18 January Wainuiomata News

Melony

Continued on page 2.

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata resident Melony O’Connor (Ng ti Porou) was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in this year’s New Year’s Honours.

received her award for services to basketball, and particularly for her role as a referee. She has refereed the sport for 40 years, the last 20 years in the Men’s National Basketball League (NBL).

Melony O’Connor receiving a plaque to mark her 400th NBL game as a referee from Basketball NZ CEO Dillon Boucher. Dillon formerly played the game and his 13 combined career championships is the most in NZ NBL and Australian NBL history. He was made a MNZM in the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Photo: Supplied..

A great step forward for referees

from page 1

In May last year, Melony reached a major milestone when she refereed her 400th NBL game, placing her third all-time in games refereed.

She has refereed another 25 NBL games since then, and is “hoping to referee a couple more years if the body allows”.

“I am blown away that someone nominated me,” Melony says. “I still am, today, surprised.”

When she received the email letting her know that she was being recognised as an MNZM, Melony initially thought it was spam or a hoax.

Then her family looked at the sender’s address and told her it looked legitimate (as it was).

The award underlines “how fortunate I am and how great it is to be a referee in any sport,” she says.

“I think it is a great step forward

for referees in all sports to get recognition like this.

“When you are used to things being so negative [as it can be for referees] it was quite heartwarming to be honoured.

“There is a lot of negativity –more so from members of the public that from the players and coaches.”

When asked about the highlights of her career to date, Melony names two.

She earned the NBL Referee of the Year awards in 2012, 2021 and 2022. Being named referee of the year for the last couple of years “for me, in my 50s, has been quite an achievement.”

The second highlight is the development of people she has mentored and who have gone on to officiate at NBA games.

“I have been so lucky to work with young people as 13 year olds and now having them refereeing with me. That has been really

fantastic for me.”

Melony has been refereeing NBL games for the last nine years, including refereeing the last eight Men’s NBL finals, and “that has been very rewarding,” she says.

“I am also very fortunate to work for Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ),” she adds. Melony has been Referee Development Manager with BBNZ for 10 years, supporting the development of referees on the National Pathway and at BBNZ national events.

Melony was raised in a basketball family and has been involved in the sport all her life.

Before she began her 40 years’ refereeing she played the game, including competitions at the representative level through the age groups.

When she was a teenager she also played in an adult team for the Vogue club in Whanganui. The team played a tournament

in Fiji and then went on to play a couple of games in the United States.

Her refereeing began while she was a young player – in the days when some players had to take turns at refereeing matches they also played in.

Melony is one of 25 referees currently on the National Referees Panel, officiating NBL and Women’s National League games. She is the only Level One (highest attainment) female official on the panel.

She has qualified as a FIBA (International Basketball Body) Scoretable Official since 2012, and as a Commissioner for FIBA, making her eligible to undertake these roles in international games.

Melony is the BBNZ representative with M ori Basketball New Zealand and works with iwi to develop referees for their National Tournament.

Farewell 2022 – Welcome 2023

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata had plenty to celebrate during 2022, including a series of major awards, the community coming out in force when protesters who had been occupying Parliament’s grounds descended on the suburb and

planned to take the protest onto the Wainuiomata Marae, and work starting on the $8.5 million Queen Street upgrade. Among the highlights of 2022 were the following:

JANUARY

Kokiri Marae General Manager Teresea Olsen – who would

later be named Wellingtonian of the Year – was presented the Public Health Champion Award by the Public Health Association of New Zealand. The award was presented for the work of Ms Olsen and the staff at Kokiri Marae Health and Social Services. It was

presented in recognition of the primary and public health services delivered to the Kokiri Marae wh nau and community and for leading working during the Covid-19 epidemic to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of wh nau, hapu and iwi.

The Wainuiomata Intermediate School students who prevented a water main leak from becoming a major problem: Charlotte Woolley, Ruby Mulholland-Morrison, Potatau Clarke, and Maia and Tahlia Mapakaitolo. Photo: Gerald Rillstone.

readers have their say... Find out the WORD on the Street.

