first up, but the Magpies can be justifiably proud of their showing, trailing by just 12 points midway through the second spell before letting in a couple of late tries to inflate the scoreline.

Moutere head coach Jeremy Clark said his side were “stoked” after the match.

“Their energy was really good, they played very well. That was the Tasman champs we just played and I thought the scoreboard didn’t quite reflect how

“We put the heat on them and the fact they brought some more experienced players off the bench to finish the game was a mark of respect for our boys.

“We have only had three weeks together and one pre-season match so the boys’ are happy and their heads are up high … they are proud of what they did tonight.

“And we will just keep doing that and one day the result will be in our favour,” added Jeremy. Central player/coach Quentin MacDonald was also pleased with the result.

“We are still building nicely and we started with a pretty fresh pack so it was good to come out here to Awarua, where some of the boys haven’t played for a while, and put some good footy together.

“There’s still plenty to work on but it is good to see such a competitive Moutere side again. It’s awesome to have them back and to play footy out here again.”

The match opened with a burst of scoring, a try to Central winger David Fotu in the third minute quickly matched by a touchdown to Moutere midfielder Jake Pacey. Conversions to Mitch Smith and Pacey saw the scores level, before Central surged ahead five minutes later, prop Jeremy Foley taking advantage of a wayward Mou-

Pacey’s second try on the quarter hour mark reduced the deficit again, but further tries to Fotu, fellow winger Lani Fihaki and halfback Ethan Jones saw the Blues ahead 29-12 at the break.

The first half of the second spell was scoreless as the sides struggled for cohesion, before a try to replacement Max Morris from a lineout drive saw the home side cut the deficit to 12.

Finally stung into action, Central upped the ante, going to their bench, and they finished well, Fihaki bagging his second and replacement hooker Quentin MacDonald dotting down on fulltime to ensure there was no late Moutere comeback.

Sione Lonitenisi, Matt McCormick and Edan Fitzpatrick stood out up front for the victors, with Ben Filipo, Nigel Satherley and Jake Cresswell shining in the backline.

Atu Taufa, Monu Moli, and Archie Schluter impressed for Moutere, Ben Finau, Angus Phillip and Pacey the pick of the back division.

Next weekend Central host Waitohi at Lansdowne Park in the second sub-union clash.

Scores: Central 41 (Dave Fotu 2, Lani Fihaki 2, Ethan Jones, Jeremy Foley, Quentin MacDonald tries, Mitch Smith 3 con) Moutere 17 (Jake Pacey 2, Max Morris tries, Pacey con) HT: 29-12.

Central midfielder Nigel Satherley spies a gap in the Moutere defensive line. Photos: Peter Jones.

Moutere hooker Monu Moli prepares to throw to a lineout.

MTB crew shine at Coronet Peak

PETER JONES

Neither snow nor stern competition could deny Marlborough riders podium positions at the recent Cycling New Zealand Schools South Island mountain bike championships.

Coronet Peak, near Queenstown, was the venue for the “Summer Tournament Week” event, a title that proved something of a misnomer with snow, rain and forecast gales eventuating. Organisers were eventually forced to postpone the event for a day so the tracks could be cleared after a snowstorm.

The delay did not deter the Marlborough contingent, with three riders claiming SI titles.

MGC’s Maddy Sinclair took out the under-20 girls’ cross country, Bohally rider Kobie Madsen won the under-13 boys enduro while MBC student

Lachlan McNabb prevailed in

the under-20 boys’ cross country race.

Three silvers were added to the collection, Neve McKenzie finishing second in the under-16 girls’ cross country, Kobie coming second in the under-13 boys downhill while Liam Harcus was runner-up in the under-15 boys enduro.

These results were particularly notable, given this was Kobie’s first major Cycling NZ competition and Liam is also very new into his competitive mountain biking career.

Maddy finished third overall in her U20 category after placing sixth in the downhill and fourth in enduro.

Not to be outdone in the U20 category, Lachlan also finished third overall with a fifth place in both the enduro and downhill. The National Schools Mountain Bike Champs will be hosted in Blenheim during October.

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Lachlan McNabb won the under-20 boys’ cross country title. Photos: Supplied.

Maddy Sinclair came out on top in the under-20 girls’ cross country and third overall.

Kobie Madsen claimed the under-13 boys’ enduro crown.

Women’s club rugby hopes lie with Wairau Wāhine

PETER JONES

The Wairau Wāhine will fly Marlborough’s flag during this season’s women’s Tasman Trophy competition.

