Marlborough Magazine June 2021

JUNE 2021

‘shroom BOOM

Biker’s

NEW LEASE ON LIFE

CLOUD

wine

PLUS: My Home | Celebrating Longstanding Businesses | Remembering Tru Blue

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June 2021

Contents Features 7

Q&A WITH CASS Blenheim musician Cass Koutsimanis reveals what makes her music, special.

9–11

‘SHROOM BOOM A look at the dark and humid world of growing mushrooms.

12–13

A NEW LEASE ON LIFE A near death experience revealed this Marlborough woman’s grit.

15-17

ON CLOUD WINE Bed and breakfast accommodation, but with a unique local twist.

Regular 20-21

Sporting Memories

25

On the Street

33-39

At Home

41

What’s On

42-43

Social Pages

46

Gardening

47

Recipe

9-11

12-13

W I N!

15-17

A double pass to the Blenheim Musical Theatre event, Aotearoa.

Email your details to hello@marlboroughmedia.co.nz and you’re in the draw to win.

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Editor’s Note

O

He l l o We are excited to bring you the June edition of captivating local stories and exciting opportunities that enhance the awesome Marlborough lifestyle.

h how I love a toasty warm fire to snuggle up in front of now that night falls earlier.

It’s that time of year that you can enjoy lazy evenings and weekends tucked up at home without feeling guilty you’re not filling up your social calendar.

With that in mind, we are making some changes to how you can get your latest edition.

Due to the growth of the magazine, we will be creating more ‘hot-spots’ where stands will be filled to cater for demand, keep an eye out for more information soon.

Instead you can close the curtains, binge on the latest trending Netflix series, podcast or Marlborough Magazine and soak up the comforts of home.

Summa

Don’t wish winter away, welcome it with open arms, we all need this down time!

EDITOR Summa MacDonald summa@marlboroughmedia.co.nz CONTENT EDITOR Paula Hulburt

JUNE 2021

‘shroom BOOM

Biker’s

NEW LEASE ON LIFE

CLOUD

wine

DESIGN Matt Brown and Toni Woolf CONTRIBUTORS Paula Hulburt, Peter Jones, Emily Marten, Frank Nelson, Sarah Brown, Malinda Boniface ADVERTISING Rosa Tate rosa@marlboroughmedia.co.nz Gemma Bartlett gemma@marlboroughmedia.co.nz DISTRIBUTION

PLUS: My Home | Celebrating Longstanding Businesses | Remembering Tru Blue

Cover: CASS. Page 7.

Photo: Sarah Brown, taken on location at in Blenheim.

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Phil & Paula Brown, Wendy Aberthenthy.

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June 2021

CASS Q&A What inspires your music?

The people, fans, life experiences and the story behind my lyrics.

What do you do when you’re not performing?

Oh gosh, I’d have to write a book! I raise three beautiful Tamariki, study Te Reo Māori, build on my business and do behind the scenes work for my music. When I’m not doing that, I spend time in nature, work out, dance movement, karakia and, low key, I’m always eating.

When did you begin, have you always been a musician?

I’d been writting since a teen but nobody knew I could sing until I started performing six years ago, I’d say I’m just getting started as an independent artist after my debut single ‘Day dreaming’.

What would be the ultimate dream-come-true for you and your music?

To restore the hearts of broken people, shed some light into the world and release every song I’ve ever written.

The rest will follow.

What’s next?

A couple of new releases for now and something top secret for later What is the hardest thing about being a musician?

The late nights, back to back rehearsals, distribution and publishing, reading over contracts and holding the energy to play for hours at a time.

SARAH BROWN

Who do you most admire?

The creator of the universe and people who are honest, humble, optimistic and not afraid to be themselves.

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June 2021

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Building a Better New Zealand

Come

‘Shroom Boom

Adam Kubrock and Raffaela Dragani.

In a normal house on a quiet Blenheim Street there is a revolution taking place behind closed doors.

WORDS: PAULA HULBURT

SARAH BROWN

T

not-so-humble mushroom, in all its guises.

For caregivers, husband and wife team Adam Kubrock and Raffaela Dragani, the young charges are both captivating and often challenging, welcome to The Mush Room Co.

“It’s all about making life better.’

he key players are gathered in a quiet room, carefully tucked away from sight. Their every need is catered for and they want for nothing.

The urban mushroom farm is at the heart of Marlborough’s ‘shroom boom and company director Adam is keen to extoll the fungi’s many virtues.

It is, he says a time of great change as Kiwis start to embrace the

“The world is waking up to the kingdom of mushrooms and I’d like to be out there, educating. You just can’t help being blown away by them,” Adam smiles.

The room where the mushroom magic begins is filled with a sweetish aroma. Adam moves carefully, voice dropped to a hush.

Mushrooms it seems are quite sensitive. The fungi are fascinating to him and each growing culture is treated to his undivided attention.

Arriving in Blenheim from Washington in the USA in the aftermath of the devastating Christchurch Earthquake, wine maker Adam worked as a cellar hand at Indevin. Mushrooms, he says were not on his radar – until he fell head over heels for Raffaela.

Smiling at his wife of three years as they sit side by side at the scrubbed table in their dining room, Adam says it felt like fate was on his side.

“Opportunity just came knocking and everything just aligned for me to stay [in New Zealand].

‘It was vintage and we’d been growing our moustaches for charity. This one walked by then stopped, turned round and leaned into me and just said ‘no’,” he laughs. Raffaela nods, this time in perfect agreement with her husband. “It was hideous [his moustache].”

“

loves most in the world is mushroom hunting.

“He was like this sprightly half goat, half human as we went up the mountain side by side in search of treasure,” Adams explains, his eyes bright with clearly happy memories.

Raffaela leans in, keen to instill a sense of her father’s passion for the art of mushroom hunting. “My mum, Annette, and him have been married for 42 years and he got into it shortly after they got married but to me, it feels like forever.

He was like this sprightly half goat, half human as we went up the mountain side by side in search of treasure.

But far from putting her off, Raffaela, a quality control manager at Indevin with a degree in biochemistry, says she could not stop thinking about the man with the terrible moustache.

“He was just always in my mind and I would think, who is he?”

Adam was quick to shave off his offending facial hair and the pair began dating seriously.

Travelling to the beautiful Abruzzo region of Italy with Rafaela, he met with her father, Gino (Luigi).

“Yes, the mushrooms, it is all his fault,” he chuckles.

“He spoke little English and is exactly what you’d expect. He’s this older, super energetic person, tanned by the sun.

‘One day Raffaela and her mum were out, so Luigi Gino takes me in the car up to the mountain. Apart from his family, the thing he

”

“He’s kind of like a fisherman who has secret spots that you don’t tell other people about, that’s how he is with mushrooms,” she says.

Casting her mind back to the beautiful Montepulciano Abruzzo region she grew up in, Raffaela cannot help but smile. “He is why I love the mountains and hiking so much.

“I would go along with him when I was little while he was patiently combing a piece of land. I was six years old, and it was a long time for a child.”

Continuing the family’s passion for mushrooms, Adam has thrown himself wholeheartedly into learning all he can about mushrooms. It has been a steep but fascinating learning curve.

There are about 165 million species of fungi, if you count waterborne varieties, he explains, but the mushroom, the part you see above ground is not the whole story.