Q: What is your favourite childhood memory?

Continued from page 2

FEBRUARY

Quick action by Wainuiomata Intermediate School students prevented a mains leak from becoming a major problem. Charlotte Woolley, Ruby Mulholland-Morrison, Maia and Tahlia Mapataitolo were walking to Ruby’s home after school with Potatau Clarke. They came across a small sink hold in the middle of Best Street. Potatau’s dad is a plumber and he realised what was going on, so the group signalled traffic to slow down. Charlotte called her dad and he made a call to Wellington Water, who then came to the rescue. Wellington Water emailed Wainuiomata Intermediate School Principal Craig Sharp, congratulating the students.

MARCH

The Wainuiomata community came out in force after online posting that people who had been protesting in Parliament’s grounds planned to continue protesting by occupying the Wainuiomata Marae. The protesters were evicted from Parliament with some of them descending on Wainuiomata, presumably because the Wainuiomata Marae is a registered Covid-19 vaccination clinic. The protesters

were unable to carry out their plan, however, as so many people from the community, led by the Marae, lent their support to the moves to prevent the protesters occupying the Marae. “The community has been amazing,” Tina Olsen-Ratana, a member of the team protecting the Marae, said.

APRIL

Work on the $8.5 million Wainuiomata Town Centre upgrade started on 26 April. It was originally planned to start in March but delays in supply and Covid-19 saw a delay. The project, also commonly referred to as the “Queen Street Upgade” will revitalise Wainuiomata’s shopping and social hub. The project is planned to be completed early this year.

Wainuiomata’s premier football team created a major upset on 9 April. Without a win to its name, Wainuiomata faced league leaders and undefeated Stop Out. A goal in the first half by Andrew Olivier and one in the second half by Isaac Harper saw them win 2-0.

MAY

Teresea Olsen was named Wellingtonian of the Year on 12 May. Her award came for overseeing a Covid-19 vaccination programme in vulnerable communities in the

Hutt Valley. Ms Olsen also played a significant role in supporting foodbanks across the region, as well as successfully standing her ground when protesters threatened to occupy the Wainuiomata Marae.

JUNE

Wainuiomata basketball player Jyordanna Davey wins a scholarship to Auburn University in Alabama. Jyordanna played for the Under 17 Hutt Valley team that finished second in the national championships and was selected for the NZ M ori Under-17 team, the NZ Under-17 squad and the Junior Tall Ferns. She will study kinesthesiology at Auburn University.

Speedway driver Keegan Levien was selected to represent New Zealand in the BRISCA F1 World Final in the United Kingdom in September. This came after Keegan gained top spot in New Zealand during the 2019-20 speedway season.

JULY

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, along with fellow MPs Ginny Andersen and Meka Whaitiri, attended Wainuiomata High School to watch a Matariki play written and performed by students.

Wainuiomata fair share photography business Excio won the Creative Award in the Wellington

Gold Awards.

Ng Hau e Wha Wainuiomata won the Education and Child/ Youth Development Award at the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards.

Te Awa Kairangi Kai Collective

Seeing

and Hutt City Council partnership won Local Government New Zealand’s Kainga Ora Home and Communities Excellence Award for social wellbeing.

Stephen Gray

my grandfather. When I was 12 I went and mowed his lawns and worked in his garden.

Tarien Kinoetze

Hanging around with family.

Dion Haerewa

Michelle-Louise Roberts

Collecting seashells on the beach with my grandmother and mother.

Scott McFarlane

Bernard Kenny

The haymaking at my uncle’s farm in Okiawa.

Searching for bugs on my back property.

Swimming in the river – at the Taita Gorge.

Wainuiomata Marae personnel and members of the community join forces to keep protesters from occupying the Marae. Photo: Gerald Rillstone.

Continued from page 3

AUGUST

“Loves-Me-Not”, a programme designed to keep young people safe, came to Wainuiomata High School for the first time on 17 August.