An amalgamation of players and administrators from the Moutere, Renwick and Central clubs, the Wairau side will join Kahurangi, Waimea Old Boys and Marist in the top of the south league, which begins on April 15.

After initial efforts by all the clubs involved to come up with more than one team from this side of the hill were hampered by low player numbers, some senior players got together and decided to form a new side.

They reasoned that running a large squad, with good numbers, would provide a better experience for those involved, rather than trying to scrape together three sides each week, good enough to tackle some classy opposition.

Niska Scott, a former Tasman rep and long-time Moutere stalwart, says around 30 players have expressed an interest in joining the Wāhine and she expects they will eventually run a squad of around 25 players.

Along with Niska, such experienced operators as Hannah Gillespie, Courtney Finau, Tallulah Tuffery, Di Huntley, Kelly Collins and Pippa Andrews will line up alongside such rising talents as Fiaali’i Solomona, Rebecca Fa’apopo and Raumati Rogers, providing a solid core.

Sports News In Brief

RYAN MAKES GRADE

Two stunning multisport performances have earned Ryan Marfell national selection. Firstly, Ryan competed at the Taranaki Tri Festival in New Plymouth, winning the under-19 title and placing fifth overall. Just four days later, he raced at the NZ secondary schools triathlon champs in Wanaka, claiming an impressive third placing. His efforts earned him selection by the New Zealand Triathlon Committee to represent New Zealand at the Hamburg World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships in July. He will be competing in the U19 Age Group.

GOLF TITLES DECIDED

Rarangi golfers claimed the prestigious Ryniker Cup gross title when the annual event was staged at the Marlborough Golf Club recently. Marlborough took out the nett crown. The Duncan Salver gross was won by Marlborough, with the team from Picton picking up the nett title.

INDOOR BOWLERS IN ACTION

Niska says the team were not totally focussed on results at this early stage.

“With this team coming together as a new group we are just looking at this season as a stepping stone, especially as regards bringing new players into the mix and getting them up to the level required to compete.

“We will always be concentrated on winning each game but just having fun and getting some newbies on the paddock is vital to growing the game in our region.”

Marlborough have enjoyed previous success in the Tasman Trophy, Moutere winning the 2021 final against the odds at Trafalgar Park, their third title after taking out the competition in 2017-18.

The side will play three Tasman Trophy rounds and have a strong

coaching/management group of Helen Leota, Kelly Canning, Hannah Gillespie, Sinead Travers and Maiden Tupara.

The Wāhine begin their season on Saturday, April 15, against Kahurangi in Renwick, kick off 1.15pm.

The Wairau Wāhine provisional squad:

Ana Puliuvea, Bryher Jager, Court Finau, Emma Parnell, Fiaali’i Solomona, Hannah Gillespie, Jamie Allison, Jamie Love, Kelly Collins, Lana Mells, Maia Jones, Melissa Thompsett, Niska Scott, Pippa Andrews, Raumati Rogers, Rebecca Fa’apopo, Ryhan Nadji, Talia Craddock, Tallulah Tuffery, Tamara Taulapapa-Mati, Wiki Curtis, Tahlia Leigh, Diane Huntley, Katie Walker, Aiesha Tepuia, Aimee Harnett, Jess Hardley, Olivia Procter.

The 9 Bowls Triples indoor bowls tournament was staged recently at Simcox Stadium. This was the first event of the season and also the first round of the new Zonal Challenge Competition being held between Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay/Motueka. The winners were Steven Grant, Lois Randall and Kiri Bond with 4.5 wins and 40 ends. Runners-up were Brian Booker, Peter Hanley and Marie Granger from Nelson with 4.5 wins and 37 ends. Third place went to Nathan and Lewis Della Bosca and Graeme Smitherham with 4 wins and 49 ends. The tournament was well supported with 14 teams playing, including 3 teams from Nelson.

RUGBY REUNION REMINDER

A steady stream of registrations are coming in for the Opawa Rugby Club Reunion in Blenheim at Kings Birthday weekend, but organisers are reminding those who have not yet made contact to do so. The event runs from June 1-4 and will include a wide range of activities designed to entertain and rekindle memories of the famous ‘Black Cloud’. Interested parties can email opawareunion@gmail.com or contact the Waterfront Hotel or Duke Ellison on 0226589816.

BUSY TIME FOR YOUNGSTER

Marlborough athlete Neve Mckenzie recently completed a very challenging four days of athletic excellence. Leading out of the water in the under-16 race at the NZ secondary schools triathlon champs in Wanaka, she battled for quite a while in transition with a stuck zip on her wetsuit. Well down on the leaders on to the bike, she battled through to a bronze medal. Next day was the NZ secondary schools MTB champs at Cardrona where she claimed a silver medal. Neve backed these results up with wins in the under-15 1500m and 3000m at the South Island secondary schools athletic champs in Invercargill on the last two days.