“The rest of the plant fungus is below ground or found in decaying wood where it forms a larger network, mycelium. Our world is crawling with these; it’s estimated that when you walk through a forest, for every step you take there are a few km of rootlike mycelial systems stretching out underground - down around 5km.

Raffaela Dragani and Adam Kubrock in one of their mushroom grow rooms.

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June 2021

A variety of fungi are bought to life at The Mush Room.

“They are quite simply amazing, and some believe they’re intelligent too, actively seeking out nutrients in the soil.”

Hanging in bags of dampened recycled beech sawdust in a specially adapted room, fondly called The Mush Room, complete with a Hepa air filter and dappled light, mycelium spread their fragile tendrils. Adam talks fondly to some and softly berates others.

Watching her husband with a smile from where she stands leaning on the door jamb, Raffaela can’t help but giggle. “I get kind of jealous of how he talks to some of the mushrooms we have here.”

“My job is to talk to them and encourage them or to get them to just chill out for a bit,” Adam says.

“They are a bit like teenagers really, they tend to sleep for ages.”

The couple grow six varieties of native NZ mushroom, harvesting each week from the fruiting room to take their spoils to the Marlborough Farmers’ Market.

more to learn. There are many delicious edibles, some which could send you on spiritual journey and even a few species, two varieties here, that if you ate them, they would kill you. So, I’m always being sent photos of mushrooms to help people check.

“People get into foraging mainly to eat them and why not? They’re free, low carb, very nutritious and delicious. But even people with decades of experience need to be careful and I always urge caution.”

It was Gino that Adam credits with the idea of a mushroom growing business and starting the flame that sparked what has clearly become a passion.

“When you see the treasure, it’s kind of like a slow burn and when Gino was here he got frustrated that we couldn’t find many. Mushrooms do grow all year round but not as much in the dry summers.

“He returned to Italy and I thought to myself how I would find some for Gino, so I did and here we are.”

The pair are a familiar sight there and as word of their expertise grows, so does Adam’s workload, as friends and customers seek out his help and advice.

Closing the door softly behind him, the mushrooms are left alone to slumber.

Adam and Raffaela smile at each other, happy in the knowledge their small charges are safe and well cared for.

“In the last 50 years or so, so much has been learnt about fungi. With so much

The mushroom revolution begins again tomorrow.

Jacqui Bull with her partner on the Harley Davidson bike that was wrecked in an accident.

A new lease on life WORDS: PAULA HULBURT

MALINDA BONIFACE

When Blenheim woman Jacqui Bull was badly hurt in a motorbike accident it was her determination that helped pull her through.

C

oncerned faces peered down at her, their voices seemingly muffled as she struggled to work out what had happened.

Clouds raced overhead and a bird flying high above caught her eye.

Blenheim woman Jacqui Bull watched in confusion as her partner stumbled to his feet heading towards her, reading the panic in his eyes her sense of unease grew.

“I’m going to sell the bike,” he told her, leaning down close to make sure she heard. “I’m going to sell it.”

Just minutes earlier Jacqui had been happy, sat on the back of the couple’s much-loved Harley Davidson, arms wrapped tight around Raymond as they left Murchison behind them.

Part of a large group of riders taking part in the Pike River

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June 2021

Memorial Run last year, it is a date Jacqui will never forget; the day they almost died.

“It was Friday the 13th November,” she says with a wry smile.

‘I could feel the bike start to sketch out and there was a campervan coming the other way. Raymond had the quick sense to drive us off the road or we would have hit it.

It was a split-second decision that Jacqui believes saved both their lives.

“I don’t think we’d be here otherwise.”

The crash fractured multiple ribs, punctured her lung and left Jacqui with a badly broken right ankle.

Labouring to breath, she felt no pain at all. Her body’s way of protecting itself from the huge trauma, she believes.

“I was either knocked out or my body decided I wasn’t going through the trauma. The last thing I remember was thinking ‘this is happening’ and knowing there was nothing I could do.”

Few details from the aftermath of the crash are clear, but the accident itself remains a blank. Witnesses who arrived to help have told her what happened.

“The people from the campervan were in shock too, I think. They had pulled me through the bushes and up to the road, taking my helmet off.

“I woke up to worried faces and someone putting a yellow hi-vis around my neck for support. The main thing was I was struggling to breathe. I wasn’t aware of any pain.”

Jacqui has recently returned to work as an agent with Summit Real Estate in Blenheim. After a year of hard work and study, she had been qualified just two weeks when the crash happened.

It is testament to her strength and tenacity that she is working again so soon after an accident which has left her with longlasting complications.

But nothing is slowing her down, she says.

“I’ve been back on a motorbike twice since then. Raymond had been riding

bikes for 30 years and never had an accident, I totally trust him.

“It was quite surreal; they were talking to me saying all the things I’ve heard on TV.”

“I’m quite a determined person usually and tend to downplay and not dwell on things and just get on with it; I think that’s human nature.”

After a night in intensive care at Grey Hospital & Health Centre in Greymouth, Jacqui was moved to a ward where she began to campaign to be let home. After five days she got her wish.

“

The last thing I remember was thinking ‘this is happening’ and knowing there was nothing I could do.

”

Casting her mind back to the accident, Jacqui is thankful for all those who helped, at the scene, in hospital and in the immediate aftermath. It has been a long road to recovery, she says.

“It felt like an eternity waiting for the ambulance, but it wouldn’t have been.

There was talk of getting a helicopter in, but it was decided my breathing was good enough to wait.

“There were four people in the ambulance with me and they kept talking to me, asking me if I was okay and I thought “ok, I have one of those injuries.’”

A serious motorcycle accident gave Jacqui Bull a new perspective on life.

“I couldn’t sit up because of the pain in my ribs so had to go back to Blenheim on a mattress in the back of a van. The pain in my ribs was the worst. I’d almost cry when I knew I was going to sneeze.”

With a plaster cast on her leg, Jacqui set herself the goal of returning to work as soon as possible. With a fifth-degree black belt in Seido karate, she credits her training with helping her overcome the physical and mental setbacks.

“It really helped, it got me through,” explains Jacqui who has been studying the martial art for 30 years.

She still walks with a limp and suffers from severe nerve pain in her foot and bouts of vertigo but is back at work and loving it.

“It can have it’s challenges as there’s a lot of walking around meeting people, but that’s what I love. I want to help people and make them happy as it gives me pleasure.”

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June 2021

Sebastian Zuefle and Kathryn McConnell with daughter Ailina love living in Marlborough.

On cloud wine WORDS: FRANK NELSON

FRANK NELSON

A well-travelled Marlborough couple have turned their talents to bed & breakfast accommodation, and they’re having barrels of fun along the way.

A

n entrepreneurial young couple in Marlborough, Sebastian Zuefle and Kathryn McConnell, seem to have a knack for making exceptionally good decisions.

sweet little property on picturesque Brookby Road, within a comfortable 15-minute drive of Blenheim yet tucked away in the countryside.

They first met in 2012 as a pair of travelling backpackers – he’s from Germany, she from Northern Ireland – while working at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds.

Their next brainwave was to launch a bed-and-breakfast venture at this idyllic site which covers 4500 square metres, or just over one acre, most of it garden with lawns, shrubs, trees and masses of colourful flowers.