Lesa Bingley launches a petition opposing the opening of a second bottle store on Queen Street.

SEPTEMBER

Wainuiomata firefighters Rodney Hargraves and Isaac Stead were awarded the Australian National Emergency Medal for helping battle the massive bush fires that broke out in Australia in 2020.

OCTOBER

Wainuiomata’s Police Station reopened to the public on 4 October. Hutt South MP Ginny Andersen reopened the station, which is now open every Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4pm.

The HashTags presented a petition to Parliament seeking better controls on vape products. The petition asks Parliament to restrict sales of vaping products to licensed R18 specialist retailers.

Gabriel Tupou becomes the fourth Wainuiomata resident to sit at the Hutt City Council table. Following his election

as a citywide Councillor at the October local body elections, Mr Tupou joined Mayor Campbell Barry, Wainuiomata Ward Councillor Keri Brown and citywide Councillor Josh Briggs, who were re-elected.

Children’s author Dahlia Malaeulu won the Emerging Pasific Artist Award at this year’s Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards. She won this award for her role as a writer, publisher and educator. This was the first of two awards Dahlia won in 2022. She and her husband Mani won the 2022 Storylines Notable Book Award. They won their award for the book “Tama S moa”, which was the only Pasifia work among the winning titles. Dahlia was also named a finalist in the 2022 Pacific Business Trust Awards, presented in November. The Wainuiomata resident was recognised in the Pasifia Women in Business category.

The Wainuiomata Masonic Village held its grand opening, together with a stone laying ceremony, on 15 October. This climaxed a decade of work by the Masonic Village Trust and local politicians – including National list MP Chris Bishop, Former Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace and the current Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry.

GARDENING THIS WEEK

PLANTS AND HEALTH:

Readers that have followed my weekly columns and books will be well aware of how I have combined gardening with health.

I know that naturally grown vegetables and fruit will be very beneficial to your health and well being and when you add all the 114 known minerals to the growing media then the same food plants will be super healthy and taste so good.

The minerals can be obtained from using Wallys Unlocking your soil (minerals from rocks) Wallys Ocean Solids (Minerals from the blue waters of the ocean) and Magic Botanic Liquid (MBL which is minerals from prehistoric times)

The most benefit from your produce is obtained by eating raw or only lightly cooked.

The fast way to obtain maximum goodness is by converting healthy foliage into a drink we call ‘smoothies’

This is achieved with a very high speed blender which smashes the molecules of the plant material used allowing for easy assimilation into your body when you drink the green liquid.

Take the leaves of edible plants such as lettuce, carrot tops, celery, wheat or barley grass, silverbeet etc.

There are also a number of weeds that are edible such as Puha or Rauriki, dandelion and Stinging nettles.

Every plant has some beneficial properties even ones that are not normally eaten.

For instance there are about 3 or 4 different cloured carrots you can grow and each one has their own health benefits.

I always add a banana to my smoothies as it gives a nice palatable flavour.

We know that for thousands of years people in different areas of the planet learnt about plants growing in their area which they could use for their health and medical purposes.

I read one time that there is a plant or plants some where on the planet that will cure any ills of humans; in some cases we just have not found that plant yet or have the knowledge of how to use it.

Much of the pharmaceutical medicines was originally found through the old remedies of various plants people had used for generations.

The original chemists had jars of all sorts of dried plants and minerals which they would use to make up the concoctions that added recovery from sickness.

We hear about Chinese medicines, Indian medicines and even Maori medicines most of which were derived from locally grown plants and herbs.

A problem arises as Big Pharma cannot make money out of natural remedies as they cannot be patient. So if you know your herbs and herbal lore the poor pharmaceutical companies are not able to take your money with their concoctions.

Recently we saw during the holiday break our beloved Govt once again trying to implement a bill to ban the tractional use of herbs and plants for your well being. This is their third attempt at doing so and again removing another of your rights to be able to treat yourself and look after your own heath.

