Ashburton Guardian, Saturday, March 20, 2021

Since Sept 27 1879

Court news P10

Saturday, March 20, 2021

$2.70

Heeding the call for home P18-19

WEEKEND

Parents’ centre saved

Community heroes: Heartland Bank Ashburton staff (from left): Andrew Wilson, Kylie Goodwin and Anna Wilson after their donation to save the cash-strapped Ashburton Parents’ Centre.

Call to keep it alive answered We asked for your help and you gave it – and the Ashburton Parents’ Centre will be forever grateful.

Needing to find $1900 in a matter of days to stop it from closing, the call from the Guardian for the community to dig into their pockets to keep alive an institution that’s helped countless par-

ents and children for 32 years has been answered.

McLeod Real Estate, Gallagher Contracting, DNA Hairdressing and Greg and Bernie Jopson all donated $500 each.

Resident Ivan Coldicott was also very generous in giving $100 and numer-

ous other smaller donations have come through and have yet to be collated.

To top it all, Heartland Bank Ashburton agreed to match every dollar donated by the public.

Those combined efforts took the parents’ centre well over the $1900 it needed to keep its doors open. Not sur-

8

$

98

EXCLUSIVE

WD-40

Smart Straw Multi-Purpose Lubricant Cleans and protects, drives out moisture and loosens rusted parts. 225g.

Mitre 10 MEGA are proud to be sponsoring the Caroline Bay Rock & Hop once again.

Head to our Mitre to MEGA marquee for the MEGA Hammer Challenge and Kids DIY Hub!

prisingly, they were stunned.

“It’s so humbling,’’ Ashburton Parents’ Centre president Claire Smitheram said.

“It’s an absolute thank you to everyone, businesses and individuals, who donated $5 to $500. It has all helped. This community-wide response has made a significant difference.’’

134049

All products available at all Mitre 10 MEGA stores in-stock or available by order. Offers expire 21/3/21

Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe!

West Street, Ashburton PHONE 03 308 5119

2 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

‘I’m over it’ – young couple battling away for first home

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

Think of the little people.

That is the message from a frustrated Ashburton couple as they toil away for a first home so they can secure their future.

For Jacinda Ramsay and Brad van der Eik, the struggle is real.

The pair (both 21) who have been together for five years have been aiming to buy their first home for the past six months.

But doubts hang over their pursuit to assert themselves within a “chaotic” property market, despite being fully employed.

Full-time builder van der Eik and Ramsay, who is a client manager at a bank, believe they should be in a position to buy their first home in Ashburton.

“We’ve been saving and ready to go,” Ramsay said.

“Kiwisaver looked good and interest rates went down, so we were like ‘let’s do something about it’.”

After several months and dozens of open homes, they admit they are no closer.

“No offers have been made,” Ramsay said.

Occasionally, she would attend properties by herself with her partner often working out of town.

Ramsay said she would have seen about 35 to 40 properties.

“To try and organise a time when we both can attend viewings at the weekend – how many others have been through it and made offers.”

The experience has, of course, not been without tears.

Thinking she had found “the one” within their price bracket at a viewing, optimism turned to despair after they realised that the house had been mistakenly undervalued.

An offer of more than $100,000 over what they originally thought was the asking price was then tabled.

“I could have burst into tears in front of the [real estate agent].

“As the door closed on the way out, there were tears and then Brad got home and I could not

Brad van der Eik and Jacinda Ramsay are finding it tough going to purchase their first home in Ashburton. stop crying. “It was devastating.”

With the surging house values in the district and Kainga Ora caps ($400,000) on first home loans, they have gradually learned to lower their expectations.

“We’ve been told that you’d get a feeling when you walk into a house and we haven’t got that yet,” Ramsay said.

Van der Eik said it was becoming a near certainty that properties would go tens of thousands of dollars over their initial asking price.

“You don’t get a lot for $300,000,” he said.

Complete Local Care Since 1982

Ramsay added that there was little wriggle room due to housing agency thresholds.

“And you already know houses are going $50K over the asking price.”

It also means there is little cash left over to make upgrades, adding further potential financial hurdles for the pair.

They were less keen on the prospect of looking further afield, such as Hinds or Rakaia, which would absorb further time commuting to their already busy working schedules.

“It’s getting to the point where I’m over it,” Ramsay said.

Like many other first home buyers, the couple pointed the finger at property investors who they said were continuing to infiltrate the local market.

“I definitely think that investors have a huge part in this,” Ramsay said.

Van der Eik said his father, who works in real estate, was also fielding numerous calls from outside the district.

“It’s frustrating, it p*sses you off,” Ramsay said.

“Obviously they’re in the position where they can do that, but it’s not fair for us who have grown up here.

PHOTO ADAM BURNS 180321-AB-1873

“They’re not looking for homes for themselves like we are.”

There were further fears that purchasing an overvalued home now may put them in a rough spot down the track.

For now, the couple are trying to stay positive and are hopeful the right home will come along eventually.

After originally setting a target of purchasing before winter 2021, the pair have resigned themselves to the waiting game.

They just don’t want to be waiting forever for that day to come.

“I don’t think it’s going to be this year,” Ramsay said.

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

NEWS 3

Bubble trouble wish

Sick Ashburton man desperate to get home

By Daryl Holden daryl.h@theguardian.co.nz

A seriously ill Ashburton man desperately hopes the Government makes the trans-Tasman travel bubble happen so he can get home to his partner.

Life-threatening health issues and treatment needs, and closed borders because of Covid-19, has left Randy Voois stuck in Mackay, North Queensland, since he arrived in 2018.

He hasn’t seen his long-time partner in Ashburton since moving to Mackay for what was supposed to be the first of his sixmonth solo working stints in the excavation business to create a better future for the pair.

“I came over to Aussie to make some money for us, but illness and Covid has not been kind.’’

That’s an understatement. In 2019, a virus in Voois’ blood “crippled my heart to less than half its capacity’’.

That meant travelling home was not possible because he was too sick. Last year, he finally felt well enough to return and had booked a flight home.

“But Covid-19 killed my Easter trip when all international travel was cancelled four days before

Randy Voois: “I miss my partner very much.’’ departure.’’

His partner, who the Guardian agreed not to name to honour

her privacy request in a stressful time, was unable to get to see him because she does not travel well,

All for a good cause

By Maddison Gourlay maddison.g@theguardian.co.nz

To say they were overwhelmed, would be an understatement.

The response to Peter and Fiona Taylor’s decision to ask friends and family attending their 40th wedding anniversary to make a contribution to the Westpac Air Rescue Trust instead of gifts caught even them by surprise.

They raised $5000, all going towards the rescue helicopter organisation.

“At our age, what else do we need?” Fiona said about their request for anniversary party attendees to bring their dancing

shoes and to make a contribution on the night in lieu of gifts.

As well as being in the flight path of the helicopter, and seeing it regularly from their property, their son-in-law needed the service’s help a few years ago. So they had a personal connection to the organisation.

“The Westpac helicopter is a service that Ashburton needs being a rural hospital,” Fiona said.

The couple headed up to Christchurch to hand over the donations in person.

“It felt like a privilege [to donate the money], they were so thankful,” Peter said.

Peter and Fiona hope to inspire other people to do what they did.

Right – Peter and Fiona Taylor awarding their collaborative donations to Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Crew Chief and Pilot Rick Knight.

Voois said.

“It’s been a hard three years,’’ said the 60-year-old, who lived in Ashburton for eight years before heading to Mackay.

“And for Christmas, 2020, I was diagnosed with serious melanomas all over my scalp.

“Radiation therapy is not an option because the melanomas are too close to my brain. Surgery is also not possible as I would lose up to 80 per cent of my scalp with no guarantee that they would get it all. The only option is monthly intravenous injections.

“And the kicker to that is, I have always worn hats outside.’’

Voois tries not to think about his inoperable melanomas. He tries to stay positive, believing there were others worse off. He just desperately hopes the Government will soon announce a travel bubble with Australia, with a mid-April start having been touted.

The bubble would provide quarantine-free travel within New Zealand and Australia, with Christchurch and Queenstown the rumoured South Island airports in the arrangement.

The New Zealand border has been closed to anyone not a citizen or resident, with some exceptions, since March 19, 2020.

Bubble breakthrough Do you know anyone with extra special reasons to get home to Mid Canterbury to see family, friends and loved ones once the Covid-19 travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia is confirmed?

Let us know at: editorial@theguardian.co.nz Voois is holding out for the bubble breakthrough.

“Please open a bubble for travel, especially considering where I am living because we’ve had little or no Covid cases in North Queensland,’’ Voois pleaded.

Until then, Voois will continue to sit tight and pray, which is what his partner does daily for him in Ashburton.

“We’ve been together 31 years this year,’’ he said.

“I miss my partner very much.’’

See editorial, page 20

4 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

Fight to save Trott’s Garden

By Malcolm Hopwood

Tony Todd faces a financial challenge.

As chairperson of the Trott’s Community Garden Charitable Trust, Tony and his trust board have the responsibility of raising funds to acquire Trott’s Garden from local philanthropists.

Three years ago, the group of investors put their hands in their pockets to fund the initial purchase of the gardens as an interim measure when Alan and Catherine Trott retired.

At the time, the gardens faced an uncertain future – either close or be sold.

The philanthropists acquired the gardens to keep them open and in local ownership.

The challenge for Todd and trust members is to now replay them.

“Their involvement at the time was crucial and they must be applauded for their generosity,” Todd said.

“Without them, the gardens would’ve been lost to the community.”

The Trott’s Community Garden Charitable Trust has entered into an agreement to purchase the gardens. The challenge for Todd and his trust board is to raise more than $1 million to repay the philanthropists.

Late last year, the trust appointed project co-ordinator, Jess Wilson, to administer the gardens as a community asset

Creative time for school

By Malcolm Hopwood

Tony Todd (inset) has a battle on his hands, to raise enough funds to purchase Trott’s Garden for the community. and prepare a report, which would form the basis of a feasibility study to approach prospective funders.

As part of her report, she held three workshops to encourage feedback from people about the future of Trott’s Garden and its prospective use.

The response was positive.

“There was a true desire to keep the garden operating as a drawcard for Ashburton,” Todd said.

“They were passionate about maintaining it in local ownership and as a Mid Canterbury feature.”

Todd has confirmed the feasi-

bility study would be submitted to prospective funders during May-June this year.

“It will be a strong case and we’ve received endorsement from a number of people in the community, supporting the submission,” he said.

“We’re hoping it will be well received and seriously considered. We anticipate knowing the outcome later in the year.”

The trust is seeking between $1.3 million and $1.6 million.

The funding would be used to purchase the gardens and facilities outright, to open a community resource centre and convert the house into a café.

A major awareness programme is Neighbours Day Aotearoa next Saturday at Trott’s Garden from 10am to 2pm. Its purpose is to encourage community awareness of the gardens and fundraise to develop it as a community hub.

The theme is sustainability with “the great plant swap” as one of its features. Plants can be brought, swapped and discussed as part of a number of environmental attractions.

“I want to attract 400-500 people to witness the autumn colours and beauty and support our fight to save the gardens long term,” Todd said.

April is brainstorming time for the 2022 Methven Summer School.

Chairperson for the Summer School, Sandy Redmond, said, while this month’s AGM looked at organisational and finance matters, the creative side of the school will be held next month.

Each year a range of courses are held with many succeeding while others achieve only modest support.

They’ll all be evaluated when Redmond and her committee sit down and confirm a blueprint for next year.

She reflected on this year’s Summer School in January which she said was approached “with a bit of unknown”.

Coming after a year affected by the pandemic, Redmond was uncertain about the response to the school.

However, she was surprised when the turnout was 200, similar to the year before.

Courses such as making sausages, baking sour dough bread, landscape painting and outdoor furniture assembly remained popular and Redmond is keen to see these continue.

Redmond, who describes herself as “the glue that holds things together” intends next year to be her last so she’s keen to make it the best.

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

NEWS 5

Carla and Andrew, constant companions

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

For people with low vision, a guide dog allows you to live a life with no boundaries.

And no-one knows that better than Andrew McDonald. He was born blind and since he was 17 has lived with a guide dog as his constant companion.

Today his best mate is fiveyear-old labrador Carla. She’s his fifth canine best friend and the bond between the two is strong.

It’s a bond built on mutual trust.

Carla is an all-round winner in Andrew’s books. She’s loyal, hard working and absolutely focused on her job.

“She’s pretty attached to me and she loves to work. I pick up the harness and she’s ready,” he said.

At about nine weeks of age guide dog pups move to a family home where their raiser ensures they are socialised and learn about life with humans. They are then returned to the guide dog centre to undergo training before being matched with a handler.

Not every guide dog makes the grade, however. Some pass through puppy training with flying colours, but when they’re matched with their new owner, things just sometimes don’t work out. Others don’t make it that far and are often returned to their puppy raiser to become family pets.

When a dog is ready to start work, it is matched with someone on the waiting list and match made, training begins.

Andrew has had two dogs that didn’t make the grade. Both were too easily distracted and when you’re relying on your guide dog to keep you safe, that becomes unworkable.

Your dog becomes an incredibly important part of your life and that means when the time comes for them to retire, it’s a real wrench, he said.

“They usually retire around the age of 11 and you know when it’s time. When they don’t want to be working as much, you have to be able to make that call.”

Once you have absolute trust in your dog you can switch off a little when you’re out ...

Andrew McDonald with companion guide dog Cara are ready for the annual Blind and Low Vision New Zealand Red Puppy appeal on March 26 and 27.

PHOTO SUE NEWMAN

A retired dog can stay with its handler, but often they’ll return to their original puppy raiser and become a family pet.

For a person accustomed to living with a guide dog, there’s an emotional attachment that’s hard to break when a dog is retired and for Andrew, that means he prefers to revert to using his cane for a while to allow the emotional

scars to heal before he takes on a new dog.

“And there’s quite a problem with waiting lists so you know you’ll have a wait anyway.”

There’s always a little anxiety when you take on a new dog until you get to know one another, he said.

“Once you have absolute trust in your dog you can switch off a

little when you’re out, whereas with a cane, you’re on high alert all the time.”

Carla and Andrew are a tight team. She sleeps beside his bed and is like an alarm clock, letting him know each morning when it’s time for breakfast – hers.

If there are any down sides to having a guide dog, it’s the public’s reaction – people want to pat

or feed your dog and while that might be great for the dog, it also distracts them from their number one job.

There’s a big gap between the number of vision impaired people wanting a dog and the number of dogs available. And that’s what the annual guide dog appeal is all about – boosting Blind and Low Vision New Zealand’s training fund to ensure more dogs are raised and trained.

The national Red Puppy Appeal street collection will be held on March 26 and 27 and it plays a vital role in ensuring more puppies are raised and trained to improve the quality of life for low vision people. Collectors will be on Ashburton’s streets over those two days.

Andrew’s the organiser behind the local appeal days, ensuring there are enough collectors on the streets and that there are plenty of opportunities for the public to support the event.

The cost of breeding, raising and training a dog to a level where it can begin its working life is high, and the annual fundraising appeal plays a vital role in meeting many of those costs.

While the training programme sees puppies spend their first year with a family, learning about life, opportunities to be part of the training scheme are only available to people in and around Auckland.

People in other parts of New Zealand can still be involved in the programme as puppy sponsors, paying a monthly fee to help cover an individual pup’s costs.

While Blind and Low Vision New Zealand is based in Auckland, a small group of Ashburton people give many hours of their time to ensure people in the Ashburton District with low vision have a strong support network.

The district committee offers regular social gatherings and provides a backup for the foundation’s equipment service.

The committee has a current membership of 78 and meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at Tinwald’s Plains Museum meeting rooms.

STOCKTAKE SELL OUT Sunrise recliner & classic base

Margaret

was $2499 now $1874

was $3699 now $2699

FURNISHINGS | FLOORING | CURTAINS

Lopez

was $4999 now $3479 Burnett Street Ashburton Phone (03) 308 5269 | www.redmonds.co.nz

6 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

Health warning removed on Ashburton River

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

A health warning has been lifted on the Ashburton River but warnings remain in place at three other locations.

The Canterbury DHB’s Community and Public Health unit has lifted its algal bloom health warning issued for the Ashburton River at SH1, that was initially issued on issued on February 10.

Recent cyanobacteria surveys of the Ashburton River at SH1 have shown the cover of potentially toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) in the river has reduced and is now below levels that are of concern to public health.

However, warnings remain in place at Boundary Road, Hills Road, and at the river mouth due to ongoing algal bloom.

Environment Canterbury (ECan) is monitoring the sites and the public will be advised of any changes in water quality.

ECan’s water quality and ecology lead, Shirley Hayward, said while ECan perfroms the water testing the health alerts are issued by the CDHB’s Community Public Health (CPH) unit. “[Last week] was the final week of sampling for the 2020-21 season, however,

Canterbury DHB’s Community and Public Health unit has lifted its algal bloom health warning issued for the Hakatere/Ashburton River at SH1. warning sites will continue to be monitored fortnightly,” Hayward said.

“The protocol for removing a health warning involves two consecutive surveys, undertaken fortnightly, showing the risk to human health is below thresholds set out by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Ministry of Health guidelines and at the discretion of CPH.” As the Ashburton River at State Highway 1 is a swimming site, Hayward said ECan test it weekly during summer for E. coli and cyanobacteria.

“The other sites in health warning are

monitored less frequently as part of our State of the Environment programme, reporting for MfE.” There had also been a health warning for an algal bloom at Lake Clearwater, issued on December 22, that was lifted at the end of January after testing found that the cyanobacteria present in the lake did not produce toxins.

The removal of a health warning did not indicate an improvement in the water quality, only that the particular cyanobacteria found in Lake Clearwater not being considered a risk to human health.

Air cadets officially on parade

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

They might have been marching the streets of Ashburton for many years, but when Ashburton’s Air Cadets are on parade they can now march knowing they have the blessing of the Ashburton District Council.

That official blessing was given this week when the cadet unit was presented with a charter by Ashburton mayor Neil Brown, formalising an activity that added colour to ceremonial occasions, Brown said.

Ashburton’s unit, 24 Squadron, was formed 78 years ago and at its peak in 1953 had 125 members. Today 24 Squadron is 28 cadets strong. The national air corps was formed in September 1941 at a time when New Zealand was considered to be at risk from Japanese invasion. It’s purpose was to train potential airmen in basic airmanship.

As an organisation, the New Zealand Cadet Forces was formed in 1864 and is the oldest youth organisation in Dune-

Ashburton’s Air Training Cadets were recently presented with a charter by mayor Neil Brown, that gives them the right to parade on Ashburton’s streets on formal occasions.

PHOTO SUE NEWMAN 180321-SN-6885

din. It is made up of three corps – navy, army and air.

It is a community funded organisation supported by the New Zealand Defence

Force. The local squadron meets weekly and holds parade nights, takes part in competitions, community events and camps.

Sewer project under way next week The Ashburton District Council’s $10 million Ashburton Relief Sewer (ARS) project on the eastern side of town will begin making headway next week, and drivers are being advised the work will impact parts of Wakanui Road.

The project, which was awarded $7.98m from the Government’s three waters reform stimulus package, will see 5.1km of larger 600-800mm wastewater pipe installed underground from Bridge Street in Netherby, down to the river-end of Milton Road south where it will be connected to the new river crossing pipeline and pump station.

The upgrade is designed to future-proof the town’s wastewater network as the population continues to grow.

From Monday, Wakanui Road from Trevors Road (including the Albert Street intersection) through to the Milton Road south intersection will be closed until mid-August.

