26 minute read
Racing to keep our landmark. Will our market survive?
Tell people you live in Avondale and the typical response you’ll get is, “Oh I love the markets there.” Situated at Avondale Racecourse, the suburb’s iconic Avondale Sunday Market has been a destination for Aucklanders since 1972, offering produce and bric-a-brac at bargain prices and keeping shoppers fuelled with street food and coffee. Robb Kemp bought the market as a going concern in 1995. He has since seen stall numbers triple in size, though, he says, not a lot else has changed over a quarter of a century. An ex-Angora goat breeder and A&P President, Robb has come to know generations of families who have worked the stalls over the years, watching as parents become grandparents and children become operators. His own intergenerational family being one of them. Each Sunday, daughters Erin and Amanda, son-in-law Earl, and grandsons Liam and Oliver muck in to help. On the first Sunday of the month, it’s “all hands on deck” collecting rents and preparing for the month ahead. In the early days, most produce stalls were run by Polynesian families and though many still operate with a loyal customer base, it is Asian growers and sellers who now dominate. The produce section is vibrant and bustling, offering some of the most diverse foods available in the country. If you’re after an unusual vegetable like bitter melon or fresh Asian greens, this is where you’ll find them, usually costing much less than you’ll pay elsewhere. Huge taro, packs of tofu or chillis and “just-picked” seasonal fruits are abundant, and you can load up a heavy bag for less than $20. Robb celebrates ethnic diversity: “We are a reflection of the community around us," he says. "A lot of Indian people come here for spices and okra, Chinese are into dried fish and seaweed. I don’t know where else in New Zealand you’d buy this sort of produce.” While produce is the mainstay of the market, clothing and furniture also feature, though in less in demand than they used to be. Competition from big clothing brands and cheap, no deposit and interest-free offerings from large furniture retailers have all taken their toll. There was a downturn in the car boot-style offering too when online trading became popular, but now Robb says people seem to be coming back, “Perhaps they are sick of online shopping and want to see stuff in their hands.” What’s in store? Behind the smiles of 400-odd stallholders, concern is growing that the future of Avondale’s biggest attraction and New Zealand's largest one day market is at risk. A parliamentary bill pushed by Minister of Racing, Winston Peters, is at present before the select committee. The bill introduces changes that could see the 80-acre racecourse site sold off - possibly to the government - with rights to profit removed from its owner, Avondale Jockey Club. The act would make it legal for the racing authority to remove licenses from up to 20 racing clubs and seize the land for sale, owing the clubs Racing to keep our landmarks By Joanne Davies From left, market owner, Robb Kemp with family support - daugther Erin, grandson Liam, daughter Amanda, grandson Oliver and son-In-Law Earl
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Ken and James Crichton, whose family has operated a produce stall through generations.
Sam Mills has been a stallholder at Avondale Market for over 30 years.
nothing. Avondale Racecourse has been earmarked as one of the first clubs that could be stripped of its assets. Considering that the land the club occupies was bought with member funds and that the club receives only minimal support from the racing industry, it is no surprise that members are petitioning against the bill. The club suggests there is false information being spread about club assets and financial support, in order to push the legislation through. The jockey club’s online blog is clear: “The racing industry does not provide financial support to Avondale JC. Indeed, five or so years ago when clubs such as Avondale tried to attract on-course betting at their races (by incentivising big punters), NZTR funding policies changed to quash entrepreneurship.” While the buildings on site are in disrepair with asbestos issues that could stretch to $1 million, the club is certain of its financial viability:
“Despite under-allocation of licences over the last two decades, Avondale JC is in a position where it can self-fund a redevelopment and rejuvenation. Assuming a fair allocation of race licences, the venue does not require ‘industry-funded’ investment moving forward.” Of course, it’s not just the racecourse and market that would be affected by such a “land grab,” with the racecourse also being home to sports fields used regularly by the local community and as all-necessary green space. Jan Skinner, Vice-President of the club, says the club is passionate about retaining the land for public use. Local MP, Deborah Russell, weighs in: “It’s not about the racing. I don’t have a thing for racing particularly. It’s about the fields that the community use. It’s about the Sunday market. You shouldn’t have legislation that takes away property that has a long history of belonging to the local community.” Regardless of whether horse racing remains at Avondale or not, the livelihood of 400 market stallholders relies on the Jockey Club's land. The market is a place where locals and visitors can buy fresh, nutritious food at affordable prices, and it’s a tourism spot for locals and overseas visitors. It’s a place that is home to sports grounds for locals with the potential for so much more that could benefit our community. At the end of the market day, Robb can be found removing any rubbish. Excess produce is collected for stock feed, the cardboard is compacted and removed, and Robb carts any remaining rubbish to the local tip. “In the sales ladder,” he says, “this is the end of the line.” We hope this won't be the end of the line for our local landmark, assuming it survives the latest coronavirus knock back. If you’d like to sign the Avondale Jockey Club’s petition against the bill, head along to the markets on Sunday - you might find more than you bargained for!