Andrew Little (Little brains I think) introduced the Therapeutic products

By Wally Richards

bill see... https://www.beehive.govt. nz/release/therapeutic-products-billintroduced

The Therapeutic Products Bill replaces the Medicines Act 1981 and Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 with a comprehensive regulatory regime that is (said to be) fit for the future.

Labour having failed twice in the past to pass legislation because of public outcry are using a different tact to make it happen..’The Bill establishes a new regulator within Manat Hauora – Ministry of Health, headed by an independent statutory officer, with a wider remit than the medicines regulator Medsafe.’

This person can deem any plant, herb, fruit and vegetable as beneficial to your health and thus ban the use of it, the growing of it and the import of it.

The only benefit of this has to be for the pharmaceutical companies and removes our freedom of choice to take what is traditionally safe natural remedies to what are often not safe pharmaceutical medicines.

In 2017 Labour opted for a prohibited list of 300 common herbal ingredients.

More well know on these included Aloe Vera, Comfrey, Belladonna, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Snowdrop, Juniper, Mustard, Worm wood, Cinnamon, Almond, Grapeseed, Ipomoea, Neem, Eggplant, senna and Valerian.

Many of these plants, herbs and spices like Cinnamon, Mustard are currently sold in shops. So how on earth did they get onto a prohibited list?

The answer lies in attempts to gain control of our food supply.

Natural products that are beneficial to health cannot be patented, but synthetic copies can be.

To make this work, the products that grow in gardens need to be banned.

Already I see Senna which is a natural aid for constipation is not easily obtainable in NZ.

Labour and the Ministry of Health did not make this list up, the list was supplied by the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA) of which Medsafe is a member.

ICMRA is largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry whose interests they serve.

If we wish to be able to continue to freely chose herbal medicines and supplements without government interference, we will need to speak up.

Go to this Link https://www. parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-asubmission/document/53SCHE_ SCF_BILL_130084/therapeuticproducts-bill before February 15th.

Write to your MP and complain that the appointment of a regulator amounts to an open ended blank cheque to control the use of products used by more than 50% of our population without fully specifying the principles he should use.

Many of us do not realise what uses there are for many plants we grow in our gardens and while researching for this article I discovered https:// medicinalseedkit.com/kit/ Have a look, I was amazed the wealth of information that is there.

For instance Chicory : This is the wild plant that Native Americans used to look for more than any other.

They’d harvest and use chicory to make a natural painkilling extract for a wide range of physical discomforts, especially stiff and achy joints. And so can you!

The root is rich in chicoric acid (CA), a plant compound with potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties but no risk of addiction.

If our pharmacies ever run dry, having even a small patch of chicory growing in your own backyard will provide relief. There are many more such as:

Chamomile – The Natural Antibiotic

Evening Primrose – A Natural Remedy for Skin and Nerves

California Poppy – Better Than Sleeping Pills

Feverfew – Nature’s Aspirin for Fevers and Migraines

Knowledge is power over your destiny and well being and it should never be taken away from you by Government regulations not in our interest.

An over reach of power by the Government.

If you want more information try https://hatchardreport.com/category/ natural-health/

Make a submission, write to your local MP.

I have on both counts and if you would like a copy of the email I sent to most of the Labour MP’s just ask and I will send you the copy.

You can alter it to suit and use it in your words to the MP’s

If enough people complain then you maybe we will be still able to still grow your lemon tree (good for colds)

No more broccoli (Some kids will be happy) as it is a great source of antioxidants and may enhance your health by reducing inflammation, improving blood sugar control, boosting immunity, and promoting heart health.

Why Is Broccoli a Superfood? fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and potassium.

The list goes on.

Queen Street as it will look after the upgrade is completed. Work began on the project in April.

Wellingtonian of the Year Teresea Olsen. Photo: Frank Neill

NOVEMBER

Alexis Tauaneai and Tiaki Nager-Ropitini were named the Wainuiomata High School’s sportswoman and sportsman of the year. The 2022 award was the third in a row that Alexis has won.

Ryan Nelson becomes the first year 12 student to be named Dux in the history of Wainuiomata High School.

