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Hunting military history
To complete a memorial to the Masterton Drill Hall, historians Alan Fielding (left) and Neil Frances are on the hunt for a badge for the 9th Wellington and East Coast Mounted Ri es unit. PHOTO/ERIN KAVANAGH-HALL Erin Kavanagh-Hall
erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz
To help commemorate a signifi cant part of Wairarapa’s military history, two Masterton locals are appealing to the public to have a search through their old family memorabilia.
Historians Neil Frances and
Alan Fielding have spent the last eight years working on a public memorial to the old Masterton Drill Hall: the headquarters for the two major units of the region’s Territorial Army.
These “two military families”, the 9th Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifl es and 17th Ruahine Infantry Regiment, consisted of men from Wairarapa and southern Hawke’s Bay who served overseas in World War I. The memorial, which Frances and Feilding propose to erect near the site of the Drill
Hall on the corner of
Chapel Street and Lincoln Road, will consist of two steel effi gies of Wairarapa soldiers, wearing the signature insignia for each territorial unit. However, to complete the project, the organisers need one small, but signifi cant item – a unit badge for the Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifl es (WECMR) regiment.
To craft the insignia for the steel soldiers, Frances and Fielding needed to source the actual unit badges, so that a 3D cast can be reproduced by the sculptor.
Frances was able to fi nd a badge for the Ruahine Infantry Regiment (featuring a star
An example of a unit badge for the 9th Wellington and East Coast Mounted Ri es regiment. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
and fern leaves) on TradeMe – but so far has had “no luck” tracking down a WECMR badge – which features a rearing horse.
Frances said “many hundreds” of Wairarapa men served with the 9th WECMR regiment, all of whom will have had a badge.
He and Fielding are confi dent there will be descendants of these men still living locally who will have their relatives’ badges in storage.
“The 9th [regiment] stretched all the way from Cape Palliser up to Gisborne. We reckon there are still many badges around – but [the family] may not be aware they’re from that particular unit,” Frances said.
“We’re hopeful one of the grandchildren or great grandchildren will have one we can buy or borrow so we can keep this project moving.”
“Often, these items get tossed aside when people are packing up their houses – they’ll end up in a shoebox on the top shelf of the wardrobe,” Fielding added.
“If you think you might have seen a badge while doing a clean out, we’d be very grateful if you got in touch.”
The Masterton Drill Hall, the subject of the proposed memorial, was fi rst opened on November 23, 1886 – built with funds from both government and community investment.
At the time, the 30m by 17m wooden building was used as a base for local volunteer militias and to hold public events, such as “dances, art exhibitions and fl ower shows”.
Continued on page 3
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Erin Kavanagh-Hall
erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz
“When you break your neck, you never think ‘oh, this is going to happen a second time’”.
Unfortunately, for Wairarapa philanthropist Catriona Williams, lightning did indeed strike twice – when she sustained two spinal cord injuries, almost 20 years apart.
After this “double whammy” of life-changing accidents, Williams was determined to “turn a negative into a positive” – so, from her bed at Burwood Spinal Unit, she and a devoted group of girlfriends devised a new fundraising initiative to help others literally get back on their feet.
Last year, Williams injured her C2 vertebrae, resulting in surgery at Christchurch Hospital, and rehabilitation at Burwood – where she spent both her 50th birthday and 20th wedding anniversary.
She suffered her first spinal cord injury in 2002 after falling from her horse during an equestrian event, which left her a tetraplegic.
A year on from her second accident, she has launched her latest fundraiser, DigDeep4CatWalk: a limited run of handforged garden trowels, the proceeds of which will go towards Williams’ charity The CatWalk Foundation.
Since its founding in 2005, CatWalk has raised millions of dollars to support research on finding a cure for spinal cord injury-paralysis.
The idea for DigDeep4CatWalk came about when a group of close friends “rallied around” Williams as she recovered at Burwood – and were inspired by her grit and determination to complete even simple tasks, like raising her head off the pillow.