Additionally, the Wakanui Road/Milton Road south intersection will be closed to all through traffic until Monday, April 5.

Council infrastructure services group manager, Neil McCann is reassuring residents who live in the affected area that they will still have full access to their properties.

“We understand these closures and detours will cause some disruption for residents and we apologise for this inconvenience,” he said.

“The ARS project will play an important role in supporting our growing district and is a necessary upgrade for our future.”

While the Wakanui Road/Milton Road South intersection is closed, vehicles travelling into Ashburton on Wakanui Road will be directed onto Cochranes Road where they will then turn right onto Beach Road east and continue into town.

Those travelling out of Ashburton on Wakanui Road will be detoured via Trevors Road to Beach Road east. They will then be able to rejoin Wakanui Road from Cochranes Road.

From April 6, the Wakanui Road/Milton Road south intersection will reopen to Milton Road south traffic, however vehicles on Wakanui Road will still be unable to pass through.

All detours will be signposted.

Beach Road east will remain unaffected at this time, however, the project will eventually impact the Beach Road east/Milton Road south intersection later in the year.

“This is a large and complex job and we are aiming to complete it as quickly as possible,” McCann said.

Ashburton Contracting and Seipp Construction are carrying out the work which is expected to be completed by the end of March 2022.

HAVE YOU WORKED FOR SPARK IN THE LAST

7 YEARS?

YOU MAY BE OWED SOME HOLIDAY PAY We recently completed a review of our historic approach to payments under the Holidays Act. This showed that some of our people were underpaid for some leave calculations. We want to make this right, so we’ve set up an online portal for you to check if you’re owed a payment. If you are due money, we’ll need to verify your details before any payment is made.

If you worked for Spark between January 2014 and December 2020, check www.spark.co.nz/holidaysact

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

NEWS 7

Mid Canty dominates dairy awards

By Heather Chalmers heather.c@theguardian.co.nz

The winners of the 2021 Canterbury/ North Otago Share Farmer of the Year, Mid Canterbury couple Dinuka and Nadeeka Gamage initially had to spend two years apart to realise their New Zealand farming dream.

From Sri Lanka, the couple were attracted by the farming opportunities available in New Zealand and a better future for their family.

Dinuka Gamage arrived in 2008 to take on a dairy role at Kaikoura, with his wife Nadeeka and two children not joining him until 2010.

The family became New Zealand citizens in 2018.

Having worked their way up the dairy career ladder, the Gamages now contract milk 980 cows on a 245-hectare Dairy Holdings’ property at Ealing.

“Agriculture has always been our career of choice,” said the Gamages.

“We love working outside with animals and nature.

“It was challenging at first to learn the skills required to be a New Zealand dairy farmer, but we have overcome that through continuous education and experience.”

In Sri Lanka, Dinuka Gamage had experience in agriculture as well as an agricultural engineering qualification before travelling to New Zealand.

He has since continued to gain experience and qualifications, achieving Primary ITO Level 5 production management and Level 4 dairy farming.

Future farming goals include continuing to farm sustainably and aiming for a 50/50 sharemilking role or an equity partnership.

“Long term, we would love to own a farm.”

The Gamages, who won $10,250 in prizes, will hold a field day on their Ealing farm on April 6.

Mid Canterbury entrants dominated this year’s regional dairy industry awards.

Runners-up in the share farmer category went to Daniel and Laura Joho, despite the couple contracting cattle disease mycoplasma bovis on both their farms this year.

The Johos are contract milkers for John and Rose Acland on their 350ha Ashburton property, milking 1250 cows.

They are also equity partners in another property.

The winner of the 2021 Dairy Manager of the Year, Maria Alvarez, is also on a Mid Canterbury Dairy Holdings’ property.

She is farm manager on a 180ha, 660cow property at Coldstream.

Alvarez (32) holds an agricultural engineering degree from Argentina and aims to complete a diploma in agribusiness once her New Zealand residency application is accepted.

“Once I have residency, I would like to become a contract milker. I’d also like to increase my stock numbers until I have my own herd,” Alvarez said.

She entered the dairy industry more than six years ago after previously being involved with beef cows and crops in Argentina.

“I love farming because every day is different and I really enjoy working outside and with animals.”

Farm manager Tharanga Senavirathna, who was runner-up in the dairy manager category, works for Richard and Chrissie Wright on their 269ha Mt Somers property, milking 1000 cows.

Mid Canterbury couple Nadeeka and Dinuka Gamage are winners of the 2021 Canterbury/North Otago Share Farmer of the Year competition.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

STOCKTAKE SALE STOCKTAKE SALE

70% OFF STOCKTAKE SALE

*

70% OFF

Thursday 18th March until Thursday 1st April *Terms and conditions apply

*

SALE

Thursday 18th March until Thursday 1st April *Terms and conditions apply

SALE SALE

86 Tancred St, Ashburton.

Phone (03) 308 6722 2365772

86 Tancred St, Ashburton.

2365772

Phone (03) 308 6722

8 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

Dirty dog owners under fire

By Maddison Gourlay maddison.g@theguardian.co.nz

It seems like Ashburton has a doggy poo problem – and it needs to stop.

That seems to be the call from frustrated and angry members of the public, who are sick and tired of coming across dog droppings in the district.

Good dog owners are just as peeved at the antics of those not doing the right thing.

The Guardian’s Facebook page was swamped with disgruntled posts from Mid Cantabrians about what appears to be a growing dog dropping issue and poor owner habits.

“Oh, it drives me insane,’’ Tracy Donaldson wrote.

“I always pick up my wee dog’s poop. There’s a few people that walk past our place and their dogs [poop] right outside! It does give all of us dog owners a bad name.”

Local dog walker Mady Bensdorp knows a bit about what it’s like to deal with the poop problem.

“As a professional dog walker, it sucks when you step in dog poo. Your dog did it, you pick it up. It’s not that hard,” Bensdorp said.

Bensdorp can walk up to 10 dogs at a time, so she knows the struggle of not taking enough bags.

“But if one of the dogs does one, and I run out of bags I will always go back with a bag and collect it as soon as I can.

“Sometimes I have been known to use my dog’s bandana as a means of not leaving the poop there.’’

The amount of dog poop being left in the district was a concern for people like Bensdorp, as there were few dog friendly places as it is.

The Ashburton District Council has received 10 complaints from members of the public recently.

There has also been feedback from animal control officers when visiting certain sites and a $300 fine could be slapped on dirty dog owners.

The council reminded dog owners about the need to pick up after their pooches via a Facebook message, warning the public about the increasing problem of dog poo being left around the district.

The post isolated the poop problem in the Ashburton Business Estate, but the problem had also reached many areas of the district.

Dusty and Cass showing the camera their good sides with owner Mady Bensdorp.

PHOTO MADDISON GOURLAY

Irresponsible dog owners – pick up your poop The public have had their say on the Guardian’s Facebook page about dog droppings being left in parks, streets and in the Ashburton Business Estate area by poor behaving pooch owners.

Some comments are abridged.

Pip Whiting “It’s a problem everywhere. If my dog poops, and there is another one there, I pick it up as well.”

Grahame Kelly “Yep, I’ve noticed heaps along Melcombe Street, despite there being plenty of green areas on the east side of the street. It’s the owners of the dogs who are the problem. They actually shouldn’t have a dog if they can’t clean up after it craps in a public place.

Not too hard to carry a bag to pick it up. Some folk are good. Others

you see walking their dog and let them and watch them poo, then walk on and leave the clean-up for someone else.”

Dave Tily “That’s not the only problem we have. What about the owners deliberately flouting the council’s bylaw regarding having dogs being on a leash out in public and their dog rushes your dog, which you have on a leash and are abiding by council bylaws.”

Zoë Going “I always collect my dog’s mess.

On recent walks, venturing to Lake Hood I did notice not a single bin was available for it, which means you have to take it away in your vehicle until you find a bin. Not the most pleasant smell to be in a confined space with I’ll admit.”

Robyn Wendt “My pet peeve is the neighbour’s roaming cats and dogs using my garden for their personal litter box! Nothing worse to be picking strawberries and get a whiff of a dump close by. Or to step in an errant poop while crossing my lawn. I feel so used!”

have dogs on leads! It’s scary.

Hence why I can’t walk anywhere (scared of dogs!).”

Malcolm-Annette Whyte We always pick up after ours and there’s no excuse not to. The council provide poop bags and bins in dog parks, too.”

Susan Harvey

Jill Stephen “We have a dog and everybody should clean up after their dog.

Some people go running way ahead of the dog and don’t even care what their dog does.”

Irene Anderson “I would. It’s their choice to own a dog so it’s their responsibility to clean up after it.”

Nadine Pink “So many people don’t pick up poo and so many people don’t

“I don’t walk in town so have not noticed a problem.”

Juliette Ritchie “I have never seen anyone walking their dog with the poop bags. They just let their dogs go wherever and walk away.”

Maria O’Connor “I am really fed up with seeing dog poo on the footpath when I go for a walk, it’s a damned disgrace.”

Sally Reid “It gives us responsible dog owners a bad name by association.”

Jocelyn Hansen “Nothing worse than coming home with dog poo on your shoes.

Andy Andrea Lee “Should horse riders pick up horse poop on side of road too?”

Glenys Blain “Don’t ban dogs. Just pick up your poo people. And council, make sure there are rubbish bins around to dispose of it.”

Mariska Hopkins “It makes me so cross! I’m forever mowing poo up before I realise it’s there.”

Lucky Last – Make it yours!

• 3 Bedrooms • Semi Rural Outlook • Sheltered Outdoor Seating

• Sunny & Warm • Full kitchen • Fabulous Amenities

Call Donna Coxshall (Facility Manager) today on 03 307 6140 Phone 03 307 6140 | 37 Carters Terrace Tinwald, Ashburton 7700 Www.terraceview.co.nz

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

9

10 NEWS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

DISTRICT COURT

Fined after false logbook entry pulled over around 8.28am after drinking the night before. It is 11 years since his last conviction.

Devery was disqualified from driving for a year, fined $900 and ordered to pay $130 court costs.

The following appeared in front of Judge David Ruth at the Ashburton District Court on Monday.

Karl Leonard Alexander (46) pleaded guilty to three charges after it was alleged the Geraldine-based truck driver made a false statement in his logbook, exceeded the maximum amount of working hours and did not have the minimum continuous rest time.

It relates to an alleged incident during a shift in the North Island between March 18-19, 2020 as the country was heading into Covid lockdown.

His lawyer argued that the offending was brought on during a time of “great national anxiety” where the prompt delivery of items had been a factor.

Alexander was fined $250 and ordered to pay $130 court costs. He was disqualified from an applicable heavy vehicle class for one month.

Jason Stuart McKenzie appeared via audio visual link, on multiple charges. He has pleaded not guilty to a range of alleged offences which include assault. threats to kill or do grievous bodily harm, impeding breathing and burglary.

He was remanded on EM bail ahead of a scheduled case review hearing on April 22.

Leroy Joe Maxwell (27) appeared on a driving while impaired charge. It is alleged Maxwell was stopped on Allens Road on January 24 when he failed to complete a compulsory impairment test in a manner satisfactory to an enforcement officer. He was remanded on bail.

Patrick Joseph Thomas Leopold appeared on a charge of aggravated robbery.

Christopher John Morrison pleaded not guilty to a charge of contravening a protection order. He was remanded at large.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ intensive supervision and community detention.

Matthew Hylton Thomson (48) pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge. It is alleged the Ashburton man was pulled over on Albert Street on January 10 where he was found to be over the limit.

It was his first conviction of a similar nature for 17 years.

He was disqualified for a year and a day, fined $500 and ordered to pay $130 in court costs.

Murphy Faifua faced five charges when he appeared on Monday, including kidnap, common assault, wilful damage, threats to kill or do grievous bodily harm and indecent assault of a woman.

He has pleaded guilty to all charges with the exception of the charge of kidnapping in which he was remanded without plea.

Faifua was remanded to April 29.

Avon Thomas Shelford Devery pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol. The truck driver was

A family-owned business, building homes in Mid Canterbury for over 40 years

Paul Junior Webb pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault with intent to injure. Police withdrew a second charge of assault with a blunt instrument. It relates to an alleged incident on February 22 where an argument with the mother of his children “got out of hand”.

The court heard that there had been no victim impact statement or contact from the complainant.

Webb was sentenced to six months’ supervision and ordered to completed a domestic violent programme to the satisfaction of probation.

Kristopher James Robin Lay appeared, without plea, on charges of speaking in a threatening manner and wilful trespass.

He was remanded to May 31, pending further enquiries.

Rangi Wiari Tahapehi (39) appeared on a charge of driving while disqualified. It is alleged he drove a motor vehicle on Carters Terrace on February 10.

He was remanded on bail and without plea to April 19.

Richard Joseph Day (50) appeared on charges of driving while disqualified and driving with excess breath alcohol. The Rakaia man’s lawyer Roz Burnside argued

that the offending stemmed from a period of grief following the sudden death of his mother. The man is also the sole carer of his elderly father, the court heard. He was sentenced to nine months supervision and ordered to complete rehabilitation programmes to the satisfaction of probation.

Allan Wirihana Marshall (52) pleaded guilty on a charge of driving with excess blood alcohol. It is alleged the Ashburton man drove a motor vehicle on East Street on October 24, where he was stopped at an alcohol checkpoint. He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 126mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day, sentenced to nine months’ supervision, ordered to pay medical and court costs and to complete alcohol and drug rehabilitation programmes to the satisfaction of probation.

Jeremy Alan Reuben pleaded guilty to multiple charges, mostly for drug possession, when he appeared for a sentencing indication. Police withdrew four charges due to insufficient evidence.

The court heard that Reuben arrived at his partner’s home where an argument broke out, around money, before he allegedly told her to “hang herself”.

His lawyer Tiffany McRae said he was also concerned that his pregnant partner had been smoking methamphetamine.

He was remanded to May 10.

Carl Francis O’Neill appeared on two charges of assault on a person in a family relationship and an indecent assault of a woman charge.

He was remanded on bail to May 6.

Couple face the music An Ashburton couple were forced to bite the bullet in the Ashburton District Court earlier this week.

Emma Jane Doig (23) pleaded guilty to receiving property (over $1000) and possession of cannabis when she appeared in front of Judge David Ruth on Monday.

It is alleged she jointly offended with her partner Tony-Lee Nathan Berger-Sewell on September 14 when they received a stolen Speedrite electric fence energiser unit valued at $2800 after police completed a search, the court heard.

Judge Ruth expressed some sympathy towards the dairy farm assistant who had never previously appeared.

“It is unfortunate that you were caught up in something beyond your scope.”

She was fined $400 plus $200 court costs.

Berger-Sewell (27) meanwhile pleaded guilty on eight charges, including receiving property, possession of methamphetamine, possession of utensils, possession of a pipe and utensil for cannabis and careless driving.

It is alleged he drove a motorbike back from the West Coast where he sideswiped a car before crashing.

The court heard he was transported to Christchurch Hospital where he remained for several weeks.

Berger-Sewell was remanded for sentencing to April 14 with discussions around reparations set to be discussed between prosecution and the defence.

RURAL AND FARM INSURANCE Protect Your Livelihood Qualified, experienced broker with a farming background who works for you to get more out of your insurer. You benefit from our NZbrokers membership, as we provide broader cover and policies to cover your whole business operation.

Contact Sam Millar any time Des Millar Construction

for a free no-obligation quote on 0274 641 042 sam@desmillar.co.nz

Phone: 03 3071990 | 73 Burnett St Ashburton

G Farming www.guardianonline.co.nz

FEATURE

Timber homes by Fraemohs are strong, warm and easy to build.

People have been using timber to build their homes for eons.

Perhaps this is why timber is associated with feelings of warmth, comfort and relaxation.

Timber creates a warm, dry and relaxing indoor environment. The air pockets which occur within the cellular structure of wood make it an incredibly effective insulator.

These natural properties of timber mean that it far out-performs other building materials such as bricks, steel or aluminium when it comes to its natural insulating properties.

Timber is a renewable resource.

And sustainably growing plantation pine in New Zealand ensures otherwise unproductive land is put to good use, growing the materials we use to build your homes.

And when your home is built, it’s naturally going to be energy efficient, because qualit timber acts as a thermal mass, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it during the evening when the air temperature is lower. In this way Solid Timber promotes a more even temperature inside the home, providing both passive cooling and passive heating.

Plus, New Zealand timber has the amazing property of absorbing moisture when the level of humidity inside a home is high. And then releasing moisture when the relative humidity is low. Building with Solid Timber is therefore a great way to help control moisture, and promote a healthy level of humidity in your home.

As well as being aesthetically pleasing, wood performs well acoustically because it absorbs sound. This combination of properties makes a Solid Timber home an amazing space to unwind in, free from the stresses of modern life.

Fraemohs Homes are one of New Zealand’s longest serving building companies, and we’re still 100% locally owned. We manufacture our Solid Timber homes out of the same factory near the Waimakariri Overbridge that we did when we first started back in 1968.

Our Solid Timber homes are naturally warm and healthy. We often hear it said that in our Solid Timber homes ‘every day feels like a holiday’. Our designs can be easily customised, or 100% custom designed and manufactured to suit.

You can view the range of Solid Timber designs and loads of recently completed projects on the Fraemohs Homes website www.fraemohs.co.nz

Good for life

Showhome 1200 Main North Road Christchurch fraemohs.co.nz

59

12

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

13

14

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

D A E T

S P AM LL

H

HAMPSTEAD NETBALL CLUB LOOKING BACK

A NETB

Hampstead Netball Club end 2020 season in style The netball club consists of 6 senior teams, 5 junior teams and 3 social teams.

2020 produced some exciting netball with 6 teams taking out final titles.

We are proud to be one of the oldest clubs within the Ashburton district.

In 1934 the Hampstead Old Girls Basketball club was formed, the club went into recess in 1945 with only the odd team fielding a team until 1960.

Fast forward to 1974 - Hampstead Netball Club was formed with teams hitting the court in 1975.

The Hampstead club has always had a passionate and devoted team of ladies driving the club through the ages, keeping the club strong with ever growing numbers.

The amalgamation with the Hampstead All Sports Club in 2000 has given the club a place to form strong bonds along with a great sense of community, not to mention the change of club colors from orange and brown to the ‘Mighty Blue’ and ‘gold’ colors.

The entire All Sports Club is made up of Rugby, Netball, Hockey, Bowls and Softball. Having the clubrooms and two

outdoor netball courts at our fingertips enables teams to practice and run training sessions with equipment available on hand. We support our players and coaches with knowledge moving through the netball season and our committee are a proactive enthusiastic bunch who are always available to help or gather any information needed.

Our season is just about to get under way with the final senior trial being held tomorrow Sunday 21st March at EA Networks. (Y9 & up/Saturday players) 4.30pm till 5.45pm with the Premier 1,2 & 3 grades to follow at 6pm till 7.30pm.

Junior trials are held at the Hampstead All Sports Club on Bridge Street, and commence Monday 29th & Wednesday 31st March at 3.30pm till 5.30pm.

To register for these trials please go to our Hampstead Sporty page. For any further information contact Hampstead Netball club president Janene McDowell on 0274 153 334 Hampstead the club that Rocks!!

Special thank you to our sponsors I would personally like to thank our local AshburtonSpeight’s Ale House for their continued support of the Hampstead Netball Club. Their generosity has been greatly appreciated over the past 4 years and this season see’s the ever popular restaurant take on the Junior Section of the club.

The Juniors will be thrilled to receive a Player of the Day voucher every week kindly donated by the Speight’s Ale House. Huge thank you to Wendy and her team.