Their first good decision together was to leave Europe two years later and move to New Zealand where they sensibly chose to make Marlborough their home. “We always wanted to be in the Top of the South Island,” says Kathryn. “We love it here.”

At the end of 2015 they were then clever enough to buy a

Today guests can wander around under fruit trees, past flower beds and a large vegetable plot, through a small olive grove and over a brisk little stream, enjoying all sorts of birdlife and drinking in views across vineyards to distant rolling hills.

15

The barrel-shaped accommodation arrived flat-packed from Europe.

“ Some people actually say it looks a bit like a Hobbiton home in Matamata. ” Finally, and perhaps most inspired of all, they decided to build accommodation units that resemble huge wine barrels, a canny reflection of the thriving viticulture industry that has put Marlborough so firmly on the global wine map.

To be fair, the couple don’t claim credit for that last idea: Sebastian’s mother had seen similar quirky small spaces in Germany and, on a visit to Marlborough, could imagine how perfectly they would fit into the vineyard landscape here.

And judging by the feedback from guests she was right … this idea is a huge hit with visitors. “A lot of people tell me they just want to experience something different,” says Sebastian, adding that they like the novelty of sleeping in these unusual tiny units.

The couple’s own brochure for the sleeping barrels invites people to “Live like a Hobbit in Marlborough’s only wine barrel cabins” and that approach also seems to have caught the imagination of travellers. “Some people actually say it looks a bit like a Hobbiton home in Matamata,” smiles Sebastian.

The barrels have a footprint of just under 10 square metres but appear more spacious inside because of the curvature of the walls which allows for furniture, fixtures and fittings, plus plenty of room to move around.

Sebastian, a qualified plumber in Germany, bristles with the sort of all-round practical skills which meant he was able to completely renovate the Brookby Road house, only needing the

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June 2021

additional help of an electrician.

So when it came to sorting out, assembling and installing the two barrel units, which arrived on a large pallet from Eastern Europe, there was no drama even though the new accommodation came with only very basic instructions.

He started work on the barrels around August 2019 and by October the first one, Piwakawaka, had been given some final interior design touches by Kathryn and was ready for the first guests. That was followed about two months later by the second unit, Riroriro.

Piwakawaka is the Maori name for the fantail while Riroriro is the grey warbler, the two names reflecting the love Sebastian and Kathryn have for New Zealand birds and nature.

Today, although the two units are only about 35 metres apart, they cannot see each other thanks to Sebastian’s careful landscaping and the prolific planting in the garden.

Piwakawaka comes with its own hot outdoor shower while guests in both units have exclusive use of a huge bathroom in the main house which opens out into the garden and contains another shower, bath and toilet.

Sebastian hails from the Black Forest, a touristy area in south west Germany near the French border, so is no stranger to the tourism vibe in Marlborough which now supports their fledgling business.

He works at home full time, hosting the bed and breakfast guests, caring for the couple’s three-year-old daughter Ailina, and looking after the property. “It’s maintenance-intense!” he says, only half joking.

Kathryn, a trained optometrist, was sponsored into New Zealand and is employed at the Blenheim branch of Specsavers where she currently works four days per week.

In conjunction with neighbours, the couple also make their own olive oil from about 20 trees and have three bee hives producing honey: eventually they hope to share honey and oil with their guests.

Sebastian and Kathryn love that their lifestyle allows them so much time together with their growing family. “We’re very lucky that I can be home working for myself,” says Sebastian.

During lockdown, and on top of everything else, they developed their own web site which is illustrated by a number of very professional-looking photos taken

by Sebastian, one of whose hobbies is photography.

Today that site drives about half their business with search engines like Airbnb and Booking.com grabbing the attention of potential guests from all over the world.

Nightly rates range between $99 and $145 depending on which barrel and what time of year. And although Sebastian and Kathryn ran into choppy Covid waters not long after launching their new venture, the business has bounced back stronger than ever.

Looking to the future, the couple certainly anticipate being kept busy. They welcomed their second child in March and are planning to add a third giant wine barrel cabin.

This will accommodate just one person at a time -- keeping the maximum number of guests on the site to no more than five - and may include such eco-friendly features as solar power and a composting toilet.

Any more than five guests, say the couple, would put the business into another accommodation category potentially requiring resource consents, building permits and additional council regulatory compliance.

In any case, they say the accommodation venture will by then have taken up about half the garden and they don’t want to sacrifice any more of their precious space.

“In Europe they line all the barrels up next to each other but we wouldn’t like that,” says Sebastian. “We want everyone to have their own privacy and their own space to enjoy what we have to offer.”

17

enhanceskin

I

A year post-lockdown

t’s hard to believe that only just over twelve months ago, we were all in lockdown. Despite the curtail on foreign travel and some national concern over the country’s economic bounce back, this year has been busier than ever for the team at enhanceskin.

Dr David Orsbourn, the go-to man in Marlborough for varicose vein treatment and founder of enhanceskin, puts this down to several things.

He says, “Firstly, I think people have spent a lot of time on camera this year”. He explains, “Examining one’s Zoom face has become quite the thing. We all know we should be concentrating on what people are saying, but it’s easy to become distracted by the digital replication of our faces. We all begin wondering how we can address ageing concerns.”

David continues, “Also, while people haven’t been travelling internationally this year, they’ve wanted to prepare for the moment that the trans-Tasman bubble opened, so, we’ve seen an increase of people addressing their varicose veins.”

Finally, David attributes the clinic’s ongoing popularity to its reassuringly local reputation. David says, “I think it makes a real difference to our clients that we know and understand the Top of the South lifestyle they want to live.” He continues, “Our team don’t dip in and out of the region; we live, work and play here ourselves. We understand that our clients want to get on the mountain bike or, come summer, take a walk on the beach wearing shorts.”

Despite their continued success, the team at enhanceskin never rest on their laurels,

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June 2021

investing heavily in new treatments and training so they can always offer their clients the latest advances in facial aesthetics. Over the last few months, they have added several new cosmetic treatments to their repertoire.

treatments over winter; he explains, “Many people feel more comfortable wearing trousers or tights following varicose vein procedures. So, it stands to reason that this is the perfect time to ready your legs for their debut later in the year!”

Cosmetic Nurse Brittany Fenwick is delighted by the arrival of Profhilo. This award-winning product is taking the facial aesthetics industry by storm. Brittany affirms that it’s an absolute game-changer that her clients love. “This treatment differs from dermal fillers in the way it can remodel your skin.” She explains that Profhilo distributes and integrates itself evenly within the skin’s tissue rather than remaining in one place. She continues, “We like to think of it as a skin booster and bio-remodelling treatment that works from the inside out.”

Of course, varicose vein treatment has benefits beyond purely cosmetic. Since David began consulting in Blenheim, he’s treated hundreds of patients. While each has enjoyed newfound confidence in baring their legs, the treatments he offers have also been life-changing in other ways.

More recently, the clinic has introduced Lipo-Dissolve, a treatment that utilises naturally occurring enzymes, phosphatidylcholine (PPC), that help break down fat. A perfect solution for a double chin. Brittany harnesses the power of PPC by injecting it directly into the fatty tissue with tiny needles, permanently dissolving unwanted fatty deposits.

Finally, the team have combined two of their most popular treatments, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Dermapen. The combination offers a supercharged Tissue Rejuvenation Therapy that addresses wrinkles and volume loss.