After some “great discussions over wine”, Williams’ friends formed a committee and approached an overseas manufacturing company – which created a line of hard-wearing trowels, now available for purchase online.
The phrase “digging deep” refers not only to gardening but being able to find strength and courage from within during times of adversity – a concept Williams is intimately familiar with.
“Even when you’re surrounded by amazing people, like your partner, family, or friends, it’s up to you to pull yourself out of a bad situation,” she said.
“Things happen, sometimes right out of the blue, and we have to dig deep to overcome them.
“We were determined to dig deep and create something beautiful out of my accident – something that can help others, especially now with the world being in such a crazy place.
“The whole idea is that when you dig deep, flowers will blossom.”
Williams said DigDeep4CatWalk was inspired by her passion for gardening – the thing she missed most after her first accident.
“Obviously, I’ve missed things like horse riding and dancing – the rewards from gardening are enormous, mentally and physically.
“I really missed the little things, like sinking my hands into the soil, and sitting back and watching things grow. It’s so therapeutic.”
She is hopeful purchasing a trowel through DigDeep4CatWalk will allow people to do their own “digging deep” – developing their garden and working on their mental health in the process.
She and the DigDeep committee are “very excited” to launch the new trowels: crafted by Dutch company Sneeboer, they are made from high-quality stainless steel, and come with a lifetime guarantee.
Williams, who was made a Member of New Zealand Order of Merit in 2014, said she is “doing well” since last year’s injury: working on her fitness by swimming, hand-cycling and going to the gym twice a week.
She is also pleased to report she has been able to pick up her gardening tools – and is particularly proud of her herb garden.
• To purchase a trowel for DigDeep4Catwalk, go to www.catwalk. org.nz.
Catriona Williams’ best friends didn’t just offer support when she suffered a second spinal cord injury – they started a committee to raise funds for spinal cord injury research. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
History deserves memorial
Continued from page 1
In 1911, the Drill Hall became the Wairarapa Headquarters for the Territorial Army and became the region’s centre for army recruitment for both World Wars.
Several notable Wairarapa locals left for military training and war service from the Drill Hall: including George Hood, after whom Masterton’s Hood Aerodrome is named, and Norman Cameron, one of the first Wairarapa soldiers to die at Gallipoli.
Cameron’s family donated the land for what was formerly known as Cameron and Soldiers Memorial Park (now Trust House Memorial Park) on Dixon Street.
Both Cameron and Hood were members of the 9th WECMR unit.
Army personnel vacated the Drill Hall building in the 1950s when a new premises was built on Cornwall Place (now Kokiri Place) – so the old hall was used by the former Masterton Amateur Theatrical Society as a rehearsal and performance space.
The old building also continued to host events, including a large model railway exhibition in the 1970s.
It was eventually demolished in 1981 and the site became the Lincoln Road carpark of the then Masterton Borough Council.
Frances said the Drill Hall was an important part of Wairarapa’s history, which “deserves to be memorialised”.
“For almost 100 years, it was a prominent community building. It was the headquarters for two of our major military units, in which many people from Wairarapa served.
“Anyone who has lived in Wairarapa after the 1980s won’t know it existed.”
Frances and Fielding have been able to secure grants from Wairarapa businesses and organisations towards the memorial project, as well as donations from the wider community, and plan to use “local labour” to construct the memorial.
As well as the steel statues, the memorial will consist of a plaque, information board, and surrounding plantings of blue, white, and red flowers, representing the New Zealand flag.
The organisers hope to have the memorial completed by the end of this year.
• If you can provide a unit badge for the 9th
Wellington East Coast
Mounted Rifles, contact
Neil Frances via email: nfkiwibass@gmail.com.
Two of the “many hundreds” of Wairarapa men who served with the WECMR unit during World War I. PHOTO/FILE
Ph: 06 378 2824
Dixon Street, Masterton Email: daniel@˘ ooringdesign.nz Website: www.˘ ooringdesign.co.nz
New specialist brings community immense relief
Erin Kavanagh-Hall
Erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz
For Wairarapa’s infl ammatory bowel disease (IBD) community, the appointment of a new gastro-intestinal specialist at the region’s hospital is an “immense relief” - which comes following several years of tireless advocacy.