Hannah Gillespie and Pippa Andrews celebrate Tasman Trophy success in Moutere colours in 2021. Photo: Supplied.

Finn’s up for Europe

PETER JONES

At this time of year, multi-talented athlete Finn McKenzie would usually be preparing for another rugby season. However, for the next two-and-a-halfmonths the Marlborough Boys’ College student’s focus will be fully concentrated on mountain biking. He has been given a rare opportunity to pit his expertise against some of the world’s leading under-19 MTB exponents, competing on the European World Cup circuit as part of a New Zealand Development team.

The Kiwi MTB Collective team comprises seven under-19 riders, three men and four women, plus eight under-23 racers, all competing in the cross-country discipline.

Finn departed NZ on March 15, initially competing in the Oceania champs in Brisbane where he finished 10th among the Under-19 division. In Europe he will race in four World Cup series events, those major competitions interspersed with other races which have fewer entrants and are worth less series points. His best result so far, amid some sizeable fields, has been a fourth placing in an under-19 marathon event in Croatia, his liking for the longer races no surprise given the fact he has trained hard all summer for the gruelling Speights Coast to Coast. The 16-year-old is “absolutely stoked” to get a chance to race in Europe.

“It has been a big goal of mine and I have been working towards it for many years,” he said. “I have been riding mountain bikes since I was five.”

Last year Finn won the national under-17 title, providing one of the highlights of his riding career so far.

“That was a big stepping stone for me and I knew from then on that this trip was something I wanted to focus on.”

Finn said the Kiwi team would be “constantly moving” through Europe.

“We train during the week then race on the weekend. Usually staying a week or 10 days in each country.

“We have travelled from Italy to Slovenia and are now in Croatia for the Croatia Cup next weekend. We then move to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic before returning to Slovenia for our last race.”

“This year is a chance for me to experience international racing … find out how it all works. Things like warming up properly, learning about strategies, nutrition and how to deal with racing among big fields, plus experiencing racing on harder tracks and in different weather conditions than we are used to in New Zealand.”

Although destined to miss a considerable chunk of study time, the year-12 student said MBC had been very helpful regarding his academic programme, allowing him “to shift a couple of assessments around”.

The second-season First XV loosie has also enjoyed some latitude from the Falcons’ coaching staff.

“I turned up to pre-season training and will only miss about three games of the team’s campaign, so last flight back from Europe I will be on the pies and ice cream to try and put on some beef before I get back into rugby,” he suggested.

Rod Thompson

Antony Clark

Richie Marsden

Paul O’Donnell

Terry Duff

Peter Jones

Matt Ryan

Greg Somerville

Simon Muir

Michael Winkler

Jayden MacDonald

Brad Taylor

Glenn Kirby

David Sutherland

Jamie Norton

Terry Renner

Susan Barron

Chris Goodyer

Mike Newman

Rob Hellstrom

Warren Cairns

Finn McKenzie in typical MTB action.

Photo: Supplied.

MARLBOROUGH’S COMMUNITY NOTICES

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MONDAY

WITHERLEA INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Mon 7pm, Redwoodtown Community Hall. All welcome, no age limits. Only gear needed is soft sole shoes. Ph Moira 027 4808272 or Heather 0273106675.

RUMMY-0 CLUB Mon 12.30-4pm Bowls club rooms, Weld St. Ph Joy 577 6191/Mary 5788747

BLENHEIM BEGINNER LINE DANCE CLASSES Mon

2-3pm and Mon 6-7pm. First lesson free, then $6 per lesson after that. Senior Citizen’s Hall, 172 High St. Ph Judith 5787554 or 0212341095

BLENHEIM SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Mon 7.30pm Whitney St School Hall. No partners needed. Beginners welcome. Ph Heather 02102587325.

MARLBOROUGH GUILD OF WOODWORKERS Mon

9am-12pm, 7-9pm. Wed 9am-12pm. Sat 9am-12pm.

Wooden toys & projects. 1st Sun monthly 1-4pm. Brayshaw Park. Ph Philip 5705188.

CARE & SHARE A place for creatives to meet, encourage & share their skills. Mon 9.30am fortnightly. Barnies, Nativity (76 Alfred St). Ph 5783909 for more info.