2021 welcomes the sponsorship from RayWhite Ashburton. RayWhite Ashburton has come on board as the Senior Sponsor for the club.

Their contribution has been an invaluable boost into the Senior section. This has enabled the club to stylishly re-brand and take care of on-going equipment and court hire costs. Welcome RayWhite Ashburton, and a very special thank you to Kim & Matt.

Andrea Cousins - Hampstead Sponsorship

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

TEST YOURSELF Test yourself with the Guardian’s quiz 1: What year was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Published? a) 1818 b) 1825 c) 1832

Giddy up Elsie Watson takes a mini pony for a spin at the Mayfield A&P Show.

PHOTO LAURA BAGRIE

7 3

9

6 3 1 8

2: How many rugby world cup titles have the All Blacks won? a) 1 b) 2 c) 3

YOUR PLACE 15

8 5 1

1

3

3: What year was the Leaning Tower of Pisa completed? a) 1372 b) 1450 c) 1675

2

4: How many molecules of oxygen does ozone have? a) 1 b) 2 C) 3

EASY SUDOKU

2 8 9 7 4 6 FRIDAY’S ANSWERS

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

5 9 8 1 6 2 7 3 4

5: Which company owns owns Bugatti, Lamborghini, Audi, Porsche and Ducati? a) Ford Motor Company b) Volkswagen c) Fiat Chrysler Automotives 6: Which European nation was said to invent hot dogs? a) Germany b) France c) Scotland 7: In the United States, what month is Labor Day in? a) August b) September c) November 8: Where can the Ross Sea be found? a) Antarctica b) Iceland c) Canada

1 2 6 4 7 3 8 9 5

3 7 4 5 1 9 6 8 2

9 8 2 6 4 7 3 5 1

6 5 1 2 3 8 4 7 9

Solutions for today in Wednesday’s Your Place page.

Answers: 1: a) 1818, 2: c) 3, 3: a) 1372, 4: c) 3, 5: b) Volkswagen, 6: a) Germany, 7: b) September, 8: a) Antarctica

to us!

5 3 6 4 9 8 7Write 1 2 03 307-7969 Editor, PO Box 77 1 2 9 3 5 7 6 4 8 4 7 8 1 2 6 5 9 3 DAILY RECIPE 9 5 3 7 1 2 4 8 6 8 4 2 6 pad 3 5Thai 1 7 9 Nici’s famous homemade 6 1 7 9 8 4 2 wok 3 over5a med-high heat, then add chopped Spiked with fresh ginger and chilli this Add the spring onions, garlic Eggs, whisked with a fork famous noodle dish tastes just like the 6 fresh 4 bean 2 sprouts 7 9 8 the 5oil.chillies 1 and stir-fry for one minand 33 handfuls real deal from Thailand!

Small handful of fresh coriander, ute. Pour in the sauce and bring to 7 8 1 5 6 3 9 a2simmer.4 chopped 100g flat rice stick noodles 2 T sesame seeds 2 T tamarind puree ■■ Add the ginger, lemon juice, half the Lime or9 lemon wedges to4 serve.1 3 peanuts 3 T fish sauce 6 7and drained rice noodles.

2 5 8 1 t sesame oil Keep the noodles moving around to 2 T brown sugar 3 T cooking oil 2 spring onions, sliced diagonally and thinly, use the green bits too 2 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped 1 1/2 fresh red chillies, de-seeded and chopped fine 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated 3 T lemon juice 1/3 C roasted peanuts, coarsely

7 4 3 8 9 5 1 2 6

Call us!

■■ In a bowl, soften your noodles by covering with boiling water and leaving to soak for 10 minutes, then rinse, drain and set aside. They should be firm to the bite at this stage and will soften more once they are added to the wok/pan later.

■■ Stir together tamarind puree, fish sauce, sesame oil and brown sugar to make a sauce.

■■ Heat a large thin bottomed pan or

avoid sticking and to get them coated in the sauce and cooked through.

■■ When the noodles are softened and coated in tasty sauce, push them aside in the pan and pour in eggs into the space. Cook until just cooked then stir them back through the noodles.

■■ Serve topped with bean sprouts, coriander, remaining peanuts, sesame seeds and a decent squeeze of lime or lemon juice.

Email us! editor@ theguardian. co.nz

8 1 9 3 2 4 5 6 7

2 6 5 7 8 1 9 4 3

4 5 9

4 3 7 9 5 6 2 1 8

16 WEEKEND FOCUS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

1

2

NZ’s Highland H

won’t quit

Ashburton’s Craig Manson is a plasterer at work but a caber tosser at play – and he’s good at it. Last weekend, Craig won a national title and, when the world is safe again, he wants to contest the world championship.

Where? In Scotland, of course.

T

he toss of a near 80kg caber has seen an Ashburton man crowned New Zealand’s Highland Heavy.

Craig Manson competed at the New Zealand Rural Games in Palmerston North last Sunday and comprehensively beat five other contestants.

He’d already won two other titles at Paeroa in the North Island and at Hororata, so is now the undisputed Highland Heavy for New Zealand.

In addition, Craig is the reigning Australian champion after winning the competition there on two occasions.

“What do you do Craig?” you could ask. “I toss the caber.”

And he’s good at it.

Craig started competing at the NZ Rural Games five years ago when he was 22.

The closest he came was third

CABER CHAMP Who: Ashburton’s Craig Manson What: He won the Highland Heavy caber tossing title at the New Zealand Rural Games in Palmerston North.

Also: Craig is the reigning Australian champion.

He said it: “I usually shout ‘yes’ when the caber is tossed, then ‘come on’ when I want it to fly.”

last year.

This year he trained to perfection. He worked with weights in the gym and practised throwing by himself, either at home or in the park.

It can be a lonely existence just you and an 80-kilo pine caber that you’ve fashioned yourself.

But Craig doesn’t mind.

His pine trunk is heavier than competitive cabers and, if he can

lift and toss it, then lesser weights don’t give him sleepless nights.

“It’s a benefit to me. I train heavier so the cabers used in competition are lighter than mine,” he said.

“Mine is thick, hard to use and tapered at the bottom.”

Its awkwardness is what appeals to Craig and he’s proved he can tame it.

“I have to pick the caber off the

ground,” he explains, “then run with it and flip it to 12 o’clock.”

What, 12 o’clock you ask?

What’s time got to do with heaving a large wooden post? The answer is everything.

When you toss the caber, it has to land as close to midday as possible.

It’s not how far it gets, although it must cartwheel on one end before it lands.

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

3

WEEKEND FOCUS 17

4

Heavy

until he’s 1 – Craig Manson runs with the caber at last year’s Hororata Highland Games.

2 – Craig retains his Australian title, tossing the caber in New South Wales in 2019.

3 – Craig power lifts a 145kg atlas stone to a barrel.

Cabers should point as close to 12 o’clock as possible, not quarter to 11, 23 to 2 or wine o’clock.

Craig’s caber landed at 11 o’clock, closer than anyone else’s effort. He’s done the perfect toss before but last Sunday’s was good enough.

However, tossing the caber is only one of five disciplines in the Highland Heavy competition.

He had to throw a 25 kilo block of steel over a bar, he sprinted and threw a 13 kilo weight and then he faced a 70 kilo tyre load.

“I ran 15 metres with the tyre, then back again and placed it on a stand,” Craig said.

But that wasn’t all.

He flexed his abs and pecs and pushed a Ford Ranger truck 20 metres.

In all of these he came first.

Craig only faltered when he had to place five 150 kilo stones on a

barrel. Craig lifted four but didn’t achieve the fifth.

“I couldn’t manage it, I was exhausted,” he says. But his four firsts in the other activities was enough to win the title. “I was stoked.

“That solidified me as the national champion,” he said.

For him tossing the caber is really fun.

“I love the variety of events.”

It’s usual for a champion sportsperson to grunt or shout or gesture when they’ve scored a try, won the sprint or thrown the shot put.

Craig is no different.

“I usually shout ‘yes’ when the caber is tossed, then ‘come on’ when I want it to fly,” he said.

“But at the end I just yell for pleasure.”

Normally Craig is laid back in his job, or life or relationships but

when he’s on the Games field, he’s totally different.

“I love competing in front of a crowd. It’s great to demonstrate my feats of strength.

“When I’m in the moment, I leave nothing in the tank.”

Visualisation is an important part of Craig’s preparation.

“I envision the pick up, the run and even the crowd when the caber falls.

“Once that’s played out in my mind, then I’m ready to take my time and compete,” he said.

Now he’s won the title, he has to defend it.

Craig will ease off to allow his joints to heal and then prepare for the next event in November.

But he’ll keep to a high protein diet of red meat, eggs, rice, Weetbix and a few other breakfast cereals. No mention of rolled oats.

At 105kgs, he’s one of the lightest Highland Heavies.

To compensate for his size against other man mountains, Craig doesn’t just have brute force, he has technique.

He’s moulded it after watching Olympic champions.

“Technique enables you to apply power at the right time to the throw or lift,” he explains.

Now, he’s Australasian champion, Craig has plans beyond defending his titles.

He has Scottish heritage – his grandad played the bagpipes – and he wants to compete on the Scottish circuit even if it means eating porridge.

There’s a World Champion Highland Games and that’s where he wants to be – world title holder from Down Under.

4 – Craig Manson throws a 56lb weight at the New Zealand Rural Games.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

18 WEEKEND FOCUS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

High-flying journo making her way

home

Chris Niles started her journalism career in Ashburton. She’s a successful author and has worked for various international news agencies. She hopes very soon to call New Zealand home again. She’ll return with memories of crazy, frightening times living through the pandemic in Covid-smashed New York and Black Lives Matter protests.

O

n March 10, I, along with many others, walked to a school in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

We were greeted by several branches of the military – Army, Air Force, the National Guard, along with FEMA, the agency that manages federal disasters.

Soldiers checked our IDs and lined us up six feet apart.

There were marks on the floor to guide us, but by now, with what we’d all been through, we could all eyeball six feet.

Exactly one year earlier, I’d taken a similar route around my neighbourhood, for a very different purpose. I wanted to bear witness to a shuttered city.

A year ago, mere days before that walk, I’d been riding the subway, hanging out in enclosed public spaces and thinking of seeing a Broadway show.

But I was also reading about the coronavirus in China and Seattle.

I cancelled the Broadway plans and stopped greeting friends with a hug.

And when WHO declared a pandemic, the mighty economic engine that is New York, the city that never sleeps, plunged into a deep hibernation.

The virus snaked its way through us. We had no idea how bad it was, because not nearly enough testing was being done. Tracing was an impossible dream.

I will never forget the silence.

It was broken only by ambulance sirens and all that that meant; emergency rooms overwhelmed, exhausted staff at breaking point, bodies piled up in refrigerated trucks because morgues were full, hospital staff wearing rubbish bags in lieu of protective gear.

The elderly left to die alone in nursing homes.

It was squalid, heartbreaking and the totally predictable outcome of too little, too late.

Some Americans wondered how it had come to this, a country that used to be able to get things done.

Others figured we didn’t deserve help because we weren’t Donald Trump supporters. Covid-19 was only killing New Yorkers, so who cared?

Also, it was a hoax. Or it was going to vanish soon.

The messaging was contradictory.

We knew the government wasn’t coming with effective testing and tracing.

We, the lucky ones who could afford to, stayed indoors.

If we had to go out, we masked up, sanitised our hands and stayed six feet apart.

Some couldn’t hack it.

In recent years, the city had been infiltrated by the glossy rich, living in shiny glass towers and expecting street

THE NILES FILE Who: Chris Niles What: A former Ashburton journalist, who has gone on to enjoy a remarkable career as a writer, author and a worker in the humanitarian field.

Worked for: UNICEF in the US, Jamaica, Senegal, Ethiopia, Honduras, Belize, Kenya and Iraq.

The World Health Organisation in Iraq.

The United Nations Development Programme in New York.

parking for their late model German cars.

They had brought their suburban values to a gritty, complicated city and expected it to conform to their needs.

The minute it didn’t suit, they bounced, fast.

Outside the places where they’d lived it became common to see entire apartments worth of expensive furniture abandoned.

It never occurred to me to leave.

After all, I’d stuck out 9/11, the 2003 blackout and Hurricane Sandy. But back then we’d been able to come together. Now it simply wasn’t possible, no matter how much sloganeering was pumped out by the city and the state.

“New York tough!” “Alone together!”

We sought meaning in the experience, but it was elusive. It still is.

We volunteered and donated.

Food fridges sprang up on city streets.

If you could afford it, you left off food for those who needed it.

Spring stumbled into early summer.

George Floyd was murdered in Minnesota, a modern lynching.

There was an air of weary resignation to the Black Lives Matter protests, but it was a patina of a deep well of anger.

A smirking cop murders a man, on camera, as the man pleads for his life, and tens of thousands have to take to the streets to point out that justice should be served.

The sound of ambulance sirens gave way to police helicopters monitoring the marchers.

We grasped at companionship. We picnicked and danced in the streets newly closed to cars.

Restaurants spilled out on to pavements and the city took on the air of Berlin or Paris.

Yet we trod warily, one eye on the infection rates, never sure what fresh hell was coming.

Summer bled into autumn, which faded into winter.

We sat outside in the freezing air, timing our social contact to the moment just before our feet got too numb to walk.

I had intended, well before the pandemic, to return to New Zealand for family reasons. But the plan to leave in

December hit a snag.

Quarantine hotels were full for months.

So, I waited. Not unhappily. New York deserves a proper goodbye.

You don’t ghost such a great city, especially after all the things you’ve shared. You leave slowly. You need time to allow your heart to fully break.

After I’d been vaccinated, I stopped into a bar to talk with one of the leaders of the local Black Lives Matter marches.

She had plans to run for office and I wanted to see how they were going.

I fell into conversation with a man who thought Bill Gates had created the virus to kill as many black people as he could and was now using the vaccine to make even more money.

“So, you’re not going to get vaccinated?” I asked.

“I don’t trust the government,” he said.

I couldn’t fault him for that.

The army medics who administered the vaccine were competent and kind.

Afterwards we were required to wait 15 minutes to ensure there were no serious side effects.

I sat in the gymnasium and stared at a clock, which bore the score from a long-ago basketball game.

I tried not to cry when I thought about how competence and kindness had been lacking in the official pandemic response. Since they are very Kiwi values, I’d never thought of them as anything special.

They’re, well, common sense. Yet now New Zealand is the envy of the world.

“It’s like a dystopian sci-fi novel,” a friend said. “And New Zealand is that ideal place that everybody’s trying to get to, where everything will be okay.

What does that feel like?”

It feels good.

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

WEEKEND FOCUS 19

It’s like a dystopian sci-fi novel. And New Zealand is that ideal place that everybody’s trying to get to, where everything will be okay

20 OPINION

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

OUR VIEW

Don’t burst that bubble

By Daryl Holden daryl.h@theguardian.co.nz

T

enison. And plenty of it.

There’s been a fair bit of that between the New Zealand and Australian governments recently – and it’s all been to do with a bubble, but not any kind of bubble.

We’re talking the much-discussed travel bubble that would provide quarantine-free movement between both countries.

There’s talk it could happen by the middle of next month.

Let’s hope so because Covid-19 experts, including leading University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker, have been saying for some time that the bubble could be done and it should be done. Anyone travelling from Australia posed a very low virus risk to Aotearoa, we’ve been told.

So what’s holding it up?

Well, let’s start with the Prime Ministers, Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern. They haven’t been able to agree on conditions and parameters for a travel bubble, with shots and accusations for its delay having been fired across the Tasman as a result.

Both countries’ borders have basically been closed, with some exceptions, since mid-March last year while we battled to contain and eliminate the spread of that dreaded Covid-19 pandemic. But now we’re on the way up.

Vaccinations are under way and the virus appears to be under control, with only one Covid-19 reported case having originated from Australia this year. Of course, that has to be put in context. Only a couple of hundred people arrive in New Zealand each day from Australia, but the pre-Covid traffic was 8000 to 12,000.

Still, it looks good. And if the bubble gets the green light sooner rather than later it would provide a lifeline for the tourism industry. More importantly, it would also save the heartbreak for people being kept from seeing dying and very ill loved ones.

Randy Voois, from Ashburton, knows about heartbreak.

He’s been stuck in north Queensland unable to get home because of severe health issues and treatment needs, Covid-19 restrictions and the cost of staying in a managed isolation hotel in New Zealand.

He hasn’t seen his partner in Ashburton since 2018 when he headed to Mackay for a planned working stint he hoped would set up their future. It hasn’t worked out the way he wanted.

Now he just wants to get home through a quarantine-free environment. Hopefully, that’ll happen soon.

Randy and his partner deserve it.

YOUR VIEW What do you think?

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

LETTERS EMAIL US/WRITE US editor@theguardian.co.nz

PO Box 77 We welcome your letters and emails, but:

■■ They should be of no more than 300 words.

■■ We reserve the right to edit or not publish.

■■ They must include your name. We will only publish under a nom de plume if a suitable case for anonymity is made clear.

■■ They must also include your address and phone number, which will not be published.

CONTACTS News tips Call 03 307-7969 After hours news tips matt.m@theguardian.co.nz Advertising Call 03 307-7976 sonia.g@theguardian.co.nz Classifieds Call 03 3077-900 classifieds@theguardian.co.nz Missed paper Call 0800 ASHBURTON 0800 274 287

MEDIA COUNCIL This newspaper is subject to the New Zealand Media Council.

■■ Complaints must first be directed in writing to editor@theguardian.co.nz ■■ If unsatisfied, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council, PO Box 10-879, The Terrace, Wellington 6143 or email info@presscouncil.org.nz ■■ Further detail and an online complaints form are available at www.mediacouncil.org.nz

Write to us!

Editor, PO Box 77

Email us! editor@ theguardian.co.nz

Facebook us! facebook.com/ ashguardian

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

OPINION 21

It’s time to grow a pair NZ

By Peter Livingstone OUT OF SCHOOL

Our political response has been as strong as toilet paper undies in a water fight

O

ur current political paralysis in the face of open bullying by Australian politicians is not only bad news for all New Zralanders, it is especially bad news for Maori.

Have you heard of the term ‘501’, the policy of Australia since 2014 to kick out those non-Australians with a criminal record, to another country.

The term references section 501 of the Australian Immigration Act, and has been zealously used to refuse visa applications and deport anyone the Australian state deems is not of good character.

Excuse me while I watch another episode of Married at First Sight to witness good character in Australians.

So why would this be worse for Maori? Is it because they may be over-represented in the numbers of deportees? Nope.

Is it because some of these deportees are gang members and once here influence more Maori into gangs? Nope.

The single biggest reason why Australia is bullying us to take their criminal citizens is because it shows we cannot protect our sovereignty.

Think about what happens when some lost Taiwanese fishing boat drifts too close to the Chathams. Up goes our one and only operational Orion, and flaps around said boat, chucking jandals and Marmite and chips sandwiches at it, until it waddles off to Antartica.

So did we respond the same way to an in-coming flight of Con Air? Nope, we sent Canberra a strongly worded response. Go and watch any politician who has been in power since this has been happening.

Remember, National was in power for three years while this was going on. Neither they nor Labour can argue they have been strong against this open and ongoing bullying. Our political response has been as strong as toilet paper undies in a water fight.

Even to this day, the self-serving actions of two brothers evokes more passion than the selling of our sovereignty to a nation that has been called our Big Brother.

Australia crapped on our sovereignty and we did nothing. Again how is that worse for Maori?

