Ashburton Guardian, Saturday, January 9, 2021

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Saturday, January 9, 2021

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2 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

Maxine’s a quiet achiever

By Heather Mackenzie heather.m@theguardian.co.nz

S

aying Maxine Hooper is one of Ashburton’s quiet achievers is not quite the right way to put it.

She’s achieved a lot through her years of tireless commitment to Riding for the Disabled (RDA), plus other community groups and committees, and she is certainly not one to make a big song and dance about her feats, but Hooper is far too full of personality to ever label as quiet.

When receiving the Kiwibank Local Hero award recently at Community House, Hooper said that she was chuffed and honoured to receive the award, and then went on to thank the team of volunteers behind her who turn up each week help out.

Hooper moved to Ashburton with her family when she was just a teenager.

“Dad was a contract bushman, so we moved around a lot when I was a kid. I think in total I went to 12 schools before we ended up here.”

The move to Ashburton from Christchurch was prompted by the big wind storm of 1965.

“There was no logging in the area to be done, until all the windfall was removed. We were given three weeks to find a house and move here.”

Hooper said it was a big shock moving to Ashburton after the busyness of Christchurch. In fact she admits she didn’t think much of the place at all.

“It was tough being the new strange kid in a town the size of Ashburton.”

Thankfully Hooper’s dad didn’t have to move again, so she got to finish her schooling, fall in love, get married, have children and begin her lifelong commitment to RDA and the rest of Ashburton.

Hooper’s love of horses all began with her father’s three big Clydesdales he used to snig (drag) the logs out of the bush.

“They were lovely horses and would go where you led them.”

This proved to be true when the then two-year-old Hooper led the huge horses up the yard loading bank.

“When we got to the top they just stood there looking over the

Maxine Hooper. edge wondering what was going to happen next. They had no room to turn around, so I put my hand on their chests and pushed them backwards down the ramp.

“Not bad for a two-year-old, eh?”, she asked with a smile.

PHOTO HEATHER MACKENZIE 212320-HM-101

tre of town.”

On arrival a lady with a very nice voice (those people all have nice voices), said Hooper, came up to her and suggested she might like to have a go on the smaller jumps.

I was riding a pony that I got free from my uncle because nobody else wanted it, so we didn’t have money for a saddle. So I decided pony club wasn’t for me.

When living in Christchurch with her family, Hooper had a pony and decided that extending her riding knowledge was a good idea, so she set out for the Ferrymead pony club one Sunday.

“It was quite a ride to get there, all the way down Ferry Road from our house close to the cen-

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Not content with that Hooper and her pony easily cleared all the higher jumps.

“I had a bridle, but no saddle and that didn’t impress her very much either,” Hooper said.

“She told me ‘we don’t do that here’, but I just did, I said.”

Hooper received a call later

from Mrs Nice Voice granting her permission to join their club as long as I rode with a saddle.

“I was riding a pony that I got free from my uncle because nobody else wanted it, so we didn’t have money for a saddle.

So I decided pony club wasn’t for me.”

In typical style Hooper said she ended up at RDA by accident, sort of.

“In their second year of operation a friend dragged me along, then after a while she left and I stayed on, for 40 years.”

At RDA the horses were an instant hit with Hooper, but she got off to a bit of a rocky start with one of the kids.

By her own admission Hooper is not a very tactile person, I don’t really like people touching or hugging me, she said.

So when she arrived one day and one of the kids ran up to her and gave her a big hug, Hooper said she just stood there stiff as a board.

“I said to Karen Gardner, that

kid just hugged me. ‘oh shut up and get on with it Maxine’, she said.”

Hooper said her now grownup children still tell people they were RDA orphans.

“I would tell them we were off to town and they would start thinking of treats like ice-creams and hot chips, but no, I was going to RDA to pick up horse poo.”

Hooper has a myriad of standout RDA stories, but one moment in particular was when she was charged with helping a blind and deaf 37-year-old chap ride a draught horse for the first time.

“He was six foot three and on a good day I am only five two. I was thinking to myself how am I going to get him on and off the horse, let alone anything else.”

However, the enterprising Hooper got it all sorted out and gave him instructions by walking alongside and tapping his knee in different places, once for left, twice for right, and behind the knee for stop, she said.

“He had the most amazing ride, as he had never been on a horse by himself before.”

RDA is so good for mental health, self-esteem and wellbeing, Hooper said.

“The riders feel so good when they are achieving and getting better, and they do achieve, even the most disabled ones.”

Hooper’s love of wellbeing also extends into her managerial role at Ashburton Senior Citizens.

Based in Community House, yet another project that Hooper has been heavily involved with from the very beginning, the Senior Citizens organisation provides help and support for the older members of our community.

“It is about getting older people out and about and making sure they are okay.”

Hooper said they hold bi-monthly catch-ups at Community House and the bus trips they hold three or four times a year are always popular.

“They may not know each other to begin with, but pretty soon common connections are found, everybody knows somebody,” she said.

John Driscoll, Community House manager summed up Hooper perfectly: “She is a really really really good example of a great community volunteer.”

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

NEWS 3

Judy’s been a jack of all trades

By Heather Mackenzie heather.m@theguardian.co.nz

R

eceiving an award is great at the best of times, but when it comes as a complete surprise, it’s even better.

Judy Skevington said she had no idea that she had been nominated, let alone chosen to receive a Kiwibank Local Hero award, one of only 100 given out nationwide each year.

“I am so honoured to get this medal. To think I was chosen out of our team of five million is just incredible.”

It is easy to see why the selectors picked Skevington, the list of organisations she has volunteered with or raised money for makes for impressive reading.

Civil Defence, Victim Support, Neighbourhood Support, Red Cross, Rural Support, Restorative Justice and SafeCare are just some of the volunteer organisations to benefit from Skevington’s help over the past 40 years.

It takes a special kind of person to support those needing Victim Support or to walk beside frightened and extremely vulnerable sexual assault victims, but Skevington’s calm, yet strong nature has enabled her to provide just the right amount of support and gentle information to many.

“With SafeCare I would go to hospital appointments with sexual assault victims, explain what the sometimes very invasive examinations were for, what happens next and why they couldn’t get their clothes back, ever.”

A lot of the cases she has been involved with were truly heart-breaking, but she said she learnt to rely on her training to help her switch off.

Skevington was head-hunted by the Restorative Justice team, a role that she found very rewarding.

One of her favourite moments was when the owner of a lovely old car met with the chap who crashed into it.

“She absolutely loved her car, but after talking to the perpetrator they managed to work out their differences and even went out for lunch afterwards.”

It just goes to show Restorative Justice can really work, Skevington said.

Back in the 1980s Skevington volunteered at the Tinwald Community Police Station alongside the area’s community policeman.

The list of organisations Judy Skevington has volunteered with or raised money for makes for impressive reading.

“Those stations were really valuable to have in the community as people quite often felt more comfortable coming into Tinwald rather than making their way over to the main police station.”

tre in Cowles Stadium in East Christchurch. We had no idea what was needed, but not a problem we said.”

Skevington said travelling through the city just after the earthquake was eye-opening to

There were cars in holes in the middle of the road, houses and buildings were destroyed and liquefaction was everywhere.

It was her role with Civil Defence that took her into the red zone after the Christchurch earthquake.

“Civil Defence asked us if we could set up a welfare cen-

say the least.

“There were cars in holes in the middle of the road, houses and buildings were destroyed and liquefaction was everywhere.

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“As well as us there was a triage centre set up in Cowles Stadium too, because we were there so soon after the earthquake some pretty injured people came in.”

The first night at the centre Skevington said they all slept on the floor, but when the next night she and some other volunteers stayed at a house in Lincoln.

“The centre was open for three days and then closed down and then we went back and set up an information type centre at Windsor Primary School.”

Skevington said one amusing thing that happened during that time was the distribution of toothpaste.

“There were portable showers on site that we had to monitor and since we only had one tube of toothpaste we were in charge of putting it on their toothbrush-

es for them. Some people were not very happy about that,” she said.

Her Christchurch experience meant Civil Defence called on her volunteer services again after the Kaikoura earthquake.

Stationed in Waiau, Skevington said they dealt with a lot of very mentally ill people.

“Many of those affected had moved to the area after the Christchurch earthquake, so for them to be hit again was too much for some of them.

“We eventually got them help through Presbyterian Support.”

What did annoy Skevington was the fact that the crew coming in to replace them at Waiau were helicoptered in and got to have a bit of a scenic flight before they touched down.

“We drove in and had been there since the start dealing with very traumatised people. Then the next lot swan in on a helicopter,” Skevington said with a smile.

Skevington said the earthquakes and the subsequent aftershocks she has experienced have left their mark on her too.

“My husband and I were shopping overseas and a truck went by, that rumble nearly sent us under the nearest table. The shop staff thought we were mad until we said ‘It’s okay, we are not crazy, just from Christchurch’.”

They all seemed happy with that explanation, Skevington said.

The number of people Skevington has helped would easily number in the thousands, but like all true heroes of her class, she has never added them up nor has she worked out how many hours a week she spends giving to others.

“I do it because I love it, there is nothing more rewarding than volunteering,” she said.

Mid Canterbury is an amazing community to be part of she said.

“Whatever is going on, they get behind it.

“We are also so lucky with the amount of services that are available here and it is wonderful to be involved with some of them.”

Skevington went on to say that Community House is a valuable asset.

As well as the list of permanent tenants she said she didn’t realise there are an additional five or six other organisations who hot desk there.

28-32 Moore Street, Ashburton Phone (03) 550 7000 | www.la-z-boy.co.nz

4 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

Mountain bikers call on council for support

By Sue Newman sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

Plans might be on track to improve the Ashburton District’s cycling and walking networks, but those plans do not go far enough, mountain bikers say.

The Ashburton Mountain Bike Club pours thousands of volunteer hours and funds each year into building and maintaining walking and biking tracks at the northern end of the Ashburton River Trail, but believes the Ashburton District Council should make a financial commitment towards maintaining and developing what it says is a community asset.

Club president James Reid says that while the club receives some financial support through grants, this falls well short of the money needed “There used to be $25,000 set aside by the council, but that was only there for a couple of years and what we want is for the council to recognise and support us and to put some funding aside,” he said.

The strategy has attracted 68 submissions, 46 of those from mountain bikers who say there had been a 100 per cent increase in the number of offroad bikers and walkers since the Covid-19 lockdown.

In addition to developing a mountain bike loop track and a skills park, club members had taken on board the need to provide a safe track for walkers north of the Ashburton River bridge and had developed a separate walking track from Melrose Road to the skills park.

It planned to extend that walking track to the bridge this year, Reid said.

“And this track is a community track, the mountain bikers don’t use it, but it was about safety. So we’ve developed and now maintain 12 kilometres of mountain bike track and three kilometres of walking track.”

Eventually the club would like to see a dual track from the highway down to Trevors Road, but that would need council co-operation to achieve, he said.

Over a year, club members

invested between 1500 and 2000 volunteer hours in maintaining the tracks as well as raising funds to bridge the gap between actual cost and grants received.

“We want a commitment out of the council. We’re happy to carry on doing a bit of maintenance, but we want this money locked in,” Reid said.

Club members felt the value and use of the river tracks for both mountain biking and walking by locals and visitors was under valued by the council. About 1200 people used the bike track each week and feedback from out of town users was that it was a “pretty amazing” facility, he said.

The club had created huge assets for the town in the loop track, skills park and walkway, but it had come at a cost of burned out volunteers because a lack of council support had put almost all the construction and maintenance on the shoulders of those volunteers, Reid said.

The council will hear submissions on January 20.

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

NEWS 5

One more year of pain for CBD

The last remnants of Ashburton’s i-SITE building were removed from East Street this week as work is set to resume on the Ashburton CBD revitalisation project.

By Sue Newman sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

Contractors are back on site as Ashburton’s $15 million town centre redevelopment project enters its second year.

The revitalised CBD is coming with plenty of inconvenience and disruption for town centre businesses and shoppers, but when completed it will see Ashburton present a very different face to the world in 2022.

The Tru-Line Civil crew started work on the redevelopment in January last year and are on target to have the project completed by the end of this year, Ashburton District Council infrastructure services manager Neil McCann said.

Work started on Cass Street in early 2020 and this is now com-

pleted, with just the remaining street lights to be installed and gardens to be planted. Parking sensors are programmed to be installed along the street within the next six weeks..

Tancred Street is also close to wrapping up with footpath and concrete work to be completed and street furniture, street lights, road markings, planting and the installation of parking sensors, McCann said.

Work at the Cass Street end of Burnett Street will also be completed by the end of this month and contractors will then move progressively up the street. This will be quite a major project, McCann said, with pipes being laid on the south side of the street.

Footpath work will be carried out at night to minimise disruption.

Burnett Street will become oneway only, east to west, from late

February.

From Monday, the big East Street leg of the project begins, with a new stormwater pipeline installed in the street from the intersection of East and Kermode streets to just north of the East and Moore streets intersection.

There will also be pipe installations at the intersections of East Street with Tancred and Burnett streets towards the end of January with another connection laid at the East and Havelock streets intersection. that will see traffic restrictions in place in late January - early February..

“This work will mean some road closures with detours from time to time and one-way traffic on occasion, but pedestrian access, however, will be available at all times,” he said.

Contractors will then return to the Moore Street intersection to

begin the construction of kerbing and the installation of rain gardens, garden beds and footpaths along the west side of East Street, moving north, McCann said.

