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The Sun
Wednesday August 26, 2015
New pilot music therapy sound medicine for children It is said that ‘nothing activates the brain so extensively as music’. So it’s no wonder that a new pilot programme through ‘The Creative Arts Centre’ launched earlier this year providing music therapy for vulnerable children is a growing success. The Creative Arts Centre is a non-profit charity which offers group and individual Creative Arts Therapy. The aim of the trust is to support vulnerable children to “grow through the arts”. If focuses on children with a wide range of needs, including those seeking support with physical, psychological, intellectual, developmental, behavioural and social functioning. Behind this initiative is a group of dedicated people, headed by Trust founder Liz McKay, and supported by the Creative Kids Trust Board and Creative Arts Centre team. It started off with Liz’s passion to train as a music therapist. And over the busy years of starting a family and business with her husband Greg, Liz’s passion matured into an understanding,
that to be effective, a community combining all the rich talents of the Creative Art forms needed to be grown around these children and their families. A place where every child was supported through the art form that they love. So when Liz came across a newspaper article featuring Yvonne MacSweeny and her music therapy, she made contact with Yvonne and the first steps began. The Centre has developed since offering it’s pilot programme and is now operating group music therapy sessions led by Yvonne MacSweeny and supported by the Creative Arts Centre team members Jody Hughes and Sandra Sangster. The sessions are centered around goals for Attention and Concentration needs, Managing Anxiety, Speech Development, Movement Development, Social Development, Behavioural Development. Early indications are that as the children’s trust grows with the team and their group members, they are becoming more aware of themselves and others, which supports their growth and the friendships
Back: Greg Simpson, Liz McKay, Sandra Sangster, Lisa Johnston and Anna Moore and front: Molly Murphy Wittig, Karen Dick, Yvonne MacSweeny and Jody Hughes.
they are developing at the centre. Now they are excited about taking another step and are in the planning stages of offering a teen anxiety programme through Creative Writing, led by Molly Murphy Wittig, a
registered psychologist. ‘Each new step leads us closer to our long term goal of offering all art forms and ultimately having our very own front door,” she says. For now though, they welcome
anyone with a child that would benefit from being involved in the programmes or anyone interested in supporting the centre to be in touch. For more information contact liz@creativearts.co.nz
Volleyball down to the wire Marlborough Volleyball’s Winter League night saw some tense three-set matches during its sixth round. It was a slow start from Dank Lords and some good team play from Uso Fiafia which gave the latter the first set win of 25-16. Dank Lords got some teamwork together for the second set but Uso held on with some nice spiking from Afa Lauvai for the win 25-19. The third set really came to life with Dank Lord’s Theo Martin-Babin and Toby Hogg leading the chase with some solid court play and nice spikes but the sneaky serving from Tupuaga Siovaeata and huge spikes from Afa Lauvai made the difference to give Uso the hat trick win with a close set score of 25-23. Uso Fiafia continued their double-header week and played Cri Clovers in their second game of the evening. Cri Clovers kept everyone entertained with their unorthodox shots, Greg Stretch using almost every part of his body to keep the ball in play. Uso gained another hat trick for the evening 25-21. Kaiser Faalilo played and captained Uso Fiafia well and was supported by consistent play from Andrew Moli. For Cri Clovers, Stretch and Michelle O’Donnell both had good sets, especially O’Donnell, given the fact she is playing on the men’s height net. She received the ball well and offered some solid shots at the net. Bella’s Team got off to a good start in the beginning of the set against Pure Samoa, Some great serving and hitting by Emma Gardiner proved vital early. Pure Samoa caught back up but Bella’s Team was just able to hold on for the win 25-22. A huge serving run of 13 points from Pure Samoa in set two left the set in their hands. A good fight back from Bella’s Team followed but not enough and the set win went to Pure Samoa 25-13. A very close third set followed with Pure Samoa coming out the victors. Work Hard Play Hard’s, Jack Pope was the difference for his side in their two sets to one victory on the night
NMIT tutors Steve McIntyre and Andy Woolley have come up with a two-faced Mazda to help recruit students for automotive trades and engineering and construction courses.
Two cars, one project with a twist Take two clapped out small cars. Back them up, bumper to bumper. Cut each in half and then weld them together and you have an intriguing project at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology It is a unique project for the automotive trades and engineering and construction students. The eccentric hybrid – with two engines, two gearboxes and two drivers – is the brain-
child of tutors Steve McIntyre and Andy Woolley. Steve says the unusual vehicle is a way of attracting the interest of school leavers in a trade’s career. “If we go to schools to talk about a career and do, say a wheel change exercise it’s all ‘so what’ for the kids. We need something more exciting. “If we can take this car along to school, kids will go,
wow and talk about it to their parents.” That may lead to interest in a career as an automotive or mechanical engineer or in construction. Steve and Andy have fused the two Mazdas together with the enthusiastic involvement of their students. Steve says the car can be driven in each direction and – with sets of wheels facing in opposite directions – is
capable of a few tricks, like driving down the road like a crab. Steve is now planning a V8 chainsaw and says the car should add promotional value for the trades programme and NMIT in general. The final look of the car isn’t certain. If the tutors can find a paint and panel shop that wants to be involved, the dual “Mazdadzam” may look smart.
Golden tickets for fitness By Laura Shipley Qwik Kiwi Sports Training Consultants are running a golden ticket competition. There are 3 golden tickets to be found and each winner will get 12 weeks free training for the Jules Taylor Wines Marlborough Women’s Triathlon.
The first clue was released at 7am on Monday morning via email and 4 hours later on the Qwik Kiwi Facebook page. The second clue was released via email at 7am on Tuesday morning and 4 hours later on social media. The man behind the initiative Ray Boardman has been coaching for
15 years and has also been on the Marlborough Triathlon and Multisport Club committee in previous years. Clues will continue to be sent out each morning at 7am until all Golden Tickets have been found. To sign up to get the emails you can go to the Qwik Kiwi Facebook page.