ROTARY CLUBS in Blenheim, meet Mon & Tues 5.30pm. World-wide service club for men & women, doing great things in your community. For info on meeting venues. Ph Blenheim Club Secretary Andy Rowe 021842928. Blenheim South Club Secretary Dean Heiford 0212462642.

TUESDAY

SAYGO (Steady As You Go) Balance/Exercise class Tues

11.30am-12.30pm. St Christophers Church Hall, 92 Weld St, followed by a cuppa & chat. Cost $2. Ph Donna – Eldercare Coordinator 0273852333 for more information.

MARLBOROUGH HERB SOCIETY Meets 4th Tues of month. 7pm, various locations. Promote use, educate & identification of herbs. Text only Meredith 0272122773.

SUNBELT TOASTMASTERS Learn public speaking & improve your confidence. Tues 6.20pm Fortnightly. St Mary’s Community Centre. Ph 0276001788 or email sunbeltblenheim@gmail.com

RED HAT SOCIETY The Kiwi Damsels in De-Stress are part of a worldwide organization for women to enjoy fun, laughter & friendship. A specific dress code is part of the fun. This daytime group meets twice a month on the 1st & 3rd Tues mornings. Ph Tina 0211045945.

MARLBOROUGH TENNIS CLUB Parker St. Tues 8.3012pm. Social tennis. Morning tea 10am. Non-members

$5. All welcome. Ph Joanna 0275786436

SIT AND BE FIT Tues & Thurs 1.15pm Cost $2. Contact Riversdale Community House 5780469 or 0223007342.

BLENHEIM CHORAL (Marlborough Singers) Tues, 7pm, Wesley Centre, Henry St. New members welcome, no auditions necessary. www.marlboroughsingers.org.

BLENHEIM AIR TRAINING CORP Tues 6.30-9pm RN-

ZAF Base Woodbourne. Recruiting new cadets aged between 13 & 15 for 2023. For more info email: 27sqn@ cadetforces.org.nz

PICTON NEWCOMERS NETWORK 1st Tues of month

‘COFFEE & CHAT’ 10-11am, Seabreeze Café, London Quay. New to town? Need help to settle in? Interested in local activities? We can help! Ph Cathy (Coordinator) 0210451799 picton@newcomers.co.nz

KNITTERS & SPINNERS Meet up Tues 10am, Picton library. Bring your knitting to the library for this social catch-up.

PICTON TABLE TENNIS for adults Tues 10am-12noon. Little Theatre, Picton. $4 per session. Meet people & get some exercise. Morning tea provided. New members welcome. Ph Ernest 0275888453.

RENWICK MENZ SHED 54 High St Renwick. Left side of church. Morning tea provided. Tues 9am-12pm. Ph Dave 021 0228 2592.

PICTON LINE DANCING Tue 9.30-11.30am, Anglican Church hall. $6 per class. Beginners welcome. Enquires to Carol 0212125252 or Raewyn 021715484.

WEDNESDAY

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Every Wed 7.30pm. Blenheim Bowling Club, 65 Weld St. Come along & enjoy yourself! Ph Erin 027 234 1709.

GROVETOWN INDOOR BOWLS Wed 7pm at Wesley Foundry. All bowlers welcome. Ph Morris 5786699.

RAPAURA INDOOR BOWLS CLUB Wed 7.30pm.

Rapaura Hall. New members welcome. Ph Sue

021661717

BLENHEIM PROBUS CLUB Retired/semi-retired? Enjoy good fellowship? We’d love to see you at our meetings.

1st Wed of the month. 10am. Wesley Centre. Coffee mornings & outings as well. Ph. Raewyn 5784576 or Robert 5788938.

PICTON - SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Wed 7.30pm. Picton Little Theatre. No partner needed. Beginner’s welcome. Ph Lynda 0212600860.

STRETCH & BREATHE Gentle stretching & Balance class for Seniors. Every Wed 10-11am. Followed by a cuppa & chat. Cost $2. St Christophers Church Hall, 92 Weld St. Ph Donna – Eldercare Coordinator 027385 2333 for more information.

MARLBOROUGH MULTICULTURAL CENTRE hosts a newcomers morning tea, Wed 10.30am-12noon, 21 Henry St. Opportunities for Newcomers & Marlburians to make friends, practice English & support each other. Everyone welcome. Tea, coffee & biscuits provided. Ven y practica tu inglés. Te esperamos.

HEART HELP SUPPORT Community group dedicated to the well-being of those who live with a heart condition or experienced a heart attack. Offering support to whanau. Meet 3rd Wed of the month, 10am, Quench Chateau Marlborough, 95 High St. Ph Jenny Goss 0211629102.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS casual parents/caregivers catch up, Wed 10.30-12pm, town Plunket Clinic, 16 Henry St. No charge.