There will be times when intersections will need to be closed, he said, with the one at Moore and East streets down for closure for most of May and the Havelock and East street intersection closed for most of June.

The work will also mean a temporary relocation of the East Street bus stop to Walnut Avenue, outside the domain toilets.

“The council consulted pre-Christmas with the bus companies seeking their preferred site and the new pick up and drop-off point will be in use from January 13 and bus companies would ensure passengers were aware of the change at the time

PHOTO SUE NEWMAN 050121-SN-6826

they booked tickets,” McCann said.

The council was aware that the work on both Burnett and East streets would be disruptive, but would be visiting all business owners to make them aware of the work and the time frames, he said.

“It’ll be a year of work, but it’ll be great when it’s all finished and the project is still on track to be finished by the end of the year and we are going to be meeting with all business owners, all affected people explaining to them the timings.

In preparation for East Street’s redevelopment, the concrete foundation of the relocated i-SITE building was broken up this week, with the area to be grassed. The adjoining chessboard will become a wooden decked area.

Connector community bus trial kicks off

By Jonathan Leask jonathan.l@theguardian.co.nz

A new trial community transport service will launch on Tuesday.

The Mid Canterbury Connector is a new trial community transport service being co-ordinated by the Safe Communities Ashburton District programme, part of Safer Mid Canterbury.

A small van will bring people living in the more rural and remote areas of the district into Ashburton township for medical appointments, doing business with Ashburton District Council, seeing family and friends, shopping, accessing government and social services, or any other reasons.

Ashburton Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan, chair of the working group that developed the new

service, said it was exciting to provide some public transport and hoped the service will be well supported.

“It’s always interesting to start something and seeing how it goes,” McMillan said.

“It might take a while to build

up a bit of interest.”

With no public transport in Mid Canterbury, McMillan said it’s for the people that don’t have transport, don’t or can’t drive or simply live rurally and would prefer a ride.

Bookings already started rolling through in December for the new service that will be trialled for six months from Tuesday.

On Tuesdays each week, the Connector will pick people up from Mt Somers, Staveley, Methven, and Winchmore and drop them off in town for 2-3 hours, before taking them home.

On Wednesdays, the Connector will travel from Rakaia to Chertsey, Fairton/Hakatere Marae, Wakanui, Ashburton township and down to Hinds, dropping people off in town for 2-3 hours, then taking them home.

Bookings need to be made be-

fore the day of the Connector run as the van will not operate like a bus route and will only go to the stops that have bookings.

As it is a trial, which has received funding from the Community Organisation Grants Scheme and ECan, nothing is set in stone McMillan said, and they will be monitoring the progress and if any changes need to be made.

The van for the trial is being hired off Community House Mid Canterbury, and McMillan said based on the results of the trial Safer Mid Canterbury would consider its options for hiring or purchasing a van.

However, the future of the service will be a use or lose it situation come the end of the sixmonth trial period.

- For bookings for the Connector service call 03 308 1395 extension 225.

6 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

Adventure camp comes to a close The 2021 Staveley Adventure Camp wrapped up for the year yesterday with hundreds of children from around the region heading back home after a week full of adventure and fun.

The annual event, which this year drew 380 attendees from around Canterbury and even the West Coast, has seen youngsters taking part in a number of different activities and challenges each day while also building and fostering new friendships along the way.

A highlight for many was a Clydesdale experience in which a trek was undertaken highlighting the natural beauty of the area.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

BACK SEAT

New Year’s resolutions with a twist T

hose crazy crackers with the funny hats appeared again on New Year’s Eve. And along came some more corny riddles.

Here’s a sample of the jokes and some quotes which may provide inspiration for those who haven’t made a New Year resolution.

Or maybe not.

Q: What is a New Year’s resolution?

A: Something that goes in one year and out the other.

Q: What do snowmen like to do on New Year’s Eve? A: Chill out.

Q: Why do you need a jeweller on New Year’s Eve? A: To ring in the New Year.

Q: What did the little champagne bottle call his father?

A: Pop! Q: What’s a cow’s favourite holiday?

A: Moo Year’s Eve. Quote: An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

By Bernard Egan FROM THE BACK SEAT

Q: What did the ghost say on January 1st?

A: Happy Boo Year.

Quote: I see no need to make more New Year’s resolutions when the ones already on the books aren’t being enforced.

Q: What do you call always wanting a date for New Year’s Eve? A: Social Security.

But not to brag, I already have a date for New Year’s Eve. Really?

Yes - December 31st.

Q: What’s a digital camera’s New Year’s resolution?

A: 1080 pixels.

Quote: This New Year’s, I’m going to make a resolution I can keep—no dieting all-year long.

And of course New Year wouldn’t be the same without a

Bernard Egan is a well known man around these parts. Through Tales From the Back Seat he endeavours to put a light-hearted spin on tales from yesteryear.

“knock, knock” joke. Would it!

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Abby.

Abby who?

Abby New Year.

Q: Why should you put your new calendar in the freezer?

A: To start off the new year in a cool way.

Quote: This New Year’s, I resolved to lead a better life.

Now all I have to do is find someone who will trade lives with me.

Q: What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar on New Year’s Eve? A: He got 12 months!

Quote: Last year I kicked gambling . . . I reckon the odds are 3 to 1 the New Year will be a good one.

Q: What is a corn cob’s favourite holiday?

A: New EARS Day! Quote: I was going to quit all my bad habits for the New Year, but then I remembered that nobody likes a quitter.

Have you heard?

SPCA Ashburton’s Centre has moved!

We are now on 4 Seafield road and the entrance is beside the cemetery.

This move is an exciting one and will help us better care for the animals in our community who need us.

We are still open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 1pm and we can be contacted on 03 307 1019 or via email ashburton.info@spca.nz

Please spread the word!

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

NEWS 7

REAL ESTATE

The rise and rise of 2020

By Sue Newman sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

Ashburton might not be hitting the real estate highs of many parts of New Zealand, but the average asking price for a home sold in the Ashburton District in December, is sitting at $421,179.

Real Estate New Zealand data shows a steady rise in house prices over the past nine years, from $290,039 in December 2012 to $471,179 in December 2020.

The number of new listings for December has also increased over the past nine years, up from 51 in 2012 to an all-time high of 76 last month.

House prices rose and dipped last year, with a low of $396,581 in January and a high of $553,750 in April.

The numbers might be different, but the trend is the same with Corelogic’s House Price Index.

This shows house prices rose 7.7 per cent over the past year to sit at $392,000 at the end of 2020.

This increase, however, was well below the national average change, 11.1 per cent.

Several areas of New Zealand showed house price growth in excess of 20 per cent for the year, led by Gisborne on 30.4 per cent and Masterton, 29.6 per cent.

In the South Island, the strongest annual growth in house prices was in Clutha, 20.4 per cent and Marlborough, 15.8 per cent, while Mackenzie prices were slowest to grow at an increase of just 1.6 per cent.

New Zealand’s average house price is now $768,967, pumped up by the 13 areas of Auckland, two in Wellington and Queenstown Lakes that now have an average house price of over $1 million.

Queenstown prices, however, moved just 0.3 per cent over the year.

It is still possible to buy bargain basement priced properties in New Zealand, however, with West Coast homes selling, on average, well below $300,000 – Buller, $227,233, Grey, $246,201 and Westland, $287,678.

Gore is also in the affordable range, with an average price of $289,446.

The North Island town of Wairoa is the only place in New Zealand where house prices fell during 2020, down 8 per cent to $247,000.

Property gurus, however, predict the housing market will cool this year with Quotable Value general manager David Nagel suggesting that while prices might continue to rise during the year, it will be at a slower rate.

The slow-down is likely to come on the back of a shortage of listings and the re-introduction of loan to value ((LVR) ratios in March.

He’s tipping price growth to be similar to that experienced in 2018, an average of 4 to 5 per cent nationally over the year.

Low interest rates, however, would mean that it was unlikely house prices would fall, Nagel said.

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22 January 2021 10.00am - 2.30pm Ashburton Senior Centre, 206 Cameron Street 03 308 6817 ageconcernashburton@xtra.co.nz

Contact Sam Millar any time Des Millar Construction

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8

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

COUNCIL BRIEF 5 Baring Square West, Ashburton | PO Box 94, Ashburton, New Zealand 7740 | Telephone (03) 307 7700 | Website ashburtondc.govt.nz

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10 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

OBITUARY

Jim Burgess 24.4.1937 – 27.11.2020 J

im Burgess may have been a man who held a high public profile, but at heart he was very much a family man, at his happiest on home turf.

Ashburton was the place of his heart, from birth to death.

He was the youngest of Ernie and Bernadine Burgess’ four children, with his two older brothers Brian and Peter and his older sister Diana all predeceasing him.

Jim attended Ashburton East School (now Hampstead) and Ashburton Technical College, leaving at the age of 15 to earn his first pay packet at Burnetts Motors and wrapping up his long working life managing hotels and bars around the Ashburton District for the Ashburton Trust.

For about 15 years in between those two jobs he worked with his parents in their Moore Street grocery store.

In many ways he was destined to build a long career in the hospitality industry.

Those seeds were sown early in his working years when he started out moonlighting as a barman in the Somerset Hotel, dreaming that this might provide the stepping stone on which he could build a career in hotel management.

When the Hotel Ashburton opened in the 1970s Jim was on the payroll as bar manager

and then moved up to become second in charge of the hotel.

He took a break from frontline hotel work and for a few years left the hospitality industry to take on the Creek Road Dairy, but the pull of hospitality was too strong and he returned to the Hotel Ashburton and later taking over as manager of the Hinds Tavern in 1979, moving to become mine host at the Devon Tavern the following year.

His rise through the Ashburton Trust’s ranks continued and he became the organisation’s operations manager in 1983.

In 1994 he took up the lease of the Hinds Tavern. This was the first time in the trust’s 44 year history it had leased one of its businesses, rather than appoint a manager.

Over Jim’s many years with the trust he managed virtually every hotel or tavern on its books.

His retirement, when it came, was to be brief, with Jim deciding he wanted to make a contribution to his community. He decided to stand for the urban ward of the Ashburton District Council at the 2004 election.

He won and that set him on a new path, one that would see him successful at each triennial election until his retirement in 2013.

Over those years he served on virtually every council commit-

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tee and in his final term became a member of the Ashburton District Licensing Committee before deciding in 2013 it was finally time to retire.

During his years on the council Jim was a strong advocate and voice for older people and people on fixed incomes and their welfare guided many of his decisions as a councillor.

In his private life Jim was a keen rugby player and loved music. It wasn’t until his retirement, however, he had the time to become involved in community organisations.

He then joined GreyPower, becoming its president and joined the Savage Club where he could use his fine voice to sing at Senior Citizens’ meetings.

Jim was married to Edna for 62 years and together they raised four children. They now have 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

His family describe him as a very humble man who was a true believer in service to others. His greatest joys in life were his family and later his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jim is survived by his wife Edna, his children Tony, Philip, Barbara and Brian and his 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Sue Newman

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Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

11

12 WEEKEND FOCUS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

A home made of lo Selling a home that has been a part of your family for 75 years is no easy task, but Lee Merrin and her siblings are working through the heart-wrenching process of selling their Wilkin Street home.

She talks to reporter Sue Newman about a property that has been her family’s anchor for three generations.

For more than 120 years this gracious home has had just seven owners, with just two, a father and son, for its last 75 years.

F

or more than half its life, a gracious 135-year-old cottage on Tinwald’s Wilkin Street has been in the hands of one family.

But time has caught up with the house, its last owner has died and his family are facing the difficult task of putting a much loved family home on the market. It’s a task Lee Merrin admits she is not enjoying.

Her grandfather William Merrin bought the property sitting on one acre of land, in 1945 and for most of her growing years, Lee has called the house her home. The walls, she says, are packed with memories of the years she and her siblings spent there.

The house today is a long way from the busy, bustling home that housed the Merrin family of her youth – four kids, mum and dad and grandad. But it’s a spacious house, even though its rooms are small by today’s standards, and with an acre of land that boasted a pony paddock, stables, sheds, a flourishing vegetable garden and plenty of trees to climb, it was as close to heaven a child could hope for, Lee said.

Much of the Wilkin Street house’s history has gone with the families who once called it home, but it started its life as Tinwald’s Presbyterian Manse. It is believed to have been built in about 1888, and records show its first occupant was the Reverend George Benjamin Blake. He, his wife and daughter Jane lived in the property until 1897. From there it moved through the hands of the Bruce family in 1897, Milne, 1909, Wood, 1920 and Pratt in 1939 before William Merrin moved from his farm to the large Tinwald town lot in 1945.

In its early days the house was known as Madras Villa Lee’s grandparents lived in the house

for many years, but on the death of her grandmother, Bruce Merrin decided in 1951 to move his family from Christchurch to his parents’ home to look after his father, with three generations living happily in the property for many years.

On his father’s death Bruce bought the house. Four years ago when he became ill, Lee returned from Australia to care for her father and after his death has stayed to work through the emotional task of severing the family’s 75-year ties with the property.

“I’d been living in Brisbane for about 36 years, but when he broke his hip I came home and didn’t go back. And it’s tough, because half my life has been spent here but I have another life in Australia that’s on hold,” she said.

She’s had four years of living back in her family home and returning brought home just how important the house and its extensive grounds were to her family.

But the time has come, she said to sever ties. She hopes a new family will become keepers of this very special piece of Tinwald’s history.

“But it’s very sad, extremely sad to leave because it was a wonderful home to grow up in. Selling up is huge,” Lee said.