Both Brittany and David continue to practice at the Churchill Private Hospital in Blenheim on a bi-weekly basis. With Brittany concentrating on cosmetic treatments and David on varicose veins.

David says clients often favour vein

While not all varicose veins are visible, most will cause pain. Your legs may feel achy, heavy or tired. Or you may sometimes feel a burning or throbbing sensation in your legs. All of the walk-in, walk-out treatments that David offers can help to eliminate that pain, putting a spring in your step once again.

All the varicose vein treatments offered by enhanceskin are minimally invasive.

A complimentary, full doctor’s vein assessment and scan helps determine the most suitable treatment for you.

Similarly, all new clients who are considering cosmetic treatments receive a no-obligation, complimentary consultation so that you can discuss your goals with Nurse Brittany, and she can advise on a suitable treatment plan.

One thing is for sure, whichever facial rejuvenation treatment, or combination of treatments a client decides upon, nobody knows what they are visiting enhanceskin for; it could be for a skin or vein assessment. So, your secret to ageing gracefully stays a secret.

PROMOTION

letters

to live by In the first of a new series, we ask people to write a letter to their future selves, giving them the benefit of hindsight.

When Hopewalk organiser Bary Neal lost his son Matt to suicide, he hid away from the world.

Here he explains how he made a promise to Matt to help others and started living again.

Dear Bary,

W

hen I lost my oldest son to suicide, it just ripped my heart right out of my chest, and my life was forever changed. What I have done to try and help ease some of the pain, is the moment I am writing to you about today.

My son Matt was a very caring, friendly, happy person, always putting a smile on other people’s faces and helping them wherever he could, often putting others ahead of himself. After losing Matt, I tried to hide under a rock, shy away from everyone, and just put on a brave face, to avoid any attention I really didn’t want.

Then it dawned on me, that this was the very thing that many people do when life becomes too much to bear (my son included), and no-one would know they were even struggling.

You need to remember that.

So, three months after losing my son, I started up the Blenheim branch of Hopewalk, a suicide awareness and prevention campaign, remembering loved ones lost too soon.

It was a struggle at first, stepping way outside my comfort zone, but I made a promise to my son while sitting with him at the funeral home the day after his death. I promised I would try and help people who were struggling with life, like he was, and put a smile back on their faces.

Starting Hopewalk in Blenheim gave me the chance to do this, and also to help people struggling after losing a loved one. At the first Hopewalk in Blenheim in 2017, we had over 900 people turn out, an incredible number given the size of Blenheim. It was a real statement, showing that there is a lot of support out there in the community for struggling people, and for those grieving.

There will always be people who find negatives no matter what the situation, and I have had my fair share of them contact me since starting this. If only those people could look for positives in life, encourage people, and make a positive impact on people’s lives, instead of tearing people down, the world would be a better place.

Those negative people pale in comparison to the many, many people I have heard from, whose lives have changed for the better because of what we are doing.

Bary Neal with a photo of his son, Matt.

There are those who are still here to tell their story of being suicidal, but instead of ending their life, opened up and asked for help. Those whose lives just seem so unbearable after losing a loved one, but who can come have a coffee with a couple who have been through the same grief and understand what they are feeling.

If there is any advice I can give you today, it is that the world is a better place with you in it, that your current struggles will end, and that you should be open and ask for help if you are struggling.

Concentrate on the positive things and people in your life and remember there is no situation worth losing a lifetime of memories over. Check up on your friends and family, including those who look happy, as you never know what that smile may be hiding.

You can follow or contact us through the Hopewalk Blenheim facebook page, and I would love to see you all at Hopewalk Blenheim 2021, at Seymour Square on September the 11th, at 11.00am.

My boy will be looking down with a huge smile on his face right now. Miss you son.

Love,

Bary

Sporting moments revisited

The driving forces behind Tru-Jen, from left, Harold Bungard, Peter Hill, Bill Ruffell and Harry Rutledge.

Iconic speedboat captured Marlborough hearts WORDS: PETER JONES

D

uring the 1960s she was one of this province’s most famous sporting identities.

Her deafening roar could send shivers down your spine and the ground would shake as she passed by.

Capable of drawing thousands of spectators, her exploits became legendary.

Her name was Tru-Jen and her story is one of courage, ingenuity and a bloody-minded pursuit of excellence.

Tru-Jen was an unlimited hydroplane speedboat, powered by an Allison aircraft engine. She was constructed in a Blenheim backyard by local enthusiasts Harry Rutledge and Bill Ruffell, with the sole purpose of claiming the Masport Cup, the long-standing

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June 2021

SUPPLIED

national symbol of speedboat supremacy.

Standing in her way was Redhead, piloted by the legendary Len Southward, a boat who had won the cup almost every year since 1948.

In 1959, Tru-Jen - at that stage named Susan Leigh II - and Redhead met on Picton Harbour, in front of 14,000 spectators, Expectations were high, but were quickly dashed when a broken propellor sent the local boat to the bottom of the harbour.

Ironically, Redhead also sank on the same day but, unlike the craft that would later resurface as Tru-Jen, it was not re-floated.

The Picton setback merely strengthened Harry and Bill’s resolve and, over the next decade, their resilience was well rewarded.

First came the New Zealand water speed record, which family labelled the craft’s finest achievement and earned them a most-welcome fuel sponsorship. In March 1967, Tru-Jen streaked across a measured 1km course in Picton Harbour at an average speed of 126.74mph (202kph). It was estimated that she reached around 140mph (225kph) at one point, leaving a Piper Cub aircraft, which was sent to film her feat, in her wake.

The following year Harry and Bill finally got their hands on the Masport Cup, TruJen winning comfortably in Auckland. She repeated the dose a year later in front of an adoring home crowd, before bowing out of racing in 1970.

Just as Tru-Jen forged a special relationship with Marlborough, it also helped create a life-long connection for the Rutledge and Ruffell families when Harry’s son Tim and Bill’s daughter Ann met and eventually married, the couple still residing in Marlborough.

Tru-Jen started life under a different name – Susan Leigh. In 1956 Harry and Bill bought her, mainly for the formidable Allison engine and gearbox, and to get some racing experience against Redhead.

They quickly established that a new hull was required to fully harness the motor’s potential.

The Allison V-1710 motor was produced

by General Motors in Indianapolis, for use in WW2 fighter planes. It reached 3800rpm, producing well over 2000hp.

Fuel consumption was voracious, the Allison gulping down around three gallons each minute.

Harry Rutledge delivers the Masport Cup to Bill Ruffell in his hospital bed at Wairau Hospital. At right, are Jen Rutledge and Trudy Ruffell after whom the boat was named.

“I am really proud of the boys and what they achieved,” said Ann. “They were very stoic on some occasions because they had some mountains to climb to get the project completed … but they got there”.

Both Tim and Tony drove Tru-Jen, an experience Tony describes as “fantastic”.

“I can still feel it … I was a bit nervous, but when it got going, I just didn’t want to stop.”

“It was a special time for us all,” added Tim, who recalled sitting alongside Tony on the boat’s tappet covers, with Bob Highet holding onto the tail fin, as Tru-Jen sped back into Picton at 60mph after her record-breaking run.