MARLBOROUGH CHINESE FELLOWSHIP Chinese Christian group, whether interested in the Bible or Christianity, desiring to grow in the faith, or would like to meet new friends, we welcome you. Wed 6-7.30pm, St Christopher’s Church. 92 Weld St. Ph Guan 0221 642 782, Mandy 0224 326 886.

DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP Meets every Wed 1011.30am to support each other, have regular speakers, outings, share in a safe environment. Ph Alistair Crawford for details 0272 883 032.

MARLBOROUGH VINTAGE CAR CLUB MUSEUM Sun & Wed, 1.30 – 3.30pm, Brayshaw Park, Arthur Baker Pl, Blenheim. Donation appreciated. Other times by arrangement. Ph Bill 0275 784 322.

BLENHEIM PETANQUE CLUB Games held at courts, 65A Weld St, Wed 1-3pm & Sun 10am-12pm. Ph or text John 021979323.

LIONS’ CLUB OF BLENHEIM Serving the community for over fifty years. Would you like to know more about the Lion’s club or are interested in becoming a Lion. Tea meetings held 2nd & 4th Wed. Ph Delphine Lee 0299425004 or Helen Williams 0211458572.

WAITOHI SOCIAL CLUB. We meet at 10am at the Picton Library, every third Wed of the month for fun & friendship. Gold coin donation for morning tea. After meeting we go for lunch at one of the venues in Picton, should you wish to join us.

THURSDAY

PICTON BRIDGE CLUB Every Thurs 6.50pm Port Marlborough Pavilion. All levels welcome. Beginner lessons start 24th Apr. Ph Judy 021685348.

KEEP U MOVING Gentle indoor walking exercise for Seniors. 11.30am-12.30pm each Thurs except the 4th Thurs of the month. Followed by a cuppa & chat. Cost $2. St Christophers Church Hall, 92 Weld St. Ph Donna – Eldercare Coordinator 027385 2333 for more information.

INVITING YOU TO COMPANIONS for ages 65+, 1st Thurs of Month. 1pm. Harvest Life Church, 22 Nelson St. It’s free, so no strings attached & there’s YUMMY afternoon tea. We have an interesting programme throughout the year. For more info ph Avon 035792440/ Lorraine 035781240/Shirley 035783728.

OLDER PERSONS SEMINAR Thurs 27th Apr. St Christopher’s Church Hall, 10am-1pm. Speakers: Janette Simmons & Shirley Hawtin. Entertainment. Morning tea & a light lunch provided. Cost $5. Ph Donna - Eldercare Coordinator 0273852333 for more information.

COPD SUPPORT & EXERCISE GROUP Free. Every 2nd & 4th Thurs 1.15pm. Redwoodtown Community Hall, Cnr Weld & Cleghorn St. For more info ph: Asthma Marlb 0272057244.

SOCIAL BADMINTON Thurs morning 9-12noon Simcox Stadium Batty’s Rd. $5. All adults welcome. Ph Cathy 021 503 348

PICTON TABLE TENNIS Thurs 10am-12pm, Port Marlborough Pavilion, Waikawa Rd. All adults welcome. $4

incl. morning tea. Equipment supplied. Ph Ernest 0275 888 453.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Thurs 7-8pm Riversdale Community House, 131 Budge St.

MARLBOROUGH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 2nd Thurs of month, 7.30pm, EOC, 4 Wither Rd. For all interested in Amateur Radio, Electronics & Emergency Communications.

KNIT & NATTER Marlb District Library. Every 2nd & 4th Thurs of the month, 10am-12noon, tea & coffee provided. All welcome. Bring your yarn & have a yarn. For info ph: Sue 5785317.

FRIDAY

NATIVITY TUNES FOR TOTS Music, food & fun for pre-schoolers & caregivers. Fri 9.30am. Wesley Centre, 3 Henry St. During term time. Ph 5783909 for more info.

PICTON NEWCOMERS NETWORK ‘SUNDOWNERS’

5-6pm at Café Cortado on the waterfront. New to town? Need help to settle in? Interested in local activities? We can help! Ph Cathy (Coordinator) 021 045 1799 picton@ newcomers.co.nz

LINK Fun & board games & afternoon tea for all in the lounge at Nativity Centre, 76 Alfred St every Fri 1pm. Gold coin donation appreciated. Ph 5783909 for info.