PREP Plant Based food is back! Looking forward to a bright future with significant media coverage just a few weeks ago, PREP went into lock down like the rest of us when Level 4 hit. It has now, finally, returned as an Essential Service, to bring fresh, nutritious, and yummy meals to your bubble door from Easter onward. “In 2016, I started a truck driving job,” says Natalie Richards – Avondale local and founder. “I was working 60 to 70 hours a week in a truck driving job, with early starts and late finishes, leaving me no time to prepare meals in the morning or evening. My options on the road were limited and often unhealthy. I decided to go to the farmers market on Sunday mornings and spend the afternoon cooking meals for the week with the fresh produce I had bought. Working 12+ hours a day, I needed nutritious, balanced meals to fuel my brain and body.” “I cooked 100% plant-based meals that stayed fresh and tasted great days after they have been cooked. The benefits of eating a plant-based diet became evident to me almost immediately, I had more energy, clearer skin and stronger hair.” “I have always loved cooking for other people and sharing recipes and ideas, so when friends and colleagues began taking an interest in my weekly meal prep for work, I began to wonder if I could expand and start providing weekly meals for other people and hence, PREP was born!” From a small client base - many of whom were meat eaters keen to try healthier options – PREP’s distribution quickly grew to become Aucklandwide and had recently stretched into Hamilton. Meals come fresh and frozen for pickup or delivery. There are main meals, breakfasts and vegan sweet treat options with fitness packs being a particularly successful line. All packaging is bio-degradable, including eco-friendly bamboo containers. “My mission is to build a brand that everyone can trust,” says Natalie, “and to make it easy for everyone to eat a varied, nutritious and most importantly, delicious plant-based diet.” For a new way to stock your freezer: PREP Plan Based Meals 164 St George’s Road | Avondale Phone 021 269 1234 Hours 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM www.prepplantbasedmeals.co.nz
PREP’s Roasted Tofu Stack
Servings: 9 Ingredients for the tofu layer: 3 x packets tofu wrapped in paper towels amd pressed with something heavy to drain excess liquid for 10 minutes.
Marinade: 3 x chopped garlic cloves 3 x thumbs ginger grated 2 x tbs dark soy sauce (or gluten free) 1 x olive oil (or sub if going oil free) 2 x lemons (juice)
For the mash layer: 3 x large carrots 3 x large parsnips both cut into small chunks
For the salsa layer: 3 x capsicum sliced in thin strips 2 x tbs paprika 2 x avocados cut into small chunks 1 x lemon (juice) salt and pepper Directions Slice each block of drained tofu into three slabs. Place all marinade ingredients in a jar and shake to mix. Pour over tofu slabs and coat evenly. Let the marinade sit for a couple minutes, or a couple hours if you have time. Place them on a lightly greased oven tray and roast in the oven for 1/2 an hour at 200⁰C. Boil the carrot and parsnip chunks in salted water for 20-30 minutes or until soft and you can pierce with a fork. Drain (keep the water in snap lock bags for home made vege stock) then mash with some pepper and olive oil (or sub if going oil free). Sauté the capsicum strips in a pan on med-high heat with the paprika and a splash of water for a few minutes until the capsicum has softened. Then mix the avocado, lemon juice salt, pepper and capsicum strips in a bowl. Layer on the plates the mash, followed by salsa then tofu. Enjoy!