With a new hull measuring 30 foot long and 12 foot wide, Susan Leigh II was launched by Harry and Bill’s wives, Trudy Ruffell and Jen Rutledge, in Picton during 1959.

But hard work was no problem for Harry and Bill, their lengthy mechanical input truly a labour of love. As Tim, Ann, and her brother Tony Ruffell point out, the pair weren’t qualified speedboat mechanics, Harry a contract sharecropper and Bill running a wood and coal business.

“They were self-taught … and had help from a lot of very skilled local guys such as Arthur Baker, Harold Bungard, Bob Highet and Peter Hill,” said Tony.

Ultimately though, it was the drive and tenacity of Harry and Bill, who shared the driving, that got Tru-Jen to the start line.

It was worth it however, as Tru-Jen racked up her first win after six years of trials and tribulations.

They repeated the dose in both the following years, her consistency setting up the successful speed record attempt and, in 1968, a shot at the big one, the Masport Cup, with optimism rising.

But, as usual, it was not all plain sailing.

Tru-Jen suffered damage at the preceding Pelorus Jack regatta, necessitating her propellor being sent to Nadler and Biddle in Nelson for urgent repairs. The boat was immediately shipped to Auckland while Harry flew north and Bill picked up the propellor and set off by car. Unfortunately, he fell ill on the trip and was rushed to hospital.

Typical of the camaraderie that marked the sport, rival Len Southward came to the rescue, picking up the new propellor and delivering it to Auckland so Harry could drive it in a practice run before the big race. The new prop was an immediate success, giving the three-and-a-half ton boat a new lease of life.

After their unfortunate sinking at the 1959 Masport Cup, Harry and Bill, perhaps hoping a name change would prompt better fortune, decided to adopt the name Tru-Jen, in honour of their wives.

The boat’s saltwater immersion meant much work was needed, along with another Allison motor, a new gearbox, main shaft, propellor shaft, a new propellor and hull repairs.

of the bridge. However, the 75km trip still took two days to complete.

Tim Rutledge, left, Anne Rutledge (nee Ruffell) and Tony Ruffell hold a mis-shapen propellor shaft, reclaimed after the boat sank in 1959.

The early 1960s brought a period of trial and error, multiple setbacks plus a succession of new engines, as the owners fine-tuned their craft.

In 1965 they headed for Lake Rotoiti and the Pelorus Jack Cup regatta. Immediately a problem loomed. Dotted along the road from Blenheim to the lake were six bridges too narrow to accommodate Tru-Jen’s 12’ beam. With typical ingenuity Harry and Bill tipped the craft on its side to allow one sponson to clear the edge

In Tony Rutledge and Merv Sowden’s comprehensive account of the event it was noted that “the spectators were treated to one of the most exciting displays of high-powered speedboat racing ever seen in New Zealand … the bank was a natural grandstand and every time Tru-Jen thundered past only 30 yards out the ground vibrated”.

Upon Harry’s return to Marlborough, and a joyous reunion with Bill at Wairau Hospital, the pair were treated to a mayoral reception, underlining the lofty regard they and their boat were held in by the community.

It was said that the deafening thunder of the Allison at full throttle was not easily forgotten – the same could be said of the incomparable Tru-Jen and her intrepid owners.

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June 2021

ON THE STREET Hemp fanatic Claude Gavey believes in sourcing ethical and earth-friendly clothing that looks and feels great.

Describe what you are wearing today.

Today I’m wearing a hemp t-shirt and pants from Afends - hemp is my number one fabric to wear - and an amazingly cosy wool Sherpa vest made in Nepal. On my feet I’ve got my good ol’ possum socks and Blundstones combo for all weather, all terrain wear. Also a possum beanie stolen from my Mum... love you Mum!

Do you have a usual style?

I love wearing all-natural fabric like wool and usually something made of hemp. My clothes have got to be comfy and make me feel good and I like outfits that play on a particular mood or purpose. I often go for a colour or tonal theme... colour is super fun to wear and keeps it playful. It’s important to me to feel laid back and casual whilst having a thread that ties the whole outfit together - which might be the right cap or pin or even socks!

What items do you have the most of in your wardrobe?

The items I probably have most of in my wardrobe are caps, possibly silk scarves (I can’t get enough of them!). I do have quite a few woolly jumpers too...

What looks or trends do you like at the moment?

Individuality is always on trend. I love a look that amplifies someone’s personality. Op shopping your looks is a great trend. We have to stop buying into fast fashion and the best way to create and express a fully unique look is from an op shop. I’m into sustainability in fashion too, wearing fabrics that are friendly to the earth and us.

Where do you buy most of your clothes?

Well, if it’s not obvious from my last answer... op shops! I look on Trade Me if I’m after a specific item and I will often find something even better too. I really only buy brand new if it can’t be found second hand.

Also, clothes swap parties!

What wardrobe staple should everyone invest in?

A simple hemp tee and hemp jeans.

Seriously, hemp is just THAT comfy! Also something unusual and fun, that makes you feel the fantasy every time you wear it. Fashion and clothing is really all about expressing who you are and feeling empowered doing it.

Finish this sentence. You would never catch me wearing....

Polyester. For real. Or uncomfortable shoes.

Like why?!

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MARLBOROUGH LINES STADIUM 2000

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME, GARDEN & LIFESTYLE WITH BUILDERS, SPAS, FLOORING, HOME MAINTENANCE, PLANTS, HOMEWARES, HEATING/COOLING, ARTISAN FOODS & EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN!

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June 2021

Splashes of bright colour form an integral part of the design scheme throughout the home.

My

home

It has been a labour of love for Rarangi home-owner Julie Dash. Now her coastal family house is almost complete.

SARAH BROWN

Where is your home and who lives here, and how long have you lived here?

Jeremy and I have had a home at Rarangi Beach for 17 years and are lucky to have been in this one since 2016. Our daughters live here as often as they can and we love that they share this place with their friends, who have become family.

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Bright, funky, family, relaxing.

What inspired this look?

Our childhood, the beach and places we have been overseas where the lifestyle can be so much more relaxed.

What do you love about the neighbourhood where you live?

Beautiful clear night skies, waves, solitude and a great community.

Julie Dash.

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“

We have been renovating forever but are starting to see an end in sight.

Well thought out finishing touches make each room special.

What piece would you never part with?

Our concrete bench tops in the kitchen-a mission to install and we have had so much fun and laughter around them.

There are a few art works we could never part with as well.

What’s your favourite spot in the house?

The upstairs little sitting room off our bedroom. We use this space a lot, on our own or with friends-enjoying the view.

Where do you shop for homewares?

Locally, Cinnamon House and Thomas’s, and anywhere we go and come across interesting shops, although my husband has banned me from art galleries!

What’s your decorating style?

I guess it is eclectic-my own style of things I love-not fashionable. I love unusual and funky things and art plays a big part in our home.

When it comes to homeware, do you save or splurge?

Splurge…..sometimes you just have to have it!

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June 2021

An eclectic blend of styles meld well together.

Have you done any renovations?

Best money spent?

We have been renovating forever but are starting to see an end in sight. Working with Floor Pride at the moment to complete carpeting upstairs (the Axminster has got to go) and tiling the kitchen & dining, plus 2 bathrooms. We have found some stunning tiles through them and can’t wait to see it finished.