UPBEAT ORCHESTRA community orchestra for all ages, instruments, from beginner-grade 5. St Ninians Church Hall, Alabama Rd every Fri 5-6.30pm For more info email upbeatorchestra@gmail.com

SATURDAY / SUNDAY

RENWICK SOCIAL TENNIS Starts 15th April. Every Sat, 2-4pm weather permitting. Members $2 Visitors $5. 10 Uxbridge St (behind the Bowling Club) Ph Leigh Andrews 0211913034 or visit our Facebook Page for more details & other upcoming events.

SUNDAY WORKING BEE – TE WHANAU HOU GROVETOWN LAGOON Every 2nd Sun of the month. 14th May, 11th Jun, 9th Jul, 13th Aug, 10th Sep, 8th Oct & 12th Nov. Meet at Wairau Rowing Club, Steam Wharf Rd, Grovetown. 9:30am to 12pm, followed by a BBQ. We plant trees, tend previously planted trees, weeding, mulching & any jobs for continued conservation. E: Justine Johnson Johnsonmarlborough@gmail.com

BAHÁ’Í DEVOTIONS 1st & 3rd Sun, 10.30-11.15am, Marlborough Community Centre, 25 Alfred St, 12th Lane, Blenheim cnr Farmers carpark. “In the garden of thy Heart plant naught but the rose of love”. www.bahai.org.

THE ROADHOUSE BREAKFAST for car enthusiasts of all genres. 1st Sun of month, Riverlands Roadhouse, coffee cart on site, cafe has great food. 100+ cars at each of first two events.

BLENHEIM ROTARY BOOTSALE MARKET Railway Station carpark, Sat 8am-12pm. Blenheim Rotary Bootsale operating over 25 years, funds to local/international projects. New or used items, plants, food, coffee carts welcome. See bootsalemarket on Facebook.

MARLBOROUGH STROKE CLUB a voluntary organisation dedicated to the wellbeing of those who have experienced a stroke, and to the support of their caregivers. We offer support, friendship & education with various meetings held each month. Ph Vyvienne Dunlop 5783837 or 021929955.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Sat 7-8pm Riversdale Community House, 131 Budge St.

MARLBOROUGH MUSEUM at Brayshaw Park, open 10am-4pm. Maori treasures, Wairau Bar 1250 AD, The Wine Exhibition, Early settlers, Asian Dolls, 1870 to 1970 Fashion, local pottery plus more! FREE entry on Saturdays.

MARLBOROUGH MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB committed to seeing mountain biking flourish in Marlborough. We hold regular rides suitable for all levels of fitness & ability. Including back country expeditions, easy local rides, more serious mountain bike races. Marlboroughmountainbike@gmail.com.

BLENHEIM FAMILY HISTORY GROUP Interested in Family History Research & building your Family Tree?

Contact us for advice & assistance. Informal gatherings held 3rd Sun of month, 1.30–3pm, Family History Rooms, Brayshaw Park. Ph Lauri 578 8385.

MARLBOROUGH ARTISAN CRAFT MARKET Sat, Market Place. Come down & meet your local craft people. Children’s area with games for young & old. A free Community Site to promote or fund-raise your organisation. Renwick Tennis Club 8 Uxbridge St.

MARLBOROUGH FARMERS MARKET A&P showgrounds, 9am-12pm Sun, local fresh & seasonal produce & products.

REDWOOD MARKET Redwood Tavern car park, Cleghorn St. 8am-noon every Sat. Plants, garden products, flowers, crafts including handmade soaps, cards & jewellery. Raising money for your community.

PICTON RAIL & SAIL on the Foreshore. Mini train rides & yachts from 20 cents. Every Sunday & the school holiday’s, subject to weather.

BLENHEIM RIVERSIDE RAILWAY Runs 1st & 3rd Sun of the month. We have Eftpos. Facebook / Riverside Railway.

MARLBOROUGH TENNIS CLUB Parker St. Every Sun 3-5pm. Social Tennis Non-Members $2 All welcome. Ph Joanna 0275786436

BARNABAS CHURCH BLENHEIM 4pm Sun service. St Ninians Church, corner Riley Cres & Alabama Rd. More info: barnabas.org.nz.

MARLBOROUGH ASSOCIATED MODELLERS SOCIETY miniature train rides, $2, 1st & 3rd Sun of month, model yacht & boat sailing Sun, 1pm-4pm, Brayshaw Park.

CRUISEY CHURCH for kids of all ages & their families. Includes bible stories, games, songs, crafts & dinner. 3rd Sat each month 5-6.30pm. St Andrew’s Church, 5 Henry St, Blenheim. Koha appreciated.