Colouring up the Club
Avondale Jockey Club has treated residents to two new murals in the past six months. The first (below) acknowledges the whenua that hosts the racecourse by including its previous and current names - Avondale as it is now called and Te Whau, named for the whau tree found in the area and featuring our river known as a plentiful source of food. Created by local artist TrustMe, aka Ross Liew, the mural was the third work to be created at the Avondale Racecourse with the support of the jockey club. The two earlier collaborative artworks, by Wongi, Kell Sunshine, Ikarus, Gasp, Hazer and Kezam, were painted as part of Forum, a celebration of the graffiti artform presented by Avondale Art Park in November 2017. This new mural was made possible by a donation of money raised from the exhibition The Art of Bansky by The Stetson Group. The latest (right) is by Melbourne graffiti/street artist, Ling who has been adding colour to his surrounding environment for the past 19 years. He combines techniques developed on the street with those of traditional fine art. The outcome is finished pieces with bold colours delivered through aerosols and house paints combined with the refined details and textures of artist acrylics and inks.
by Joanne Davies
In the fragile world of glass artistry, Avondale local Layla Walter is smashing it! She has travelled widely for her work and boasts Sir Elton John, celebrity chef Peter Gordon and Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh as collectors. Layla was mentored in her craft by distinguished glass artist, Ann Robinson who pioneered the lost wax technique for glass casting in which Layla now specialises. The seven-step journey from concept to creation can take six weeks. First, meticulous drawing and planning take place. An intricate prototype is carved from wax, a pristine model of what is to come. A mould is built around the wax model. The wax is steamed from the plaster mould, leaving a cavity for the glass to be poured. Once fired, each piece is hand finished with loving attention so that no two pieces are ever the same. “The
way that my hands finish each piece makes a difference to the result”, says Layla. Connections with people and places lie at the heart of Layla’s work which are often a homage to places and experiences from her life, such as “Kowhai - Coromandel Gold,” influenced by memories of antimining protests in the home of her childhood, that still have relevance today. Stunningly accurate images of flora, fauna or woven fibres feature internally and externally on vessels of various shapes and sizes. “Black Fig” was inspired by a tree in Layla’s home garden oasis where, amongst her ‘food forest,’ she loves to listen to native birdsong, along with the sounds of students practicing for cultural festivals. Layla is a proud ambassador for New Zealand glass art and craft and is the Aotearoa representative to the World Craft Council. 2019 was a big year for her. She was chosen as the New Zealand representative for the inaugural International Handicrafters Festival in Uzbekistan. After, she was invited to speak at the Forum of Artisans in Kazakhstan, where she presented the works of 14 other leading New Zealand craft artists. But for now it is our humble Avondale
that fills this artist’s inspirational bowl to the brim. The community connections made while her daughter attended Avondale Kindergarten; the Avondale Market – “a valuable source of nutritious food for someone making ends meet as an artist;” and Avondale’s soil, “full of nutrients and memories of gardens past.” Layla’s work is held at Te Papa, Auckland Museum and other museums, galleries and cultural embassies internationally.
Covid, Lockdown & Kids
The kids get dressed up for walks
Deahne Lakatani
In what creative ways have you and your family been entertaining yourselves during lock down? Our whanau has taken this opportunity to finish little projects we have started over the last few years ... there has been a lot of sewing and painting and music making. We also made the most of the channels we have - especially Disney plus and the children’s documentaries they have on there. The kids have also been on the bear hunts and are doing a photo challenge, so they take a photo inspired by a word each day. Mista Lakatani has set up studio in the laundry, so music making is happening alongside washing and drying. How have you managed to explain to your children about the Covid virus in a way they can understand? Our children are 19, 10 and 5 and we def struggled in the beginning. Our middle daughter is 10, so we thought a little young for watching the news, but it was what she really needed, hearing Jacinda speak about what we could do and what she and our ministers were doing. Our 5-year-old just needed to know we would be home for a while
because our prime minister had learnt from other countries what we could do to make sure more people didn’t get sick. Also, the bear hunt helped a lot learning how to be connected but keep a distance. What’s your family’s favourite “lock-down” treat? Pictionary, bike rides and sleepovers ... in rooms that aren’t your own. How has lock-down made your family stronger? Learning to get along all the time .... like when you’re frustrated at someone else, the best thing you can do is go somewhere else in the house until
The kids are definitely more affectionate with each other in the times they don’t want to punch each other! Dance classes in the front yard during lockdown
you’re not, and come back when you feel ready to .... leaving each other for alone time when we ask for it .... seeing how much washing Mum does, and just being thankful we live here in NZ and we are healthy and almost always happy to be here in our bubble with each other. What benefits have you found to lock-down in the community? We are creatives ... we work with other creatives ... our daytime jobs were creative. It has been a harsh reality that almost all our work now and moving forward has disappeared, but seeing online the incredible creative work that is happening in our community is so reassuring and comforting to us. It’s also so cool to see the offers of help, support and exchanges happening of knowledge and ideas, etc. If there was one thing you would keep changed after lock-down, what would it be? Making time for our own stuff .... not the workrelated things or the school stuff, but the things we have always wanted to learn or read or visit. Keeping some time for things that only have purpose because we want them to and because we are important.