Wairarapa DHB recruited Dr John Wyeth, a gastroenterologist with close to four decades’ experience, at the start of this year.
Dr Wyeth has had an illustrious career in medicine, which has, as well as working in hospital settings throughout the Wellington region, included roles as medical director at PHARMAC, regional clinical lead for bowel cancer screening, and lecturer at the Wellington School of Medicine.
Dr Wyeth’s appointment has been touted as “a huge win” for Wairarapa residents living with IBD and other gastric conditions – who have previously had to travel to Wellington or the Hutt Valley to receive diagnoses and treatment.
IBD, an autoimmune condition which attacks the body’s digestive tract, aff ects over 20,000 New Zealanders – one of the highest rates in the world, per head of population.
Despite these fi gures, publicly funded medications are limited and, due to a national shortage of gastroenterologists, IBD suff erers can face long waits for specialist care.
Lisa Clough, chair of Crohn’s and Colitis Wairarapa, estimated it had been at least fi ve years since Wairarapa Hospital had a permanent gastroenterologist on its staff .
Both Clough and longtime gastroenterologist Dr Richard Stein, in his capacity as current chair of Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand, had been in regular communication with Wairarapa DHB, advocating for the provision of locally based IBD services.
However, she said, their eff orts were often “ignored” by the DHB – leading to Dr Stein treating several Wairarapa patients at his private clinic, free of charge.
Clough said Dr Wyeth’s appointment will have a signifi cant impact for the region’s IBD community, estimated to make up at least 200-300 people.
“Beforehand, people were travelling for treatment at their own cost – having to pay for transport and take leave from work,” Clough said.
“Even (at other hospitals), it’s been hard for a lot of people to get a specialist to see them.
“Having a specialist in Wairarapa will also provide continuity of care: making sure follow-up appointments can occur and people are seen on a regular basis to [manage] their disease – not just when becomes urgent.
“Dr Stein has been outstanding: his constant battle to get care for those of us with IBD in Wairarapa has been incredible.”
Brent Gare, Masterton district councillor and More FM announcer, was similarly thrilled to hear of Dr Wyeth’s arrival.
Gare’s son Braeden was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 10 – although it took “a good 18 months” of tests and scans, and many trips back and forth over the Remutaka Hill, before doctors reached their conclusion.
His father described this time in his family’s life as “pretty horrifi c”.
“We went for every possible test – it was an absolute nightmare,” Gare said.
“At one stage, he was vomiting blood. He had to be taken to Wellington Hospital for emergency surgery – where he had 20cm of his bowel removed.
“As a parent, seeing your child in constant pain, and knowing you can’t do anything to stop it, is heartbreaking. It takes its toll on the whole family.”
Thankfully, 18-yearold Braeden is now in remission, and had been receiving regular checkups at Hutt Hospital.
However, Gare said he had recently “been dropped off the books”, as the hospital needed to prioritise patients from the Hutt Valley area.
He said he has had to be “a pretty aggressive advocate” for Braeden over the years – which has included several meetings with former Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott and his successor Kieran McAnulty, urging them to help secure a local specialist.
“There was a lot of lobbying behind the scenes. I remember telling Alastair, ‘mate, it’s just not good enough’.
“But we’re absolutely stoked to have Dr Wyeth on board now – it will change a lot of lives.
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Katie Gracie, with Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson and Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty, at the opening of the Unmasking IBD exhibition at Parliament.
“It will be a massive relief, especially to cut down on that travel time for people who are already feeling uncomfortable in their own bodies.”
Masterton artist Katie Gracie, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 10 years ago, knows that feeling of discomfort all too well.
Her treatment has involved travelling to Lower Hutt for colonoscopies – preparing for which can be taxing enough without factoring in the three-hour round trip.