Jake Whitaker wins the 2022 New Zealand Extreme Off-Road Championship. Jake won with a round to spare, and went on to win the

final round and make it a clean sweep for 2022.

Wainuiomata farewelled long-serving Member of Parliament Trevor Mallard at the Wainuiomata Rugby Club on 19 November. Mr Mallard resigned as Parliament’s Speaker in August and moves to Ireland this month to serve as New Zealand’s Ambassador.

New Zealand’s first private development dedicated to getting first home buyers on the property ladder announced that construction was about to begin. Called Koru Kainga, the Wainuiomata project is being built by Koru Homes New Zealand.

Continue on page 6

At the reopening of the Wainuiomata Police Station (from left) Inspector Dion Bennett, Hutt South MP Ginny Andersen, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri and Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry. Photo: Frank Neill.

Jake Whitaker on his way to winning the 2022 New Zealand Extreme Off-Road Championship. Photo: Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com.

Long-serving Member of Parliament Trevor Mallard at his Wainuiomata farewell Photo: Supplied.

Area

Moohan St, Bull Ave, Petrie St - 280 papers

Isobel Gr, Wright St, part of Moohan etc - 270 papers

Area 3

Karaka St, Kowhai St, Puriri St, part of Wainuiomata Rd - 295 papers

Area 4: Parkway subdivision - both sides of road - 130 papers

Area 5: Mohaka St, Karamea Gr, Kairanga Cres area - 345 papers

Area 6 : Hamstead St, Kendal Gr, Enfield St, part of Wellington Rd - 220 papers

Area 7 : Meremere St, Mataura Gr, Mimihau Gr, Manurewa Gr - 300 papers

Area 8 :Peel Place, Wood St, Faulke Ave, Burden Ave - 255 papers

Continued from page 5

DECEMBER

Te Awa Puketapu was elected Chair of the Wainuiomata Community Board at the board’s inaugural meeting on 7 December. Lesa Bingley was elected Deputy Chair. Both Te Awa and Lesa, who were newly elected to the community board, were elected unopposed. Wainuiomata’s Sheldon Valster won two gold medals

at the Special Olympics National Summer Games, held in Hamilton from 8-12 December. Swimming for Hutt Valley, Sheldon won gold in the 25 metres freestyle. He then joined the Kapi-Mana club, who had only three swimmers, and the team won gold in the four by 25 metres relay.

Labour and National’s two Hutt-based MPS – Ginny Andersen and Chris Bishop – joined forces on 15

December when they asked Greater Wellington Regional Council to commit to running a direct bus service between Wainuiomata and Wellington. Ms Andersen and Mr Bishop were not alone in making a plea for the return of the direct bus link. Hutt City Councillors Keri Brown and Josh Briggs also attended the regional council’s 15 December meeting and asked for the service to be reinstated.

Council backs lowering voting age

Hutt City Council has voted to endorse the Make It 16 campaign to lower the voting age in New Zealand to 16 for local and central government elections.

The Government recently announced it will introduce a Bill to Parliament lowering the voting age, and Council’s decision supports that.

“We have a young population in Lower Hutt and the region, and we’re proud to join our neighbouring councils in Wellington, K piti, and Porirua in endorsing the

campaign,” Mayor Campbell Barry says.

Hutt City Council also supports lowering the voting age through two separate Bills, so that changing the age in local elections would only require a 50% majority in Parliament as set out in the Local Electoral Act, as opposed to the 75% supermajority required to lower the voting age in central government elections as set out in the Electoral Act.

Dealing with both issues through two separate Bills would make it easier to get

Parliament’s support for lowering the voting age in local elections.

Mayor Barry says this could mean young people would at least be able to participate at a local level.

“If the voting age for central government elections isn’t lowered through this process, local elections could be an appropriate starting point, which would at least give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to participate in their local democracy,” the Mayor. says.

Dimples on a golf ball create a thin turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball’s surface. This allows the smoothly flowing air to follow the ball’s surface a little farther around the back side of the ball, thereby decreasing the size of the wake.