She recalls as a child when there were large areas of Tinwald that were still divided into one acre or larger sections, each with its own older wooden house and big gardens. Over the years she’s watched as, one by one, they’ve disappeared with the land subdivided into many small lots.

The interior of the house has been altered many times over the years. The

Looking for a new owner, the historic villa at 4 Wilkin Street.

small bedrooms remain, but one has been converted into a bathroom, and that’s a welcome addition Lee said after the cold, old style bathroom at the back of the house that served her family for many years.

From the outside, however, the house looks very much as it has for more than 100 years – elegant windows, a sunbathed verandah and craftsman-like touches in its verandah posts and carved inserts in fascia and bargeboards.

The original stables are still there, albeit closed in and turned to another use and an elderly garage and shed are part of the back yard landscape. The pony paddock is now simply lawn.

Over the past few months Lee has been slowly closing up the family’s long chapter as part of the Wilkin Street’s house’s

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

WEEKEND FOCUS 13

ove and memories

The Wilkins road villa in its early days as a Presbyterian Manse, home to George Benjamin Blake and his family. This photo was taken in 1888.

PHOTO SUE NEWMAN 211220-SN-6802

life. Her regrets are that with a small town house in Christchurch as her Kiwi home, some of the family’s cherished furniture simply will not fit. But there’s a dressing table that was her mother’s and most likely her grandmothers’ that is definitely making the move and she’s hoping the old family dining table might also find space.

She and her siblings have accepted the time has come to sell the family home, and they’re grateful to have so many happy memories to share.

“When we sell this we can move forward. It’s been a really big part of my childhood, a big part of my past. It’s been my anchor all of my life. It’s always been here and I’d love for it to stay,” Lee said.

The Wilkin Street property is one, if not the last, reminder of Tinwald as it was and that has earned the house a Group B listing on the Ashburton District Council’s historic building schedule. This means the house’s conservation and protection is deemed highly desirable and that its loss would be a significant matter.

Demolition of the house would be a non-complying activity, and there would be a process to go through with the Ashburton District Council for this to happen. The property earned its historic rating because it represents what was a way of life in Tinwald at the time it was built.

The house is now on the market, with selling agent Clark McLeod saying it was a privilege to be responsible for finding a new owner for a property that had been such an important part in the life of one family for so many years.

It was rare to have a property on the market with such a large land holding in an urban area and with such a long family history, he said.

The Wilkin Street house is for deadline sale by McLeod Real Estate.

For Lee Merrin, the decision to sell her family’s historic home was a heart-wrenching one and she hopes the 130 plus year old property will find a new owner, keen to restore it to its former glory.

14 OPINION

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

OUR VIEW

A question that shouldn’t even need to be asked

By Matt Markham matt.m@theguardian.co.nz

T

he most frustrating part of the Ashburton Mountain Bike Club’s plea for funding from the Ashburton District Council is that they even have to ask in the first place.

Here’s a group of people, dedicated to growing and prospering – as well as maintaining – a jewel in the community crown.

An area of land that is used daily by people, not only from our own area, but from further afield.

A community asset, as it’s so perfectly claimed.

So, the question then is, why is a volunteer group of enthusiasts who pour hours and hours of work into a track that they don’t even use, but at the same time are struggling to garner support from their local council?

If you’ve got an answer – I’m keen to hear it.

There are so many things out in the community that could do with a boost to the coffers.

There’s no doubt about that.

But there are few which see as many locals and also visitors to our region, enjoy.

So – on that premise alone – surely funding becomes critical?

It’s nice and heart-warming that there are a group of people out there whose dedication to the track and trail sees them lining up to get the jobs that need to be done, done each and every year – but they shouldn’t have to do it alone.

Support should be forthcoming. There actually shouldn’t need to be a requirement to ask.

Any group, organisation or area that’s specifically targeted for a leisure such as biking, cycling or walking is a potential lure to bring someone new into our community and it’s also a potential lure to get more people out and about and enjoying what home quarters actually has to offer.

The $25,000 that was formerly given to the group was a solid amount of financial support and hardly a massive dent in the overall bank balance.

With cycling and walking set to become a huge part of the new-look Ashburton CBD – ensuring that there’s a usable, impressive and well-maintained track just a little further up the road for users to go onto needs to become a high priority as fast as possible.

YOUR VIEW What do you think?

Join the conversation on Facebook, or send in your thoughts by letter or email.

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Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

OPINION 15

Trump loses control of his own deluded narrative

By Nik Dirga

‘I

can’t believe this is happening.’

‘I knew this was going to happen.’

These two conflicting thoughts were being repeated thousands of times around the world, as Washington DC collapsed into violence and anarchy.

The scenes unfolding in America’s capital were like something from a bad action movie, with bearded, shambling blokes in camouflage gear as the stars.

There’s one man responsible for this chaos and anarchy, and regrettably, for the next 13 days, he’s the President of the United States, who has pushed and pushed his false narrative until he’s utterly lost control of it.

This feels like the natural endgame for a president who has systematically woven his own reality for the past four years, culminating in the increasingly deranged insistence that he won an election he lost by 7 million votes.

President-elect Joe Biden’s margin of victory in the Electoral College is identical to Donald Trump’s in 2016; his popular vote gap is larger than Barack Obama’s definitive win against Mitt Romney in 2012. It’s really not that close.

Dozens of lawsuits alleging fraud have been thrown out, but sycophants and enablers have fostered the notion that Trump somehow was cheated out of re-election rather than the reality – he was voted out by a firm majority of people utterly sick of him and the chaos he creates.

As the designated “American explainer” guy among my New Zealand friends, I keep saying the same words over and over lately: “This is not normal.”

Nobody normally wastes time thinking about the Electoral College certification by Congress, a formality that comes long after the last vote is counted. But Trumpland is not normal, even if you live there.

American journalist and author Jesse J Holland and I went to university together.

Jesse covered the US Supreme Court for the Associated Press for years, and he knows Washington.

I spoke to him briefly as that city trembled.

“This is something that I never thought I would see in the United States,” he told me.

On social media, Holland, a Black man originally from Mississippi, pointed out a photo of a rioter with a Confederate

Trump supporters fight with riot police outside the Capitol building in Washington DC. flag proudly marching inside the Capitol building, an unimaginable image of white supremacy and disrespect for everything America stands for. It’s a sign of the fierce, secessionist following that Trump has goaded.

“This is an example of how words matter,” Holland told me.

“These rioters have been primed by baseless accusations of election fraud, and any intelligent person could see where this was going once these out-of-

Capitol, Trump couldn’t back away from his delusions, still insisting he won in a “landslide” in a brief statement which ended with him telling the treasonous mob that “we love you”.

Trumpism is, at its heart, a kind of nihilism, a dogged insistence on perception beating reality – the “great businessman” who’s been bankrupted multiple times, the “man of faith” married three times and never attending a church regularly.

These rioters have been primed by baseless accusations of election fraud, and any intelligent person could see where this was going towners arrived in the nation’s capital.

“They were falsely told that they were cheated, and they are taking their unjustified anger out on our Capitol.”

Even as rioters stomped through congressional offices and stole souvenirs from the

Trumpism believes in nothing except the image, and the image has created a monster that stormed outside of even his control this week. He could have calmed the noise weeks ago, by admitting the obvious and conceding.

The spectacle of these insur-

rectionists storming Congress was mind-boggling, but also feels like it’s been foreshadowed in the narrative since chapter one.

Trump’s schtick is grievance, the idea that all your troubles in life are the fault of some “other”. It’s a tactic used long before Trump, and despite the recent carnage it will undoubtedly be used again and again.

To the guy obsessively checking his Facebook groups, scrolling the Gateway Pundit and One American News daily, Trump’s speeches were a call to war.

America always wrestles with its best and worst instincts.

A poor farmer’s son born into poverty can become Abraham Lincoln. A man crippled by polio can win a World War. A rich businessman’s son and reality TV star can bluff his way to the Oval Office.

I don’t quite know how America moves on from this. It’s entirely possible that this week’s events will force real change, that Trump might not even make it the next two weeks as president, and that things will be different.

It’s also possible that nothing will really change at all.

Either way, I can’t quite believe

this is happening, even though part of me felt like it was going to happen all along.

It’s easy to give up, and I applaud President-elect Biden for maintaining a dignity and calm that few of us could manage over the past eight weeks.

At this fragile moment in time, I think all of us here in New Zealand would welcome an uneventful, somewhat dull administration and days when you don’t even really think about the President of the United States.

“America is stronger than its worse citizens,” Jesse Holland told me as he watched the news unfold from a lot closer to it all than I am.

“We will move forward and we will not only endure, we will prevail.”

I sure hope he’s right.

Nik Dirga is an American journalist who has lived in New Zealand since 2006. The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of the Ashburton Guardian Co Ltd or any employee thereof

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16 YOUR PLACE

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

TEST YOURSELF

6

Test yourself with the Guardian’s quiz

1 7 4

1. Marshmallow is made from which part of the plant of the same name? a) Roots b) Leaves c) Stems

2. French town, Grasse, is considered the world centre of what industry?

3. The Gooney Bird is part of which avian species? a) Pelican b) Cockatoo c) Albatross

4. Who once described Europe as being divided by an Iron Curtain? a) Stalin b) Churchill c) Truman

a) Summer Bay b) Erinsborough c) Ferndale

6. Which landmark, found in Australia, was once described as six nuns in a rugby scrum? a) Alice Springs b) Ayers Rock c) Sydney Opera House

7. An entymologist studies what? a) Words b) Diseases c) Insects

8. In Ashburton, which of these streets runs parallel with Oxford Street? a) Cambridge b) Dobson c) Wellington

2

Indoors might not be the usual place you’d find a penguin lurking but Hamish Allott couldn’t help but snare a pic of this brightly coloured creation recently.

EASY SUDOKU

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1. a) Roots. 2. a) Perfume making.

3. c) Albatross. 4. b) Churchill.

5. b) Erinsborough. 6. c) Sydney Opera House. 7. c) Insects. 8. a) Cambridge

Answers:

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Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

HERITAGE 17

Celebrating the New Year

Swimming at the Domain, unknown date. Those who stayed in Ashburton town over New Year’s Day 1921 turned to our domain for recreation and relaxation.

Summer heat, simple misfortune

East Street looking to West Street, c. 1919. Quite empty in this photo, these main thoroughfares of the town would have been a hive of activity during the 1920-21 New Year’s celebrations.

By Connor Lysaght

2

020 is finally over, and as we let out a collective sigh of relief we are also trying not to think, “Are things going to get worse rather than get better?”

A piercing red glow inaugurated the previous year, as a result of the unusually widespread bushfires that ravaged Australia at the start of 2020.

Was it some sort of sign?

CONTACT Material for this page is co-ordinated by the Ashburton Museum.

Articles from other organisations are welcomed, as is any feedback on what appears.

Email museum@adc.govt.nz, mail to PO Box 94 Ashburton 7700 or phone 307-7890.

Copies of many of the photos on this page are available for purchase from the Ashburton Museum

The outbreak of Covid-19 and the subsequent pandemic announcement felt a bit surreal – in the age of clickbait, scaremongering, and fake news, for once there was an actual threat around us as opposed to the usual doomsday speculation.

The Black Lives Matter protests, the Beirut explosion, the Trump v. Biden election, and repeated coronavirus waves in many countries; 2020 truly was one hell of a year in so many ways!

It makes so much sense then why we were so keen to see it off, and fortunately for us we were some of the lucky ones that could enjoy the occasion in its intended fashion.

Looking back to the advent of the year 1921 proves just as interesting as looking at our current situation – how did we celebrate as a community back then?

Goodbye 1920 The Ashburton Guardian’s account of New Year’s festivities for the end of 1920 paint a vivid picture of “unwonted mirth and jollity,” despite the lingering unease that remained present following the Great War and the 1918 flu pandemic.

In describing the festivities, the Guardian commented that “despite such merry-makers as these, there was something lacking of the old mirth and jocund din which, before the war, made New Year’s Eve a festival of noisy

importance in Ashburton”.

Some comparison can be drawn here between recent events and the lasting pain of the First World War – while we did not suffer through a horrendous pan-continental conflict as our predecessors of a century syne, this New Year’s came with an undeniable hint of grief.

Fireworks featured prominently in Ashburton during the celebrations at the advent of 1921, though not in the same way as today.

“The usual concourse of small boys in unrestrained festive mood pervaded the main thoroughfares with the accompaniment of bombs, crackers, and rockets,” with the apparent objective of making the affair as noisy and chaotic as possible.

Business was busy as you would expect, as many people stocked up for the weekend, and the tea-rooms of the town were full to the brim.

The culmination of the night brought a further escalation in noise and activity, as the “spasmodic barrage of bombs and crackers was kept up till midnight, when the death of 1920 and the advent of 1921 was notified by triumphal explosions, the screaming of sirens from the railway engine-sheds, and a great deal of nondescript uproar”.

“Then silence fell, and the newly-born year was permitted to make its debut in silence and peace.”

According to the Guardian, “weather conditions in Ashburton throughout the New Year holidays were most oppressive”.

Over the period, the temperature soared up to 32 degrees Celsius in the shade, while a dry nor’wester continuously blew through the region – roughly 10 or 11 degrees higher than the average felt around the same time during the holidays just past.

As many people left on their holidays to Christchurch or Caroline Bay, those who remained in the borough found the domain to be the centre of activities for New Year’s Day. As you already could have guessed, with so many children playing with fireworks there was bound to have been at least one accident.

