Help – from one bay to another

JO RICHARDS

Two volunteers from Golden Bay have just returned from a trip to cyclone-hit Hawke’s Bay.

Phil Smith and Tristan Strange travelled to Ōtāne last week and met up with fencers, farmers, and volunteers from across the North Island. They were there to help farmers recover from Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastating floods that left paddocks covered in thick layers of silt and strewn with debris.

Phil said it was “an emotional journey” for them. “We got talking to the farmers who are living on the edge of sanity… The fences can be repaired, and paddocks restored, but mental health is at breaking point.”

One couple doing it particularly tough are Rick and Anna Lee, who lost their daughter two years ago to suicide, and then, five weeks before the cyclone hit, bought an orchard. “That orchard was badly affected, the farm lost all the fences and paddocks destroyed," says Phil. "Water so high it was going over deer fencing. All they could do was watch what they have worked for float away.”

While they wait for insurance and government money to come through, and, in the absence of timely support from council and farming organisations, Phil says the couple are feeling isolated. But knowing that

Golden Bay is there for them and their community provided “a great uplift to their spirits”.

What struggling Hawke’s Bay farmers need now, explains Phil, isn't necessarily more money, but rather hands on tools. “From fencing, cleaning up rocks from paddocks, digger operators, tractor operators, people to help milk cows, help clean houses, paint, just

Specialising in:

* mowing

* raking

* tedding

* Baling: round, medium & large square

* cartage

* 16-ton tip trailer

* Mole ploughing

* Heavy roller hire

* Baleage/hay sales

NOW OFFERING:

Tow & Fert – liquid fertiliser application

Tristan Strange 027 515 5204 help listen to them and have a cuppa.”

Now that the connection has been established, Phil plans to follow up with another visit soon. “We hope to head back up in a month and take more people with us and really get some hard mahi [work] done.”

Anyone keen to help should contact Phil Smith at philsm1982@gmail.com, or Tristan Strange at strangecontracting@gmail.com our store. The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

RECENT AGM / Hui ā tau - Nō nā tata nei

GOLDEN Bay Federated Farmers. President, Cherrie Chubb. Dairy chair, Tyler Langford. Meat and wool chair, Pax Leetch. Administrator and executive member, Daphne Woods. Remaining executive members, Sue Brown and Ann Thompson. Scribe, Maree Edwards. ORGANISATIONS may have their committee members’ names printed in this column for free if emailed to admin@ gbweekly.co.nz

AGM NOTICES

POHARA Boat Club AGM, Thursday 15 June, 7pm at the Boat Club. All welcome.

EAST Tākaka Hall AGM, Thursday 8 June, 7.30pm at the Hall. Discussion topic: Emergency Preparedness for East Tākaka. Come and have your say. Supper to follow.

GOLDEN Bay Swimming Inc AGM will be held on Wednesday 14 June 2023 at 7pm in the library of Golden Bay High School. We encourage all whānau of current and future swimmers to attend. The AGM will be followed by a meeting of all those who are interested in competitive swimming opportunities in 2023/24.

HEALTH & WELLBEING / Hauora PUBLIC town. Otherwise mobile service available. Ph 021 0260 7607. REIKI master, Tony Hunt. $50 per session. Wednesdays. Ph 027 293 4828.

Church. Ph 0800 229 6757.

FRESH FM needs your help. Are you willing to host a fundraising event to support local radio? Or help run one? Check out our website freshfm.net. We’re a Charitable Trust – a $30 donation (that can be made on our website) is tax deductible.

COMPUTER safety and security a worry? Come along to a SeniorNet session to find out more about keeping yourself and your computer safe. St John Rooms, Rec Park, Tuesday 30 May 2-4pm. All welcome, non-members $5.

ST JOHN APPEAL WEEK – Friday 16 June 2023. Would anyone like to assist with fund raising for St John at FreshChoice? I have a number of times during the day which would be available. Please call Belinda on 021 236 2840 if you are able to help.

The Annual General Meeting of the Takaka Village Theatre Society will be held at the Theatre on Tuesday 6th June. Doors open at 7.00pm, meeting commences 7.30pm, film to follow.

Agenda:

 Apologies

 Minutes of the previous meeting

 Report from the Chair

 Financial Report

 Standard procedural motions

 Election of Officers

 General Business

Notices of motion and nominations for the Committee must be received by the Secretary by 4.00pm on 2nd June 2023.

Tish Potter, Secretary

Agm

Monday 12 June 7.00pm

Takaka Fire Station

Key positions are filled but we need a good turnout to meet our quorum quota. Our organisation relies on volunteers to help organise Commemorations and look after our RSA Veterans, spouses and families so don’t be shy. Please come and join us and also hear our guest speaker tell about her extensive research of Takaka District WW1 soldiers. Supper provided afterwards.

Noel Baigent, President Golden Bay RSA

Golden Bay Promotion Association AGM

Golden Bay Promotion Association AGM

Are you a new business owner? Come and meet us.

Are you a new business owner? Come and meet us.

FOR SALE / Hei hokohoko

GARAGE sale, 16 Park Avenue, Saturday 27 May at 9am. Cane and wing back couch, three writing desks, china cabinet. Some handyman tools, bench. Ph 027 545 4025.

BED, as new Opulence queen-sized bed, one year old. Paid $1500, selling for $1300. Ph 525 8644.

WEANER pigs, $130. Txt 027 412 7176.

BRIFORD trailer, 7x4 feet. Galvanised single axle 1600mm drawbar. Reg and WOF. $2400 firm. Ph 027 956 7040.

FIREWOOD. Delivering now: Douglas fir, gum. Ph Bay Firewood 027 769 6348.

BLINDS, Luxaflex® duettes, roller; blockout, translucent or sunscreen, venetians, romans, Lumishade. Imagine designs, 96b Commercial St, Tākaka. Ph Tracey 027 440 0071 and let's discuss the options.

HEALTH & WELLBEING / Hauora

ANÉL BAKER Physiotherapy at 22 Meihana Street, Tākaka. Ph/txt 021 053 4337. Now available in Collingwood on Mondays.

DEEP tissue massage, trigger points, accupressure for muscle pain, reduced mobility, stress, sports. Lymphatic drainage for lymphoedema, post surgery. 28 years’ experience. Ph Paul 027 772 7334.

Monday 29 May, 7pm

Monday 29 May, 7pm GB Visitor Centre, 3 Willow Street, Takaka Come, Stay, Play

GB Visitor Centre, 3 Willow Street, Takaka Come, Stay, Play

PUBLIC NOTICES / Pānui a whānui