Photo: Frank Neill.

New MNZM began at Glendale School

By Frank Neill

Dayle Jackson, who began her teaching career at Glendale School and who is currently coaching a number of Wainuiomata bowlers, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in this year’s New Year’s Honours. She was awarded the accolade for services to education and sport.

After training at Wellington Teacher’s College, Ms Jackson joined the staff at Glendale School in the 1960s and taught there for two years.

Glendale School was located in Frederick Street before it merged with Pencarrow School in 2002, with the merged school named Pukeatua School.

Ms Jackson’s link with Wainuiomata continues as she is coaching Wainuiomata bowlers who are in both the junior and senior women’s representative squads.

In fact Ms Jackson had just finished coaching the Wellington junior squad when the “Wainuiomata News” spoke to her about being made an MNZM. Five members of the squad are from the valley.

She also coaches at the Wainuiomata Bowling Club from time to time.

Most of Ms Jackson’s teaching career after her time at Glendale

School was as a primary school Principal. She was Principal of Kelson School for several years until retirement in 2013.

As Principal, she focused on support for students and staff, creating bespoke groups and classes to help students struggling in particular subjects, fundraising and coaching sports.

She used her leadership of the school to intertwine education and sports, coaching many of the school’s sports teams including hockey, netball, swimming and community athletics, attending all the games on weekends.

She was heavily involved in her students’ learning, teaching two large groups of students for maths and would listen to students reading.

“Teaching was my career. It was absolutely wonderful every day,” she says.

Ms Jackson was involved with Hockey New Zealand for several decades as a player, coach and in various other roles. That included coaching the Wellington women’s representative team.

She was also the Manager of the Black Sticks women’s hockey team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

In 2009 Hockey New Zealand presented Ms Jackson with honorary life membership.

She is a qualified Bowls New

Zealand coach and umpire.

Ms Jackson was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 K pura Sports Awards for hockey.

She was awarded Bowls New Zealand Umpire of the Year in 2021 and has served four terms as President of Bowls Wellington.

“Enjoying my sport when I played was always a highlight,” she says.

She began playing hockey when she was six and as well as playing the sport, she was also involved in administration and in coaching. Her hockey coaching career continued until she stopped at the end of 2021.

Hockey, she says, “was my greatest love.”

Another highlight has been “seeing the children at my school enjoying the sports and having success.

“One of my big highlights, of course, was managing the New Zealand women’s hockey team at Sydney 2000.

“My dream as a child was to walk into that stadium” and as manager of the Olympic team she achieved that.

“Waking up in the morning, doing what you are going to do and making the most of it is probably one of my greatest highlights.”

Some of the tamariki she has coached over the years have been

Tennis Club celebrating 75 years

By Frank Neill

The Wainuiomata Tennis Club will celebrate its 75th Jubilee on Sunday 19 February.

The club will celebrate with a luncheon that will include various activities and entertainment from 11am to 3pm.

Tennis has been on the Wainuiomata sporting calendar for longer than 75 years.

What is now the Wainuiomata Tennis Club had its beginning in the 1930s when local players got together and began playing games at Wainuiomata School.

It was not for another 10 or 12 years that the club was formally incorporated – during the 1947-48 season, and the jubilee will celebrate 75 years since its incorporation.

After playing for more than a decade at Wainuiomata School, the club moved to its new courts, located where the club currently has its pavilion and courts, during the 1947-48 season.

Michael Moohan, who was the Member of Parliament for Petone at the time, opened the club’s new courts on 6 December 1947.

The club’s first pavilion was added in the early 1950s. The pavilion was erected with some 1,300 hours of voluntary labour and completed in 1953.

The next year, the Wainuiomata Tennis Club affiliated with the Hutt Valley Lawn Tennis Association.

The club had three courts at first, and two courts have since been added.

Floodlights were installed to light the courts in 1975 and in 1983 the pavilion was extended to incorporate

a lounge area.

One of the highlights of the club in past years was its annual ball.