KETO SUPPORT GROUP meets Sat fortnightly (approx. beginning & mid-month), 10am, Revival Cafe, Springlands. Informal gathering of folk interested in this dietary practice. No charge, no obligation - but the coffee’s great! Ph 027 505 7774 for more info.

REPAIR CAFÉ We’ll fix your small repair on site. On the day, while you wait & have a cuppa. Sewing, darning, bikes, small furniture, wooden items, toys, electronics & mobile phones. 9am-12noon, 22nd Apr, (every 4th Sat of the month). John’s Kitchen, 2 Redwood St. Donations accepted.

GENERAL GROUPS

BLENHEIM ROWING CLUB Rowing on the Wairau River from the boatshed at 259 Jones Rd, Grovetown. Every Sun from 8.45am. Tues & Thurs from 4.45pm. Novice & experienced rowers welcome, any age. Learn to Row programme. Full details at blenheimrowing.co.nz or contact 027487622.

WEEKLY STEADY AS YOU GO CLASSES Mon 10.3011.30am The Foundry, John St. Tues 1.30– 2.30pm, Union Parish, 40 Broadway, Picton. (2 doors down from Police Station). Tues 11.30am-12.30 St Christophers Hall, Redwoodtown. Wed 1.30-2.30pm, Marlborough Community Centre, 25 Alfred St, Blenheim. For more information call the Age Concern office 5793457. Cost Blenheim $2 per class. Picton $3 per class.

MARLBOROUGH COMMUNITY VEHICLE TRUST Have difficulty getting to medical appointments in NELSON? This trust was created to carry people to Nelson for medical appointments. Ph 574 1311 or email soundsvehicle@gmail.com.

AA MEETINGS Marlborough area. Ring alcoholics anonymous for help to stop drinking. Ph 0800229 6757. www.aa.org.nz. Meetings: 7.30pm Mon, Plunket Rooms, 21 Bythell St / 7.30pm Wed Picton Model Railway, 1 Picton Wharf / 7.30pm Fri St Luke’s Church Hall, 20 Ferry Creek Rd, Spring Creek / 7.55am Sat Salvation Army Rm, 35 George St / 7.30pm Sun at Church, 54 High St, Renwick.

PICTON MEN’S COMMUNITY SHED 2 Market St. Wed 8.30am-2.30pm. Sat 8.30am-12noon. Ph Bill Rogers 5735507 or Rex 021469191. A place of welcome for Picton’s menfolk.

BLENHEIM MENZ SHED 4 Dillons Point Rd, Bright Centre Complex. Where men of all ages meet to just chill out or do projects for themselves or the community. We provide equipment, tools & workspace for most woodwork & metalwork projects. Open Sat 9am-12noon. Mon & Thurs 1-4pm. Ph Dave 0212340057.

SENIORNET MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Linkwater Hall, Queen Charlotte Drive. Our tutors are available for people 50+ who need assistance with their computer or smart phone. Contact Secretary Ian Cameron (03) 574 2558 to arrange.

BROOKLYN CROQUET CLUB Tues, Thurs, Sat, 1pm Golf Croquet, Whitehead Park grounds, Brooklyn Dr. Mallets supplied.

MARLBOROUGH TRAMPING CLUB A very active club. Mid-week & Sunday trips, plus overnight & extended trips. Find info at http://www.marlboroughtrampingclub.co.nz or marlboroughtrampingclub@gmail.com

You will be part of the Works Operations team, which consists of a fast responding, multi-skilled team servicing the community’s need for functioning water systems, including drinking water, storm water and waste water.

We are looking for a positive, can-do team player, who has truck driving experience, especially operating vehicles of up to 12 tonne. Experience in driving and operating a jet cleaner unit for sewer and stormwater maintenance is ideal, and who enjoys getting stuck into a variety of tasks. You should have a current drivers licence with at least classes 1 & 2 and preferably WTR endorsement.

Previous experience in water reticulation, stormwater and sewerage would be an advantage. Training will be provided where necessary. You would need to have a current driver’s licence with at least classes 1 & 2 and preferably WTR endorsement.

Ko ngā pūmanawa ōu | About you

This role requires someone who:

• Has a solutions based approach.

• Has an aptitude for considering the “big picture” and implications on decision making.

• Is flexible and has a positive attitude.

• Has previous truck driving experience, holding appropriate licences

• Has a willingness to complete courses to gain their Civil Trade Certificate

If you are enthusiastic and well organised, with good initiative, then this may be the role for you.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

• A workplace that supports flexibility, health and wellbeing.

• An environment where input, initiative and innovation are encouraged.