At Spreadeagle, now the Forks, a 13 year-old-boy had a fireworks accident on New Year’s Eve 1920.

Young Hector Evans was reported to have “stayed too close to a high explosive bomb, which went off sooner than he anticipated,” and he ended up severely damaging his thumb and hurting his hand.

His father took him to the County Hospital, where it was found that the bones in his thumb were so badly damaged that it was now deemed “perma-

nently useless”.

It was also feared that his hand would also suffer a permanent injury, which makes this incident all too representative of the cautionary tales and warnings we now heed when playing with fireworks.

Prior to New Year’s, an East Street bookseller had a full stock of “bombs and crackers” throughout the year, and it was not until the eve of the festivities that he sold out entirely between 9 and 10 o’clock that day during a sudden rush.

Laws have tightened up since of course, but in many other places around the world such a scene would have happened today – if not for the pandemic, of course.

Let’s all be hopeful that the year ahead will be an exciting one, as we are sure that you will think that our upcoming exhibitions and programmes at Ashburton Museum will be too.

Be sure to look out for Ashburton Museum on Facebook and drop in over 2021 to check out our exhibitions, do some historical research, and have fun with our activity programmes.

Happy New Year everybody!

New film on display The short documentary film The Snowline is Their Boundary by the National Film Unit, 1955, is now on display at Ashburton Museum as part of our ongoing exhibition, Reel Life of Ashburton.

Storefront of A W Hopkins, East Street bookseller, who is most likely to have been the anonymous merchant who sold out of fireworks on New Year’s Eve 1920-21. On the edge of the awning are the words “Books, Stationery, Fancy Goods, Toys &c.”

18 NEWCOMERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

CULTURE

Paalam, alavida, au revoir, Kia ora, talofa lava, mālō e lel

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ike for everyone else, 2020 has been a strange year for us. Our year began with great plans, looking forward to organising (with Mid Canterbury Plunket) another successful family fun day, like the one we organised in 2018, and to get people to support community hubs on Neighbours Day Aotearoa. These events were due to happen in late March – and Covid -19 happened.

We did manage to host the national Kotahitanga (Togetherness) Tour organised with The Voice of Islam in Ashburton with the Ashburton Muslim Association. This nation–wide tour commemorated one year to the Christchurch terror attack and taught people about the Islam religion.

Through the lockdown we hosted several Zoom meetings.

Two of them were with Lesley Ottey, Rethink Educator at Eco Educate. She gave a lot of information about what and how to recycle (we learned you don’t throw flat plastic/can lids into the recycle bin, as the sorting machine may mistake them for

paper) about composting and how to start a worm farm.

The videos are still available on our Facebook page (Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network) and our YouTube channel (Hakatere Multi Cultural Council). We also had a very good Māori cultural awareness webinar with Hakatere Marae Komiti chairperson Michelle Brett. Michelle shared a lot of useful information about engaging and working with the Māori community.

We started operating the Mid Canterbury Migrant Centre, and through our migrant centre and thanks to funding from MSD we managed to support the people in the migrant community who lost their jobs during the lockdown and couldn’t find a new job due to work visa restrictions.

Through the funding from MSD we have been providing unemployed migrants in Ashburton and Methven with local supermarket and dairy vouchers (including from a migrant-owned business), heating supplies and even some help with electricity and internet bills.

We have also given some families

cleaning and sanitation care packages donated by Waitaha Primary Health, and co-operated with the Ashburton Rotary club to provide firewood for some of our clients.

We didn’t lose stride coming out of the lockdown, and ran a workshop on preparing for a job interview, a skill more and more people need.

Mike Johnson from Essential HR has been working with employers for years, meaning his talk was a great opportunity for job seekers to learn what potential employers would like to see/ hear in a job interview.

People still don’t realise that being good in a job interview is a skill completely separate from being good at your job. And like any skill, becoming good at it requires preparation and practice.

Mike spoke about what employers want, gave tips for interviews and walked participants through potential (and common) interview questions. One of the participants said she had been in similar workshops in the past and this one had been the best.

The workshop’s video is availa-

ble both on our YouTube channel and on our Facebook page.

Another event we ran, together with the Ashburton Museum and the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, was a talk about the Holocaust on the final day of the Children’s Holocaust Memorial exhibit hosted in the Ashburton Museum since February and a tour of the exhibit.

Justin Thompson gave an informative and moving talk about this dark period in history, when the worst genocide and hate crime in history led to 6,000,000 Jews systematically murdered by the Nazis during 1941 to 1945. It’s important to remember that the rise of the Nazi regime happened in a modern and democratic country because good people didn’t stop the process in time.

That’s why even today it’s so important to be an outstander, not a bystander, and speak up when you encounter racism, even if it’s not directed at you. It’s about sending the message this type of behaviour has no place in our society. The video of this talk is also available on our Facebook page.

September saw our first Saturday newsletter, after the change of the Guardian’s publication schedule led to our newsletter moving from Monday to Saturday. We recently celebrated 3 years of newsletters! We wish to thank (again) the Guardian and Matt Markham (editor) for this ongoing co-operation.

We also welcomed Nicolee Ayton, our new co-ordinator who joined Adi in working for the Hakatere Multi Cultural Council to support newcomers to the Ashburton District.

Mid Canterbury (the Ashburton district) has a large Latino community based on the last census, with around 300 people from Argentina, Chile, Brazil and other countries in south and central Americas, according to the 2018 census (which some information only became available in 2020).

Which meant October opened with Latino Fest, a celebration of the Latino culture at the Tinwald Memorial Hall with live music by the Matecito Latino band from Christchurch. And a selection of food from Chile, Argentina and

goodbye 2020; lei, shalom 2021 !

Hanukkah - the Jewish holiday of lights

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Peru. Around 300 people came to the event and enjoyed the food and music, some of them locals and some from the Latino community in the district.

Initially most ate and listened to the music, but as most of the food ran out more and more people started dancing to the music, and kept dancing for nearly three hours.

October ended with us supporting the Ashburton Indian Multicultural Charitable Trust in running Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, the biggest and brightest of all Hindu festivals.

The audience (150-200 people) enjoyed ethnic and Indian food, songs and dances from seven different and talented groups.

Involvement in both events meant a lot of work and preparation for us. We are also proud of both events being alcohol-free and especially lowwaste events, thanks to co-operation with Sharon McIver from Our Daily Waste and with the support of Eco Educate’s Anthea Moore, leading to little need of disposable cups and dishes, and very little waste.

The Latino Fest waste, from a 300 person event, filled less than an office waste basket.

Another ethnic project we are proud to support is the Filipino Gardens, still open in the Ashburton Domain. We procured and provided funding for the materials used to build traditional Nipa Huts (or bahay kubo), a type of stilt house indigenous to the cultures of the Philippines. This project may be a unique attraction in all of New Zealand, and we are looking forward to seeing it open and to locals visiting it.

We also co-operated with the Ashburton College, mount Hutt College and Safer Mid Canterbury in organising two information nights for migrants regarding various visa issues.

Throughout the year we continued to run our board games club and Parents’ morning coffee group at Plunket. We have also been involved in the establishment of a new community transport service – The Mid Canterbury Connector to be launched later this month. The Mid Canterbury Connector is a

new trial community transport service being co-ordinated by the Safe Communities Ashburton District programme, which is part of Safer Mid Canterbury, and in partnership with various community groups and organisations, including the Hakatere Multi Cultural Council.

A small van will bring people living in the more rural/ remote areas of the District into Ashburton township for doing business with council, seeing family and friends, shopping, sports, medical appointments, accessing government and social services, etc.

2020 has also been the 10th anniversary of the Hakatere Multi Cultural Council, having been set up as a charity at the end of 2010 (as the Mid Canterbury Newcomers Network).

Where will we be in another 10 years? Time will tell.

anukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple (the holiest place of Jewish worship) at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid (Greek) Empire in the 2nd century BCE. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar, and has been celebrated recently from December 10th to the 18th.

The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a menorah (or hanukkiah).

One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles.

This unique candle is called the shamash (“attendant”). Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash (starting with one candle plus the shamash on the first day) until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival (and the shamash).

The story of Hanukkah starts with the region of Yehuda/ Judea (located roughly where modern day Israel is) being part of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Egypt until 200 BCE when King Antiochus III the Great of Syria defeated King Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt at the Battle of Panium.

Judea then became part of the Seleucid Empire of Syria. King Antiochus III the Great, wanting to conciliate his new Jewish subjects, guaranteed their right to “live according to their ancestral customs” and to continue to practise their religion in the

Temple of Jerusalem.

However, in 175 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus III, invaded Judea, at the request of the Hellenizing Jewish faction (which essentially adopted the Greek culture and element of its religion). The Temple in Jerusalem was looted, services where stopped and Judaism was outlawed.

In 167 BCE, Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He banned brit milah (circumcision) and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the temple (an act perceived by Jews as defiling the altar and the temple).

Antiochus’s actions provoked a large-scale revolt. Mattityahu, a Jewish priest, and his five sons Yochanan, Shimeon, Eleazar, Yonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against Antiochus to regain their religious freedom. By 166 BCE, Mattityahu had died, and Judah took his place as leader. By 164 BCE, the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful, and led to the establishment of a Jewish kingdom for the next 130 years.

The story then tells us that When the Jews had emerged victorious over their foes, they re-entered the Temple where they found only one jar of pure oil, enough to be lit for only a single day; yet through a miracle they used it for lighting the required set of temple lamps for eight days, until they managed to press olives and produce pure oil.

Other Hanukkah festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of spinning top (often a wooden one with four faces, one Hebrew letter on each, spelling the initials of “great miracle happened here”) and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes (hash browns) and sufganiyot (jam-filled donuts).

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Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

Lawler’s long service WEEKEND SPORT

Kumara fields

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Back to work

The Technical Stags take on Star at the Ashburton Domain from midday today.

By Adam Burns adam.b@theguardian.co.nz

It may only be a passing juncture but senior club cricket gets under way for the first time this year today.

The Technical Stags are back in action today at the Ashburton Domain with the resumption of

the South Canterbury senior oneday competition.

The programme is set for another two week lay-off as the Hawke Cup heats up over the next fortnight.

The Mid Canterbury outfit host Star at the Domain Oval this afternoon, hoping to extend its six point lead over its Timaru club rivals.

PHOTO ADAM BURNS

Both teams were not without their struggles before Christmas with Tech sitting in fourth spot and Star in fifth in the six-team league.

It is the second meeting between the two clubs this season following the Stags’ 33 run win in Timaru back in November.

The Stags will again look to Des Kruger who was in some nick

with the bat before the break, not only at club level but representative as well.

Veteran bat Jason Morrison is also in solid touch having scored 292 runs at an average of 36.5 at the top.

Meanwhile, spinner Ryan Bell has also remained a threat with the ball for Tech despite the team’s challenges and has prov-

en to be one of the competition’s most impressive with 15 wickets at 18.47.

More of the early season numbers from Tech’s key personnel will be decisive as the club hunt a sixth competition win today.

The Canterbury Country senior competition resumes next weekend with Allenton facing off with Sefton at the Ashburton Domain.

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

SPORT 21

Lawler’s long service recognised

By Jonathan Leask jonathan.l@theguardian.co.nz

John Lawler has been an integral part of the Rakaia Rugby Club for 50 years.

At the club’s annual general meeting in December Lawler was honoured for his 50 consecutive years as secretary “The years have just rolled by,” Lawler said.

“How long you do it for never really came into it.

“I just went along with what was happening and trying to make things for the benefit of the club.”

Lawler started as the secretary in 1970.

“I was approached by committee member Bill Moore who said the secretary they had – David Thomas – was moving on.

“He said there isn’t too much to do, just take minutes and that’s how it started.

“In the early days I tended to record a hell of a lot of stuff I probably didn’t need to record because I didn’t know what was required, so as a minute taker I was more of an essay writer.”

Lawler had only played some junior rugby for Rakaia and joined a committee he said was full of former senior players that were all looking to give back to their club.

Then in 1988, Lawler also took over the role of treasurer.

“Mid-1988 the treasurer we had – Norman Stagg – was the local postmaster and moved away from Rakaia.

“I took it on with the thought that perhaps someone else would take it over and that never happened.”

During his tenure the club has endured its ups and downs, having its 125th jubilee in 2001 and dropping out of senior rugby for a number of years, but returned in 2008.

Rakaia won the Watters Cup for four years-in-a-row from 1976 and then

shared the cup with Mayfield in 1979, but had to wait 32 years to hold it again in 2011, winning it a further five times.

But his longevity is not down to the accolades, he just enjoys playing his part.

“I suppose it’s the enjoyment, as if I wasn’t enjoying it I would have packed it in.

“I don’t have any defining reason why I should still be there.

“At annual meeting times there is always the opportunity for someone to take it over, and I perhaps would have accepted that, but so far no-one has volunteered or been nominated.”

A self-described man of detail, he feels “people are satisfied with what I do”.

“Or people just don’t want to do it, but I feel I still have something to offer.”

Lawler has been a mainstay on the committee and said the current group of around 17 members contains a number of recent former players and some current players.

He said seeing the enthusiasm of new members coming on to the committee, particularly those retiring from playing and looking to give back, was encouraging “and doesn’t make you feel like moving on, but the time will come”.

From starting off as just a person to fill a gap, 50 years on Lawler has yet to contemplate moving on.

“It’s something I’ve never thought of.