Ahead of a colonoscopy, patients need to fast for 24 to 48 hours, and drink 2 litres of a powerful bowel-clearing substance – which Gracie describes as “saltwater mixed with a whole lot of grossness”.
“After doing the prep, sitting in [a moving vehicle] can make you feel so sick,” she said.
“A lot of colonoscopies are done using sedation, so you can’t drive back home straight afterwards – so people are having to pay for accommodation, or organise to stay with family. Which isn’t exactly quality time, when you’re stuck on the toilet afterwards!
“Physically, logistically and mentally, it’s a lot to cope with.”
Gracie, who provided artworks for an exhibition at Parliament for World IBD Day last year, said Dr Wyeth’s appointment was “absolutely wonderful”. “It just adds so much more comfort and convenience. It’s a huge win.”
Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand chair Dr Richard Stein was pleased to hear about the new developments at Wairarapa Hospital – but said it was vital “excellent gastroenterologist” Dr Wyeth was “well supported” by the DHB in order to retain his services.
Stein is a familiar face in Wairarapa: he worked as a general physician at Wairarapa Hospital from 2007 to 2010, where he cared for patients with IBD.
While working at Hutt Hospital, he was able to continue treating patients in Wairarapa for three days each fortnight – but stopped in 2016, citing “a lack of support” from Wairarapa DHB.
While at Wairarapa Hospital, Stein trained one of theatre nurses in IBD care – and the DHB had committed to excuse her from her theatre duties for one-a-half days every two weeks to attend to IBD patients.
“She was absolutely
wonderful – I couldn’t speak highly enough of her,” he said.
“IBD nurses are a lifeline for patients. They can do things like follow up on test results, and help people manage their symptoms when they’re having a fl are up of their disease.
“If people are concerned about their symptoms, nurses can generally reply in about 48 hours.
“It can have a tremendous impact on quality of life – and, if patients aren’t needing to go to the emergency room or have surgeries, it’s a cost saving for the DHB.”
However, Stein said Wairarapa DHB had not permitted the nurse he trained to put her skills in IBD care to use.
“They said they can’t release her from her theatre work – which goes back on the agreement we made.”
In 2019, he and Lisa Clough met with Shawn Sturland, then chief medical offi cer at the DHB, on behalf of the Wairarapa IBD community – many of whom were left “in limbo” by the lack of local services.
“I presented the DHB with letters from our community, talking about the eff ect of their conditions on their lives,” Clough said.
“After that meeting, we never heard anything back.
“A lot of the time, our attempts to make contact (via email) would be ignored.”
Dale Oliff , DHB chief executive, said senior managers have “no recall or knowledge” of the nurse to be released from her theatre duties to work with IBD patients, or any conversations “between the chair of Crohn’s and Colitis Wairarapa and the DHB” in 2019.
“There have been a number of changes of senior staff since 2019, and this has meant a loss of institutional knowledge,” Oliff said.
She said Dr Wyeth’s “experience and expertise will be of immense value to the local community, and especially to those suff ering from infl ammatory bowel disease”.
Lisa Clough, chair of Crohn’s and Colitis Wairarapa.
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New specialist brings community immense relief
Erin Kavanagh-Hall
Erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz
For Wairarapa’s infl ammatory bowel disease (IBD) community, the appointment of a new gastro-intestinal specialist at the region’s hospital is an “immense relief” - which comes following several years of tireless advocacy.
Wairarapa DHB recruited Dr John Wyeth, a gastroenterologist with close to four decades’ experience, at the start of this year.
Dr Wyeth has had an illustrious career in medicine, which has, as well as working in hospital settings throughout the Wellington region, included roles as medical director at PHARMAC, regional clinical lead for bowel cancer screening, and lecturer at the Wellington School of Medicine.
Dr Wyeth’s appointment has been touted as “a huge win” for Wairarapa residents living with IBD and other gastric conditions – who have previously had to travel to Wellington or the Hutt Valley to receive diagnoses and treatment.