If we cannot defend our own sovereignty, then there is absolutely no way Rangatiratanga will ever stand a chance. How can Maori believe our promises and platitudes to uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi?

Currently, another independently governed state, is dictating to us, our immigration practice. We are doing nothing to stand up for ourselves, therefore anyone who expects any politician to stand up for them, is wasting their time.

Maori will have no footing on the path to any form of authentic Rangatiratanga, because this

country has given away its own sovereignty and been squashed like a bluebottle on a Bondi beach.

Add to that, the social and economic cost. Who do you think has been paying for the quarrantine for the deportess – you and me – not the soggy hash browns that resemble politicians in this country.

So far $1.6 million has been spent on hotels for deportees, so that we are safe from Covid. My money says the real threat is the attack on our status as a nation.

What is the solution? Put it this way, if your child was repeatedly being bullied by another, and the school knew about it, and nothing changed, what would you do? I know the parents in this commu-

nity take action.

They go to the school, they contact the parents of the bully, they take to social media, they have contacted this newspaper, they complain to the Ministry of Education, Boards of Trustees and they have even changed schools.

Action – that is what people do in the face of bullying. But not our country’s leaders from either party. They tip-toe around the feelings of the bullies, not wanting to upset ‘relations’.

What a pathetic and disturbing response. In fact there was more response from this country when in a silly little game, one of their zinc-nosed bowlers dribbled the ball along the grass at three sticks.

Even to this day, the self-serving

actions of two brothers evokes more passion than the selling of our sovereignty to a nation that has been called our Big Brother.

I grew up with and still have two brothers. If they had pulled any of this crap, it would have resulted in one thing only – a scrap.

New Zealand is being bullied, and doing nothing to protect ourselves, it makes us look weak, and gives no hope to those who ask for equity in this land.

Peter Livingstone is the principal of Tinwald School. The views expressed in this column are his and do not represent the views of his school, the Ashburton Guardian or the Mid Canterbury Principals’ Association.

Dealing with unconscious bias T

he police are engaging in a rigorous investigation of themselves for bias in favour of some and against other New Zealanders. Challenged on Morning Report to admit that bias is racism the Police Commissioner explained that he was using as neutral and wide-ranging language as possible because words have emotive impact and are used differently in different sectors.

I wholeheartedly agree with him that words can be taken in a way that they are not meant.

I expect you have found this yourself; sometimes a conversation takes off in a different direction just like a bowl, sent down the green on the wrong bias.

By Johanna Warren CHRISTIAN COMMENT

Using the word bias opens up a wider context for discussion and for observation of our police. We can also critique our community, our justice system, politics and our education and health systems.

Systems have built in bias because of the culture or science or beliefs at the time they were set up. Then systems, such as our families, start forming us in their image, to operate with a set of assumptions that we do

not question.

We all potentially suffer from our own or another’s unconscious bias. More than once I have been shamed to recognise my own unconscious bias.

For example, dismissing the likely usefulness of an explanation when the speaker is hesitant and slow of speech, and being shocked to discover my own bias as they get across all the pertinent points clearly.

Our brains use clues without conscious thought to navigate our way in the world; we are constantly deciding what is safe, what is valuable, what to take more notice of, and more.

The cues that trigger our decision making are rooted deep in our values. These are formed

by the values and training of our early childhood, and by our reflection on our lives and experiences.

Bias can be brought out into the light, looked at and changes worked on.

To return to the bowling green, if the kitty which the bowler wants to kiss with her bowl is the values we live by, we will constantly check bias against the kitty.

For me the kitty is to live as Jesus modelled, in God’s presence, knowing that God never excludes or dismisses any person as not valuable or not loved.

Getting my bias right is a goal, requiring that I keep my eye on God’s character and love for

every human being, and that I willingly submit to the challenges of the people around me.

I do not always get my bias correct and am not always consciously checking for bias.

But I will faithfully stay on the green with as many of you as possible seeking to belong in an open-hearted community of strange and diverse people.

Johanna Warren is the minister at Hakatere Presbyterian.

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

22 HERITAGE

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

The HMT Marquette, which sank within minutes after being torpedoed by U-35. Photograph courtesy of the National Maritime Museum.

Ashburton Hospital cared for Nurse Cameron

By Connor Lysaght

O

n the 23rd of October 1915, a transport ship called the Marquette fell victim to a German U-boat attack as it steamed its way into the Gulf of Salonika in the Aegean Sea. The ship was carrying 500 officers and troops of the British 29th Divisional Ammunition Column, as well as the No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital which included a number of staff from the Medical Corps.

In total, there were 741 people on board the Marquette as well as 500 mules, some horses, and wagons of ammunition.

Following the tragedy, the staff at the Ashburton Hospital had the privilege of looking after Australian nurse Marie Cameron, a survivor of the Marquette disaster, who was suffering from shock following the traumatic ordeal.

After finding photographs in the Ashburton Museum’s photographic collection of Nurse Cameron at the Ashburton Hospital, I thought it would be interesting to describe the events that brought her here, thereby associating Ashburton

with such a significant national event during wartime.

Articles from the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum and the New Zealand WW100 project have helped to give crucial insight into the disaster, and how important it was for New Zealand.

An ill-fated journey The Marquette was built in Glasgow in 1898, weighing 7057 tons.

Originally designed as a cargo vessel, the SS Marquette worked the Red Star Shipping Line before the war, sailing between Antwerp and the eastern seaboard of the United States.

When the Great War broke out, the Marquette became a hired military transport, becoming the HMT Marquette.

The Marquette’s final voyage was a support mission to Serbia, where the British and French had been trying to bolster the small and under-equipped Serbian Army, who were being threatened by the Bulgarian, German, and Austro-Hungarian forces.

Medical expertise would have been sorely needed, and so the Marquette was sailing to Thessaloniki with 36 nurses, 8

officers, 9 non-commissioned officers, and 77 orderlies of the New Zealand Medical Corps.

Despite carrying a great number of medical staff, the ship was not protected under the Geneva Convention because it was not a hospital ship, therefore displaying no red cross.

The Marquette was targeted by the German submarine U-35, which gained a fearful reputation as the most successful U-boat of the Great War, having sunk a total of 224 ships in the Mediterranean Sea. On the morning of the attack, the Marquette’s escort was called off as it was thought that she would make it to her destination unscathed.

Just after 9am, the Marquette was struck well forward on the starboard side by a torpedo launched from U-35, prompting an orderly rush for the lifeboats before the ship sank within minutes.

The stories told by the survivors of how they managed to cling on for dear life are nothing short of remarkable, as much as the tales of the loss of life are harrowing.

Of the 741 passengers aboard, 167 lost their lives, which included 32 New Zealanders – 10 of whom were nurses.

Brief stay in Ashburton

The Nurses’ Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Hospital following the February 2011 earthquake. Nurse Cameron’s medals were presented here in 2009. Fortunately, the chapel survived the earthquakes and was restored from 2017-2018.

According to the Ashburton Guardian, Nurse Cameron, a survivor of the Marquette arrived at the Ashburton Hospital in mid-to-late May 1917.

She had been at the Christchurch Private Hospital for 13 months prior, and it was hoped that “the climatic change will be of considerable benefit”.

George W. Russell, MP for Avon and Minister of Public Health at the time, was inspecting the Ashburton Hospital during her arrival and wished her a speedy recovery.

Cameron only stayed for a few weeks, having returned to Christchurch in early June,

Nurse Cameron (middle) with Sister Gates (left) and Matron Davis (right), at the Ashburton County Hospital. Although she is said to have suffered partial paralysis on one side (hemiplegia), she still managed to stand with assistance for this photograph. but at least her brief stay here actually managed to improve her health.

Unfortunately, Marie Cameron never fully recovered from her injuries which included a cerebral haemorrhage.

In 1927, a chapel was built at Christchurch Hospital in memory of the nurses who lost their lives in the sinking of the Marquette.

Nurse Cameron earned five war medals, and these were presented to the Christchurch Nurses’ Memorial Chapel in 2009.

For more information about the sinking of the Marquette, be sure to visit the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum website, and the New Zealand WW100 website.

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: PO Box 94, Ashburton 7700 Phone: 307-7890 Copies of the photos on this page are available for purchase from the Ashburton Museum

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

Croquet guns in town WEEKEND SPORT

P29

23

Focus on the Maadi P27

CRUNCH TIME

The Allenton cricketers are on the cusp of a berth in the Canterbury Country Cricket final – with just one hurdle to overcome.

P24

Celebrations in Methven

Tactix pay a visit P29

Sport radio to return

24 SPORT

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

Allenton up for the challenge CRICKET

The Allenton senior cricket side will chase a spot in the Canterbury Country Cricket final today in their semi-final clash with Sefton at the Sefton Domain.

PHOTO MATT MARKHAM 170321-MM-002

Sefton stands in way of final berth

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

There’s been a real air of excitement around the Allenton Cricket Club this week.

And rightly so.

After what could be described as a rather tumultuous season, today their senior side will step into playoff mode as they approach a semi-final clash with the table-topping Sefton, in North Canterbury.

Just getting there, considering some of the hurdles the side has had to face, is immense, but instead of taking the underdog tag along with them to the Sefton Domain, the side is brimming with both confidence and excitement.

Away matches haven’t exactly been a happy hunting time for the side, with many players unable to commit to the travel required due to work commitments.

That’s not the case today though, and captain Karmjeet Singh is buzzing about being able to put his best possible side onto the pitch.

“A lot of the guys have managed to get some time off for today, so the ones who aren’t usually available for our away matches are in the starting lineup, which is really exciting for us,” Singh said.

Charged with that confidence, Singh is hopeful that his side will enter into the match in a posi-

better of them since Christmas.

“We are more than capable of beating anyone in the competition, that’s for sure – we just need to do what can and hope that things go our way,” Singh said.

Getting a shot at a semi-final is a big moment for the all-Indian side, who were in the hunt last year until Covid-19 brought

We are more than capable of beating anyone in the competition, that’s for sure – we just need to do what can and hope that things go our way

tive mind frame, and ignore the fact that Sefton have been the team to beat all season – that is, for everyone else bar them.

They have played Sefton twice and beaten them twice this season, including a comfortable five-wicket victory back at the start of the second round of the competition – and they’re the only team to have gotten the

a premature end to the season, so there’s a little bit of unfinished business about today’s match.

“You know, making a final would be massive, and we’ve been told it would be played on the Oval in Christchurch, which would make it pretty special for us,” pace bowler, Mana Singh said.

Singh will be one of the key

ingredients to success today, especially on the artificial wicket of the Sefton Domain, but captain Karmjeet was quick to point out it would need to be a team effort.

“I am sure our usual players will stand up, as they almost always do, but we will need everyone to be right on the top of their game today because there is no tomorrow if we don’t get it right.”

There’s an added incentive to make sure they pick up success today too – it could be the Allenton side’s last season in the Canterbury Country competition.

They’ve been approached by South Canterbury Cricket to take the vacant spot in the South Canterbury competition which also features another local side, the Tech Stags.

Without wanting to confirm it, Singh suggested that it was something they were seriously thinking about, with the lure of white-ball cricket and the chance to play the 50-over game very appealing to the side.

“It’s something we are very keen on, but nothing has been confirmed yet.”

ALLENTON LINE-UP

Karmjeet Singh Harpreet Singh Tajinder Singh Satwant Singh Sanjay Undre Singh Satveer Singh Manpreet Hakkla Balkaran Singh Jaideep Singh Ranpreet Singh Mana Singh

Skipper Karmjeet Singh

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

SPORT 25

RUGBY

Methven set to celebrate

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

The Methven rugby community is gearing up to celebrate a significant milestone.

2021 marks 125 years of existence for the strong country club and preparations and planning are well under way for a celebration weekend of all things rugby from Friday, May 7 through to Sunday, May 9.

There’s been a huge amount of work done behind the scenes by a passionate and dedicated committee of helpers and organisers and all is now in readiness for what should be a memorable weekend for all involved.

“We’re looking forward to it,” club president, Kerry Smith said.

“It’s a great opportunity for people who have been involved with the club over the years to come together and reminisce and celebrate what’s been a great 125 years.”

With all plans now firmly in place though, the call is going out for a final push for registrations from those who intend on attending the event with the cut-off for registration at the end of this month.

“We’ve got around 200 so far, but we know there are still quite a few people out there who need to get themselves signed up, as we don’t want them missing out,” 125th Celebration committee member, Megan Henderson said.

“So, we’re looking for anyone who’s played a part in the club over the years, to come along and join in on the festivities, because it’s going to be a great weekend of laughs and reminiscing.”

As well as the function side of the celebration, the club will also be hosting a massive club day on Saturday, May 8.

It will begin with the usual large number of JAB teams competing in the morning and go right through all the grades before the senior side take on Celtic in the Combined Country Rugby competition in the afternoon.

The Methven side will unveil a specially designed 125th jersey which players will wear during the match, with the jerseys then auctioned that night with proceeds going back into the club to further help support the

Methven Rugby celebrates 125 years this year, game in the future years.

On Sunday, after the official celebrations a more relaxed barbecue is planned at the Methven Domain, where the females will get their chance to shine in a game of rippa rugby, and the infamous Methven Golden Oldies side will step out for an appearance as well.

“We want the focus to be on everyone enjoying themselves and catching up with everyone, but doing so in a relaxed manner, that’s why we haven’t gone with the sit-down meal on a Saturday night, but instead a night of finger foods and plenty of opportunity to talk and chat about the game and the club,” 125th Celebration chairman, and Methven Rugby Club life member, Dusty Lock said.

Legendary former Methven club player, Malcolm Cairns, has been

appointed the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and will be speaking with a number of players, coaches, administrators and everything in between from both the past and present during the course of the evening.

The night will also see the announcement of the 25-year team from which a panel of astute judges have been poring over the squads from the past twh decades and a half to determine the ultimate side of the past quarter century.

The club is keen to get as much feedback on the team from the public and is encouraging anyone to try and come up with a team and then email it to methvenrugby125@ gmail.com with the closest team to what is chosen by the selection panel going in the draw to win a Celebration Rugby Jersey.

Methven Rugby Club President, Kerry Smith.

Want to be involved? The Methven Rugby Club wants to hear from you.

The future of the Methven Rugby Club is looking bright on the field.

Registrations for the Methven Rugby Club 125th Celebration close on March 31.

Registration allows for access to the Friday night registration evening and catch up at the Methven Rugby Club from 5.30pm. The evening function at the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, from 6.30pm on Saturday, May 8 with food provided and to the Sunday afternoon BBQ. Registrations can be sent to Megan Henderson – 86 Franks Road, RD 6 Ashburton or to methvenrugby125@gmail.com Please include, name; partner’s name, address, phone number and email address and which years you were involved with the Methven Rugby Club.

26 SPORT

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

SOFTBALL

Softball titles on the line

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

It’s finals day for Mid Canterbury Softball, and everything is on the line.

Brought forward a week, to accommodate the large number of local players who will next week head off to Alexandra to compete at the South Island Secondary Schools’ tournament in Alexandra, Argyle Park will come to life today as the season’s silverware goes on the line across all diamonds.

After last weekend’s semi-finals, today’s finalists have been found and an intriguing battle awaits in the senior mixed final between Devon Hampstead Heat and Fairfield Ratbags for overall season glory.

The Heat snuck their way through courtesy of a hardfought win over the very good Panthers side last weekend, winning 7-5, but it was a lot closer in the other match-up – an all-Fairfield affair – with the Ratbags just edging out clubmates, the Ragamuffins 9-8 to clinch their spot.

The first pitch of the final will be thrown at 3pm on the fourth diamond at Argyle Park.

The third and fourth playoff clash between the Ragamuffins and the Panthers will begin at 1pm.

Earlier in the day, age-group finals will be played, with Hampstead Braves taking on the Panther in the Under 13 final which begins at 9.30am, and the Under 16 final will see Fairfield take on Hampstead All Stars, beginning at 11am.

Junior prizegivings will be held after the Under 16 final

In brief Home green success Ashburton Bowling Club members made hay while the sun shone on their home green on Wednesday in the Trudgeon 2-4-2 Pairs during the afternoon. After a competitive day of play, Gavin Eder and Winston Lee emerged victorious with three wins, 19 ends and 47 points, just ahead of club-mates, Heather Goodall and Doug Kinvig who ended the day with three wins, 17 ends and 33 points. Allenton’s Rosemary Bennett and Sandra Holdom continued their good run of form to finish third, while Methven’s Brent Mayson and Bruce Harper were fourth.

Cycling champs The Tinwald Cycling Club will head to the Beach Block at Wakanui today for their final day of racing for the season – the Mid Canterbury Championships. After a big season of racing around the district, it all comes down to today with numerous prizes on offer to wrap things up. Riders will compete for the White Swan Cup, the Arnst Cup, the Croft Cup, the Jack McGee Memorial and the Christchurch CAC, Veterans and Novice Championship Cups. Races are a handicap event over 64km with the Under 17 riders tackling the 16km course. Prizegivings will be held in the clubrooms in Tinwald at the competition of racing.

Wagstaff low-flying

Mid Canterbury Softball Association finals will be held today at Argyle Park. while the Senior Mixed prizegiving is set down for the Ashburton Club and MSA after the final.

If matches are rained off or forced to be postponed, finals

will be held on Sunday, with third and fourth playoffs determined by points during the season.

Two Ashburton College sides will then depart early next week

PHOTO LAURA BAGRIE 060321-LB-010

for the South Island Secondary Schools’ Division Two tournament in Alexandra which begins on Tuesday March 23 and runs through until Friday, March 26.

Methven speed-skier, Tawny Wagstaff has etched his way into the top five in the world with some outstanding results in the Speed Skiing World Cup. Competing in Sweden last week, Wagstaff produced some outstanding results to see him jump up the points order in the World Cup in an effort believed to be the best finish on the World Cup tour for a male New Zealand skier. The Ashburton Guardian is in conversation with Wagstaff on the other side of the world, and hope to publish a more indepth story next week,

WEEKEND SPORTS BOX WEEKEND SPORTS QUIZ 1. Mid Canterbury has three croquet clubs, who are they? a) Methven, Waireka, Rakaia b) Rakaia, Waireka, Allenton c) Methven, Waireka, Allenton 2. Country Ashburton were beaten by who in last weekend’s Premier tennis final? a) Elmwood b) Cashmere c) Te Kura Hagley 3. Sandra Keith plays out of which Mid Canterbury bowling club? a) Ashburton b) Allenton c) Hampstead

WHO AM I?

So, the less said about last week probably the better.

The Highlanders tried to do their best impression of the Hurricanes and barely got warm against the Blues, and Sweet Belle was held up for too long before she got clear at Invercargill. So, it’s back to the drawing board for another week, with a balance that’s only just into the positive at $8.70.

5. Which trophy now goes on the line each week in Mid Canterbury Senior B rugby? a) Beckley Cup b) A Grade Trophy c) Max Gilbert Shield 6. Not including Terrace Downs, Mid Canterbury has how many official golf courses?

SPORT: Martin Guptill’s form has been the subject of a lot of talk in recent months, but we’re expecting a big effort from him against Bangladesh in the first ODI which begins today.

He’s $3.30 to be New Zealand’s leading run scorer, and if he can get on top of the ball early and start seeing it like a beach ball it looks like really good money. $10 on Guptill to be NZ’s top run scorer at $3.30.

a) Four b) Five c) Six 7. Who is the current coach of Paralympic swimmer, Sophie Pascoe? a) Roly Crichton b) David Lyles c) Matt Phillips

4. Dallas McLeod transferred from Mount Hutt College to what Christchurch school in Year 13?

8. Which racquet sports has becoming increasingly popular at the EA Networks Centre?

a) Christ’s College b) St Bede’s c) St Andrew’s

a) Table Tennis b) Badminton c) Pickleball

MAKE MONEY, MONEY…

RACING:

Reasonably handy with the cricket bat in his hand, many Mid Canterbury sporting fans would know who this is.