Definitely not in the fashion category.

The pool and the outdoor area. We had a huge area that was hidden behind a tall fence. Aquanort Pools have built a beautiful pool and have been awesome to deal with. The pool and outdoor areas have tied everything together and bought the home to life.

What’s your favourite room?

The dining room window seat-where everyone sits and chills out.

The dining and kitchen area-still a bit of renovating to do. We spend so much time here with friends and family, cooking, eating, relaxing, enjoying local wine, beer and spirits not to mention the dancing!

Best memory in your house?

What should every home have?

A heart. A home you walk into and instantly feel relaxed.

Best seat in the house?

Family time after my mother passed away. All the family together reminiscing. Mum found us our first house at Rarangi. and having been bought up at Taylors Mistake in Canterbury she loved anywhere near the sea. We are taking her back to Taylors Mistake this week for a presentation and a goodbye.

31

Liam Doherty.

The future is bright for NMIT Aviation Engineering student Completing the Level 4 Certificate in Aeronautical Engineering at NMIT was the turning point in Liam Doherty’s career journey He is currently working towards his NZ Civil Aviation Authority (NZ CAA) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering License by completing the level six diploma in Aeronautical Maintenance Certification through the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT).

“The Level 6 diploma gives me the opportunity to travel abroad and convert it into overseas licenses and qualifications.

Ultimately, that's one of the reasons I got into aviation, to use it to travel, see the world—it just opens up my career opportunities.”

He is very optimistic about his future in the aviation industry.

“I knew I wanted to work in fixed wing aircraft, particularly in the commercial sector of aviation. I managed to get a scholarship and an internship with Air New Zealand Regional Maintenance in Nelson, and then I got a full-time job with them once I had finished the course.”

Due to COVID-19 Air New Zealand Regional Maintenance in Nelson was shut down but Liam was fortunate to be able to continue his apprenticeship in Christchurch, for Air New Zealand on heavy aircraft maintenance. He is also continuing his diploma online and preparing for his New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (NZCAA) exams—a compulsory requirement for licensing.

He says he is fortunate to be able to integrate the theory with his daily work experience.

“I like being multi-functional in my role,” he says. “Having more knowledge and experience, even if I don't necessarily use it, opens more pathways and more doors—you're not limited to one corner of the industry.”

“You know if something was to close down or you were to lose your job at one company, with the experience and the knowledge you have, you're always employable somewhere else.”

NMIT is New Zealand's first approved NZCAA Part 147 Certified Maintenance Training Organisation.

Aviation Engineering tutor, Aaron Lyster says the key to training is not only providing the industry with qualified, skilled graduates but with graduates who have the right attributes to fit in to the aviation industry.

Although it was expected COVID-19 would put aviation engineering positions at risk Aaron says the aviation sector isn't just tourism, and many companies support other industries, such as agriculture. He says it appears that general aviation has not been that affected.

“Once COVID-19 finishes and travel ramps up, the major airlines are going to be seriously lacking in engineers because many of the staff went into general aviation. However, general aviation is currently asking for engineers—I think there's really a shortage,” says Aaron.

nmit.ac.nz/aviation

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June 2021

PROMOTION

At Home

a home

with personality

It was in a great location but lacking in space so owner Sarah Whinham had to think out of the box when it came to transforming her home in Blenheim on a budget.

WORDS: EMILY MARTEN

W

MALINDA BONIFACE

hen Sarah Whinham was looking for a family home in Blenheim, she was drawn to this little cottage - the section was north-facing, the perfect size, and had the best apricot and plum tree in town, she says.

“I’ve always enjoyed interiors and I like playing around with styling - some people would say I am the Trade Me queen!

However, I also love a few designer pieces such as my orange Arnold Circus stool which is a great statement piece.

“With the farmers’ market, the best butchers across the road and being close to the river the location was fabulous.”

“I had a budget to stick to and there’s no better feeling than finding something you’ve been looking for on Trade Me for half the price! I got some real bargains, including the Fisher & Paykel oven which the previous owners had only used twice a year in their holiday home in Queenstown and a Methven minimalist gooseneck tap for a great price.”

Although this ticked all her boxes, the interior was not quite as enticing but Sarah knew she could make her mark on it.

“The inside had a strange layout and only two small bedrooms.

Having lived in 20 or so properties both here in New Zealand and London I could see it had potential.”

Sarah set about adding an extension to push out the side of the house and create a new kitchen, living space, master bedroom and the all-important front door. She also extended the deck for their summer living and entertaining which added a whole new outdoor room that can be used all year round.

With an interest in interior design and styling, Sarah enjoyed the challenge that working within a budget posed, albeit with the addition of the occasional, more high-end piece.

For Sarah, it was important to create a family home that would be a sanctuary at the end of the working day for her and her two boys, Tane, 11 and Niko, eight, but also one that was practical and livable.

“The house needs to be enjoyed and I can’t be too precious especially with two full-on boys and Momo the cat!”

Sarah’s personality shines through straight away, with a rollicking orange aluminum front door from Fisher Joinery. A favorite vintage poster from Pop Motif creates a colourful focal point in the lounge.

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June 2021

At Home A neutral, earthy palette for the main living area and the boys’ bedrooms is created using the soft, warm-tinted Half Rice Cake paint by Resene on the walls, effortlessly complementing the natural fibers, such as the jute rugs, linen, masi cloth, bamboo and rattan pendants from Corcovado. The end result is a supremely calming home, with pops of colour added throughout with accents of inky blues, orange and greens from Sarah’s plants.

The all-white kitchen is crisp and bright. An oasis of light in a clean space with plenty of storage.

“Johanna from Bay’s Joinery designed a seamless matte white kitchen with full-height handle less cabinets, an integrated dishwasher and a huge pantry so there is plenty of storage. The timeless pure white will never go out of fashion,” says Sarah.

A clever window splash back lets the sunshine in and open shelving is a great way of displaying Sarah’s favourite cookbooks and plants as well as adding another touch of personality to the beautiful room.

“I love that you can sit on both sides of the breakfast bar. It’s a great multi-zone space that can easily accommodate the boys doing their homework, having friends round for drinks, or for those big family feasts that need plenty of bench space.

“I opted for Moduleo vinyl planks in Brandy for the entire living space, and I’m so glad I did! It’s so practical with the boys, I can vacuum it daily and it never shows up any marks. I also added new honeycomb blinds from Russells Curtains throughout the house to complete the look.”

The unique personality of the house is continued in the children’s bedrooms, making the perfect space to relax in.

35

“I love that you can sit on both

sides of the breakfast bar. It’s a great multi-zone space...

”

Sarah painted the master bedroom in Resene Indian Ink for a sophisticated, moody and cocooned feel which also adds an extra dimension of colour and feel into the house.

“I painted the ceiling, trims and wardrobe in Resene Alabaster to stop the room from feeling too heavy, and to add visual height,” she says.

White linen bedding and curtains provide a crisp contrast to the navy walls in this contemporary bedroom. Sarah’s money-saving mindset helped her save a tidy sum when it came to creating a DIY version of the headboard she’d had her eye on.

For her boy’s bedrooms, Sarah went for a modern, fun look, using unusual and interesting items amassed on her travels around the globe.

36

June 2021

At Home

Clever use of space and light make the kitchen and eating areas roomy and welcoming.