A retiring lockdown
Outdoor bingo! The sun streams into the Cosmopolitan courtyard during lockdown
At the Cosmopolitan, we are more like a family than a retirement village. With only 38 units, we can work together to ensure everyone is safe and secure, residents feel valued and are happy living in a community-minded environment that can cater to their needs. On 26 March 2020 management decided to lock the Village down. A few days earlier we had begun to restrict visitors, but this day signaled the cease of normal life as we knew it. This action was also to protect the families of our residents. We did
It’s times like this that you value what a retirement village can do for you; how it can support you in times of such change. not want them risking themselves to provide services to their families. Some of our residents still work, so they organised to work from home, and with ” “
the great wifi system at the Village, this is not a problem. With an affordable landline service within the Village, it is easy for the residents to stay connected to their families, which obviously brings them all great joy and reassurance. Great family meals are cooked nightly and residents have an opportunity within social distance restrictions to interact. Life is good! Shopping is completed by designated staff so that the residents do not have to risk going out in public; medication is collected by those same staff. Basically, whatever their needs are, we are meeting them to ensure our residents stay safe both physically and mentally. Daily exercise activities with social distancing either from your balcony or in the courtyard has created great enjoyment for everyone, and we have started Bingo in the courtyard which has been a huge success. Our gym is getting used much more frequently than before. Our residents are really making the best of the situation. I would like to publically commend our residents and staff for the understanding, resilience and kindness that hey have displayed to each other during this time. I am proud to be their Village Manager. Denise Te Tai Village Manager Cosmopolitan Village
POSTSCRIPT On 26 March 2020 everyone’s life changed. Things we had taken for granted suddenly became out of reach, our grandparents are among those - people, loved ones who were always on our minds but, for many of us because of the hectic life we lead, were perhaps not on the urgent “to do list.” These people have now become forefront of our minds. COVID-19 may have revealed their vulnerability, but my hope is that through this experience, it has also revealed their worth, their love, the immense contribution they bring to our lives. COVID-19 has revealed the emptiness it brings when we can no longer physically touch them, see them and be with them. Life does move in mysterious ways. Maybe this terrible tragedy is a lesson to us all to go back to basics, because love and time are the greatest gift of all and yet cost us nothing. TAKE CARE AND BE KIND …. Denise
Age Concern, ensuring vulnerable older people are supported
Age Concern is working hard to ensure older people in our community continue to get the services and support they need. It has been overwhelmed by the generosity of 1200 volunteers willing to assist across Auckland. To identify older people in need but who “don’t want to be a bother,” they have called every one of the organisation’s 8000 clients and members to check they have the support and assistance they need and that they are safe and well. They provide a friendly and welcoming voice to thousands more older people who are overwhelmed and frightened by what is happening. Volunteers are now making regular phone calls to maintain social contact during the period of home isolation and doing grocery shopping and collecting prearranged prescriptions where necessary. Age Concern has found specific areas of concern. The majority of older people it works with aren’t set up with online banking, which raises the practical issue of how to pay for essential items. It highlights how technological solutions don’t necessarily work for older people. Related to this is how to pay bills, particularly utility bills, when they’re not set up for online payments, as the majority either post a cheque or pay in person at the post office, options which are now unavailable. The final issue is the stopping or disruption of homecare or ready meal services during lock down. Currently there don’t seem to be immediate replacements available. Age Concern is actively advocating with the relevant organisations and agencies to try and address these issues. The Elder Abuse team is also actively supporting clients and is closely monitoring the occurrences of elder abuse over lock down with the additional strain on family situations and the added vulnerability of older people being isolated from their normal support networks. It is extraordinary times for our community and our country, but by working together and supporting each other we will all get through. Age concern’s doorstep deliveries for older people in need
Are you struggling?
Mental Health If you’re struggling with your mental health during lockdown or just need to talk, freecall or text 1737 to have a chat with a trained counsellor. They’re available for free, day and night. Women’s Refuge support If you are scared, alone, hurt, confused and need help taking the next step, please reach out. Call Mothers of Divine Mercy on ph 820 0453 during the daytime, for confidential support. If your situation is urgent, the Women’s Refuge has a free Crisis Line: 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 Mother of Divine Mercy works closely with, but is not affiliated with, Women’s Refuge. Aged care or elder abuse If you know an older person who needs support please call ph 820 0184 or email ageconcern@ageconak.org.nz.