Smart galloper Brando returns from a failed Australian attempt and steps out in today’s Wellington Guineas at Trentham. Key for us is that Opie Bosson jumps into the saddle, and any time he puts the Te Akau tangerine on, we really should be taking notice. A nice draw and the big roomy Trentham track suits, so we’re on. $10 Brando #2 to win Race 6 at Trentham today.

Answers: 1. c) Methven, Waireka, Allenton. 2. b) Cashmere. 3. b) Allenton. 4. a) Christ’s College. 5. a) Beckley Cup. 6. b) five. 7. a) Roly Crichton. 8. a) c) Pickleball.

WHO AM I: Lyall Jemmett

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

SPORT 27

TENNIS

Trident secure top twilight result

PETANQUE Marion Harrison keeps a close eye on the prize during the Ashburton MSA Petanque Club’s Over 80s tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

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

New event creates golden opportunity

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

A first-time petanque event in Ashburton this week is being hailed a success.

The Ashburton MSA Petanque Club held an over 80s tournament at their Racecourse Road venue on Wednesday, and while only a small group of players took part, the fact that an event of its nature was held is believed to be one of very few of its kind in the country.

While many of the players will line up and compete in tournaments that are held in Ashburton, travelling around the South Island and competing in competitions and tournaments is now a foreign idea for most, so getting out on the terrain was cause for great excitement.

With nothing too serious on the line, the afternoon was more about having a bit of fun and recapturing some of the competitive spirit associated with the sport.

At the end of the day’s play, Mick Little emerged on top of the pack with 41 points.

Second placing went to Rosemary McLaughlin who picked up 36 points, while Margaret Pike and Marion Harrison shared third place with a score of 33.

The Ashburton MSA Petanque Club is always on the look out for new members, and hold club days on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1pm, and anyone willing to give the sport a try is encouraged to come along.

Their playing terrain can be found next to the Ashburton MSA Bowling Green on Racecourse Road in Ashburton.

With one week left in Mid Canterbury Tennis’ Twilight Tennis competition, the result is a foregone conclusion – but no one would have begrudged team Trident extending their unbeaten streak on Wednesday night.

And that’s because just hours before they took to the court to secure themselves the title for the season with another round still to play, Trident team members were at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre, farewelling one of their own, team member, Steve Stratford.

Stratford sadly passed away following an accident while fishing in the Tekapo canals earlier this month and the team which he had been a firm part of for a number of years, stepped out onto the court and produced a win for him on Wednesday night against the Council Crew.

Stratford hadn’t played for the team as much as he probably would have liked this season due to injuries, but he was still considered an integral part of the side by his team-mates.

Trident’s unbeaten streak stretches over 16 rounds of the competition, and with a twowin buffer over nearest rival What A Racquet they can head onto the court next week knowing that even a defeat won’t take the title away from them.

While their success was the most poignant of the evening, there were a number of other solid performances from the evening’s play.

Other teams to register wins for the night were Donalds Dux, Family Affair, Hackers,

With one week still remaining, Trident have Mid Canterbury Tennis’ Twilight Tennis season won. Pictured is Owen Wylie in action earlier in the season.

Out of Service, The Late Comers, Grand Slammers and What A Racquet.

Standings: Tridents (16), What A Racquet (14), Donalds Dux (12), Hackers (12), The Late Comers (11), Highly Strung (9), Coun-

cil Crew (8), Family Affair (8), Grand Slammers (8), One Hit Wonders (8), Out Of Service (7), Mighty Meerkats (6), What’s The Score (5), Courtiers (4), The Gee Bee Gees (3), We Are Stihl Suzuki (3), Famous Grouse (3), The Racqueteers (2).

Chasing the Maadi dream The Maadi Cup is back on the agenda and Ashburton College’s rowing fraternity are jetting off to make their presence known. A 25-strong squad of rowers from the school will fly north today for the week-long regatta at the internationally renowned Lake Karapiro with high hopes of some outstanding performances on the water.

After last year’s event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown, it’s been a long time in between rows for the students at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ rowing showpiece, but missing out last year will become a distant memory from the moment the first boat touches the water on Monday morning when the regatta officially begins.

More than 2000 athletes from schools around New Zealand will be at the event competing for their schools and themselves with the regatta known as a great pathway for future success in the sport as has been shown by former Ashburton College student, Veronica Wall, who earlier this month was named in the Rowing NZ Under 23 Squad.

The group from Ashburton heading north features not only the competitors but also a strong base of supporters to form the overall crew and while a relatively youthful squad, there are high hopes for some great results throughout the course of the week.

The regatta begins on Monday, March 22 and runs through until Friday, March 23, with heats and repechages held before semi-finals and finals in the various age brackets and also disciplines and divisions.

28 SPORT

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

GOLF

Youngsters fine tune golfing skills

to putt and chip at them in the hope of hitting a score of one.

“We were very pleased with the turnout and response from these promising young golfers,” Keen said this week.

After working through a few basic drills, children were taken on to the golf course proper where they engaged in a few holes of play in an Ambrose format, where they were able to put their new skills to use.

The day was finished with a barbecue and cold drinks back in the clubhouse.

The Methven Golf Club are continuing their focus on the junior game, with junior coaching and playing a few holes continuing with another session tomorrow morning from 10am.

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

Organisers of a have-a-go at golf day at the Methven Golf Club last weekend are hailing the event as a success, after a big turnout of young golfers to the programme.

Forty children, along with adults, attended the programme, which was focused on the basics of the game of golf and had those attending working closely on lining up a target and keeping their eye on the ball.

Run by Aorangi Golf Development Officer Graham Keen, targets were set up on the putting green using snag golf targets, with children then encouraged

40 youngsters stepped onto the Methven Golf Course last week for the first Have A Go Day.

Golf results from around Mid Canterbury’s courses Junior B: Allan Lock 92-25-67 42pts.

Other Good Scores: 38 Keith Middleton, Bruce Dickson, Rodger Callaghan, Mike Gray. Twos: Max Ferris, Graham Gunn, Paddy Halmore, Frank Sandys, Greg Overall x2, Rod Carson x2, Phil Elliot, Pete Wood, Ron Hanna.

Closest to Pins: Aqua Japanese #4 Ben Rutter. Hunters wine #6 Marc Davis, Ski Time #13 Pete Wood. Brown Pub #14 Steve Schwass. Green Parrot #17 Mike Gray. Dubliner Best Nett: Max Ferris 66. Methven Foursquare Second Best Nett: Allan Lock 67. Bar Voucher Best Gross: Steve Schwass.

Winner Mcgettigan Trophy: Pete Wood.

Winner Kemp Trophy: Geoff Rhodes.

Results from around the greens of Mid Canterbury from over the past week.

Ashburton Golf Club

Saturday March 13 The winning team in the Don Houghton Memorial Trophy Irish Stabeford competition was: Lindsay Stoddart, Dylan Stoddart, Mitchell Stoddart and Paul Greer with 97pts.

Other winning teams were: Perry Hunt, Gaby Jansen, Bruce Day and Richard McKernan 95; James McFarlane, Jordan Bird, Al Jopson and Terry Kingsbury 94; Paul May, Noel Sutton, Neil MacDonald and Bruce Ferriman 94.

Twos: Dave Hampton and Bruce Day. Nearest Pins: The 3 Stooges: Jen Shepherd; Docks Bar and Seafood Grill: Kay Fox; Value Plus Processing: Paul May; South Island Seeds: Ian Rive; Property Brokers #6: Tom Blacklow; Ton’s Thai Longest Putt #9: Paul Baird; Alluvial Restaurant Tinwald Spot Prize: Greig Sparrow.

Net Eagles Jackpot Hole: #2 Birdie Jackpot Hole #11 Nine Hole Results: In the 9 hole Stableford competition the Harvey Bakehouse winner of the day was Elaine King 17pts.

Other winning scores: Robynne Nicol 16 and Dick Hansen 15.

Midlands Seeds Social Competition

Thank you all for supporting this fun competition and we look forward to seeing you back in October. A big thank you to all our sponsors. And, thank you to all the club volunteers who organise the competition, do the starting on Tuesdays and Fridays, do the results on Friday nights and open the bar on Tuesday nights without your support we wouldn’t be able to run this competition.

March 12 2021: Top Team: Marauders 92 – Harry Chatterton, Peter Woods, Hughie Murchie, J Duncan.

Men: Busck Blockheads. Women: Lynn’s Lassies 86, Trotts Lot. Mixed: Hoppy’s Hopefulls 89, Vintage Wine 89.

Top lady: Wendy Hopwood 32, Natasha Wilson 32. Top man: Colin Hunt 33.

Nearest Pins: Columbus Coffee – Daniel Snowball, Mac & Maggies – Brian Nuttall,

Methven Ladies Golf

Creeks, bunkers and trees, sometimes all on the one hole make Tinwald a good challenge.

Paul May Motor – Charlie Alexander, Gabites Ltd – Harry Chatterton, Twos: John Fechney.

Overall Results For 2020/21: Overall Winner: Hole in Nunes 635, 2nd: Cunnings Studs 620, 3rd: Busck Blockheads 617.5.

Women: Golden Girls 605

Ashburton Ladies Golf

As Ashburton Golf Course was closed for maintenance, this week’s competition was played at Rakaia. Adrenaline Stableford winners were Lynn Small, Ellenor Sullivan, Hilary Ward and Jenny Williams with 90. Twos: Heather Robertson.

Ashburton Veterans Golf

Results for final of Heartland Bank Championship played at Tinwald 15th March 2021 1st equal B Winchester and D Horrell with a 3 game score of 113 2nd equal M Fechney and T Kerr 112 3rd equal A Dixon and N Jones 110 Next Game Tuesday 6th April at Grand Vue.

Ashburton 9 Hole Golf

Last week, after 28 mm of rain overnight only 15 players gathered to play.

However, it actually turned out to be a

perfect day for a game of golf.

Congratulations to the winners last week, sponsored by Sega Golf.

First, Andre van Rooyen (31) and runners up, Peter Woods (33); Gavin Johnston (36).

This Thursday we are going to play at Mayfield Golf Club and then we’ll be back home on the 25th to play Round 2, Jean Drummond Trophy sponsored by Hotel Ashburton.

Mayfield Golf Club

9 Holes: Stroke and 2nd Stableford.

9 Ashburton Players joined us for the morning Ladies 1st Robynne Nicoll 51-13-38 16 2nd Jill Ludemann 56-18-38-18, Men 1st Peter Woods 51-13-38 15 = Gavin Johnston 51-1140-13, Greg Sim Builders 2nd Shot No 2: Gavin Johnston. Mayfield Transport No5: Robynne Nicoll

Methven Golf Club

Mens Results 13th March Senior: Ben Rutter 81-9-72 35pts by lot.

Intermediate: Eric Grimwade 84-15-69 38pts by lot.

Junior A: Max Ferris 83-17-66 41pts.

Wednesday, March 17 1st Waddington Plate: Heather Santy 9929-70, Nola Hydes 104-33-71, Sandra Marr 101-30-71.

1st Margaret Lilley Putting, Bev Isherwood 25, Roz Grant 28, Wendy Wareing 29.

Nearest The Pins: # 4 Open Primo Tania Wilson, # 6 Open Methven Foursquare Robyn Maw, # 13 Open B & B Methven Pharmacy Fay Redfern, # 14 Silver A&B Methven Supervalue Not Struck, # 17 Open Methven Travel Sandra Marr, Aqua Best Nett of The Day Heather Santy 70, Two’s And Nett Eagles Gail Limbrick 2, Dennise Hood, Jan Lane, Sharryn Bree.

Methven 9 Hole

March 12 1st Mary Fahey, 1st Stableford, Annette Maw 31-21-30 24 Stablefords, Bob Brown 60-25-35 18 Stablefords, Barbra Duffy 58-22-36 18 Stablefords, Hiromi Ikehata 45 -9-36 18 Stablefords. PGG Wrightson Best player Annette Maw. Café 131 Best Stableford Annette Maw. Methven Travel 2nd Shot Annette Maw.

Rakaia Golf Club

Results Rakaia Ladies Golf from Wednesday March 10 - Connelly Cup, Extra Medal, 1st round qualifying Richards Cup: Sandra Quinn 89-21-68, Freda Bierema 97-29-68, Fiona Rushton 104-35-69.

9 Holers Best Gross Trophy: Lillian O’Hanlon 55, Railway Hotel 2nd shot #3: Sandra Quinn, Rakaia Seed Cleaning 2nd shot #6: Jill Burrowes, V. Bell

Nearest the Pin #8: Sally Smith, Chertsey Spraying 2nd shot #15: Freda Bierema, S.Quinn 2nd shot #17: Marion Wederell.

Results Rakaia Ladies Golf Wednesday 17 March: 2 BBB: Freda Bierema & Val Sisson 70, Jill Burrowes & Marion Wederell 71.

9 Holers Stroke Round: Val Bell 56-19-37.

Railway Hotel 2nd shot #3: not struck, Rakaia Seed Cleaning 2nd shot #6: Val Sisson, V.Bell Nearest the Pin #8: Freda Bierema, Chertsey Spraying 2nd shot #15: Marion Wederell, S.Quinn 2nd shot #17: Freda Bierema.

Tinwald Golf Club

Twilight - Thursday March 11th Stableford Leading scores in the stableford round played on Thursday.

Men; -6; Gordy Kenton 23, Tim Stoddart, Phill Hooper 22, Kevin Bishop, Steve McCloy 21 c/b. 7-10; Mitch VanderKrogt 20, c/b Shane Webster 20, Neil Rayner, Brian Rouse, Vic Hylands 19 c/b.

11 Plus; Alex Bec 20, Graham Fechney, Dan Dwyer 18 c/b. Women; -14; Emily Wilson 20 c/b Bronwyn Flannery 20. 15 Plus; Kellie Kenton 18.

Nearest the pin; # 2 Nigel Heney. Two’s; Daz Young, Tim Stoddart, Paul Boon. Radio Hokonui Hacker; John Harris with 11 points.

Saturday March 13th - Stroke Leading scores in the 3rd round of the Smitheram and Grant Trophies played on Saturday; -12; Steve Cowie 69, Pete Marshall 73. 1318; Bill Mason 68, Adam Lowe 69, Bruce Collins 72. 19-Plus; Steve Kircher 69, Alex Bec, Doug Osborn 73 c/b.

Women; (4BBB) Jacqui Beardsley, Maxine Whiting 66 c/b Christine Kinita and Belinda Kirdy 66. (Stroke) Maree Moore 73 Nearest the pin; Tinwald Liquorland # 2; Daz Young. Gluyas Ford # 6; Maxine Whiting. The Fine Lion # 12; Dave Rush.

Ace Automotive # 16; Adam Lowe. G & R Seeds 2nd shot # 11; Pete Marshall. Two’s; Pete Marshall, Steve Cowie, Jason Mactier, Daz Young, Paul Hefford. Net Eagle; # 15 not struck.

Tinwald Ladies Golf

March 16: - 9 Hole, 4BBB: Nancy Costin & Judith Smith 30, Shirley Young & Diana Wellman 34.

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

CROQUET

SPORT 29

TENNIS

Logan McCorkindale will be in action at the Waireka Croquet Club over the next two days, in the South Island Croquet Associations Teams Championship.

Isabella van Dooren in action earlier in the season in Open Grade Interclub.

Elite level golf croquet on Ashburton courts

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

Elite level golf croquet is set to hit Mid Canterbury this weekend, with the South Island Croquet Association’s Teams Championship on at the Waireka Croquet Club today and tomorrow.

Many of the most accomplished players from the Mainland will be in action over the weekend’s play with teams travelling to Ashburton from all across the South Island to compete, representing Nelson, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland Croquet Associations.

Two of New Zealand’s best, Duncan Dixon and Mid Canterbury’s own Logan McCorkindale will take part – both were members of the Croquet New Zealand

Team who won the World Team Championship last year.

Dixon, who plays out of the Canterbury association is a -5 handicapped player, while McCorkindale is a -4.

In order to compete a team must be made of a player from the handicap ranges of -6 to -2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-26 The tournament begins this morning at 9am with the singles action which will run right through the day before players return on Sunday and pair up with another team-mate to compete in the doubles.

Held at the Waireka Croquet Club on Phillip Street in Ashburton, the club would welcome any spectators down to enjoy the action over the two days and be more than willing to offer any advice on how to play the sport to anyone wishing to give it a go.

Interclub winds up

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

A season’s worth of interclub tennis goes on the line today at the Ashburton Trust Tennis Centre.

The final day of the Open Grade competition sees a final round of games between Team Babolat, Team Head, Team Wilson and Team Yonex to determine who gets the title of the champion side for the 20202021 season.

On paper, it’s a tough battle to pick as the competition has shown that on any given day, any team is capable of beating the other – but there’s a lot to be said for standing up and really putting the best foot forward when it matters, and today is one of those days.

The day will also see the final day of play in the junior competition for the season as well.

Twenty teams have been competing in the junior competition across the season and stretched across a number of different venues around the district as well.

Teams are spit into three divisions, Junior A, Junior B and Junior C. Following the completion of the final round of play a prizegiving will be held at the Ashburton Trust Tennis Centre beginning at 12 noon.

While interclub tennis officially finishes tomorrow, there’s no end in sight yet for the tennis season, with plenty of action still ahead.

Next weekend will see the Senior Championships held at the centre, with final nights of both Twilight Tennis and Sunset Doubles still to be played.

The season ends with a representative fixture on Saturday, April 10 between the Canterbury Junior side and the Canterbury Country Junior side, from which a number of local players will be competing.

NETBALL

Close to 30 young local netballers were given the chance to train with members of the Mainland Tactix last weekend.

Young netballers learn from the best

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

Close to 30 of Mid Canterbury’s rising netball stars were given a chance to mix and mingle with some of the big names of the sport last weekend, when three members of the Mainland Tactix squad stopped by in Ashburton.

On their way back to Christchurch after playing a pre-season match in Timaru, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Ellie Bird and Charlotte Elley called into the EA Networks Centre to hold a coaching session angled towards Year 5 and Year 6 players from the district.

“It was a really great wee session, they had lots of fun and were given a great opportunity

to learn from the girls,” Mid Canterbury Netball centre manager, Erin Tasker said.

Working on warm-ups, skills and drills and warm downs, the session went for about an hour with the three Tactix players sharing their knowledge to the young group – the feedback from the session was excellent.

“I think just the chance to mix

with some of these players is really important to the younger ones.

“They see them playing, but to get out on the court and actually learn from them is something they seemed to really enjoy and from our perspective it’s always great to see the Tactix willing to come and spend time out in the community.

“People form an attachment with players from our big teams but don’t often get the chance to meet them.

“One of the Tactix mottos this season is Team Tactix, which is aimed at bringing everyone from the region in and giving them some ownership of the team and days like this are just a good example of how it will work.”

30

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

RADIO SPORT

Sport, racing return to the airwaves

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

Sports broadcasting in New Zealand is set to gain a massive lift with the announcement this week that Australian entity, SEN (Sports Entertainment Network) is set to break into the New Zealand realm.

In the wake of Covid-19 and a dire amount of advertising dollar coming through the doors, hugely popular radio stations such as Radio Sport and Trackside Radio were removed from the airwaves in an attempt, by their owners, to keep the bank balances nice and level.