“The club committee meets every month of the year now, not just the rugby season, and one thing leads to another, and things roll over to another year.

“Some due consideration will probably have to be made in the not too distant future.”

For now he and the club are focused on the 2021 season – his 51st year on the committee.

As well as Lawler’s long service award at the Rakaia Rugby Club’s AGM, club president Mark Hanrahan inducted Ralph Cornelius as club patron.

John Lawler receives a a plaque congratulating him on 50 consecutive years as secretary to the Rakaia Rugby Club from club president Mark Hanrahan.

PHOTO SUPPLIED Below – John Lawler has been there for the club’s ups and downs, including when the club broke a 32-year Watters Cup drought in 2011.

22 SPORT

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

CRICKET

Mid Canty gain Hawke Cup warm-up

By Matt Markham matt.m@theguardian.co.nz

A catch-up 50-over match this weekend will give Mid Canterbury all the preparation they need before heading back into the Hawke Cup fold next weekend.

The baggy green and golds will take on Canterbury Country on Sunday on the Ashburton Domain Oval after the original date for the clash was canned due to weather. And with an important match against South Canterbury at home next weekend, it’s the perfect opportunity for the side to dust off any cobwebs.

From two matches in the Hawke Cup thus far, Mid Canterbury managed to pick up first innings points in their last match against Otago Country – so a good result next weekend will be paramount to their chances of advancing further in the competition.

Coach, Garfield Charles has named a strong 12-man squad for Sunday’s clash on the oval.

With some new faces returning to the side from the team that played Otago Country.

Experienced campaigners, Des Kruger, Shaun Stagg and William Southby – the latter of whom is captain – will be asked to lead from the front with a young and up and coming side around them.

Nick Gilbert returns to the side and will offer strong experience and a good head at the top of the innings while Harry McMillan, fresh from his impressive efforts for the Canterbury Under 19 side will also make an appearance.

Angus Jemmett will be out to carry on his strong start to senior representative cricket and gives Mid Canterbury a strong allround option.

The side: W Southby (captain), D Flannery, N Gilbert, B Innes, T Innes, A Jemmett, D Kruger, H McMillan, T Middleton, J Southby, S Stagg.

Right – Nick Gilbert returns to the Mid Canterbury senior cricket side this weekend.

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN RACING

Wanganui trainer launches West Coast raid NZ Racing Desk

Wanganui trainer Raymond Connors has Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) aspirations with promising stayer Hurry Cane, and he will kick-off his campaign towards the two-mile feature at Kumara today.

It’s a fair hike to the West Coast track from his dairy farm in the lower North Island, but Connors is looking forward to the trip away, albeit for just a few days.

The son of Nom du Jeu will head into the Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) in a fresh state after having his last start in November when placing behind Dragon Storm in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton.

Connors has been pleased with the eightyear-old gelding in the lead-up to his weekend target and he is hoping he can continue his solid form line, having won five of his 17 starts and placed in 10 others.

“He seems quite well, so we will go down for a trip and see how he goes,” Connors said.

“I was happy with his run in the New Zealand Cup. He went as well as he could go, and he wasn’t quite good enough on the day. He

carried a bit of weight, so it was a good effort.

He doesn’t seem any different from what he normally is. He seems fit enough, so hopefully there is a bit of give in the track and he should run well.”

With his major aim this preparation being a two-mile test at Ellerslie in March, Connors isn’t expecting his charge to win over Saturday’s 1980m trip, but he is hoping for a solid first-up run.

“He is a pretty honest horse and we are lucky to have him in the stable,” he said.

“It is short of his best, but you would like to think that he will be competitive.

“His big aim is the Auckland Cup and we will work our way around that.”

While Connors is looking forward to the trip away from the farm, the majority of that time will be spent on the road.

“It’s going to be more driving than anything,” he said.

“It is a fair hike, but you have got to do it. It is a nice race for him (Hurry Cane) and it will be good to take him away for a trip, and we hope he runs well.

“It will be good to do a bit of sight-seeing.

I haven’t been down there for a long time.”

Hurry Cane will contest the Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) on Saturday.

PHOTO RACE IMAGES

M6 Kumara gallops Today at Kumara Raceway

R1 Nzb Ins. Pearl Series Mdn NZD $10,000 1150m 13:37 1 368 12:27

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Just A Girl A Comignaghi (11)

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Cusack

Uber Roca

Dioradelle B M Murray (12) Scala Sancta G A Jogoo (3) Sooo Dusty K Asano (10) (A1) Eulogy Show K Mudhoo (5) Lightning Ridge Diceland Rohan Mudhoo (1) (A2)

57.5 57.5 57.5 57.5 57.5 57.5 56 56 56 56 56 56

R2 Teen Family Memorial Mdn NZD $10,000 1150m 13:02 1 20x22 Kapalka K Chowdhoory (11) (A1) 58.5 58.5 2 55024 Soviet Wonder 3 x4031 Parawanui Lad 58.5 4 3 Kopua S O’malley (1) (A3) 57 57 5 47x82 In Heaven 57 6 6 Wild Rover T R Moseley (8) 57 7 Kiwi To The Bone 8 Seraphic

57 57 9 1 Ucalledit A Comignaghi (4) 57 10 Whippersnapper 55 11 Diceland R3 Westland Racing Club (Bm74) NZD $11,000 1150m

3 62653 Yulong Lanson A Comignaghi (5) 58.5 S O’malley (7) (A3) 60 4 58.5 2691 Hijacked 2 l4332 T R Moseley (3) 59.5 5 0lx40 Ripemgini L Callaway (13) 58.5 3 10x75 A Comignaghi (9) 56.5 6 80098 Hay There A Balloo (15) 57 56.5 7 x9894 Hey Soul Sister B M Murray (8) 56.5 4 71 56.5 8 60064 Shelob 5 13748 T R Moseley (4) 56.5 6 1x0x1 C K Kwo (8) (A2) 56.5 9 5946 Katchin Feelings T R Moseley (9) 56.5 54 10 36040 The Emporess Chowdhoory (10) (A1) 56.5 7 57967 8 83x94 S Toolooa (4) (A3) 54 11 878x5 Spindleshanks K Chowdhoory (3) 56.5 54 12 9 678 K Mudhoo (1) 700 Ego Tripper Rohan Mudhoo (2) (A2) 56.5 13 56507 Nifty Rohan Mudhoo (17) 56.5 R4 Greymouth Star (Bm65) NZD $10,000 1150m 14:12 58.5 14 665 Top Guy 59 1 583 Selfie 56.5 15 x0879 Tropic Thunder 2 7x913 Expressive S O’malley (8) (A3) 58.5 16 605 Battlinaway 58.5 Z Bholah (13) 58.5 3 140x0 Why Me

56.5 17 6002 Qiji Olympia 58 4 0x961 Bonjour 58.5 18 0x004 Pax Vobiscum 58 5 35063 Our Prom King T R Moseley (1) 57.5 R6 A Hayward/N Wafer Pow Mem-Bm74 NZD $11,000 6 57100 Heartoheart 7 x9x31 Roc Music L Callaway (6) 57.5 1810m 15:23 9832 Shadow King S O’malley (8) (A3) 61

56.5 1 8 85469 Lovebug

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56.5 2 14145 Oceans Away 9 1504 Ophelia Rose 57.5 9122 Hunter Villain 56 3 10 80322 Walkthisswey T R Moseley (4) 57.5 56 4 10711 Leitrim Lad 11 57967 Arnage K Mudhoo (5) 57 A Comignaghi (9)

55.5 5 45261 Way Above 12 0x056 Where Angels Walk 56.5 B M Murray (6) 13 678 Empire Of Patch 55.5 6 x0726 Mamma Sans 7 13085 Are You Cereal K Mudhoo (12) 56.5 R5 Birchfield Coal Mines Mdn NZD $10,000 1810m 14:47 8 062x9 Hunua Hank K Asano (5) (A1) 56.5 1 55024 Soviet Wonder 58.5 9 10034 The Buffer L Callaway (10) 56.5 S O’malley (16) (A3) 58.5 10 98608 Anythingcouldhappn A Balloo (7) 2 2x623 Tormund 56 King Cougar Zelenski Celine Meara Mary Riverfalls Blair Flight Arnage Kate The Great Empire Of Patch

11 12 13 14

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G A Jogoo (13)

55.5 54.5 54 54

R7 Kumara Gold Nuggets NZD $30,000 1810m 15:58 62 1 74211 Torre Del Greco 2 11x03 Hurry Cane T R Moseley (6) 61.5 3 484x7 Flag The Groom S O’Malley (13) (A3) 60.5 4 56272 Overtheriver A Comignaghi (4) 60 55 5 69006 Five Princes L Callaway (9) 6 x0505 Frankie The Fox Rohan Mudhoo (8) (A2) 55 7 33645 Beneficial C K Kwo (11) (A2) 54.5 8 14145 Oceans Away 54.5 54 9 20000 Splendior B M Murray (1) 54 10 41723 Bluey’s Chance A Balloo (2) 54 11 13748 Riverfalls 12 50812 Queen Jetsun Ms K Williams (3) 54 13 9122 Hunter Villain K Asano (16) (A1) 54 54 14 16841 Goodanya 54 15 50766 Mcgowan 54 16 98 Stormy Habit R8 Hynds 16:33 1 40x52 2 8932 3 16841 4 66451

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

58 267x0 Big Wink D R Bothamley (4) 664x7 Pondering A Comignaghi (11) 57.5 57 6621 Fishermans Blues 55.5 60007 Spider Lily G A Jogoo (2) 55.5 x0084 Villeret K Mudhoo (14) 55 0x096 Moreira 85857 Lady Verawood K Chowdhoory (5) (A1) 54 57064 Garment S Toolooa (9) (A3) 54 55 99084 Pickup 55 98 Stormy Habit

R9 Speight’s Super Liquor (Bm65) NZD $10,000 1810m 17:08 1 42233 Vee Twelve M E Gestain (9) (A4) 60 59 2 x14x5 My Hugo T R Moseley (13) 3 98x81 Patsys Lad A Comignaghi (14) 58.5 4 7443 Stop Making Sense R Bothamley (3) 57.5 5 90x03 Well Chosen Rohan Mudhoo (4) (A2) 57.5 57 6 68089 Carnaby 7 8333 Cannoli K Chowdhoory (8) (A1) 56 8 63318 Nymphadora Tonks K Asano (10) (A1) 56 55.5 9 50766 Mcgowan 55 10 808x9 Friday Knight Pipe Systems (Bm65) NZD $10,000 1810m 11 54 980 Dancing Choux 12 8077 Show Park 54 Linedanceking 60 13 99084 Pickup 55 A Balloo (12) S O’malley (10) (A3) 60 14 Ricky Baker 55 98 Stormy Habit 58.5 Goodanya Magic Ivan T R Moseley (8) 58.5

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ACROSS 1. Begins play, so goes back to embrace the writer (5) 4. Gun for some flaming branch of service (7) 8. After beer, right first and last to be on the qui vive (5) 9. Blue man got tails out, confused by the pain in his back (7) 10. Haul back the way the food goes (3) 11. Once more audition Sarah for practice on stage (9) 12. Speak sharply (except for the week-end)(4) 13. Lightly wound one in a bungalow in Germany (4) 18. They play, while he gets involved in chopping carrots (9) 20. A bit of butter, off which one has the words perfectly (3) 21. Gave no end of trouble in the auction, but one may rescue it (7) 22. Up to being as good as another (5) 23. Long note to Mother who loses her head at least (7) 24. Has put odd pig sty centres to check balances (5) DOWN 1. Nothing to anger about flower in the bride’s bouquet (6,7) 2. Man picking team loses head one to put across separately (7) 3. It sends up one in a rest-break (6) 4. Hit fly for six, otherwise it’s most unclean (6) 5. Dances for graduates begun with some spirit (6) 6. A church service to get together (5) 7. Overnight departure leaving the landlord short (9,4) 14. One thousand quid? Lock it away! (7) 15. To remain unruffled, take the wind out of one’s sails? (6) 16. Pour forth right amongst the vapour (6) 17. With which to take or shoot without injuring (6) 19. Two points vertically found in the abdomen (5)

WordBuilder WordBuilder

WordWheel Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anti-clockwise.

L K B A E WordBuilder L K B A E

WordWheel 827

U P R ?

Quick crossword 1

2

3

4

5

O U

6 7

8

9

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or Previous solution: CURTAINS anticlockwise. Previous solution: CURTAINS

10

11 12

13

14

15 16

17

18

19

20 21

22

23

ACROSS 1. Unchangeable, fixed (3,2,5) 7. Decorate (5) 8. Indicated (7) 10. Sample (8) 11. Competent (4) 13. Proper (6) 15. Prises (6) 17. Spacious and light (4) 18. Delusions of persecution (8) 21. Constrict (7) 22. Motif (5) 23. Appraisal (10)

DOWN 1. Rock (5) 2. Real (8) 3. Dozed (6) 4. Group of three (4) 5. A celebrity or VIP (7) 6. Premature beginning (5,5) 9. Ingrained, fixed (4-6) 12. Badinage (8) 14. Infuriates (7) 16. Mocks (6) 19. Not hidden (5) 20. Eye infection (4)

042

042

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginning with a capital are allowed.

There’s at least one five-letter word.

Good Very Good How 8many words 10 of Excellent three or 15 more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No foreign words or words beginningsolution: with a capital are allowed.

