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Wednesday 9 March 2011
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Church fells tree despite local protests Teresa Hattan A mighty oak has fallen in Richmond, causing despair among some residents in Dorset St. Early on Saturday morning work began at the Holy Trinity Church to fell its 100 year-old oak tree to make way for a new hall, despite not having resource consent for it or even half the money it needs to start building. The tree was prominent at the entrance way to the church and its felling has angered many residents in the area, with flowers and letters being left on the base of the trunk over the weekend. One such poem left by an anonymous member of the public ended by stating, “This is the saddest sight in Richmond and those responsible should hang their heads in shame.” Dorset St resident Sue Gibson says she moved to the street in 1999 because of the old oak and she was sad to see it cut down.
She says the sound the oak made as it was felled was very final. “It was like the end of an era.” At least two local arborists refused to cut down the tree and a professional was called in from the West Coast to do the job. But the church says it needed the room and the tree was rotten anyway. The Reverend David Hollingsworth says over $300,000 has already been raised for its new centre. The total cost of the community centre is expected to be $1.2 million and the intention late last year was to commence building once $700,000 had been raised. David also says the tree wasn’t going to “fall down any time soon” but with the rot that was present it would’ve given way eventually. “It should have been cut down last year really. But with the delay the church has been able to reassess the situation. We came to a de-
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HUGE PUMPKIN: Tyler, 10, and his sister Anika McKay from Appleby with one of the giant pumpkins they will be entering into the Club Mapua pumpkin competition later this month. Photo: Teresa Hattan.
Huge pumpkins set to roll into Mapua Ordinary scales can’t be used to weigh these large orange fruit. The McKay family in Appleby have spent the last several months growing a couple of giant pumpkins. John and his son Tyler, 10, will be entering the Club Mapua pumpkin competition at the end of the month, but are keeping quiet about the things growing in their garden. However, they will say that five tonne of horse manure and lots of fish and seaweed has been used to encourage the pumpkins along. The pumpkin competition has been
held in Mapua for a number of years but has new organisers this year. Club Mapua, a newly formed not for profit organisation, has taken over the reigns this year. All of the funds raised at events run by Club Mapua will go back to the local community, although the pumpkin competition if the first money making venture for the group. Funds raised from the competition will be going to the Summit Rescue Helicopter. A range of categories and prizes will be up for grabs including children’s
best dressed and the ever-popular biggest pumpkin. Taking place on March 26 at the Mapua Tavern, organisers say the event has become rather popular. Entry into the competition is just $5 for the pumpkin plant, but those keen can enter on the day with their own pumpkin just need to pay the $5 entry fee. Weigh in is from 2pm to 4pm with a prize giving at 5pm. All are welcome to come in fancy dress, as there will be a few Cinderella’s floating around.