IBD, an autoimmune condition which attacks the body’s digestive tract, aff ects over 20,000 New Zealanders – one of the highest rates in the world, per head of population.
Despite these fi gures, publicly funded medications are limited and, due to a national shortage of gastroenterologists, IBD suff erers can face long waits for specialist care.
Lisa Clough, chair of Crohn’s and Colitis Wairarapa, estimated it had been at least fi ve years since Wairarapa Hospital had a permanent gastroenterologist on its staff .
Both Clough and longtime gastroenterologist Dr Richard Stein, in his capacity as current chair of Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand, had been in regular communication with Wairarapa DHB, advocating for the provision of locally based IBD services.
However, she said, their eff orts were often “ignored” by the DHB – leading to Dr Stein treating several Wairarapa patients at his private clinic, free of charge.
Clough said Dr Wyeth’s appointment will have a signifi cant impact for the region’s IBD community, estimated to make up at least 200-300 people.
“Beforehand, people were travelling for treatment at their own cost – having to pay for transport and take leave from work,” Clough said.
“Even (at other hospitals), it’s been hard for a lot of people to get a specialist to see them.
“Having a specialist in Wairarapa will also provide continuity of care: making sure follow-up appointments can occur and people are seen on a regular basis to [manage] their disease – not just when becomes urgent.
“Dr Stein has been outstanding: his constant battle to get care for those of us with IBD in Wairarapa has been incredible.”
Brent Gare, Masterton district councillor and More FM announcer, was similarly thrilled to hear of Dr Wyeth’s arrival.
Gare’s son Braeden was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 10 – although it took “a good 18 months” of tests and scans, and many trips back and forth over the Remutaka Hill, before doctors reached their conclusion.
His father described this time in his family’s life as “pretty horrifi c”.
“We went for every possible test – it was an absolute nightmare,” Gare said.
“At one stage, he was vomiting blood. He had to be taken to Wellington Hospital for emergency surgery – where he had 20cm of his bowel removed.
“As a parent, seeing your child in constant pain, and knowing you can’t do anything to stop it, is heartbreaking. It takes its toll on the whole family.”
Thankfully, 18-yearold Braeden is now in remission, and had been receiving regular checkups at Hutt Hospital.
However, Gare said he had recently “been dropped off the books”, as the hospital needed to prioritise patients from the Hutt Valley area.
He said he has had to be “a pretty aggressive advocate” for Braeden over the years – which has included several meetings with former Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott and his successor Kieran McAnulty, urging them to help secure a local specialist.
“There was a lot of lobbying behind the scenes. I remember telling Alastair, ‘mate, it’s just not good enough’.
“But we’re absolutely stoked to have Dr Wyeth on board now – it will change a lot of lives.
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Bondi 3 seater was $2615 NOW $1961 Bondi 2 seater was $2195 NOW $1646 Malaga Outdoor Set was $5527 NOW $3860 Nest Medium Pendant was $1759 NOW $1140 Anika Cabinet was $2298 NOW $1600
Katie Gracie, with Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson and Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty, at the opening of the Unmasking IBD exhibition at Parliament.
“It will be a massive relief, especially to cut down on that travel time for people who are already feeling uncomfortable in their own bodies.”
Masterton artist Katie Gracie, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 10 years ago, knows that feeling of discomfort all too well.
Her treatment has involved travelling to Lower Hutt for colonoscopies – preparing for which can be taxing enough without factoring in the three-hour round trip.
Ahead of a colonoscopy, patients need to fast for 24 to 48 hours, and drink 2 litres of a powerful bowel-clearing substance – which Gracie describes as “saltwater mixed with a whole lot of grossness”.
“After doing the prep, sitting in [a moving vehicle] can make you feel so sick,” she said.
“A lot of colonoscopies are done using sedation, so you can’t drive back home straight afterwards – so people are having to pay for accommodation, or organise to stay with family. Which isn’t exactly quality time, when you’re stuck on the toilet afterwards!