The decision was met with plenty of angst around the country from a loyal band of followers and while life continued without it since then, news this week of a new station breaking into the airwaves will be met with great relief by sports and racing fans.

SEN, who have established themselves as one of the leaders in Australia, have picked up 29 AM and FM licences from the former Radio Trackside stable and will become New Zealand’s home of sport and racing – with former

M8

Brendon McCullum world for international and local sport and we are delighted to have reached agreement to unleash SENZ onto an unrivalled radio footprint across the whole country,” Hutchison said.

“Our business has long championed local content for local fans and that’s exactly our plan in NZ. “Our 24/7 sports talk format will include shows hosted by some of New Zealand’s most loved sporting identities – as well as a block-buster line-up of live

sport – all delivered through a fiercely local lens.

One of the keys to SEN’s impressive growth in Australia is its fast-growing digital network providing sports fans with all the breaking sports stories as well as on-demand podcasts and live streaming.

The same model will be replicated in NZ with the SENZ radio product created in parallel to a suite of digital products, including a SENZ app, website and social media to drive access to the

shows live and on-demand.

SEN is a dynamic multi-platform sports entertainment business connecting brands with fans across radio, television, digital, publishing, stadiums and events.

In Australia, the business owns and operates 18 radio stations around the country – including 1116 SEN Melbourne, 1170 SEN Sydney, 1629 SEN SA in Adelaide, as well as 11 stations under its racing brand SENTrack.

It also owns a newspaper, magazine and talent management business.

It holds broadcast rights to the AFL, NRL, A-League, Big Bash and test cricket as well as international sports events like NFL Super Bowl and boasts the biggest names calling the biggest games across its commentary teams: AFL Nation, NRL Nation and Big Bash Nation. It is also the largest syndicator of sports radio content across Australia.

SENZ will establish radio studios in Auckland and Wellington and will produce local sports content from both studios.

Dates for finalisation of plans and exactly what the station will offer are still to be determined.

Banks Peninsula harness Tomorrow at Motukarara Raceway

R1 APS MACHINERY LTD TROT $8000 2170m 12:05 1 6232 Go Marg Sheree Tomlinson 2 0x095 Brandy And Dry Scott Iremonger 3 7633 Ella Of Mot L D Mccormick 4 00x Inquizitive Man R D Holmes 5 58 Harbour Queen S J Ottley 6 00x00 Cheeky Monkey C Mcdowell 7 8 Muzz M P Edmonds 8 9087 Goose Healy Neil Burton 9 The Future T S Chmiel 10 0 Royal Stuart T M Mcmillan 11 60738 Random Spur John Morrison 12 2 Aiguille K D Townley 13 00x9x Wishing Crystal R D Close 14 59005 Sheza Mighty Monarch Craig Thornley R2 GRAHAM CONSULTING PACE $8,000 2170m 12:30 1 75070 Franco Hatton T M Mcmillan 2 8429x Megarock G D O’Reilly 3 68825 Maximilian Korbyn Newman 4 57x56 Don’t Quote Me J R Dunn 5 098x Don’t Write Me Off C J Defilippi 6 55600 Piece Of Gold R M Cameron 7 000x Lay On Macduff D G Burrows 8 68573 Mark Dunnett J J A Young 9 4 He’s Tough M J Williamson 10 723 Journo S J Ottley 11 07x65 Adhika J F Curtin 12 63000 Dancemyster Craig D Thornley 13 Blitzem Bromac J D Harrington R3 PROBUILD ROLLESTON ITM MOBILE PACE $8,000 2000m 12:55 1 x0933 Ruby’s A Delight R T May 2 75560 Prop Rock J R Dunn 3 56776 Unchanged Memory K G Cameron 4 24234 Maldito S J Ottley 5 0 Mrs Washington 6 73283 Gypsy M J Williamson 7 Johnny Nevits T M Williams

M4

New Zealand cricket captain, and racing enthusiast, Brendon McCullum named as their headline act.

Their aim is to become the destination for New Zealand sports fans, with soon-to-be-announced live sports rights to be supported by marquee local programming.

McCullum will front and cohost the all-important breakfast shift – bringing local sports fans all the breaking sports stories, news and opinion each morning.

Other on-air talent will be announced soon.

“I’m obviously hugely excited to be taking the lead on such an inventive move forward for sports radio in New Zealand,” McCullum said.

“I still live for sport and this is another opportunity to remain immersed in it in my own country, putting my stamp on SENZ’s coverage and hopefully having a lot of fun along the way!” McCullum said.

Sports Entertainment Network CEO, Craig Hutchison said he was excited to be expanding the SEN footprint internationally.

“New Zealand is one of the most passionate places in the

8 76209 Ashes Of Desire M J Smolenski 9 4x065 Fine By Me R D Holmes 10 3540 Adhara John Morrison 11 85722 The Artful Dodger C J Defilippi 12 0x47 Ali X Craig D Thornley 13 57292 King Arthur Joseph Gray 14 20079 Dalness First Ben Hope 15 59076 Tyke L F O’Reilly R4 ENTERPRISE RECRUITMENT PACE $8000 2170m 13:20 1 4 Cali Franco R T May 2 Camleigh Rose K G Cameron 3 40x32 Charlie’s Ace Gemma Thornley 4 Cheekygrin R D Holmes 5 97 Eloel Alana Cameron 6 0x9 Royal Ruby K V Hadfield 7 0x7 Total Eclipse 8 4089 Pennetta J F Curtin 9 34260 Seapris Ben Hope 10 35247 Iron Woman Kerryn Tomlinson 11 47 Fascinate J W Cox 12 255x8 Taumata Vc J Herbert 13 Sweet Heaven C J Defilippi 14 77778 Ideal Grace Tom Bamford DUVAUCHELLE HOTEL/CHALLENGE LINCOLN/MARK TWEEDY MOB PACE $8,000 2000m 13:45 1 7865 Spicy Girl Becqui M J Williamson 2 0x568 Bettor Beontoit S J Ottley 3 8009 Spanna Sarah O’Reilly 4 52039 Vincent Van Gone G D O’Reilly 5 95750 Lincoln Skipper Korbyn Newman 6 8649 Myrcella J W Cox 7 24953 Lydia R D Close 8 10976 President Pat Neil Burton 9 81695 Hello Adele J Herbert 10 0 Changeover Jo 11 70688 Rafa Novak D A C Roberts 12 34053 Precious Sara T M Williams 13 80967 Mr Asia Craig D Thornley

14 83705 Judgement Bay L F O’Reilly 15 7709 Wickenheiser J R Dunn 16 80807 Honour Scroll Gemma Thornley R6 WAIHORA RFC TROT $8,000 2170m 14:10 1 32383 Sally Lindenny G D O’Reilly 2 17043 Line A Love J B Patterson 3 21442 Aldebaran Floss C J Defilippi 4 25040 Prince Ranier J R Dunn 5 42909 Royal Del Sam Thornley 6 37180 Silverlinings Ben Hope 7 08x61 Superfast Gorsey Gemma Thornley 8 323x7 La Reina Del Sur T M Williams 9 70370 Dd’s Super Stuart J D Markham 10 30995 Rogie Falls S R McNally 11 52651 Break Free K V Hadfield 12 17707 Greenbank Betty T M Williams 13 0x941 Kd Hawk G D Smith 14 6x008 Palisade D J Butt 15 47010 Ready I Am P J Wakelin R7 BPC CAR SALES HANDICAP PACE $9000 2810m 14:46 1 4681 Mongolian Conqueror Sh Tomlinson 2 2909x No Nukes Skipper S J Ottley 3 54934 Homebush Lad Ben Hope 4 7006x One Direction J W Cox 5 38430 Terror Maria C J Defilippi 6 919x0 Annie Richter T S Chmiel 7 510x0 Manjimup R M Cameron 8 19290 Peraki Seelster T M Williams 9 8761 Buckskin Sarah O’Reilly 10 9x660 A Delightful Act J R Dunn R8 NORJO MOTORCYCLES PACE $8,000 2170m 15:17 1 9357 Classy Kid A L Lethaby 2 50050 Pine Cone K G Cameron 3 322x0 Bettor Believe It C J Defilippi 4 7974 Terrier R D Close 5 70688 Rafa Novak C Mcdowell 6 8268 Krystal Delight Ben Hope

7 21048 Tas Girl Bromac J D Harrington 8 4820 Khaki Nui R H Jenkins 9 80108 Caballe Beach Tom Bamford 10 1500 Not Really Blonde R M Cameron 11 90782 The Diva J R Dunn 12 0x079 Lennox Bromac J W Cox 13 3607 Jeremy Wells G D Smith 14 8009 Spanna 15 310x0 Mongolian Marshal Sheree Tomlinson 16 0 Changeover Jo 17 33331 Mark O’ronga T M Williams R9 LARRY & MURRAY HAMILTON/MORRISON SADDLERY MOBILE PACE $8,000 2000m 15:53 1 16266 Rocknsnap John Morrison 2 21632 Hittheroadjack Ben Hope 3 1000 Makwala Mark Hurrell 4 2952 Key Reactor Olivia Thornley 5 34271 Caesar’s Quest 6 0 Changeover Jo Sam Thornley 7 98 Paul’s Verdict Devon Van Til 8 962x6 Motoring Major Sheree Tomlinson 9 9831 Play By Ear Sarah O’Reilly 10 44221 Sense Of Occasion Alana Cameron 11 44318 Le Pole Dancer Gemma Thornley 12 40x12 Jimmy Arma Korbyn Newman 13 70688 Rafa Novak D A C Roberts 14 78060 Takemybreathaway Kerryn Tomlinson R10 HOI POLLOI HAIR DESIGN TROT $8000 2170m 16:18 1 70000 Call This Fun Jason Ford 2 7377 Alvira Hest J J A Young 3 87789 Tequila Sunset K G Cameron 4 90007 Ideal Invasion Sarah O’Reilly 5 80574 Take After Me Korbyn Newman 6 38 That’s The Story Kerryn Tomlinson 7 50557 Momentous S J Ottley 8 204x6 Franco Josiah John Morrison 9 0x000 Valmagne 10 3965 Bright Glow I R Cameron

11 90075 Bk Dawn P J Wakelin 12 73906 Time In A Bottle M J Williamson 13 96408 Foreigner G W Hunt 14 42 Milliondollarmonkey J R Dunn 15 49922 Rachmaninov T J Grant R11 NEVILLE MCNEE MOBILE PACE $8,000 2000m 16:43 1 70001 Betstars Blue Jean L F O’Reilly 2 1080x Handsome Harry S R McNally 3 67030 Loyalist Ben Hope 4 58661 Cheapcheap J C E Thomas 5 34340 Duffy Hollow 6 4018x Huego Bos M J Smolenski 7 60110 Archman Korbyn Newman 8 94353 Perfect Cut J J A Young 9 2199x No Time Like Now Sheree Tomlinson 10 31003 Ashes To Ashes J R Dunn 11 90473 Peraki Reactor J F Curtin 12 70730 Jenabella Alana Cameron 13 41535 Smooth Debate R D Close 14 47 Mordecai Kerryn Tomlinson

Matt Markham’s Banks Peninsula Selections Race 1: Aiguille, Ella Of Mot, Go Marg, Royal Stuart Race 2: He’s Tough, Mark Dunnett, Journo, Adhika Race 3: Ruby’s A Delight, Adhara, Johnny Nevits, Gypsy Race 4: Seapris, Charlie’s Ace, Cali Franco, Fascinate Race 5: Vincent Van Gone, Lydia, Judgement Bay Race 6: Le Reina Del Sur, Aldebaran Floss, KD Hawk Race 7: A Delightful Act, Homebush Lad, Terror Maria, Buckskin Race 8: Not Really Blonde, Bettor Believe It, Jeremy Wells, Tas Girl Bromac Race 9: Makwala, Jimmy Arma, Rocknsnap, Hittheroadjack Race 10: Franco Josiah, Bright Glow, Momentous Race 11: Archman, Duffy Hollow, Perfect Cut, Peraki Reactor BEST BET: Vincent Van Gone (R5) VALUE: Not Really Blonde (Race 8)

Trentham gallops Today at Trentham Raceway

R1 Cambridge Stud Premier (Bm74) $30,000 1600m 12 5322 Flickering Shadow S T Collett (10) 13 52032 Sunlit Lane 55 Type:BM74 12:38

9 14463 Canuhandleajandal K Asano (1) 56.5 10 7x117 Spine Tingle C W Johnson (6) 56.5 11 10266 Cheaperthandivorce D Johnson (3) 56.5 12 38185 Beautifulnightmare S Wynne (10) 56.5 13 28156 Carolina Reaper M Mcnab (7) 56.5 R7 Hardy Trade Lightning Hcp $50,000 1200m Type: 14 1x904 Lovettorleaveit R H Schofer (14) 56.5 15 33503 Kaluanui D G Bradley (5) 56.5 R5 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes $70,000 1600m OPEN 16:15 R3 Shoe Clinic Premier (Bm65) $30,000 1200m Type:OPEN 15:00 1 29424 Enzo’s Lad J Parkes (1) 60 R9 Harrisons Carpet Premier-Bm65 $30,000 1600m 2 71052 Johnny Jones O P Bosson (5) 57 1 52131 Coventina Bay S T Collett (3) 56 Type:BM65 13:48 Type:BM65 17:35 3 x1111 Live Drama C W Johnson (6) 55 2 3111x Our Hail Mary R H Schofer (8) 56 1 0x483 Arturo J Parkes (5) 60 1 62504 Boston Strong Boy O’malley (8) (A3) 59.5 4 81649 Rock ‘N’ Affair T L Taiaroa (2) 53 2 86367 Final Savings T Yanagida (6) (A1) 60 3 24525 Sinarahma J Parkes (10) 55.5 2 44340 Bruno Magile Sarah Macnab (11) 59.5 5 12333 Romantic Lady S T Collett (7) 53 3 7x441 Ifndoubtgetout M Mudhoo (9) (A3) 60 4 25211 Tabata D S Johnson (4) 55.5 3 9x676 Harbourside D S Johnson (3) 59.5 6 143x1 Puysegur M Mcnab (8) 53 5 1725x Mohaka D G Bradley (11) 55.5 4 x2808 Powerball Sarah Macnab (3) 58.5 4 153 Tavattack R H Schofer (13) (A2) 59.5 7 62722 Grand Mayson L J Allpress (9) 53 6 9x361 Jessiegee L T Hemi (1) 55 5 22632 Marotiri Belle T L Taiaroa (4) (A3) 58 5 88223 Maduro D G Bradley (9) 59 8 1420x Molto Veloce D S Johnson (3) 53 7 3x255 Excelleration C J Grylls (5) 55 6 68x41 Oso Savvy O P Bosson (16) 59 R2 Nz Bloodstock Premier Spec Mdn $30,000 1400m 6 19653 Lincoln’s Kruz L J Allpress (1) 57 53 9 23632 Kapinos C J Grylls (4) 7 89451 Sacred Option K Asano (7) (A1) 56.5 8 10126 Cruz Ramirez L J Allpress (6) 55 7 1 Prince Of Tallin K Asano (5) (A1) 58.5 Type:SPEC 13:13 10 10192 Roch ‘N’ Horse K Asano (10) 53 9 122x6 Vent Sarah Macnab (2) 55 8 9374x Amal Rose D S Johnson (2) 56.5 8 180 Barney Rubble S T Collett (17) 58.5 1 51213 Belt Road R H Schofer (2) (A2) 59 10 23393 Belle Plaisir K Asano (7) 55 9 587 Dauphine M Singh (8) 54 2 2x17 Pete K Asano (13) (A1) 58 R8 Al Basti Equiworld Nz Oaks $400,000 2400m Type: 9 53561 Shady Grey M Mudhoo (1) (A3) 58.5 10 51074 He’s A Doozy S R Weatherley (4) 58 3 32212 Bradman D S Johnson (4) 57.5 R4 Fasttrack Ins. 5k Nz St Leger $55,000 2600m Type: 11 29050 Aalaalune R T Elliot (9) 55 OPEN 16:55 11 0x725 Mandalorian J Parkes (2) 58 4 710 Tobias J Parkes (6) 57.5 R6 Fusion Elec Wellington Guineas $100,000 1400m 1 11211 Amarelinha O P Bosson (12) 56.5 OPEN 14:24 5 54x72 Jack Knows Best C W Johnson (14) 57 1 31211 Waisake R H Schofer (12) 56 2 64132 Needle And Thread C J Grylls (4) 56.5 12 42167 Orlov C J Grylls (10) 57.5 Type:OPEN 15:35 13 8214 Family Time R T Elliot (15) 57 6 23 Dawn County Sarah Macnab (1) 57 3 16129 Slave To Love A C Goindasamy (13) 56.5 2 8745 Duplicity R T Elliot (6) 55.5 1 16x11 Need I Say More J Parkes (11) 56.5 14 0x064 He’s Done A Runner (12) (A1) 57 7 582 Justaskpercy M Mudhoo (5) (A3) 57 4 31824 Zee Falls L J Allpress (11) 56.5 3 27299 Lincoln King D S Johnson (10) 55 2 11120 Brando O P Bosson (4) 56.5 15 23201 Meg L J Allpress (14) 56.5 8 9x275 Buster’s Habit T Yanagida (16) 57 5 32464 Il Affare J Parkes (15) 56.5 4 540x8 Nymph Monte Sarah Macnab (5) 55 3 7x115 El Tirador S T Collett (9) 56.5 16 82214 Colyton Sky T L Taiaroa (7) (A3) 56.5 9 49 Marksman C J Grylls (7) 57 6 63711 Llanacord L T Hemi (9) 56.5 5 22074 Skyphyta S T Collett (1) 55 4 51353 Mahoe T L Taiaroa (1) 56.5 10 31 Mi Gracie M K Hudson (15) 56 6 x1512 Springsteen L J Allpress (9) 55 5 x86x5 All Black Bourbon C J Grylls (2) 56.5 7 55162 Charms Star S R Weatherley (8) 56.5 17 31005 Surprize Me L T Hemi (6) 55 11 61x Liffey D A Hirini (17) 55.5 7 130x3 Beaudz Well S R Weatherley (2) 55 6 79344 Real Slim Tradie K R Hercock (5) 56.5 8 21463 Dragon Queen T Yanagida (2) 56.5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

25256 I Am A Rock R H Schofer (10) (A2) 60.5 31305 Jewel Of Patch S L Wynne (6) 58 44323 Rangitata C J Grylls (12) 58 x2717 Aquila Star K Asano (1) (A1) 56.5 110x4 Deep Beauty J Parkes (3) 56.5 6196x Mozzie S R Weatherley (5) 56.5 3218 Our Wonderland Goindasamy (8) (A1) 56.5 000x1 Packing Joy D S Johnson (9) 56.5 26212 Flying Surf L T Hemi (2) 56 17840 Heirloom L J Allpress (7) 55.5 93961 It’s Doable S T Collett (11) 54.5 32015 Tuppence M Mcnab (4) 54.5

55

14 x35x2 Transitory L J Allpress (9) 55 15 x0x90 Masarova K R Hercock (8) 55 16 33 Sugah Sweet R T Elliot (3) 54.5 17 52 Winnie Rose S R Weatherley (12) 54.5 18 0x7x3 Vishakha C Dell (11) 54.5

8 9 10 11 12 13

82423 17611 47609 x1976 56095 69

Amano C J Grylls (13) 55 Beavertown Boy M Mcnab (4) 55 Pickup M K Hudson (3) 55 Dee And Gee L T Hemi (8) 54 Baby Menaka K Asano (7) 53 Bingwa K R Hercock (11) 53

7 8 9 10 11

1711x 413x3 11x61 33113 42511

Bonham L J Allpress (3) 54.5 Cornflower Blue D S Johnson (7) 54.5 Hold The Press M Mcnab (8) 54.5 Bold Iris L T Hemi (10) 54.5 Meglio Di Falcrest D Bradley (6) 54.5

Puzzles and horoscopes Cryptic crossword 1

2

3

4

8

Simon Shuker’s Code Cracker

5

6

11

12

13 15

18

16

14

17

19

20

21

22

23

24

ACROSS 1. Mad about a bird (5) 4. He’s plotting to make me hers when about a hundred (7) 8. Article of food in addition available after six (5) 9. Titular use made of M in loan arrangement (7) 10. Spare it in Caribbean cookery − or Chinese (3) 11. Barrel-maker with a team halved to work together (2-7) 12. Smooth − deep and crisp too, in song (4) 13. Metal from Zambia one takes to North Carolina (4) 18. Courteous vet in Tate has to turn out (9) 20. Leamington for one starts season publicising attractions (3) 21. Tend towards being lean (7) 22. In the obscurity, nothing is only slightly wet (5) 23. An about-turn with perfume coming into being (7) 24. Gloomy doctor near to losing head (5) DOWN 1. The echo might be over, terrain being sorted out (13) 2. Blackberry bush found by first boy on country walk (7) 3. Infer it’s diamonds one may have the two of (6) 4. It feels it almost makes sense to get the gold (6) 5. Stop one dealing with the sickle on red flag (6) 6. An aim to change it could be madness (5) 7. Switchback using collar − or steer in distress (6-7) 14. Give one the divine influence to breathe in (7) 15. Vegetable will finish when I’ve finished with it (6) 16. It may amuse one to send the traffic another way (6) 17. Called the Marines in Tweed, the West being lost (6) 19. Such signs of correctness are annoying to sheep (5)

Quick crossword 2

3

4

9

5

6

7

8

10

WordBuilder WordBuilder

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

S T H A F WordBuilder S T H A F

WordWheel

S E

D ?