“What do you do if you see the on-trend oval linen bedhead online that costs over $1000 but you can’t afford it? If you’re me, you make it yourself! I got the headboard for free on Facebook Marketplace and made the navy linen bedhead cover for it using old fabric I had lying around.

“I mixed pieces from my travels such as Tunisian puppets, Indian felt garlands, Fijian masi cloth and Moroccan poufs. For me, it’s important each room feels homely and is somewhere the boys want to hang out.”

Fully renovating the bathroom is still on Sarah’s to-do list, although she managed to give it a speedy refresh with a lick of leftover paint and some contemporary touches.

“I didn’t have the money to redo the bathroom but that is next on my list to save for. In the meantime, I painted the bathroom using the leftover Indian Ink paint from the bedroom and painted the floors with Resene Walk-on paving paint in Alabaster and a gloss varnish. I added a new white double vanity for more storage with on-trend black tapware and a new loo.”

Sarah isn’t afraid of a bit of hard graft and painted the whole exterior of the house in Resene All Black, including the garage, fences and even the old brown aluminium joinery.

“I’ve always loved black houses, if you’re feeling brave and want to create some drama and impact on the outside of your home, I whole-heartedly encourage you to embrace the darkness!

37

At Home

Splashes of colour pop against the Resene All Black finish.

“I had a budget to stick to and there’s no better feeling than finding something you’ve been looking for on Trade Me for half the price!

”

“I added a mirror tint to the bedroom windows to provide some privacy and along with friends removed three large macrocarpa trees at the front of the property. I have added a trellis around the perimeter of the property which I stained in Resene Pitch Black and will grow my favourite climber through.”

Sarah added another garden at the side and back of the property which will blossom into its full potential with a few years’ more growth. Next on the agenda is to line the garage and turn it into a boy cave, but for now, the family are planning on enjoying the modern home they’ve created.

Next on the agenda is to get builder Mike Newport back to line the garage.

“I love that this is our space and it’s our wee piece of paradise.

I have learnt over the years that living minimally with just the necessities means there is no clutter and life is easier, especially when moving around!”

39

NEW

DAT ES

FATH : 3 R W W ERS D - 5 TH W.C SEP L A S DA SIC Y FIG W T EMB HTE E R S. EK C O. E N Z EN D R

40

June 2021

Winter MARLBOROUGH E VENTS GUIDE Pick up your copy from Marlborough District Council

follow-me.co.nz

41 41

1

3

2

BAYLEYS FRIDAY REGISTERED MASTER NIGHT FEAST BUILDERS Blenheim APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 1. Suzie & Carl Broadbridge.

4

5

Renwick 2. Suzanne Sparrow, Sarah Baty, Julia Miles-Cassin, Jp Jeffries, Cherie Barker Trina Parr.

1. & John and Trevor Tovey

3.

Sue White & Jenny 2. Rowan Lee, DonnaMcauslin.

Lee, Daniel OKeefe

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4.

3.

5.

and Kinzett Sala Scott & Jewel Devo.

Brent Woodward and Cameron Rachael Brown, Nikki Roche & Palmer-Mcgruer Kelly Watkins.

4.

6.

5.

7.

Henry Leach Leov and Mark Lovelock Latina & Sharon Smith.

Kelvin and Jess Deaker Katie Wilson & Rachel Claire.

6.

8.

7.

9.

Mathew Campbell and William Reimers Jeremy, Rose & Florence Newton.

Fergus Kearns andDenisse HamishGuerra, Scott Ju-Wayne Mugas,

7

DeWiblim, Jesus, Jat Donna Agod 8. John Rodney Gary Cooke and Daniel Small Kaya Trinidad.

9. & Stuart Caulfield, Neville Ward and Kieren Mallon 10.

Muir, Mary Mason & Michelle Barry.

10. Jenny Meghan Deaker, Donna Ryan and Hamish Ryan MALINDA BONIFACE

8

9

10

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June 2021

1

3

2

THE PINK HAMMER REGISTERED MASTER BUILDERS Blenheim APPRENTICE OF 1. Jessy Plante, Sigrun Steinhagen & Rachael Van Asch. AWARDS THE YEAR

4

5

2. Betty Clatworthy & Ann Anderson.

Renwick

3. Ines McBride & Surrey Collett.

1. Gary John & and Trevor Tovey with 4.

Sandra Mortimer Rosanne Marsden.

2. Rowan Lee, Donna Lee, Daniel OKeefe Kinzett 5. and PeteScott James & Pam Logan.

6

7

3. Phyllis Brent Woodward and Cameron Palmer-Mcgruer 6.

Collins & Miriam McNamara.

4. Rhondda Henry Leov and Tannock.

Mark Lovelock 7. & Ron 5. Kelvin and Jess Deaker 8.

Tania Miller & Kia King.

6. Becky Mathew Campbell andDillion, William Reimers 9.

Andrews, Dave Nic Clouston, Bristed, & Kate Bristed.

7. Gretchen Fergus Kearns andMarsley HamishTyler Scott 10. Cleonna Hocquard-D'Alliessi, Phil Daniel Martin Small 8.

Rodney Wiblim, Gary Cooke and & Juanita Smart.

9. Stuart Caulfield, Neville Ward and Kieren Mallon 10. Meghan Deaker, Donna Ryan and Hamish Ryan MALINDA SARAH BROWN BONIFACE

8

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FILM FESTIVAL

The Renwick Winter

A unique showcase of award-winning lms from Marlborough and beyond

7pm EVERY THURSDAY

10th June 17th June 24th June 1st July

RENWICK CHURCH HALL 54 High Street, Renwick

See Marlborough Weekly for programme details.

ALL WELCOME 43

The cast of Blenheim Musical Theatre’s Aotearoa at a rehearsal ahead of their upcoming show.

Dinner and a show WORDS: PAULA HULBURT

T

he lights are dimmed and an expectant hush falls over the rehearsal room.

Behind a black voile curtain the cast of Blenheim Musical Theatre’s (BMT) latest show, Aotearoa, wait, silent and poised.

Into the silence crystal notes fall, a testament to the vocal talent of Nan Kahu Chadwick. As cultural advisor to the cast, she brings her passion for the preservation of te reo Māori.

Director Peter Meikel says staging an indigenous production for the first time is proving a thought-provoking experience.

“She constructed a waiata which is performed with huge grace and dignity.

“Nan is very generous with her time and she’s been working with us with te reo.”

“

The story centres around a developer threatening the endangered Rowi (Okarito Brown) Kiwi found in the forests of Westland on the South Island of New Zealand.

‘We had to build a haka into the show, it makes your hair stand on end,” Peter says.

The script caught Peter’s attention from the start, he says.

Bringing a true sense of authenticity to the latest dinner theatre production is important, he adds.

By always keeping the cast of 23 on stage, the audience can’t help but be pulled into the story unfolding around them. The clever use of different stages makes the musical truly immersive.

June 2021

“All in all, it’s a very challenging, fascinating experience; everybody is on the stage for the whole show, reacting,” Peter says.

There is a special kind of intensity among the cast as they rehearse; they are wholly committed and very talented. Suggestions flow back and forth, with Peter keeping an open mind to change.

The actors appear to float between the levels and it’s quite extraordinary.