Previous emit, emits, ems, There’s at least one its, five-letter word.mite, est, ism, item, items, met, mist, mites, semi, set,10 sim, sit, site,15smit, Goodsei, 8 Very Good Excellent smite, stem, tie, ties, time, times

S S

PUZZLES 23

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): Associative memories will play a role in today’s decision-making process, although not all of the memories are vivid, many being as faint as ghosts and yet still powerfully influential.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Wherever you go, you cultivate a sense of belonging meant for everyone around you, not just the few you know or the few that are similar to you. In this way, you are a light in the world.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): No state of being is intrinsically better than another, though you have your preferences. You wouldn’t willingly choose to be uncomfortable, though what you gain will make the trouble worthwhile.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): You probably don’t realise how important it is that you show up. You are bringing something of value to the table, because it is integral to who you are, you don’t experience it as anything out of the ordinary.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): You set out knowing what you want at the end of the journey. Getting that specific prize will not, in the end, be very important. It’s the hope of a prize that opens the world, not the prize itself.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): Your social network is as unique a possession as can be. Sharing it will help you see this much more clearly and will inspire you to continue cultivating new connections.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): Everyone you come into contact with is living a vividly complex life, though some are more inclined to give you a peek into it than others. You’re lucky today because you do not assume to know anything about others.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Keep track of those strange details that don’t readily fit. Things that seem unrelated on the surface, you’ll find, are quite related indeed if you dig but a little deeper into the matter.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Some are afraid that putting together a bucket list will focus on their own demise when the opposite will occur. Living gets more exciting. The longer the list, the more life it represents.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): No two relationships are the same, so there’s no single approach to relationship success. Today, your way of learning about others before you decide where to take things will work beautifully.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): We all have feelings we’re not sure whether to express; you’re not alone in that. What sets you apart today is your instinct and follow-through in this regard.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): You don’t need to know all about a person to make a relationship work, but do try to find out a little more about where the other person is coming from. That will make today’s interaction smoother.

Previous cryptic solution

Across: 1. Free-wheeled 8. Elate 9. Succeed 10. Skittle 11. Navel 12. Augers 14. Catnap 18. Paint 19. Tallboy 21. Nowhere 23. Maize 24. Out of pocket 9 4. Easter 5. Lucinda 5 Down: 1. Freesia 2. Erasing 3. Wheat 6. Dye 7. Model 13. Retreat 15.

1 Niblick 16. Payment 3 7 5 17. Itself 18. Pants 20. Limbo 22. Who

9 2 3 Across: 7. Unceremonious 8. Colossus 9. Easy 10. Unless 1 12. Entire 14. Per 15. Hawser 9 17. Secede 19. Clue Previous solution: emit, emits, ems, 21. Nuisance 23. Unrelentingly7 6 est, ism, item, items, its, met, mist, mite, Down: 1. Insomnia 2. Before 3. Begs 4. Boasters 5. Bisect www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz 4 8 2 mites, sei, semi, set, sim, sit, site, smit, 6. Buys 11. Sprinted 13. Ridicule 16. Seeker 18. Chains 6 smite, stem, tie, ties, time, times 20. Lane 22. Iota 9 7 8 9/1 5 6 3 6 2 5 PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS Sudoku Fill the grid so that every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

8 973 2 6 5 1 7 4 1 234 8 3 7 5 19 96 6 1 2 8 4 5 67 517 1 9 4 2 8 3 5 4 1 3 7 2 9 6 8 1 7 6 1 2 5 4 7 9 3 6 4 1 8 7 2 5 6 7 8 2 9 5 6 3 4 1 5 5 7 3 2 2 3 44 1 8 5 2 9 6 23 7 3 6 9 7 8 1 4 5 2 4 9 2 1 6 1 8 9 3 6

3 7 8

8 1

3 1

2 7 6 9

3

2

9 4 3

1 8 4

9

9 2 3

1

3 6 5 2 8 7 HARD

EASY

9 7 4 2 6 1 3 8 5

7

Previous quick solution

4 6 1 7 2 8 9 3 5

2 7 5 6 4 3 8 1 9 9 2 3 5 7 8 6 4 1

5 4 7 3 1 6 2 8 9

1 8 6 2 9 4 3 5 7

2 5 1 6 4 7 8 9 3

3 9 4 8 5 2 7 1 6

6 7 8 1 3 9 5 2 4

7 1 2 9 6 5 4 3 8

8 6 9 4 2 3 1 7 5

4 3 5 7 8 1 9 6 2

3 8 5

18

2 3 5

2 8 3 1 6 5

24 CLASSIFIEDS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT

STOCK PERSON/ FARM HAND

Wanted a retire secondary school English teacher

WANTED

ASHBURTON COLLEGE

ASHBURTON COLLEGE

ASHBURTON COLLEGE

Learning Support Assistant – Te Whare Manaaki (SLSU)

Learning Support Assistant (Mainstream)

‘Individual Excellence in a Supportive Learning Environment’

Learning Support Assistant – Te Whare Manaaki (SLSU) (2 positions) Support (both educational and personal cares) of students with high to very high learning and physical needs.

This is a fixed-term, term-time only position for the 2021 school year, for commencement 3 February 2020.

Hours: 20 hours per week (over 5 days), to be confirmed with successful applicant.

Employment is under the Support Staff in School’s Collective Agreement, Grade B. Initial payment step commensurate with experience.

Applications close noon, Tuesday 19 January 2020 Information package enquiries and applications please contact Jodee Ross, Principal’s Secretary Phone (03) 308 4193 ext 809 Email: rj@ashcoll.school.nz

‘Individual Excellence in a Supportive Learning Environment’

‘Individual Excellence in a Supportive Learning Environment’

To support students with their learning needs.

This is a fixed, term-time only position for 2021, to commence Term 1, 2021 Hours: Approximately 25 hours per week, to be confirmed with successful applicant.

Employment is under the Support Staff in School’s Collective Agreement, Grade B. Initial payment step commensurate with experience.

Applications close noon, Friday 15 January 2021 Information package enquiries and applications please contact Jodee Ross, Principal’s Secretary Phone (03) 308 4193 ext 809 Email: rj@ashcoll.school.nz

Support (both educational and personal cares) of students with high to very high learning and physical needs.

This is a fixed-term, term-time only position for the 2021 school year, for commencement 3 February 2020.

Hours: 15 hours per week (over 3 days), to be confirmed with successful applicant.

Employment is under the Support Staff in School’s Collective Agreement, Grade B. Initial payment step commensurate with experience.

Applications close noon, Tuesday 19 January 2020 Information package enquiries and applications please contact Jodee Ross, Principal’s Secretary Phone (03) 308 4193 ext 809 Email: rj@ashcoll.school.nz

REAL ESTATE

Thinking of Selling or Looking to Buy. Let me help you Buy or sell your home.

Schedule your appointment to get a complimentary market appraisal on your home.

DENISE RUSSELL

0274 329 717 denise.russell@raywhite.com 96 Tancred Street, Ashburton 7700 www.facebook.com/DeniseRussellRayWhiteMidCanterbury/ Real Estate Mid Canterbury Property Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

Real Estate

Situations Vacant

Ashburton Guardian

MEDICAL SERVICES

IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY PHONE 111.

For all other medical assistance outside of normal hours, please phone your General Practice team, 24/7, to speak with a health professional who will give you free health advice on what to do or where to go if you need urgent care.

If you don’t have a regular General Practice, call any GP team 24/7 for free telephone health advice.

DUTY DOCTORS Tinwald Medical Centre, Archibald Street, Ashburton, will be the duty practice Saturday until 8am Sunday. To make an appointment call your regular GP. Moore Street Medical Centre, 254 Moore Street, Ashburton, will be the duty practice for Sunday until 8am Monday. To make an appointment call your regular GP. Please bring your Community Services Card. All non New Zealanders should bring their passport with them, New Zealanders should bring some form of ID.

Methven & Rakaia Area

For weekend and emergency services please phone Methven Medical Centre on 302 8105 or Rakaia Medical Centre on 303 5002 for details on how to access the after-hours service each weekend.

Healthline is a free health advice service. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll-free number to call is 0800 611 116. Healthline is staffed by registered

40 HB aside with cup removers 600 cows. The farm is located in Wakanui, Ashburton.

G.Carlos 0273684084 for job info.

307 7900

WANTED TO BUY Horse racing memorabilia.

Old race books, badges, etc.

GRAZING Trots and gallops to fill gaps LAMB Grazing wanted. in my collection. If you want Good prices paid. Please to sell, please call Steve on phone Jason 0274 288 402. 03 324 2064 or 021 115 3021.

S

Art Gallery

327 West Street, Ashburton, phone 308 1133.

Open daily: 10am – 4pm.

If you do not have or cannot contact your regular dentist, please phone 027 683 0679 for the name of the rostered weekend dentist in Christchurch. Hours 9am - 5pm, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Ashburton Museum

HELPLINE SERVICES

Havelock Street. Ph 308 7192. Saturday: 10am - 1pm.

Sunday: 1pm - 4pm.

Mental Health - Call free on 0800 222 955.

Ask for the Crisis Team.

Safe Care - 24hr Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis

Support. Phone 03 364 8791

Victims Support Group

24hr - Freephone 0800 VICTIM (0800 842 846).

Direct dials to a volunteer.

Ashburton Office - 307 8409 week-days, 9am - 2pm,

PERSONAL

Call the Guardian today for your situations vacant advertising requirements.

307 7900

DIAL 111 in the event of a Medical or Accident Emergency

C

Call 0800 AA WORKS (0800 229 6757) or visit www.aa.org.nz for more information.

MOTORING

WHEEL alignments at great prices. Maximise the life of your tyres with an alignment from Neumanns Tyre Services Ltd, 197 Wills Street. Phone 308 6737.

Hi fi gear wanted.

Excellent prices paid.

Pennylane has a buyer in your area. Please phone 021-222- 6144.

Call us free on (0800 787 797).

Lines open 10am - 10pm seven days.

Wises Pharmacy, Countdown Complex, East Street, will be open from 9am - 1pm Saturday, from 10am - 1pm Lifeline Sunday.

Toll-free: 0800 353 353.

Countdown Pharmacy, Ashburton South, 2 East Street, open from 9am - 8pm daily.

OMMUNITY ERVICES

Alcoholics Anonymous

HIRE Please note all late death GENERAL hire. notices or notices sent Lawnmowers, chainsaws, outside ordinary office concrete breakers, trailers, and more. All your DIY / party hours must be emailed to: hire, call and see Ashburton deathnotices@theguardian.co.nz to ensure publication.

U-Hire. 588 East Street.

Open Monday-Friday 7am To place a notice during - 6pm; Saturday 7.30am office hours please contact - 5pm; Sunday 8.30am us on 03 307 7900 12.30pm - Phone 308 8061. for more information. www.ashburtonuhire.co.nz Any queries please contact 0800 LIVESTOCK, PETS ASHBURTON BROWN, Shaver point (0800-274-287) of lay pullets for sale. $30 each, Willowby.

Phone 0272 033 007.

TWO Asian lady special, good massage, excellent service. in/out calls.

Phone 022 572 5823.

Pharmacies

Emergency Dentist

mitchsim@icloud.com

ADULT

Alcohol Drug Help Line

Please contact directly for hours.

See Trade me Listing #: 2896506727 for more details.

TO the Countdown blackberry jam lady. Would you like a coffee? Popeye 169.

nurses who are trained to assess health problems and offer outside of these hours leave a message. advice over the phone. The service is free and confidential.

Ashburton Rest Homes

Experience necessary.

approx. 3 hrs per day for 3 weeks to proof read and set out grammar for rural based book phone 021 117 0007

PART-TIME ENTERTAINMENT Make contact through RELIEF MILKER/ ASIAN Angel, sweet, the Guardian reception. Looking for a new TRACTOR hot, sexy 40DD, person to join beautiful, good service, DRIVER your business? professional massage. WANTED required.

Phone 021 0860 1853. RECORDS, tapes and

Motoring

Weekend Services

Mixed cropping farm fattening store lambs, 10 mins from Methven.

327 West Street, Ashburton, phone 307 7890.

Open daily: 10am – 4pm.

Ashburton Public Library

EA Networks Centre - Pools

20 River Terrace - phone 03 308 4020. WEEKEND HOURS: Sat and Sun 7am - 7pm. Public holidays 10am - 5pm.

Ashburton Operations Centre ASHBURTON MAIL CENTRE STANDARD POST: Mon - Fri 5pm POST DELIVERY CENTRES Allenton & Tinwald: Mon - Fri 5pm Methven & Rakaia: Mon - Fri 2pm

ASHBURTON’S STREET RECEIVERS Business Area: Mon - Fri 5pm Residential Area: Mon - Fri 5pm

Information Centre

Methven - Saturday and public holidays 10am until 2.30pm. Phone 302 8955 or isite@midcanterburynz.com

ANIMAL SERVICES Dog, Stock & Noise Control

Ashburton District Council 03 307 7700 - 24hr service.

Animal Welfare Centre

All enquiries - phone 308 4432 or 027 3329286.

Veterinarians

ASHBURTON VETS - Ph 0276 838 000, 149 Cameron Street, Ashburton: Duty vet: Ben Hallenstein.

Full emergency service all weekend.

VET ENT RIVERSIDE - Ph 03 308 2321, 1 Smallbone Drive, Ashburton. Saturday clinic: 9am - 12 noon. Weekend 24-hour emergencies.

VETLIFE ASHBURTON - Ph 03 307 5195, Cnr East Street and Seafield Road, Ashburton. Saturday clinic: 9am - 12 noon. Weekend 24-hour emergencies.

