Toy librarian attends major conference

Golden Bay toy librarian Larissa Dunn recently attended a five-day International Toy Library Conference, from 3-7 March in Melbourne, Australia.

Larissa has worked part-time in her role for five years, at the popular Golden Bay Toy Library (GBTL), which is housed in the Brownies Inn at the Rec Park Centre.

When told about the conference by their treasurer, Jennifer Cooper, she applied for one of two scholarships offered by the International and Australian Toy Library Associations.

Securing the scholarship included $500 towards airfares, tickets to all events, and five nights’ homestay. Further funding was received from Trash Palace, the Toy Library Federation of New Zealand, and the Lottery Minister's Discretionary Fund.

“We got to hear from different professionals and toy library members and delegates from all around the world, so we had 100 people representing different countries,” Larissa said.

As part of the scholarship, Larissa delivered a presentation about GBTL. Entitled “Benefits of Kindness Within the Toy Library Community”, she spoke about her connection to the community through building relationships with families.

Other presentations Larissa enjoyed were the Taiwan representatives, who practise sustainability by collecting and recycling thousands of toys and components; and a representative from the Aboriginal group Yarn Strong Sista, who spoke from her culture’s perspective and offered up the challenge of how to embrace culture.

Visiting toy libraries around Melbourne was another highlight, where Larissa met many people working voluntarily at their local centres. She learned new ideas for storage, library layouts, ways to use social media, and how other centres organise their volunteers to offer the best possible service to their communities.

In Golden Bay, the committee consists of five volunteers, including Amy Graham (secretary) and Melissa Cook. Behind the scenes, they organise fundraisers and apply for grants, meeting once a month via Zoom.

Their successful applications have enabled Larissa to recently purchase a whole slew of new toys, funded by a Pub Charity grant.

In addition, Tasman District Council provided a new smartphone with a year’s prepaid plan, and Rural Service Centre funded the purchase of a new laptop. Both items enabled the GBTL to go digital.

All three women expressed huge gratitude to all the local supporters above, plus FreshChoice and Tui Balms.

“We are really grateful that we are supported by local businesses – and national bodies,” said Amy. “Without that we couldn’t run, really.”

Visit Golden Bay Toy Library on Facebook for details on location and opening hours.

Liquid fertiliser application

Athletics

JO RICHARDS

With autumn now well underway, the 2022/23 athletics season has run its race.

Reflecting on the past season, Tākaka Athletics Club’s competition secretary Maree Fleming says the young athletes worked hard, helped each other, and enjoyed themselves. “We had the usual fun competition where the kids give it their all. They were an enthusiastic, lively – sometimes sassy - group of kids who supported their teammates while bettering themselves throughout the season.”

Amongst the season’s highlights, two long-standing club records were broken. In the long jump, Iyla Lamason registered 4.01m, beating Lauren Gardiner's 2014 record of 3.99m. And in the shot put, Ella Baigent threw 8.69m, beating Geena Gross’s 8.55m set in 2012.

Also of note were two new memorial trophies donated to the club. “The Mark Hope memorial trophy was donated by the Hope family for outstanding contribution to the club,” explains Maree. “Mark was our life member and certainly contributed many hours to the club. And the Stuart Kilgour memorial trophy was donated by the Kilgour family in memory of Stu's love of athletics. Stu held the 12 [year-old] boys shot put record in the 1980s.”

Maree says a generous “back room” of parents, caregivers, committee members, sponsors, and coaches, helped the athletes to perform to best of their ability. “They couldn't do it without our fantastic coaching team of Genevieve Hitchcock, Courtney Clark, Wendy Brooks, Lauren Gardiner, and Hannah Gross."

With the season now over, Maree is already thinking about next summer. "We're looking to an exciting 2023/24 season.”

Results

Congratulations to our Club record breakers

Iyla Lamason Long jump 4.01m beating Lauren Gardiner's 3.99m 2014 record.

Ella Baigent shot put 8.69m beating Geena Gross’s 8.55m 2012

Congratulations to our award winners

Age Grade Club Champions: Grade 5 Girl, Sophie Petterson; Grade 6 Boy, Charlie Baigent; Grade 7 Girl, Emma Petterson; Grade 8 Boy, Eli Miller; Grade 9 Girl, Aleisha Best; Grade 9 Boy, Luca Graham; Grade 10 Boy, Cooper Strange; Grade 11 Boy, Hunter Austin; Grade 12 Boy, Aiden Best; Grade 13 Girl, Ruby Darwen; Grade 13 Boy, Levi Petterson; Grade 15 Girl, Iyla Lamason. Age Grade, Coaches Choice Awards: Charlie Foe, Zienna Baigent, Sophie Petterson, Charlie Baigent, Chase McKay, Emma Petterson, Liam Hitchcock, Aleisha Best, Hunter Austin, Ali Reynish, Iyla Lamason

Congratulations to our overall winners

Bill Richards cups for overall club champions: Junior Club Champion, Aleisha Best; Senior Club Champion, Ruby Darwen, Ruby is our four-star award achiever.

Fleming Cup for most improved athlete: Junior Most Improved Athlete, Charlie Baigent; Senior Most Improved Athlete, Paige Baigent.

Stuart Kilgour Memorial trophy for the overall Coaches' Choice: Aleisha Best.

Mark Hope Memorial trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Tākaka Athletics: the Best family (no pun).

A huge thanks to our sponsors; there wouldn't be an athletics club without your support: NBS, Solly's Contractors, Hammer Hardware, Trash Palace, Sport NZ, Abel Tasman Plumbing & Gas, Dan Darwen Builders, Heavy Diesel Golden Bay, Laser Electrical, Billy Baigent for building the long jump pit and lastly The Sustainable Living Centre, Tākaka Primary School and Golden Bay High School for the use of their grounds.