“Physically, logistically and mentally, it’s a lot to cope with.”
Gracie, who provided artworks for an exhibition at Parliament for World IBD Day last year, said Dr Wyeth’s appointment was “absolutely wonderful”. “It just adds so much more comfort and convenience. It’s a huge win.”
Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand chair Dr Richard Stein was pleased to hear about the new developments at Wairarapa Hospital – but said it was vital “excellent gastroenterologist” Dr Wyeth was “well supported” by the DHB in order to retain his services.
Stein is a familiar face in Wairarapa: he worked as a general physician at Wairarapa Hospital from 2007 to 2010, where he cared for patients with IBD.
While working at Hutt Hospital, he was able to continue treating patients in Wairarapa for three days each fortnight – but stopped in 2016, citing “a lack of support” from Wairarapa DHB.
While at Wairarapa Hospital, Stein trained one of theatre nurses in IBD care – and the DHB had committed to excuse her from her theatre duties for one-a-half days every two weeks to attend to IBD patients.
“She was absolutely
wonderful – I couldn’t speak highly enough of her,” he said.
“IBD nurses are a lifeline for patients. They can do things like follow up on test results, and help people manage their symptoms when they’re having a fl are up of their disease.
“If people are concerned about their symptoms, nurses can generally reply in about 48 hours.
“It can have a tremendous impact on quality of life – and, if patients aren’t needing to go to the emergency room or have surgeries, it’s a cost saving for the DHB.”
However, Stein said Wairarapa DHB had not permitted the nurse he trained to put her skills in IBD care to use.
“They said they can’t release her from her theatre work – which goes back on the agreement we made.”
In 2019, he and Lisa Clough met with Shawn Sturland, then chief medical offi cer at the DHB, on behalf of the Wairarapa IBD community – many of whom were left “in limbo” by the lack of local services.
“I presented the DHB with letters from our community, talking about the eff ect of their conditions on their lives,” Clough said.
“After that meeting, we never heard anything back.
“A lot of the time, our attempts to make contact (via email) would be ignored.”
Dale Oliff , DHB chief executive, said senior managers have “no recall or knowledge” of the nurse to be released from her theatre duties to work with IBD patients, or any conversations “between the chair of Crohn’s and Colitis Wairarapa and the DHB” in 2019.
“There have been a number of changes of senior staff since 2019, and this has meant a loss of institutional knowledge,” Oliff said.
She said Dr Wyeth’s “experience and expertise will be of immense value to the local community, and especially to those suff ering from infl ammatory bowel disease”.
Lisa Clough, chair of Crohn’s and Colitis Wairarapa.
Have you worked in Noisy environments?
Do you know that you may be eligible for fully funded hearing aids?
Call us today on 06 379 6592 for a free consultation
Carterton Medical Centre 167 High Street South, Carterton www.oraclehearing.co.nz
Erin Kavanagh-Hall
erin.kavanagh-hall@age.co.nz
When asked if she had any advice for the young people of Wairarapa, Molly O’Dwyer’s answer was straight to the point: “It doesn’t matter how old you are – if you’ve got an opinion, say it. And if you want to get something done, do it.”
By speaking up, and by putting those words into action, the Carterton resident is close to achieving her dream of a brand new water slide for her local swimming pool.
Since January,11year-old Molly has led a fundraising campaign to replace one of the slides at Carterton’s outdoor pool, with support from Carterton District Council (CDC), local organisations, and whanau.
The Chanel College pupil spoke at CDC’s 10Year Plan consultation hearings last year, urging the council to replace the decades-old slide, citing safety concerns.
CDC agreed to contribute $10,000 towards a new slide and pledged to support Molly and the community with fundraising for the remaining costs.
Eight weeks since she launched her campaign, Molly and her supporters have secured close to $60,000 towards the slide – thanks to generous donations from both community organisations and the public.
Ka Pai Carterton, the district’s community-led development partnership with the Department of Internal Aff airs, voted to contribute $42,090 (plus GST) towards Molly’s project.