• A fantastic learning environment and support for continuing education.

• A competitive remuneration and benefits package (including life and income protection insurance, health insurance, enhanced leave and superannuation, and relocation support where applicable).

If you’re ready to progress your career with Te Kaunihera ā-rohe o Wairau - Tono mai | Apply now!

Applications close 5.00 pm on 23 April 2022.

For further information you are welcome to contact Stephen Rooney (Operations and Maintenance Engineer) on Stephen.Rooney@marlborough.govt.nz

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications should be made online via the careers page www.marlborough.govt.nz/ your-council/careers/current-vacancies. Here you will find full information on the vacancy and how to apply.

www.marlborough.govt.nz

RETAIL SALESPERSON

Mike’s Mowers & Chainsaw Services specialise in the sales and service of outdoor power equipment and are proudly the Husqvarna Crown Dealership for Marlborough.

A salesperson role has become available in our busy showroom. If you are looking for a new start in sales, greater variety in your work and like to hang out with a friendly and enthusiastic team, then welcome to your new role!

We pride ourselves on our warm and friendly workplace, built on the foundation of great service every time!

We are looking for a standout person who has:

• Previous retail/sales experience

• A positive attitude and is enthusiastic

• Communicate well and provide great customer service.

• Ability to cope well in a busy environment

• Attention to detail for recording repair work and organising parts

• An understanding of power tools

We offer a competitive hourly rate and an excellent team environment. The role is Monday to Friday 7:30am-5pm. If this sounds like you and you would like to be a part of a thriving business we would like to hear from you. Please forward your Cover Letter and C.V. to: dave@mikesmowers.co.nz

To be eligible for this position you must have a legal right to work permanently in New Zealand.

St Andrews Church

Office Administrator/ Accounts

• Secretarial and accounts

• 25 hours per week

An exciting opportunity for an Office Administrator/ Accounts to join our team. Complete job description available on request by email.

Excavator Operator

Edridge Contracting is a family run business operating throughout the Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman Regions. We pride ourselves on the delivery of high quality work for our clients whilst providing a workplace that is enjoyable for all staff.

Our team is an integral part to our business and for continued success we invest a lot of time and effort into supporting, training and providing opportunities for staff to upskill and grow.

We are looking for a Excavator Operator to join our Marlborough team. Experience in Forestry & Civil Earthworks is preferred

The position is full time and permanent. We offer regular hours with a minimum of 45 Hours guaranteed. Work vehicle is supplied. Give me a call any time to discuss the position. Malcolm Edridge 027 285 1659

www.edridgecontracting.co.nz

We are looking for reliable and enthusiastic humans to join our team.

The ideal person would have experience, however apprenticeships would be available for the right person.

The roles are full time, weekday work and 40 hours with an early finish Friday.

• Aluminium Fabricator

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st.andrews.church@xtra.co.nz

• Cabinet maker or Joiner

• Experienced Production Manager

Applicant needs to:

Have enthusiasm to learn and upskill, a current NZ Drivers License and own transport, have NZ citizenship/residency or a 3-year work visa.

For more information or to apply email your CV and Cover Letter to wendie@cantwelljoinery.co.nz

MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT COUNCIL Driver/Labourer

Homewood

War Memorial Hall

1pm Meeting and election of new Board.

Following ANZAC Day Service, 25th April 2023

Homewood, Pelorus Sounds.

Info: Mike Gerard, 03 5798232

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Advertise here. Ph 928 4121

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DELIVERY?

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with your address and when you didn’t receive it and we will follow up for you.

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• Countdown Redwoodtown • Countdown Blenheim

• New World Blenheim

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• Mitre 10 Mega Blenheim • Subway Stadium 2000

• Seddon Supermarket • Super Value Renwick

• Sweet Creations

• Haven Café • Velvet Café • Vines Village

• Picton Mariners Mall • Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries

Attention all Advertisers – Terms of Trade: By placing your advertisement you agree with the terms and conditions of the Marlborough Weekly Ltd. Namely, payment by the 20th of the following month. In the event of non payment interest will be charged on all debts 90days + overdue, The costs of any debt collection costs, included agency costs, will be on-charged to the client. For full terms of trade go to https://marlboroughweekly.co.nz/terms-of-trade/.

• Interislander Ferry Terminal • TSM Marlborough office

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14 Italian painter, d.1520 (7)

17 Token of truce (5,4)

18 Facing the bowling (cricket) (2,6)

19 Conspicuous (7)

21 Onerous situation (3,4)

22 In preference (6)

24 Coalition (5)

26 Irish legislature (4)