The ball was the biggest social event not only on the tennis club calendar but also on Wainuiomata’s calendar.

In fact, it was the “social event of the year” in the valley.

The ball decorations were created by Norman and Helen Toomer around a specific theme each year and kept a secret until the night of the ball.

The decorations “were always so spectacular they were talked about for many months after,” says Ian Gooch, one of the organisers of the 75th Jubilee luncheon.

Another club highlight was the midweek ladies tennis.

The club has produced a number of outstanding players over the years.

Among them are Mark Paulik. Julie Cooper, Laurelle Spiers and Cliff Spiers.

Mark won New Zealand titles in the 14 years and under singles, 16 years and under singles and 16 years and under doubles and was a member of the 1995 New Zealand World Youth Cup team.

Mark won 14 Wellington titles and, as a 17-year-old won the Wellington Player of the Year Award. He has played internationally with success following his national titles and is currently a professional coach.

Julie won two New Zealand titles, in the 12 years and under singles and doubles.

Laurelle Spiers was the 18 years and under New Zealand doubles champion in 1974, while Cliff Spiers (who has also served as the club’s President and coach) competed in the New Zealand VTA teams event

in 1987.

The 75th Jubliee is being organised by long-serving club members Ian Gooch, Lorraine Cooper and Joyce Lockyer.

They are keen to let past and current club members know more about the 75th Jubilee so they can register.

More information is on the club’s website, http://www.wainuiomatatennis.org.nz/, and people can also contact Mr Gooch for more information. His contact details are: 027 448 2778, 04 564 3297 or email idgltd@ xtra.co.nz.

selected in representative Rugby teams, the All Blacks and others in representative Netball teams.

“Seeing other people’s success from your efforts, I get a lot of satisfaction from that – seeing the joy on other people’s faces when you had a little to do with their success.”

“I’m proud of my teaching career, I’m proud of my coaching career and I’m pleased that I have

worked with so many wonderful people.”

Ms Jackson describes being made an MNZM as “a great honour.

“But I have to share it with thousands of people.

“You can’t do what I did without everyone else – the parents, the teachers, the children, and the love of the job, and that has flowed over into sport as well,” she says.

Two podiums for local superbike rider

By Frank Neill

Wainuiomata High School

alumnus Luke Riley claimed two podium placings in just his second superbike race meeting on 26 December.

Luke competed in both races at round three of the Suzuki International Superbike Series raced at Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit.

A jump start penalty in race one saw him relegated to eighth place after he was the fifth rider to cross the finish line.

Luke then performed outstandingly in race two, finishing third. This saw Luke also place third in the Formula 1 New Zealand Tourist Trophy, recognised as the national title race for street circuits.

“I’m most proud of the third place [in the] Formula 1 NZ Tourist Trophy,” Luke says, with that “putting me as the number three New Zealand street circuit racer.

“I went really well at Cemetery Circuit.

“The superbike was a handful and really fun to ride there. I put on some entertaining riding for the crowd and got good results,” he says.

Luke only took up superbike racing this year, riding a BMW S1000R for the i-Tools Race Team.

He has been racing motor bikes for 20 years, most of that time on dirt bikes.

“I never had any big success on the dirt bikes,” he says, so four years ago he moved on to racing road bikes.

He was introduced to road racing by the well-known rider Shane Richardson, who is also from Wainuiomata. Shane is now a factory rider for Triumph competing in the British Supersport Championship.

Last year’s move to superbikes has been the one that has brought Luke the biggest rewards, despite having raced just two meetings. Luke’s next challenge will be the upcoming 2023 Vic Club TSS Motorcycles Race Series, which begins this month.

Round one will be raced at the Taupo International Motorsport Park on 28 January.

Rounds two, three and four will be run at the Manfeild Circuit on 26 March, 23 April and 20 May.

Luke Riley on his way to a podium finish at Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day. Photo: Aaron Staples Photography.

Dayle Jackson, who was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s New Year’s Honours. Photo: Supplied.