Part love story, part eco awareness and part spiritual enlightenment, the award-winning features some of the great New Zealand rock songs including songs from Split Enz, Crowded House, Dragon and The Mutton Birds.

44

“When I first read it, I thought it was interesting. My job is to keep the theatre elements; I’ve stripped it right back to all the walls. The actors appear to float between the levels and it’s quite extraordinary.

As the rain pours down outside, the cast inside the Lakings Road rooms in Blenheim are dealing with a fictional storm on stage with heavy rain and claps of thunder. The atmosphere becomes dark and oppressive as the weather closes in. So convincing are the actors in their craft it seems plausible that it is indeed raining inside too.

”

“It [the show] creates its own energy and I like the organic process that happens naturally during rehearsals, it’s very encouraging and I take the view that if it works, then let it be,” Peter explains.

After an hour, it is time for a break and a cup of tea and the cast leave the stage briefly chatting in earnest about how it’s gone and what’s ahead.

If talent are commitment are anything to go by, then Aotearoa is bound to be a big hit.

Rehearsals are underway for the dinner theatre musical, which will be shown from 24 June to 10 July.

Tickets can be booked at the ASB Theatre at www.asbtheatre.com or by calling 520 8558.

45

Gardening

Don’t let the cold stop your green fingers If you haven’t already planted garlic, get onto it this month. June is the best time to do this. It is traditionally best to plant before the shortest day of the year and then harvest by the longest day.

Key points for the month:

Garden Colour

• New seasons roses will be in store.

Decide which varieties you want.

Plant lily (Lilliums) bulbs, they like a sheltered sunny position they can be left in place for a few years.

• Start pruning existing roses.

• Prune deciduous fruit trees.

Sow seeds: alyssum, calendula, cineraria, cornflower, primula, polyanthus, lobelia, nemesia, stock. Transplant to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

• Plan a clean-up spray programme for fruit trees and spray June/early July as the weather allows.

Lift dahlia tubers and gladioli corms, remove any excess soil and store in a dry place.

• Plant new seasons strawberries.

Trim autumn perennials and divide if necessary.

• Plant new deciduous trees

Kitchen Garden Sow green crops of lupin and mustard in any empty spaces in the vegetable garden for digging into the soil for green manure.

Finish pruning all roses; give them a clean-up with a general rose insecticide spray. Remove all fallen leaves from the area around the bottom of the plant to help control the spread of disease.

Refresh soil for crops by adding new compost and sheep pellets.

Trees and Shrubs

Plant seedlings: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, silverbeet, spinach, onion.

Sow seeds: spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, onions, and peas. Transplant to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

If your plants get hit by a frost, don’t prune off the damaged parts, as this will promote new growth that will be at risk again.

Wait until all frosts are over before pruning.

Check your larger trees for any wind damage and prune and seal any larger cuts with pruning paste.

Broad beans can be planted directly in to the soil, stagger your sowing for a continuous harvest.

Hydrangeas can be pruned back after the flowers have finished.

Also mulch with compost and feed blue flowers with aluminium sulphate and red flowers with lime.

Tidy up old strawberry beds and prepare for new plants.

Collect autumn leaves for composting.

Sprout new potatoes, stand upright in a light dry place for them to sprout ready for planting.

Prepare the beds for when they are ready.

Cover frost tender plants with frost cloth; drape the cloth over but not so it is touching the plants. If it is too close a hard frost will freeze it to the plants.

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RICHARD BRIGGS PHOTOGRAPHY

Cloudy Bay clams Featuring Cloudy Bay ‘Diamond Shell’ clams, orzo, Peter’s Chorizo and cherry tomato, this delicious seafood dish is sure to delight.

Ingredients:

Method:

2 kg Cloudy Bay Clams ‘Diamond Shell’

Bring pot of water to the boil, add a good amount of salt, so it tastes like sea water. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente (9-10 minutes). Drain the water set aside.

2 x Chorizo from ‘The Swiss Butcher’

1 x large handful Fresh Parsley, chopped

Chop the chorizo in small chunks and fry on a medium heat until crispy and some of the oil has come out. Pick out the chorizo and add the oil to the cooked pasta in a bowl, so the pasta will be coated in the oil and add the lemon zest.

1 x punnet Cherry Tomatoes

Roast the cherry tomatoes in an oven with a little oil, salt and pepper until just soft.

200 gm Orzo Pasta

2 x cloves garlic, chopped Local Olive Oil Flaky Salt

Put a large pot on the stove, put on full heat. Once hot, add the olive oil with the thyme, chilli flakes and garlic. After 10 seconds, add the clams and white wine. Put a lid on the pot and let steam until the clams are just open.

2 x Sprigs of Fresh Thyme

Now assemble the plate. Put two tablespoons of orzo in the middle. Put clams on top and drizzle a bit of the stock over the orzo. Scatter the chorizo over the clams. Put a couple of cherry tomatoes on top. Sprinkle some chopped parsley over the dish and a little flaky salt.

1 x Good Splash of White Wine

Enjoy!

Zest of 1 lemon 0.5 Teaspoon Chilli Flakes

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Proud to be local

Spend winter days at Rock Ferry Wines ROCK FERRY WINES

Rock Ferry Cellar Door Winter hours

130 Hammerichs Road, Blenheim

open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4:00pm

P: 03 579 6421 E:

Visit them for organic wine tastings, delicious food platters, and daily soups with friendly, passionate staff.

cellardoor@rockferry.co.nz

T

Closed public holidays.

his special wine company takes its name from a site of historic beauty, Marlborough’s Wairau River where original settlers crossed. In 2005 this remarkable place was the inspiration Tom Hutchison and Fiona Harvey needed when it came to naming their emerging wine label.

Converting their vineyards to organic certified in 2006, the first wines, a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and a Blanc de Blancs all came from the same special vintage.

This first remarkable vintage needed the talents of an exceptional wine marker and Tom and Fiona welcomed Winemaker Allan McWilliams on board.

“Our wines are all sourced from company-owned vineyards in Marlborough and Central Otago which are certified organic” says Allan.

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June 2021

The friendly team at Rock Ferry Wines.

Join us under the stars to celebrate the Winter Solstice at Rock Ferry Wines Saturday 19th June

To maintain complete control over quality Rock Ferry Wines developed their own winery in 2009 where Allan and his team, including Winemaker Jordan Hogg, continue to ply their craft.

In early 2020 the close-knit team made the move to their brand-new Rock Ferry Cellar Door on The Corners Vineyard.

The bigger, comfortable space easily accommodates larger groups and boasts a large deck on which people can relax and soak up the Marlborough sun. In winter, wine tasting and sharing platters make Rock Ferry the perfect place to catch up with friends and family.

Doors open at 4pm Drinks by Rock Ferry wines Food by the Boom!

Chef Fran Nolan Live music by Double Shot Tickets $15 pp, including a glass of Rock Ferry Wine Purchase at Rock Ferry Cellar Door or trybooking.co.nz For more info email marketing@ rockferry.co.nz or call 03 579 6421 T&C’s apply

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PICTON, WAIKAWA & SOUNDS • 34 years Experience • I am a Summit Champion 2012 - 2017 and 2019 - 2021 • Find Out Why • Choose me for all your Real Estate needs Contact: Vicki Weetman 027 448 1872 Picton 573 6166

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