CANTERBURY VETS - Ph 03 307 0686, West Street Clinic, West Street, Ashburton. Saturday clinic: 9am - 12 noon. Weekend emergencies: Steve Williams.

Vet Ent and Vet Life operate a joint after-hours SMALL animal emergency service. To use this service please phone your vet as usual.

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

SITUATIONS VACANT

PUBLIC NOTICES

Trade Assistant EA Networks has a strong focus on people, culture and a commitment to leading edge technology. We own and operate our region’s electricity distribution network and fibre optic communications network and are the trusted infrastructure platform that delivers electrical energy to every home and business in our region.

About the role We are looking for an energetic person to join our Field Services Team as a Trade Assistant. This entry level role will appeal to someone seeking onthe-job learning opportunities within a diverse field service environment.

This opportunity is a great start to a career with EA Networks and will vary from one day to the next, giving you the chance to work across most service areas within our business including: • • • • •

Overhead Line Crews Underground Crews Earth Rig Operators Assisting with Traffic Control General yard duties All the work you perform will be completed while promoting and practising positive health and safety.

Calling all former Burnetts workers, partners & clients

Remembering the days at the old Burnetts yards Saturday 16th January 2020 - 2pm onwards Ashburton Racecourse $5 per person Bank: J M Naish 38-9015-0134176-09 (use your first and last name as reference) or pay directly to names below Jane Naish - 03 3082272 or Text 0275265808 tonyjanenaish@gmail.com Maurice Wotton - 027 484 1115 BYO Drinks Kindly sponsored by Wilsons Windscreens

•

Do you live in one of the smaller towns or rural areas around Ashburton District and want to come into Ashburton Township for medical appointments, doing business with Council, seeing family and friends, shopping, using government and social services, etc?

Birthday Greetings are free for those aged 12 and under only. Free birthday greetings must be received at least two working days before date of insertion otherwise there is no guarantee that it will appear on the day requested.

Photos will be available at our level 3 office for collection after notice has appeared in the paper.

(Under 12 children’s birthday greetings remain FREE)

Phone 03 307 7900 Email: classifieds@theguardian.co.nz Level 3, Somerset House, 161 Burnett Street

Thinking Daily Diary JANUARY 9 of buying SATURDAY, 9am - 12pm CRAFT MARKET. or selling ASHBURTON Some stall holders will have lovely gifts, plants, woodwork and more. West Street Car Park.

9am - 12.30pm a car?

ASHBURTON FARMERS MARKET.

Some stall holders will have locally grown fresh produce. North end of West Street Car Park.

9am - 3pm

Book your motoring advertising with our experienced sales team

ASHBURTON VINTAGE CAR CLUB.

Museum and parts shed open. 86 Maronan Road, Tinwald. - (Closed - reopens 16 January 2021).

10am - 4pm

NZ ALPINE AND AGRICULTURE ENCOUNTER AND THE ART GALLERY.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10

Presbyterian Church, Sinclair Centre, Park Street.

10am

8am ST STEPHEN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH. Holy Communion, Park Street.

9.30am

ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH.

Worship service. 48 Allens Road, Allenton.

10am

HAKATERE PRESBYTERIAN PARISH.

ST ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Combined morning worship, led by Rev Eric Mattock, all welcome, Sinclair Centre, Park Street.

10am

ASHBURTON METHODIST CHURCH.

Combined morning worship at St Andrew’s

MONDAY, JANUARY 11 10am - 4pm

ASHBURTON BAPTIST CHURCH.

Morning worship, all welcome, 67 Cass Street, Ashburton.

10am

ST STEPHEN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH. Holy Communion, Park Street.

10am - 4pm

NZ ALPINE AND AGRICULTURE ENCOUNTER AND THE ART GALLERY.

Open for viewing. Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, 160 Main Street Methven.

1pm - 3pm

ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSUEM.

Static displays, collection of aircraft and memorabilia on display. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

1pm - 3pm

ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSUEM.

NZ ALPINE AND AGRICULTURE ENCOUNTER AND THE ART GALLERY.

Static displays, collection of aircraft and memorabilia on display. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12

ENCOUNTER AND THE ART GALLERY.

Open for viewing. Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, 160 Main Street Methven.

307 7900 for more information

Static displays with collections of up to 30 aircraft and memorabilia. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

10am - 12pm

Open for viewing. Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, 160 Main Street Methven.

Then hop onto the “Mid Canterbury Connector”!

Deadline 2pm prior publication day

2021

ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSEUM.

•

FOR INFORMATION ON PICK UP PLACES AND TIMES, FARES AND TO BOOK, CALL SAFER MID CANTERBURY ON 03 308 1395 ext 225 NOTE: If you want to book on the Tuesday run, you need to let us know by 2pm on the Monday before.

If you want to book on the Wednesday run, you need to let us know by 2pm on the Tuesday before.

F

*Terms and conditions apply.

Do you have no transport or access to transport?

Drop off points in town are Ashburton Hospital; Ashburton District Council offices and Ashburton Library; EA Networks Centre; and Work and Income NZ/ Community House Mid Canterbury.

307 7900

Book your birthday greeting, including a photo, for just $10! Ten words only.*

•

On Tuesdays the Mid Canterbury Connector picks you up from Mt Somers, Staveley, Methven, Winchmore and drops you off in town for 2-3 hours, before taking you home.

On Wednesdays the Community Connector picks you up from Rakaia, Chertsey, Fairton/Hakatere Marae, Wakanui, down to Hinds and drops you off in town for 2-3 hours, then takes you home.

Jamilia Kravchenko

Happy Birthday to our 10 year old gorgeous sister and daughter. We love you to the moon and back.

Love from Artem and parents.

For just $10!*

Combined morning worship at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Sinclair Centre, Park Street.

10am

THE MID CANTERBURY CONNECTOR operates twice a week, commencing Tuesday 12th January, 2021 for a six-month trial period.

Happy 4th birthday Charlie. Have a fun day.

Lots of Love from Nana, Poppa and all the family xx

Happy Birthday

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THE MID CANTERBURY CONNECTOR – NEW COMMUNITY TRANSPORT SERVICE

Charlie King

Guardian Real Estate

Join Us A competitive hourly rate is on offer, as is the opportunity to develop your career with a stable, trusted organisation. To apply, please visit our company careers page and complete an Employment Application through our career’s portal in confidence. Applications close Monday, January 11, 2021.

For more information about the role and EA Networks please visit www.eanetworks.co.nz

Birthday Greetings

BURNETTS TRANSPORT CATCH UP

Ideally you will have the following attributes: • Hold a current driver’s licence with classes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (or be willing to complete licensing requirements to obtain each).

• Physically fit and motivated • Reliable and punctual • A team player • Excellent communication skills

Please note EA Networks is committed to a safe and healthy work environment. Successful candidates must be legally entitled to work in NZ and prepared to undergo a pre-employment medical, which includes a drug and alcohol test and a Ministry of Justice check.

CLASSIFIEDS 25

9.30am

ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH.

Walking group meets outside church. 48 Allens Road, Allenton.

10am - 4pm

NZ ALPINE AND AGRICULTURE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 9am - 3pm

ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSUEM.

Static displays, collection of aircraft and memorabilia on display. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

Open for viewing. Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, 160 Main Street Methven.

1pm - 3pm

ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSUEM.

Static displays, collection of aircraft and memorabilia on display. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

10am - 4pm

NZ ALPINE AND AGRICULTURE ENCOUNTER AND THE ART GALLERY.

Open for viewing. Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, 160 Main Street Methven.

Trades & Services To place a Trades & Services ad, call 307-7900 or email classifieds@theguardian.co.nz

TALBOT SECURITY GROUP Key Cutting Services • • •

Car Keys House Keys Electronic Car Remote keys

E - operations@talbotsecurity.co.nz P - 03 307 2409 anytime 24/7

LOCKSMITHS / DOOR REPAIRERS

KEEP YOUR HOME THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE ALL YEAR ROUND

• Ashburton based locksmiths • Keys, door locks, padlocks • Window stays and latches • Sliding/bifold door rollers • WE REPAIR ALL

HEAT PUMPS

electriCOOL Ltd Phone Paul Crequer, your local authorised Daikin dealer for a free quote on all domestic and commercial systems phone 0274 362 362 or 308 4573.

2031035

CALL DAM DOORS AND MORE MOBILE SERVICE 0275 167 104

HEAT PUMPS

Let’s start the conversation call 0800 764 846 455 West Street, Ashburton Email: ashburton@smith-sons.co.nz or visit: smithandsons.co.nz

CALL GROUTPRO FOR AN HONEST DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR GROUT AND TILE AFTERCARE

To deal with Dirty Tiles and Grout CALL GROUTPRO WE HELP YOU KEEP ON TOP OF YOUR SHOWER AND TILE MAINTENANCE

• Tile shower makeovers • Professional tile and grout cleaning • Re-colouring existing grout

• Sealing and repairing/replacing tiles/grout • Replacing mouldy and tired silicon

enovating?

Thinking of r

WE TRANSFORM TILES/GROUT IN BATHROOMS, KITCHENS, SHOWERS, BALCONIES, CONSERVATORIES AND ANY TILED AREA

WE MAKE IT EASY WITH OUR THREE SIMPLE STEPS ...

Contact GroutPro Brett Muir for a quote and an upfront honest discussion.

www.groutpro.co.nz

027 746 7632

Keeping your property protected with a security camera system from Masterguard Protect your biggest asset with a home security camera package from Masterguard

To advertise here contact Cushla on 021 959 783 or 03 307 7955

Call me today for a free, no obligation quote

Hartley Curd phone 0800 788 393 or 021 328 301 57 Dobson Street, Ashburton.

Lifestyle

We service and repair all makes and models of sewing machines and overlockers Open 7 Days | P 03 307 6277 | Main South Road, Tinwald | www.anniesquilts.co.nz

Cushla Harborne

CONNECTIONS

To advertise here contact Karen Hall on 021 309 973

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

DEATHS

DEATHS

DEATHS

ALLAN, Maurice Charles (Maurie) – Promoted to Glory on his 94th birthday, December 20, 2020, at Terrace View Retirement Village, Ashburton. Dearly loved husband of the late Chris.

Much loved Dad of Brian (Australia), and Pauline and Colin Read. Treasured Grandad of Michael Opele, Kevin and Louise Opele, and Elisa and Peter Weir. Great Granddad of Georgia, and Finn. Messages to the Allan family c/- PO Box 472, Ashburton, 7740. Many thanks to the staff at Terrace View and Dr Penny Holdaway for their excellent care and unconditional love of Dad and the family over the years. A Memorial service to celebrate Maurie’s life will be held at the Salvation Army Citadel, Cass Street, Ashburton on MONDAY, January 11, commencing at 1.30pm.

CHARLES, Terrill Tracy – On December 16, 2020, peacefully, at her home, surrounded by those she loved. Much loved soulmate and partner of Peter Corbett.

Mother of Jacob, Samuel and Seth, and second Mum to Rodney. Daughter and daughter-in-law to Terry and Margaret, and Robert and Daphne. Messages can be sent to the Corbett/Charles family, RD1 Ashburton 7771.

A memorial service to celebrate Terrill’s life will be held on WEDNESDAY, January 13 at Riccarton Park Racecourse at 1.30pm.

GREEN, Freda – On January 5, 2021 at Radius Millstream, Ashburton. Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, aged 100 years. Dearly loved wife of the late George. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Bryan and Eileen, and Alison and Ted Moore. Treasured Nana of Andrew, Sheryl, the late Jeffrey, and Megan; Gene, Kerryn, Emma and their partners. Loved great Nana of her 11 great grandchildren. Messages to the Green family c/- PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. In lieu of flowers donations to Ashburton St John would be much appreciated and may be left at the service. A service to celebrate Freda’s life will be held at St David’s Union Church, Allens Road, Ashburton on TUESDAY, January 12, commencing at 2pm. Followed by a private cremation at the Ashburton Crematorium.

Canterbury owned, locally operated

Patersons Funeral Services and Ashburton Crematorium Ltd

DAVIDSON, Malcolm (Sandy) – On January 7, 2021.

Peacefully at Tuarangi Home, Ashburton, aged 70 years. Dearly loved husband of Liz. Loved father and father-in-law of Shane and Julia, Tim and Rachel, Cody and Georgie, and Anna and Jamie. Loving Pops to Phoenix, Angus and Elliot.

Messages to the Davidson family c/- PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A service to celebrate Sandy’s life will be held at Our Chapel, cnr East & Cox Streets, Ashburton on WEDNESDAY, January 13, commencing at 11am.

Followed by cremation at the Ashburton Crematorium.

Office and Chapel Corner East & Cox Streets, Ashburton

DEATHS

DEATHS

HODGKINSON, Marie June (June) – Peacefully with family, in the loving care of the staff at Radius Millstream, Ashburton on Thursday, January 7, 2021 aged 83 years. Dearly loved wife of the late Peter, cherished mother and mother-in-law of Michelle and Peter Rumping (Ashburton), Cherie and Carl Marshall (Birdwood, South Australia), and Marie and Bob (Southland). Adored Nana of Michael and Angela, Claire and Kurt; and Holly and Morne, loved great Nana of Anna, Lucia, James, Sophia, Matthew, Christopher, Peter, and Leon, and Holly’s baby on the way. Loved sister of the late Paul Purton, Dorothy and the late Charlie Timlin, Jimmy Purton, and Ann Purton, and loved aunty of Cath, and Rose. Messages to: The Hodgkinson family, c/- PO Box 6035, Ashburton 7742. In lieu of flowers donations to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter would be appreciated and may be made at the service. A Requiem Mass for June is to be held at Holy Name Catholic Church, Sealy Street, Ashburton on TUESDAY, January 12, 2021 at 1.30pm followed by GREEN, Freda – On January 5, 2021. Dearly interment at the Ashburton loved Nana of Gene and Cemetery.