Mobile Photography WORKSHOP
WITH RAJEEV NEDUMARAN
REQUISITE We assume your device is an iPhone of latest origin or a flagship android phone like a Samsung, Huawei, Pixel or Oppo, etc. The tiny cameras on our mobiles have come a long way. Today they are veritable powerhouses and many people have made a career out of using the mobile phone camera. The object of this course is to help the participants get the best from their mobile phone cameras and take amazing photos they will be proud of.
COURSE OUTLINE 1. Understanding the mobile phone camera - iPhone and Android - compare and contrast technical breakdowns, limitations, advantages 2. Mobile photography basics explained 3. Learn to be creative within the limitations of your camera. 4. The mobile photography workflow - shooting - editing - publishing - storage & backup 5. Shooting with available light - landscapes and portraits 6. Focus, shutter speed and exposure 7. Know your tools - apps and accessories
POST COURSE ACTIVITIES To keep the momentum going, I plan to have a closed FB group for the class so that they can share their photographs and get critiques on their work. A meet up group to go on photowalks is also a possibility depending on alert level changes.
WHEN 10am, Saturday 18 April 2020
ENROL NOW This hour long course will be run FREE on Facebook live. To register, email Rajeev now on rajeev.nedumaran@gmail.com
ABOUT RAJEEV Avondale local, Rajeev Nedumaran is a Digital Media Specialist with over 15 years experience in interactive digital signage, audio-video production and immersive reality. He has worked in different markets across the world from producing web videos for Indian corporates to working the world of expos and conventions in the US. When he is not managing a digital signage network, you can usually find him out and about capturing the beauty of Auckland on camera. He also teaches mobile photography in his weekends.
Rain, hail or .... no! No books @ Valentines during lockdown
To whoever is creating these beautiful pieces @ Heron Park – thank you!
A summer Mohican to beat the heat for this little guy
More great work from the Avondale Art Park
Cutting the ribbon to Avondale Primary’s much-awaited new playground
Lockdown brings out the best .. and the worst.
Closed for lockdown, Taste of Samoa flaunts its flour to a baking-crazy public!
Finding delight
Nate Savill
Recently I listened to an interview with poet and author, Ross Gay, who authored a book called The Book of Delights (2019). Every day for a year, Ross wrote a short essay on something that had delighted him that day. Things that had given him pleasure, made him laugh, or cheered him up. Simple things like a cup of coffee, high fiving a stranger, the flowers in his garden, lying on grass, even the movie Ghost. Ross Gay says that when we look for things that delight us, we find a new muscle. A delight muscle and this muscle grows as we find more and more to delight in. And when we share this delight and the pleasure and joy it brings, with others, the delight grows and spreads. Inspired, I began looking for delight in and around Avondale, in my backyard, even inside my house. During a time of doom and gloom and fear and anxiety, I found things that gave me joy, a sense of pleasure, made me laugh and these things were all around me. I delighted in the branches of bright yellow flowers that hang over into my yard, on which nightly a Tui sings - a great delight. I’ve found delight in the fast-moving clouds, I’ve found delight in the deep blue empty sky, and in dozing on a beanbag in the evening sun. I’ve found delight in phoning friends, even though I can’t see them, and in a record player and a stack of old records. I’ve re-found delight in a table I built last summer with a friend and, which we painted yellow and red. I love sitting at it outside, eating, working and writing on it. I’ve found delight in my walks around Avondale, the things I see, and the things I hear. The smiley-face flag flying on the corner of Victor and Highbury Street, the lady wearing an eye mask over her nose and mouth, or watching the guy trying (and failing) to hit a golf ball with a massive golf club. I’ve found delight in someone teaching his partner to ride a bike and entire families out running. I’ve found delight in the houses I’ve never noticed before; that shade of blue on the weatherboards, the orange flowers up front and the tall, bending-in-the-wind, pine tree in the back. I’ve heard opera playing from houses, the sound of Polynesian drumming echoing out of a garage, people I’ve never met calling out, saying hi, wishing me the best. I’ve taken delight in the chalk written messages on the footpath – “move your body” and “call your mum.” Looking for delight has given me a new focus, and an amazing sense of wellbeing, not to mention it doesn’t cost me anything. The fruits of delight are there to be picked by anyone who cares to look, even during this dark time. The world is full of delight.