L D

857

Insert the missing letter to complete an

eight-letter word reading clockwise or Previous solution: STUDIOUS anticlockwise. Previous solution: STUDIOUS

11

14

19

12

15

13

16

20

22

24

ACROSS 1. Seas (6) 5. Ran off to marry (6) 9. Rural (6) 10. Saunter (6) 11. Assists (4) 12. Unfailing (8) 14. Dive (6) 16. Grief-stricken (6) 19. Negotiator (8) 21. Stronghold (4) 22. Rough shelter (4-2) 23. Attack (6) 24. Puts off (6) 25. Unexpected (6)

17

18

21

23

25

DOWN 2. Vital (7) 3. Skilled tradesman (7) 4. Juicy (9) 6. Afterward (5) 7. Vow (7) 8. Joy (7) 13. Humiliate (9) 14. Spotted (7) 15. Current of warm air (7) 17. Declined (7) 18. Pardon (7) 20. Change (5)

072

072

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 7many words 10 of Excellent three or 13 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 atsolution: least one five-letter degu, den,word due, Previous dug, dun, dune,Good dung, gen, gnu, Good 7 Very 10end, Excellent 13 gun, neg, nude, nudge

I N

PUZZLES 31

Your Stars

7

9

10

1

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): You’re quite sensitive to what people around you might need and being focused in this way could interfere with recognising your own needs. So, turn those sensors on yourself and act to relieve stress.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Someone who is watching you closely may make you feel selfconscious and prone to mistakes. The attention is a compliment, though one that would more comfortably be deflected.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): Halfway between two ideas you are unlikely to find favour with either side. But you’re not doing this for the approval. You really want to find a good fit – a way to see things that makes sense to you.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): Perhaps the moon is not the reason for life on Earth, but its influence on the tides has made for more diversity than otherwise possible. Someone orbiting you will have a similarly favourable influence.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Ambitious people are exciting to you insofar as they work toward achievement.

What people would like to do and what they actually do can be two different things, a difference you’ll pay attention to.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): There are many nuances at play as you connect with someone you’ve known a long time and these make the relationship rich – something you appreciate today.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): Remember watching yourself make a mistake, in full consciousness of the error but somehow still not able to stop yourself? It will happen again because some mistakes are just too fun to make!

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): For now, don’t concern yourself with the matter of how pointless is an activity.

It is quite pointless, indeed, but everything doesn’t have to have a point. Anyway, this one will pay off further down the road.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Even though all states of being are temporary, there are some you want to last as long as possible. Trying too hard won’t work, so relax and give yourself more to savour with increased noticing.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): What the self says matters.

It matters going into an endeavour. It matters when the self is satisfied, and it matters more when the world doesn’t validate the self’s satisfaction. Believe in your own compass.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Force isn’t the only way to make things happen, and usually it’s not even the best way. Be like water, soft but powerfully shaping all it touches as it makes its way down the path of least resistance.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): There is no universal “up” or “down,” just people pulled toward earth from where they are on the sphere. You appreciate friends living according to their beliefs, which are so different from your own.

Previous cryptic solution

Across: 1. Deleterious 8. Scion 9. Drifter 10. Ululate 11. Obese 12. Sherpa 14. Asleep 18. Sober 19. Massive 21. Secrete 23. Noose 24. Bittersweet 1 9 Down: 1. Discuss 2. Leisure 3. Tonga 4. Rudder 5. Ominous 6. Set 7. Gorge 13. Portent 2 15. Episode7 16. Present 17. Impede 18. Sisal 20. Sinus 22. Cob

2 6 9 11. Ate 8 Across: 1. Rubs 3. Censured 9. Likened 10.2Aisle humble pie 14. Low 16. North517. 9 Gee 18. Peer pressure 2 21. Climb 22. Cheddar 23. Doggedly 8 24. Free 6 1 Previous solution: degu, den, due, Down: 1. Reliable 2. Bikie 4. End 5. Stage whisper www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz 4 12. Borer 5 13.3 Rehearse 6 dug, dun, dune, dung, end, gen, gnu, 6. Rushing 7. Deem 8. Invulnerable gun, neg, nude, nudge 15. Weeping 19. Under 20. Acid 22.

6Col 7 3 20/3 1 8 2 4 5 2 7 4 5 PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS Sudoku Fill the grid so that every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

64 5 8 1 5 4 3 9 7 2 9 2 1 8 5 72 3 6 4 6 3 5 2 7 7 2 8 2 6 8 15 31 7 3 4 79 9 4 3 2 9 5 7 8 6 1 2 8 4 3 5 6 1 2 9 7 7 5 5 9 6 4 7 8 1 2 3 7 2 8 7 3 6 1 5 94 9 6 4 792 5 3 9 6 41 8 1 8 6 9 7 1 4 2 3 5 1 2 6 6 5 3 4 8 4 6

3

3 1

4

2

7

9 3 6

5 8 5 1 7 3

6 5 4

4

8 7 2 6

9 1

Previous quick solution

7

1 2 7 5

5 8

5 HARD

EASY

7 6 4 9 5 2 3 8 1

4

6

1 8 3 5 4 6 9 2 7

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

3 7 8 4 2 1 6 9 5

5 6 9 3 7 8 1 2 4

7 4 5 6 9 3 2 8 1

8 9 1 2 4 7 3 5 6

6 3 2 8 1 5 9 4 7

4 8 7 1 3 2 5 6 9

9 5 3 7 8 6 4 1 2

2 1 6 9 5 4 8 7 3

1 3

2 6

8 7 3

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

TALBOT SECURITY GROUP Home and Business Solutions

100% locally owned and operated

• • • • •

HEAT PUMPS KEEP YOUR HOME THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE ALL YEAR ROUND

Alarm Installation and servicing Alarm Monitoring Alarm response and patrols Data cable and networking CCTV installs

HEAT PUMPS

electriCOOL Ltd

A - 62c Dobson Street, Ashburton E - operations@talbotsecurity.co.nz P - 03 307 2409 anytime 24/7

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.

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

enovating? r f o g in k in h T

CALL GROUTPRO WE HELP YOU KEEP ON TOP OF YOUR SHOWER AND TILE MAINTENANCE TM

TM

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

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

TM

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.

027 746 7632

www.groutpro.co.nz

TALBOT SECURITY GROUP

Keeping your property protected with a security camera system from Masterguard

Locksmith Services

Protect your biggest asset with a home security camera package from Masterguard Call me today for a free, no obligation quote

• • • •

Car Keys House Keys Electronic Car Remote keys Locks

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

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

 Residential  Security

 New Builds  Commerical

 P.V. Solar  Ventilation

 Industrial  Test & Tagging

   

Heat Pumps Lights & Plugs Switchboards Air conditioning

149 Kermode Street, Ashburton 03 308 2621/022 676 2966 www.aoteaelectricashburtonltd.co.nz

Lifestyle CONNECTIONS

v

We service and repair all makes and models of sewing machines and overlockers • Bernina Parts & Accessories • Fabrics • Classes • Metrosene • Guterman • Wonderfil • Threads • DMC stranded cottons • Pins • Needles • Buttons • Scissors • Rotary Cutters • Blades • Rulers • Fabrics • Violenes • Batting • Patterns • Kits • Books

Open 7 Days | P 03 307 6277 | Main South Road, Tinwald | www.anniesquilts.co.nz

Saturday, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

SITUATIONS VACANT

CLASSIFIEDS 33

SITUATIONS VACANT

SITUATIONS VACANT Seasonal Casual Forklift Operators

EXPERIENCED GRADER OPERATOR It all started back in 1990 with Stuart Tarbotton and one digger. In the years since, Tarbotton Land & Civil has grown to include the whole family, plus 40 or so dedicated staff. But one thing hasn’t changed - our commitment to putting in the hard yards for our clients, whatever the job may be. We’ll never compromise on our high level of service, quality and accuracy, and we always deliver on our promises.

About the job Tarbotton Land & Civil are subcontracted to a major roading contractor for 7 years, maintenance grading half of the roading network for the Ashburton District Council.

Tarbotton Land & Civil are actively seeking an experienced grader operator to start immediately.

As an experienced grader operator, you will play a key role in our ‘Done Right’ approach to maintenance grading. You will be responsible for preparing and operating machinery to a high standard while completing the required maintenance on time. You will be fit, healthy and commit to being a punctual and honest team player who will help deliver the right outcome the first time round using modern fit for purpose machinery to get the grading Done Right.

Skills you will need • Preferably 5 or more years experience operating graders • The necessary licences to operate machinery on the road • Self-motivation, able to work unsupervised and willing to learn new skills • To be a team player and have good communication skills • The ability to complete a job to a high standard • A good attitude towards health and safety • Ability to complete neat and tidy book work on time • Experience operating excavators, rollers, loaders, tip truck etc., may be advantageous in securing this position What’s in it for you?

As a team player of Tarbotton Land & Civil, you can expect a competitive employment package, a positive and safe working environment, ongoing training and development, along with access to modern fleet and facilities. A company vehicle and phone will be provided for work purposes. Above all else, you will experience firsthand working with a team of 40+ people who love what they do and come together to deliver successful outcomes.

Potato Store

We are looking for experienced Forklift Operators to join our team mid-March through to May on a casual basis at our Ashburton store in the new Ashburton industrial park.

Senior Administrator Superstar, Ashburton, Mid Canterbury Full time 32 - 40 hours We are offering the opportunity to join a highly successful organisation with a reputation for excellence in customer service. Workplace safety is our priority and we strive for 100% compliance in all work we do.

Our office is a small and friendly team who support 20 trade, plus 6 apprentice electricians. We all answer phones, talk to clients, file documents, make cups of coffee for each other and sweep floors when required, to keep our office running smoothly and professionally.

The successful candidate will need to have a current OSH Forklift endorsement.

This is a dayshift role where hours can be varied maybe flexible throughout the day In return we are paying a competitive hourly rate and offer a great

Our ideal new team member will: • Have strong administrative and organisational skills, a confident can-do attitude and excellent interpersonal skills • Possess the ability to keep calm under pressure when its busy and be self-directed when it’s not • Be proficient in MS Office, particularly Outlook, Excel + Word • Personally be self-motivated, enthusiastic, organised, kind and honest.

Other skills that would be an advantage: • Have exceptional Customer Service and written communication skills • Digital marketing skills, including website management skills, Instagram, Facebook marketing and CANVA • Previous experience/training to support our Health & Safety Manager •

working environment If this sounds like you, please call 022 528 3151

Have 3+ years’ experience in a similar position or completed a tertiary qualification in the desired skills.

This is a senior level administration role so your attention to detail, accurate data entry skills, problem solving ability and initiative will be evident from your previous employment/referees (a minimum of two please). The position will be approx, 32-40 hrs per week – will be discussed with the successful applicant.

Apply by email with a current CV and a cover letter outlining why you should be considered for this position by THURSDAY 25th March 2021 to HR@electraserve.co.nz.

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.

Applicants for this position should have a New Zealand residency or a valid New Zealand work visa.

Are you interested in working for Tarbotton Land & Civil? Please give Stuart a call on 0274 350 963 or send your CV to info@tarbotton.co.nz – applications close 31st March 2021.

Are you seeking a career in the Butchery industry?

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT STUNNING, mature lady in Ashburton now. No texts.

Please phone 021 0275 9055.

BE PART OF SEED FORCE'S NEXT CHAPTER Experienced Seed Production Agronomist Experienced Seed Production Agronomist

FOR SALE FIREWOOD, Dry shed stored old man pine $290 per 3m³, Larch Oregon hot mix $300 per 3m³, Macrocarpa $330 per 3m³, Delivered.

Cheaper prices for larger loads.

Please phone Jimmy on 0274414073.

GREEN Old Man Pine $180, green Macrocarpa $250.

3.6m³.

Shane James Firewood.

Phone 027 6113 334.

GRAZING LAMB grazing wanted, anything considered. good prices paid for long or short term. Please phone Jason 0274 288 402.

HIRE GENERAL hire.

Lawnmowers, chainsaws, concrete breakers, trailers, and more. All your DIY / party hire, call and see Ashburton U-Hire. 588 East Street.

Open Monday-Friday 7am - 6pm; Saturday 7.30am - 5pm; Sunday 8.30am 12.30pm - Phone 308 8061. www.ashburtonuhire.co.nz

An exciting opportunity has become available to join our team as an experienced Seed

An exciting opportunity has become available to join our team as an experiProduction Agronomist. enced Seed Production Agronomist.

Seed Force is part of global seed powerhouse RAGT, who have been at the forefront of agriculture and innovation for over a century.

Seed Force isAspart of global seed powerhouse RAGT, who have been at the we embark further on this journey, we require an exceptional individual with the right skills to be part of our seed production division. You will a respected and experienced forefront of agriculture and innovation forbeover a century. agronomist with the ability to build and maintain long lasting relationships. successful applicant will be responsible for: As we embarkThe• further onwith this wegrower require an exceptional individual Working closely our journey, existing high caliber and customer base, offering all aspectsto of service and technical adviceseed to help ensure maximum potential and resultsYou will be a with the right •skills be part of our production division.

Co-ordination of the company’s seed production needs; from procurement, quality and respected and experienced agronomist with the ability to build and maincertification requirements through to delivery tain long lasting relationships.

What we expect from the successful applicant: • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • A self-starter with the ability to work independently

The successful• applicant will beProduction responsible Proven experience in Seed Agronomy for: • A high level of numerical and computer literacy • Working closely with our existing high caliber grower and customer base, • Proven ability to establish and maintain effective relationships The desire to a key part of Seed exciting nextadvice chapter offering all •aspects ofbeservice andForce’s technical to help ensure maximum potential results To apply, and please submit your covering letter and CV to hr@seedforce.co.nz. For confidential enquiries, Bruce Garrett, Managing Director on 027 232 5616.

• Co-ordination ofplease thecontact company’s seed production needs; from procureApplications close on 26th of March 2021. ment, quality and certification requirements through to delivery What we expect from the successful applicant: • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • A self-starter with the ability to work independently • Proven experience in Seed Production Agronomy • A high level of numerical and computer literacy • Proven ability to establish and maintain effective relationships • The desire to be a key part of Seed Force’s exciting next chapter’ To apply, please submit your covering letter and CV to hr@seedforce.co.nz.

For confidential enquiries, please contact Bruce Garrett, Managing Director on 027 232 5616. Applications close on 26th of March 2021.

Free

OF CHARGE

PLANTS, PRODUCE SMITHFIELD Flowers, 211 Smithfield Road. $5 bunches of chrysanthemums for sale.

Many colours and varieties.

Beautiful long lasting flowers

Show off

your new arrival in our Welcome to the World adverts

Please email your photo and 30 words or less to classifieds@theguardian.co.n

We currently have a full �me Butcher Labourer / Appren�ceship opportunity for a passionate and selfmo�vated team member to join the friendly team at our Supermarket.

Your du�es will include producing small goods, ordering, and merchandising. You will be required to maintain high presenta�on standards and ensure strict adherence to Food Safety and Health and Safety processes. We will provide all support and training.

Days & hours will be: • 6.00am – 2.30pm Tuesday • 6.00am – 2.30pm Wednesday • 6.00am – 2.30pm Thursday • 6.00am – 2.30pm Friday • 6.00am – 3.30pm Saturday.

The successful candidate will have: • A good level of physical fitness • A strong customer service orienta�on • Posi�vity & ini�a�ve • The ability to communicate effec�vely • Honesty & integrity To apply, please complete an applica�on form which is available at Customer Services or email: donalda.hartley@newworld-si.co.nz, including a cover le�er and current CV. Applications close 24th March 2021.

34 CLASSIFIEDS

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

SITUATIONS VACANT

ENTERTAINMENT

Daily Diary MONDAY, MARCH 22 YMCA Mid Canterbury offers a range of programmes and services focused on building strong KIDS, strong FAMILIES and strong COMMUNITIES. To support us to do this mahi within our community, we currently have two job vacancies…….

PLAY, ACTIVE RECREATION & SPORT FACILITATOR

(NEW part-time position - Ashburton based – immediate start) Recently we launched the delivery of “Community Pop-Up Play, Active Recreation and Sport after-school activities” that provide the opportunity for tamariki and rangatahi to become more active within our community.

The position offers 15 permanent hours of work p.w. Our goal is to increase this part-time position to a minimum of 20 hours p.w. over the coming year, increasing our capacity further in 2022 or earlier, based on demand.

If you have an absolute passion for and possess the physical ability to deliver Play, Active Recreation, and Sport across Mid Canterbury then apply now!

YOUTH COACH

(Ashburton based – 9-month fixed term parental leave position) As part of our commitment to supporting and empowering young people, we are looking to employ a Youth Coach to deliver the Youth Services - NEET (Not in Education, Employment and/or Training) service to engage and support eligible 16 and 17-year-olds to achieve sustained education, training, workbased learning or employment outcomes.

This is a fixed-term 9-month parental leave position, commencing April 2021 through to December 2021. That said, this will provide the successful applicant with a “foot in the door” for future youth development positions as we look to further grow our youth and community development area of focus.

Both positions will require the successful applicants to hold a clean full Class 1 Driver’s Licence.

Raising the bar, always Consistently one of Bayleys high performers, Mike has enjoyed continuous success with Bayleys Canterbury. Backed by a boundless energy, informed intellect and determined hard-work, Mike’s rise to the top of Ashburton’s rural property sector is no means by accident.

The YMCA is an award-winning community organisation that has been investing in the next generation for over 100 years across the region. We foster a one-team culture of integrity, optimism, resiliency, and fun. Check out our website www.ymcasc.org.nz If you have a passion for working with young people to improve well-being and long-term economic independence, then apply now.