Amanda Moore, Kerryn and Nathan Hurrell and Emma and Graham Todd. Adored Gran to Tāne, Moana, Ashton, Taylah, Jett, Millar and Riley.

0800 263 6679 “Your life was a blessing, Our memories are precious.

You’re loved beyond words, And missed beyond treasures”.

Forever loved, and always in our hearts xxx

Ph 307 7433

MENARY, John Benjamin – May 4, 1955 – December 27, 2020.

It is with shock and heartache that we share the news that John passed away after a sudden medical event on December 27, 2020. John was at home, surrounded by loved ones, after a special happy Christmas. Adored husband of Alison. Proud father of Lisa, Carl, and Talia.

Loved brother to Russell and Julie. Fun, patient, cheeky Poppy-John to Isla, Tessa, Noah, Ari and Freya. Loved son of Grahame and Ruth.

Wild dancer, dog lover and endless giver. We will all miss you like crazy. A celebration of John’s life will be held at the Onekaka Hall on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 2pm. Note: We have received so many beautiful bunches of flowers and kind words. Thank you so much.

We are running out of vases now, so please know your love and support is enough, but if you still want to give, in lieu of flowers, we are setting up a Give-a-little page to allow us to contribute to a local conservation project. John was passionate about his native bush.

MOLLOY, Morris Henry – On January 5, 2021. Passed away peacefully at Terrace View Retirement Village, Ashburton, aged 79 years.

Much loved husband of Margaret.

Loved and respected father and fatherin-law of David and Sonia, Hamish and Lisa, Robert and Barbara (USA), and Grant and Allister. Loved and admired Granddad to Emily, and Julia; Olivia, Samantha, and Josh; Austin, Hunter, and Sheldon (USA) and their partners. Messages to the Molloy family c/- PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740. A service to celebrate Morris’ life will be held at St John Presbyterian Church, 3 Jackson Street, Methven on MONDAY, January 11, commencing at 1.30pm.

Followed by a private family interment.

FAMILY NOTICES 27

DEATHS

IN MEMORIAM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

MORGAN, Ross Suffield – Formerly of Fairton, quietly passed away January 6, 2021 in Perth, Western Australia. Devoted husband of Phyllis (deceased) and loving father of Bruce, Ruth, Ivan, Owen, and David. A true gentleman of the old school. Funeral service will be live streamed for those unable to attend. Please contact for details morgan.david.t@gmail.com.

HARNETT, Anthony Francis (Tony) – December 23, 2019, buried January 3, 2020.

Dearly beloved husband of Marie, loved father and father-in-law of Robert and Jane, Belinda and Joe and the late Randall, Jack and Helen and Rebecca and Richie. Very much loved grandad (Tony) of Patrick, Felix, and Cleo; Hannah, and Joe Peters; Brooke; Sinnead, Dominic, and Frano.

Tony had a fulfilling life of leading by example and has left his legacy.

Fide et Opere.

Always in our hearts.

TURNER, Leanne Margaret – 28–9–67 - 7–12–20 Andrew and family, along with Janet and Kelvin Love and family sincerely thank all relatives, friends and business associates who supported us all at the sad time of Leanne's passing.

The many messages, flowers, gifts of food, visits and your attendance at Leanne's service have been a great comfort to us all.

Please accept this as a personal acknowledgement.

SINCLAIR, Graham (Robert Graham) – Passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, in Wanaka, aged 85 years. Dearly loved husband of Helen, father and fatherin-law of Judy and Grant, Ian and Margot, Jacqui and Brendon, Mark and Rachel.

Loved Gramps to his grandchildren; Emily, Tim, Hannah, Erin, Alice, Melanie, Ben, Kane, Hana, Hugo and Olive, and their partners Jess, Brendon, Nathan, Matthew, Sanjay, and Isis, and also to his greatgrandchildren Molly, Alexandra, Daphne, Ella, Ruby, Jackson, William, Maddie, Luke and Freddie.

Loved brother and brotherin-law of *Ross Sinclair, Isobel Sinclair-Irwin, *Ces Irwin, Lynn Scott, *Neil Sinclair, Jeanette Sinclair and Anne Sinclair, and loved uncle to his eight nephews and nieces and their partners (*denotes de-ceased). A great man with a big heart and a sense of humour to the very end. A celebration of Graham’s life will be held at the Wanaka Presbyterian Church, 91 Tenby Street, Wanaka, on MONDAY, January 11, 2021 at 1.30pm, followed by private cremation. Messages to helen@sinclairshouse.com.

Donations to the Otago Community Hospice (Dunedin), or at the celebration.

FUNERAL FURNISHERS MASTER MONUMENTAL MASON

WHYTE, Myra Dulcie (Dulc) – Passed away 1 year ago on 9 January 2020.

To hear your voice, To see you smile, Just to sit and talk a while, To be together in the same old way, Would be our dearest wish today.

Your loving family.

E.B. CARTER LTD For all your memorial requirements New headstones and designs Renovations, Additional inscriptions, Cleaning and Concrete work Carried out by qualified tradesmen.

620 East Street Ashburton Phone 308 5369 or 0274 357 974 ebcarter@xtra.co.nz NZMMMA Member

We Help Save Lives PREARRANGE YOUR WISHES

Find out how you can help by visiting:

FOR PEACE OF MIND

18-22 Moore Street, Ashburton 0800 263 6679 | 027 637 1229 www.memoryfunerals.nz

www.otago.ac.nz/chchheart A University of Otago Centre of Research Excellence

Jo Metcalf

Ashburton Weather

Saturday: Cloudy periods, chance of a shower afternoon and evening. Light winds, E developing in the afternoon.

Midnight Saturday

Canterbury Plains

MAX

21 MIN 1 1

Saturday: Cloudy periods, a few afternoon and evening showers, mainly inland. Light winds, but easterlies developing in the afternoon.

Sunday: Morning cloud clearing to fine. Light winds, but westerlies developing in the afternoon.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers.

Southerlies turning northeast.

A weakening trough over the North Island on Saturday gives way to a ridge building across New Zealand from the Tasman Sea. A weak front approaches the far south later Sunday, moving up the east coast on Monday. Another front approaches the far south late on Tuesday and becomes slow moving.

We help save lives every day through the research and development of improved diagnosis, better prediction and treatment of heart disease in our hospital and community.

Around The Region Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Sunday: Morning cloud then fine. Light winds, but westerlies developing in the afternoon.

MAX

Canterbury High Country

24 MIN 1 0

Saturday: Fine spells with a few afternoon and evening showers.

Wind at 1000m: Light.

Wind at 2000m: Light.

Freezing level: Above 3000m.

Sunday: Morning cloud clearing and becoming fine.

Wind at 1000m: Westerly 45 km/h, rising to 60 km/h for a time in the evening.

Wind at 2000m: Westerly 40 km/h, rising to gale westerly 65 km/h for a time in the afternoon.

Freezing level: Above 3000m.

20 1 3 23 1 1 1 8 1 1 Monday: Cloudy periods, isolated afternoon and 1 9 1 2 23 1 1 1 6 9 evening showers. Light winds.

22 9 22 8 1 8 8 SUN PROTECTION ALERT 20 1 1 23 1 0 1 7 9 1 9 1 3 21 1 2 1 6 1 2 PROTECTION REQUIRED : 00 9 : 15 am – 6 pm 20 1 1 22 1 1 1 6 1 0 Wear a hat and sunglasses For the very latest weather information, including Weather Warnings, visit metservice.com © Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited 2021 Compiled by Christchurch Darfield Lake Coleridge Methven Rakaia Timaru

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a few showers. Southerlies turning northeast.

MAX

Readings to 4pm Friday

Ashburton Airport Temp °C Maximum 15.3 Minimum 13.2 Grass min 13.2 24hr Rain mm 1.8 26.4 Month to date S 35 Wind km/h Strongest gust 11:39am Sun hrs on Thu 3.6 30.1 Month to date

Methven 14.0 10.9 – – – – – – –

Christchurch Timaru Airport Airport 17.1 15.5 13.1 13.5 13.6 – 5.0 1.0 10.0 47.0 SW 44 S 35 10:16am 1:51pm 7.4 – 42.5 –

Tides, Sun and Moon Saturday

1 7 MIN 9

Sunday

Monday

Ashburton H 12:47am 1:19pm Mouth L 7:06am 7:31pm

1:46am 2:15pm 8:04am 8:24pm

2:45am 3:10pm 8:59am 9:17pm

Rakaia Mouth Rangitata Mouth

1:36am 7:53am 1:30am 7:48am

2:36am 8:52am 2:29am 8:43am

H 12:37am L 6:54am H 12:31am L 6:50am

1:03pm 7:17pm 1:03pm 7:15pm

2:00pm 8:13pm 1:59pm 8:08pm

2:57pm 9:11pm 2:54pm 9:01pm

Data provided by NIWA

new Jan 13

6:00am 9:20pm

6:01am 9:19pm

6:02am 9:19pm

2:23am 5:03pm

2:57am 6:19pm

3:38am 7:34pm

first qtr Jan 21

full Jan 29

last qtr Feb 5

28

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, January 9, 2021

It’s back to work for the Stags WEEKENDSPORT

True greatness proving elusive

By Hamish Bidwell

N

ew Zealand can only beat the test cricket opponents put in front of them.

If those opponents are rubbish – and rolled in and out for unsatisfying two-match series – then that’s not the Black Caps’ fault.

All they can do is execute their own skills and then watch the other team fumble and bumble their way to innings defeats.

I’m not in the habit of sparing a thought for professional athletes.

Theirs is a pretty good lot and they ought to be grateful for it.

With the Black Caps, though, you do feel a modicum of sympathy.

They’re forever cricket’s ugly ducklings.

Forever hosting similarly unappealing opponents in two-test series, forever damned with faint praise for their prowess in home conditions.

Ultimately the cricket world – ie India, England and Australia – doesn’t take them seriously and rarely deign to host them in a marquee series.

Sure, the so-called Big Three regularly meet each other in four or five-test clashes, but not those dowdy old Black Caps.

That’s why last summer in Australia was such a big deal.

For once, New Zealand wasn’t the warm-up act.

They weren’t summoned to appear in Hobart in November but – for the first time since 1987 – given the headline status that comes with being the Boxing Day opponent at the MCG. Let’s be fair dinkum here.

The Black Caps can top all the confected world rankings they like.

Their batsmen and bowlers can accumulate flattering statistics against hapless visitors such as the West Indies and Pakistan, but none of that is worth anything.

New Zealand teams are remembered for their deeds away from home.

For triumphs such as the 1985 series win in Australia, the following year’s 1-0 victory in England and for coming from 1-0 down to beat England 2-1 in 1999.

This country’s first test-match win over the West Indies in the Caribbean – at Kensington Oval, Barbados in 2002 – remains a career-highlight for all those involved.

These modern-day Black Caps

had a chance to put themselves in similar company, last summer.

To be more than just a team that batters mediocre opponents at home, but who went to Australia and cemented their status as one of the great New Zealand test sides.

Sadly, 296, 247 and 279-run drubbings were the outcome, confirming the suspicions of the

It’s also how we differentiate the good teams from the great.

In 25 words or less, tell me the difference between the ICC world test rankings and the World Test Championship and how points are accumulated.

While you’re doing that, I’ll go back to last summer in Australia and a three-test series that might forever be a stain on the reputation of this New Zealand side.

That was their moment to elevate themselves to elite status, both in a world sense and in terms of our own test-match history.

If they’d at least competed with Australia, then perhaps those defeats would be more palatable. But they capitulated entirely, and no 2-0 home series win over Pakistan can change that fact or soften the blow of those annihilations.

Thousands of New Zealanders descended upon the Melbourne test match – particularly – hoping to be part of history.

Instead the only part they played was that of the affable loser, having to commend Australia on their performance and pretend that it was still a privilege to have been there.

Winning test series away from home is hard for everyone. Only the great teams achieve it.

Big Three that the Black Caps weren’t worthy of a place at test cricket’s top table.

Winning test series away from home is hard for everyone.

Only the great teams achieve it.

Ask an England player of recent vintage to nominate a career highlight, and they’ll invariably plump for the test series win in Australia in 2010/11 or India in 2012/13.

To win on the road when it’s tough and no-one rates you and the stakes are sky high is what every team dreams of.

P20

This is where your sympathy with the Black Caps evaporates.

That was their chance to change their lot, to be invited for more three and four or five-match series’ against test cricket’s top teams and to end the years of condescension and back-handed compliments.

To be admired for more than just copping the disgraceful 2019 Cricket World Cup final outcome sweet.

No-one disputes that Kane Williamson is a very fine batsman. By New Zealand standards he’s an absolute great.

Ross Taylor belongs in a similar echelon, while bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult have been outstanding performers too.

History will remember them all well.

But let’s not forget what it is that defines test teams and what separates the good from the great.

Let’s not pretend that some ranking system eclipses the memory of last summer’s lost opportunity in Australia.

This is a good New Zealand test unit, but elite status will continue to elude them until they can topple one of the Big Three in a series away from home.