Trust House has also pledged $10,000 towards the slide, and a further $4,000 was raised via a Givealittle page and sausage sizzles.
The most recent donations will be suffi cient for CDC to purchase the new slide – though Molly plans to raise extra funds towards its installation and maintenance, and some new poolside murals.
Last Friday, More FM Wairarapa’s Brent Gare broke the good news to a delighted Molly, alongside Lucy McKenzie, Ka Pai Carterton Community Facilitator, and Rebecca Vergunst, Carterton Deputy Mayor.
“I’m so happy and excited – and I can’t wait to see what happens next,” the youngster told Midweek.
“When someone who you listen to on the radio every morning tells you you’ve managed to raise $50,000, it’s pretty awesome.
“It shows that, no matter how old you are, you should not be afraid to speak up if you want to see change.”
Amanda O’Dwyer, Molly’s mum, was “blown away” by how quickly they were able to raise the funds.
She said Molly’s fundraising eff orts involved making several powerpoint presentations, including to the Ka Pai Carterton committee – and was proud of her daughter for keeping calm and collected throughout.
“She did a speech for about nine quite prominent members of the community. That can be nerve wracking for an adult, never mind a kid!
“But she took it all in her stride.
“It’s been a great learning experience for her. It shows it’s important to see something through to the end – it’s easy to get excited at the start, but you need to keep the stamina going throughout.”
Ka Pai Carterton’s Lucy McKenzie said the organisation’s committee unanimously supported funding Molly’s project – as it “highlights one of Carterton’s community aspirations of nurturing youth”.
“This project provides an excellent example to Carterton rangatahi of how to eff ect local change,” she said.
To help raise the fi nal funds, a team of swimmers, including Carterton mayor Greg Lang, will take part in a 10km sponsored swim (about 300 laps of the outdoor pool) next Saturday.
Molly and a group of mates will be on hand to count the laps completed.
• To support the sponsored swim, you can donate via givealittle.co.nz/cause/ mollysslide.
Molly O’Dwyer has secured the funding needed for a new slide at Carterton’s outdoor pool. Clockwise from left: Brent Gare, Amanda O’Dwyer, Rebecca Vergunst, Lucy McKenzie, Molly and younger sister Alannah. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Erin Pearce and Keri Mignot team up at Cutting Edge, Solway,
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March 2: A memorable day
I was pleasantly surprised for the Wairarapa Midweek to have printed not one but two readers’ letters that I actually agree with! And on such a memorable day in Wellington as was 2 March 2022.
I’m a 46-year-old immigrant from South Africa, who made my home here 20 years ago this year. What I saw yesterday in Wellington was not something I ever thought I would see in this country.
The division this government created in the name of “safety”, and the clear refusal and dismissal of people who dared to have a different opinion from those in government, was on clear display the last few weeks – and especially yesterday.
This is not the New Zealand I came to. Where is open debate and discussion and freedom of choice without fearing to lose your income?
It’s astonishing what the leaders of our Western democracies have done and are still doing to their own citizens. Dividing them into two categories and [separating them] from general society. And the big media corporations seem to fuel it – taking the side of government in every single case. Almost lockstep.
May this open our eyes to how this government has changed our society over the last two years. All in the name of a virus that has seemingly become more important than the people themselves.
Marlene Brugger Masterton
Riot police on Molesworth St, near the Parliament precinct. PHOTO/SUPPLIED Praise for cycling lanes
I had a very positive and rare experience last week.
I was able to cycle on the “green lanes” meant for those of us who still use a bicycle for transport. From Kuripuni, all the way along Chapel Street, to the roundabout at Renall Street. Magnificent, bright green lanes respected by motorists. Thank you to Masterton District Council. Now we just need to be able to park our bikes in Queen Street when we go shopping - just like the cars do. And we take up much less space.
Elisabeth Mikkelsen Masterton
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Looking out over Fensham Reserve, Carterton, as the rain comes in. PHOTO/BEA BOSCH
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