Ian Gooch, one of the organisers of the Wainuiomata Tennis Club’s 75th Jubilee on 19 February. Mr Gooch is keen to get the message about the Jubilee to past and current club members. Photo: Frank Neill.

Free food and competition comes to town

By Frank Neill

A brand-new free programme for rangatahi will begin in Wainuiomata on Friday 20 January.

Summer Streetball is a series of community basketball events across Lower Hutt, Naenae,

Stokes Valley, and Wainuiomata.

The events will give rangatahi the opportunity to compete to be kings and queens of the court, have some kai and listen to some sweet summer beats.

Summer Streetball sessions will be running at 5:30pm at Frederick Wise Park on Fridays.

They will also be held at the Naenae Courts on Tuesdays (starting on 17 January), Speldhurst Park on Wednesdays and Riddiford Garden on Thursdays. Summer Streetball will run to the end of February, and the

Nash Centre on Friday 3 March.

Safe cooking under the influence

From Friday 20 January, rangatahi can also hang out at the Walter Nash Centre on Fridays for Twilight Basketball; a weekly event starting at 9pm where they can play basketball and have some kai, all for free.

Information on these programmes, and all the other events

and services that are running at Hutt City Council sites can be found in the new-look What’s

On in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt.

People can get a copy of What’s On in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt at any Council site, or online at hutt.city/WhatsOn.

Wainuiomata people who like to cook late-night food, despite the fact they have had a few drinks, have a new resource aimed at keeping them safe from causing a fire.

who like to cook food, the fact have had a few drinks, a new resource at safe from a fire.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has released an e-book with recipes for late-night snacks that don’t involve cooking on a stove.

Fire and an for snacks that don’t involve on a stove.

Recipes include Spiced Tom – spicy tomato on toast – and

Recipes i nclude Spice d Tom – tomato on toast –

Not-Fried Rice – rice in the microwave.

Not-Fr

The recipes have been developed in collaboration with chef Jamie Johnston of Everybody Eats.

T he have been develin collaboration with chef Jam ie Johnston of Eats.

Called “You’re Cooked”, the e-book, together with videos, will run on digital and social platforms to 7 January 2023.

“Unattended cooking is the leading cause of house fires

Ca lled “You’re t he together with videos, will run on and social platforms “ Unatten d e d cooki ng i s t h e lea di ng cause house fi res

a nd injur ies from house fires we Fire and manager readiness and recovery.

and injuries from house fires we attend,” says Steve Turek, Fire and Emergency’s national manager community readiness and recovery.

“But there are many more injuries occurring from fires than those we attend. ACC data indicates the incidence of fire related injuries is six times higher than our own statistics.

“Further, around half of fire fa-

“But there are many more inj ur i es occurr i ng f rom fi res th an t h ose we atten d . ACC of fire related injuries is six times than our own statistics. around half of fire

talities involve alcohol or drugs.

“Using the stove under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is particularly risky. It’s easy for people to get distracted.

“We want to offer some practical and safer options that help satisfy cravings and keep cooks who are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol off the stove,” Mr Turek says.

“You’re Cooked” is available on

talities involve alcohol or drugs. stove under the influence of alcohol for people distracted “We want to offer some practical and that and are d rugs and/ or a lcohol off t he stove,” Mr Turek says. on

the following platforms: https:// fi rean d emergency.nz / yourecooked; You’re Cooked

Coo k e d Rec ipe Jac k e d Fairy Bread 45” You’re Cooked Sandwich

45”; Insta @yourecooke d nz; T ik To k @ yourecoo k e d nz; and the digital e-book link is h ttps: // on li ne. fli pp i ng b oo k com /view/92614733/i/

the following platforms: https:// fireandemergency.nz/yourecooked; You’re Cooked Recipe #9 Toast Sandwich 45” You’re Cooked Recipe #27 Jacked Fairy Bread 45” You’re Cooked Recipe #10 Chugget Sandwich 45”; Insta @yourecookednz; Tik Tok @yourecookednz; and the digital e-book link is https://online.flippingbook. com/view/92614733/i/.