Send your CV and cover letter marked CONFIDENTIAL to poppy@ymcasc.org.nz and/or request a job description.

Applications close 5pm, 31 March 2021

Experience the results that Mike Preston brings to the table today.

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

TRADES, SERVICES

LOST AND FOUND

MIKE PRESTON 027 430 7041

Call the Guardian today 307 7900

Weekend Services 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

Ashburton Health First, 308 Havelock Street, Ashburton, will be the duty practice Saturday until 8am Sunday. To make an appointment call your regular GP. Eastfield Health, 135 Tancred 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

LOCKSMITH - Door repairs, Keys/Locks, Sliding, roller and bifold door maintenance and repairs. Mobile service. Call Nigel at Doors And More Ph 027 516 7104

FREE classification

Alcohol Drug Help Line

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

Ashburton Rest Homes Please contact directly for hours.

Emergency Dentist

C

Art Gallery

S

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.

Alcoholics Anonymous

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

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,

TUESDAY, MARCH 23

10am U3A ASHBURTON. For life long learning with Dr Andy Buchanan, members free, casual entry $10. Ashburton Trust Event Centre. Wills Street.

10.30am AGE CONCERN ASHBURTON. Steady As You Go. Fall prevention programme.

Contact 308 6817. Held at All Saints Anglican Church. Chapman Street, Methven.

12pm-2pm ASHBURTON JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. (Signing Centre).

JP available for all signing services on Tuesdays and Fridays. No appointment necessary. No fee.

Community House, 44 Cass Street.

1pm AGE CONCERN ASHBURTON. Steady As You Go. Fall prevention programme.

Contact 308 6817. Held at St Andrews Presbyterian Church. Bridge Street, Rakaia.

5.45pm (registration)-6pm start RUN AND WALK ASHBURTON. Summer series. Run or walk 1, 3 or 5km, adults $2, children free. Everyone welcome. Meet Ashburton Domain. Walnut Avenue.

7pm-9pm MID CANTERBURY BADMINTON CLUB. Badminton Club night. All abilities welcome. EA Networks Centre.

DIAL 111 in the event of a Medical or Accident Emergency

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.

Pharmacies

10am AGE CONCERN ASHBURTON, 206 CLUB. Programme for the elderly runs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Enquiries to 308 6817.

10.30am ASHBURTON COMMUNITY WALKING GROUP. Walking for about 30-40 minutes on Mondays and Fridays. Meet Walnut Avenue Pavilion.

1pm-4.30pm THE MID CANTERBURY LINEDANCERS. 1pm-2.15pm, weekly beginners learn to line dance, following on to easy intermediate. 2.30pm3.30pm and intermediate level from 3.30pm4.30pm. Instructor Annette Fyfe 0274813131.

Tinwald Hall, Graham Street.

1.15pm RSA INDOOR BOWLS. Weekly Social Indoor Bowls held at the RSA Linton lounge. Cox Street.

7pm-9.30pm R AND R LINEDANCING ASHBURTON. Upper Improvers/intermediate weekly line dance classes. Balmoral Hall, 240 Cameron Street.

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: Cody Wong.

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, March 20, 2021 Ashburton Guardian

ANNIVERSARIES

Daily Diary

50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

SATURDAY, MARCH 20

7.30am RUN AND WALK ASHBURTON. Meet outside Frontrunner, Moore Street, runners and walkers, all fitness levels welcome.

Coffee and chat at Columbus cafe afterwards.

9am-12pm ASHBURTON CRAFT MARKET. Stallholders will have lovely gifts, plants, woodwork and more. West Street Car Park.

9am-12.30pm ASHBURTON FARMERS MARKET. Stallholders will have locally grown fresh produce. North end of West Street Car Park.

9am-3pm ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSEUM. Static displays with collections of up to 30 aircraft and memorabilia. Ashburton Airport.

Seafield Road.

10am-12pm ASHBURTON VINTAGE CAR CLUB. Museum and parts shed open. 86 Maronan Road. Tinwald.

1.15pm RUN AND WALK ASHBURTON. 3km run or walk. Estimate your finish time, no watches to be worn during the event. Register at 1.15pm at Argyle Park. Middle road. Start 1.30pm, afternoon tea hosted at 1 Reflection Place, please bring a plate.

SUNDAY, MARCH 21

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

9.30am ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH. Alpine Presbytery gathering worship service.

48 Allens Road. Allenton.

9.30am ASHBURTON METHODIST CHURCH. Service led by Rev Heather Kennedy. The Chapel at Paterson’s, cnr Cox and East streets.

9.30am HAKATERE PRESBYTERIAN PARISH. We are joining the Alpine Presbytery Service at St David’s Union Church, (note earlier time and no service at either Oxford or Thomson Street).

48 Allens Road. Allenton.

10am ST ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Morning worship led by Rev Eric Mattock, all welcome. Sinclair Centre, Park Street.

10am ST ANDREW’S ANGLICAN CHURCH. Holy Communion. Thomson Street.

10am 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 MUSEUM. Static displays, collection of aircraft and memorabilia on display. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road.

Neil and Fay Hydes Congratulations to our wonderful parents, and grandparents to our kids.

Love from Tina and Jason, Roger and Danii, and families.

DEATHS

Canterbury owned, locally operated

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DEATHS

DEATHS

DEATHS

HODGKINSON, Marie June (June) – Michelle and Peter, Cherie and Carl, Marie and Bob and their families, along with June's siblings Ann, Jimmy and Dorothy, wish to sincerely thank all those who cared for her, sent cards, flowers and food or attended her funeral. To those who visited us and shared precious memories of our dear mum, nana, great nana, sister, aunt and friend, a special thank you. Your care and support means a lot to us.

We gratefully acknowledge the kindness and help of Father Huynh Tran, Father Denis Nolan, Dr Malcolm Wootton, the staff of Radius Millstream and Jo Metcalf of Memory Funerals.

June loved and was loved by so many. The memories of her selfless dedication to family and friends will long remain in our hearts. Now reunited with her beloved husband Peter.

Rest in Peace Mum.

DONALDSON Irma Joan – Irma passed away peacefully in the care of Radius Millstream on March 13, 2021, aged 89 years. Dearly loved wife of the late Ian for 62 years. Much loved mother and mother-in-law of Graeme and Julie, Les and Carolyn, and Murray.

Cherished Nana/Grandma of Emma, James, Poppy, Teddie-Jo, and Ruby. Thank you to all the staff at Radius Millstream for their wonderful heartfelt care shown towards Irma during her time at Radius. Messages to the Donaldson family c/- 73 Farm Road, Ashburton 7700.

At Irma’s request a private family service has been held.

MAUDE, Christina Joan (Joan) – on March 18, 2021.

Peacefully at Ashburton Hospital. In her 90th year.

Much loved wife of the late Arthur. Loved and respected mother and mother-in-law of Deirdre and Kelvyn, and the late Peter Curd, Dr Kate Richardson and Doug, Rose and Bruce Leonard, Trish and Omar Palov. Loved Granny of Charmaine, Lynette, Harry and Sam, Marissa, Rebecca, Stephanie, Megan, Peter, and Lizzy, and loved great Granny of all her great grandchildren. Loved sister and sister-in-law of John and the late Maude Kennedy, David and Jennifer Kennedy, Marina and the late Ken Pomeroy, Stan and the late Claire Kennedy, the late Betty and Ron Matchett, Doug and Marion Kennedy.

Loved sister-in-law of Edna and the late Willie Adamson, the late Alice and Ken Keen, Linda and Keith McKenzie, Allan and Maureen Maude.

Loved aunty of all her nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to the Dementia team at Radius Millstream for their love and care of Joan and the nursing staff at Ashburton Hospital. Special thanks to Clarice Humphries for her kindness to Mum. Messages to the Maude family c/- PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740.

A celebration of Joan’s life will be held at Our Chapel, cnr East & Cox streets, Ashburton on SATURDAY, March 27, commencing at 1.00pm.

Patersons Funeral Services and Ashburton Crematorium Ltd ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Office and Chapel Corner East & Cox Streets, Ashburton

Ph 307 7433 Please note all late death notices or notices sent outside ordinary off ce hours must be emailed to: deathnotices@ theguardian.co.nz to ensure publication.

To place a notice during off ce hours please contact us on 03 307 7900 for more information.

Any queries please contact 0800 ASHBURTON (0800-274-287)

EWING, Richard Lloyd – The family of the late Richard wish to express our sincere thanks to everyone for whom we have no addresses, who sent messages of sympathy and or floral tributes. Your many acts of kindness and sympathy continue to be a great comfort to us.

Suzanne, Mark, Larissa, Nicola, Jonothan and families.

ANDERSON, David Lawrence – 17.2.54 - 28.02.21 After a short illness in Sydney, Australia. Dearly loved husband of Margaret and much loved dad of Kevin and Rachelle and super-pop to grandson Yerin. Dearly loved son of Shirley and the late Laurie Anderson. Much loved brother of Andy, Marie, and Lynn. Messages to 1/305 Wills Street, Ashburton, 7700. In lieu of flowers, donations to Ashburton Cancer Society would be appreciated.

DEATHS BINNIE, Margaret Joan (Joan) – On March 15, 2021, aged 80 years. It is with much sadness that we say goodbye to a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Our hearts are broken by your sudden departure and you will be dearly missed. Your loving husband Peter, daughter Phillipa, son Doug (in Australia), their partners Brian, and Carol, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Messages to the Binnie family c/- PO Box 472, Ashburton 7740.

A service for Joan will be held at Our Chapel, cnr East & Cox streets, Ashburton on FRIDAY, March 26, commencing at 11.00am.

Followed by a private cremation at the Ashburton Crematorium.

MARRIOTT, Paul William – Peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on March 11, 2021, aged 65 years. Dearly loved husband of Chris, and loved dad and pop of Scott and Nicky, Erin and Macy; Nick and Kylie, Maddi, Charlotte, Jack, and Danielle. Special thanks to Dr Penny Holdaway, Debra, and Lee from the district nurse team for the wonderful care and support. Messages to 814 East Street, Ashburton 7700.

At Paul’s request a private family service has been held.

PREARRANGE YOUR WISHES FOR PEACE OF MIND

18-22 Moore Street, Ashburton 0800 263 6679 | 027 637 1229 www.memoryfunerals.nz Saturday: Fine apart from morning and evening cloud. Light winds.

Midnight Saturday

Canterbury Plains

MAX

18 MIN 8

Saturday: South of Ashburton, morning cloud and possible drizzle, then fine apart from some evening cloud. Elsewhere, fine apart from some evening cloud.

Light winds.

Sunday: A cloudy morning. Cloud clearing in the afternoon north of Geraldine, but remaining elsewhere with possible evening drizzle. Light winds.

Monday: Cloudy with some early drizzle towards the foothills, becoming fine later. Southerly breezes.

Around The Region Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Jo Metcalf Sunday: Cloud clearing in the afternoon.

Light winds.

MAX

Canterbury High Country

18 MIN 9

Saturday: Fine apart from areas of morning cloud or fog.

Wind at 1000m: Light.

Wind at 2000m: Light.

Freezing level: Above 3000m.

Sunday: Fine apart from areas of morning and evening cloud or fog.

Wind at 1000m: Light.

Wind at 2000m: Light, then southwesterly 30 km/h from afternoon.

Freezing level: Above 3000m.

20 9 19 10 19 8 Monday: Mostly cloudy, with some drizzle in lower 18 8 17 10 17 8 lying areas. Becoming fine in the afternoon. Light 17 6 17 7 19 7 winds.

SUN PROTECTION ALERT 17 7 17 9 17 8 17 8 17 11 15 8 PROTECTION REQUIRED : 30 10 : 45 am – 4 pm 17 9 17 10 18 7 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

McKEAGE, DEATHS Robert Andrew (Bob) – McKEAGE, Robert Andrew On March (Bob) – 14, 2021, passed away Christchurch On Marchat14, 2021, passed Hospital, 81 years. away ataged Christchurch Dearly of Hospital,loved agedhusband 81 years.

Barbara Ann, loved father Dearly loved husband of and father-in-law of Paulfather and Barbara Ann, loved Prue, John, Jennifer and and father-in-law of Paul and Jason, and Bronwyn.

Prue, John, JenniferLoved and Grandad Alex, Blake, Jason, andofBronwyn.

Loved Caitlyn, Grandadand of Devon.

Alex, Loved Blake, uncle Christine, Caitlyn,of and Devon. Cheryl, Loved Edward, Janice, Bettina, uncle of Christine, Cheryl, Tania, Craig, Edward, Michelle, Janice, Bettina, Warren, and Daryl.

Tania, Michelle, Uncle Craig, “Blob” Nathan, Charlotte, Warren,of and Daryl.

Uncle and Victoria.

Messages may “Blob” of Nathan, Charlotte, be addressed to the and Victoria. Messages may McKeage Family to C/- the 19 be addressed London Christchurch McKeageStreet, Family C/- 19 8013. graveside funeral LondonAStreet, Christchurch service Bob will be funeral held in 8013. Afor graveside the Hinds service for Bob willCemetery, be held in Isleworth Road, Hinds, on the Hinds Cemetery, MONDAY, March Hinds, 22, 2021, Isleworth Road, on at 1:30pm. March 22, 2021, MONDAY, at 1:30pm.

McKEAGE, Robert Andrew (Bob) – Dearly loved brother-in-law of Judith and Les, loved uncle of Nathan, Samantha, Charlotte and Richard, Victoria and Simon. Great uncle of Lucas, Zoe, and Jayme.

His great sense of humour will be missed.

McKEAGE, Robert Andrew – Loving father of Jennifer and respected father-in-law of Jason. Adorable cheeky Granddad to Alex, Blake, Caitlyn and Devon.

Dad you had the biggest heart that loved Mum so much, so thank you.

We all will miss you so much, fly high, get into trouble and I will see you again sometime.

RIP McKeage xxxx

FUNERALS

Ashburton Weather

A broad ridge of high pressure dominates New Zealand’s weather, with southeast to southwest winds dying out from Monday. A low to the northeast of the North Island does bring some wet weather to eastern areas.

FAMILY NOTICES

FUNERAL FURNISHERS MASTER MONUMENTAL MASON

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

Monday: Cloudy, possible early drizzle, becoming fine later. Southerly breezes.

MAX

Readings to 4pm Friday Temp °C Maximum Minimum Grass min 24hr Rain mm Month to date Wind km/h Strongest gust Sun hrs on Thu Month to date

Ashburton Airport 18.2 4.0 -0.5 0.0 39.4 SE 24 3:31pm 8.5 120.7

Methven 17.8 4.5 – – – – – – –

Christchurch Timaru Airport Airport 19.4 17.3 2.7 3.8 -1.9 – 0.0 0.0 13.2 7.8 E 30 SE 20 1:56pm 2:42pm 9.2 – 132.4 –

Tides, Sun and Moon Saturday

18 MIN 8

Sunday

Monday

Ashburton H 9:56am 10:22pm 10:53am 11:15pm 11:46am Mouth L 3:36am 4:02pm 4:33am 4:57pm 5:33am 5:51pm Rakaia Mouth Rangitata Mouth

H L H L

9:54am 3:39am 9:40am 3:20am

10:14pm 4:01pm 10:06pm 3:46pm

10:41am 11:01pm 4:29am 4:48pm 10:37am 10:59pm 4:17am 4:41pm

11:28am 11:49pm 5:20am 5:36pm 11:30am 11:51pm 5:17am 5:35pm

Data provided by NIWA

7:34am 7:47pm 7:35am 7:46pm 7:36am 7:44pm 1:57pm 11:08pm 2:57pm 11:49pm 3:53pm

first qtr Mar 22

full Mar 29

last qtr Apr 4

new Apr 12

–

35

36

Ashburton Guardian Saturday, March 20, 2021

Advertising Feature

Qualified, experienced & industry accredited

“OUR FARMERS ARE A GREAT BUNCH OF PEOPLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE LOCAL PEOPLE DOING LOCAL WORK AND THAT’S WHAT COUNTS.” ACLs rural contracting division offers a wide range of contracting solutions for farmers, with specialised staff coming up with quality solutions for dairy laneways, tanker tacks, under passes, effluent ponds and land clearing.

When it comes to keeping our animals moving and water flowing on Mid Canterbury’s farms, the team at ACL are at the top of the game.

Autumn for rural contracts manager Warren Mackenzie and his team can be counted in dairy tracks limed and general farm maintenance projects signed off for a raft of satisfied customers.

Warren’s crew have developed a methodology that delivers dairy tracks that are both long lasting and kind to cow hooves through the lime mix used as a surface coating.

A wet season can play havoc with dairy tracks, Warren said, but making an investment in laneway upgrading over the summer and autumn, pays big dividends in the durability of the surface for several seasons.

The latest addition to the crew’s plant stocks is a precision laser leveller that uses a laser guided blade to specify any gradient requirement. And this is ideal for working with feed or silage pads and dairy shed floors, Warren said.

“We have lots of customers who are very happy with the quality of our job and the final finished surface, especially in the very wet spring months, that’s when our workmanship really pays off.”

Because ACL offers a huge range of services across its multiple divisions, a full range of additional services can be offered to rural clients that will ensure every aspect of a job can be streamlined through to completion.

It’s all about ensuring existing tracks are cleaned off and well shaped to ensure higher edges are smoothed off to allow better drainage. Much of that work is in the hands of rural contracting foreman Grant Connor who is an expert on all forms of farm and dairy lane maintenance.

“At the end of the day, it’s about giving the herd the best surface to walk on and hopefully reducing the number of lame animals.”

A recently completed project on Ashburton River Road saw 1,000 tonne of lime spread on a reformed track. Additional culverts were also installed on the property to ensure water flowed to avoid ponding during heavy rain.

With truck and trailer units able to carry up to 32 tonne of lime at a time. The Mid Canterbury sourced lime is delivered to the property quickly and efficiently.

Prior to Christmas Warren’s team completed an extensive laneway capping project on Winchmore Road and they’re now back on site completing work on a number of culverts.

Cost effectiveness is critical for the ACL team and considerable time is spent working with clients on their budgets and expectations, Warren said.

“We are very open and honest with what we do and with us there are no surprises,” he said.

To limit disruption for farmers, work is scheduled to ensure minimum disruption and that’s a clear winner with clients, as many have now become repeat clients.

Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment is key for the ACL team and those requirements are not just met, but exceeded on every job.

“We can offer peace of mind to clients as we always make a point of identifying hazards on farm and we have a very comprehensive system in place to identify risks and mitigate them,” Warren said.

Like the other ACL divisions, Rural Contracting is a team that is passionate about working with their clients to achieve the best possible outcomes. Our work is not driven by price, its driven by quality and customer satisfaction.

The Rural Contracting team has been working with rural clients for more than 20 years and has a store of local knowledge and decades of experience and expertise. It’s a team Warren is immensely proud of.

“Our rural operators all come from farming backgrounds and are often ex-farmers or farmers’ sons. For us this is a real point of difference. We know our team is top notch – they know the weather, the conditions and often the clients.”

RURAL CONTRACTING

AND WATER DELIVERY

Warren Mackenzie 0272 502 502 03 308 4039 warrenm@ashcon.co.nzWATER TANKERS

Range Street, Ashburton Hanover Street, Rolleston

ACL are always good, speedy and efficient, from start to finish.

- Mark McDonald

www.ashcon.co.nz

RURAL / RESIDENTIAL / CIVIL / WORKSHOP www.ashcon.co.nz