Retail: $2
www.gbweekly.co.nz
Friday 10 November 2023
Kids keep country tradition
Nine-year-old Aroha with her three-month-old lamb Nosey at last Saturday's Boys and Girls Agricultural Show in Tākaka. Photo: Rosa Volz. ROSA VOLZ
The sun shone on a display of talent and enthusiasm at the Boys and Girls Agricultural Show last Saturday. By 10am, a sizeable gathering of parents, children, volunteers, and of course domestic animals and livestock, assembled at Tākaka's Rec Park Centre to enjoy the sunshine. Inside the Rec Centre, The GB Weekly was greeted by a colourful exhibition of artwork, cooking, vegetables, flowers, and photography – with seven sections and 30 sub-sections. Lachlan McAlinden (10) spent the last two months “working on a Jurassic World scene” in the Plastic Construction section. “It’s fun to do, working together cutting pieces out. Finding the pictures in my memory and putting it together,” he says.
Outside on the rugby field are the livestock sections, sitting alongside facepainting, the Tākaka volunteer fire service, a sausage sizzle, and a very popular petting zoo. The livestock categories encompass five sections with 16 sub-sections – with the greatest number of entrants presenting in the dog show ring. Aroha (9) tells The GB Weekly that this is her second year of competing at the show. This year she is entering her three-month-old lamb Nosey, who is dressed in a hat. This is a long-term relationship, “He is my pet, and I am going to keep him forever.” In the far corner of the fields, the horse section gets underway at 9.45am. Aria Dobbs (14) is riding Cailee, a 12-year-old Anglo-Arab horse (14.3 hands), and they take out second prize in the Advanced section. This means that she can walk, trot, and canter unassisted. Her
Ray White Golden Bay
GoldenBayPropertyServices.co.nz
mother Carrie says that Aria’s success is due to her commitment over the last four years. “Aria is homeschooled, and she prioritises her horse grooming and exercising over everything else.” The cutest calf on the field is Clover, accompanied by first-time entrant, eight-yearold Emma Petterson. Clover is a Jersey cow and “very cute and very tame”. “She is going to be a milking cow,” says Emma. In preparation for the show, Emma has been getting up at 7am to milk Clover’s mum and to tie up and brush Clover. The organising team – Abbie Langford, Steph Gray, Emma Tate, and Jasmine Polglase – were thrilled with the turnout of talent. Says Abbie, “We start planning the May or June [preceding] the show. I love doing the show and seeing families and kids practice and get... Continued on page 3
St John recruitment JO RICHARDS
Hato Hone St John is touting the benefits of volunteering, as the organisation appeals for new recruits across Golden Bay. Having worked in various voluntary roles since 1990, Tim Creagh, Hato Hone St John group operations manager for Nelson and Tasman Bays, has seen the “immense contribution volunteers make in communities across New Zealand”. “Many of our volunteers work in frontline emergency response roles, providing first aid and, sometimes, lifesaving help. They play a crucial role when patients are at their most vulnerable, and when every second counts,” he says. Tim says there are currently 12 Hato Hone St John volunteer ambulance officers based in Tākaka and five in Collingwood, and the organisation is looking to recruit more “good and keen team members who want to make a positive impact in the community”. Hato Hone St John will provide all the necessary training, which includes courses on driving and resource management, and volunteers also complete a New Zealand Certificate in Emergency Care (First Responder). It typically takes between six and nine months for a new volunteer to meet all training requirements. There are also opportunities for advanced training if you wish to progress to a higher authority to practice. Aside from responding to emergencies, Tim says team members occasionally provide support at community events such as festivals and concerts. “Our volunteers play a significant role in helping build resilient communities and we are truly grateful for their selfless commitment to helping others. We are always looking for new team members, particularly young, healthy, and physically fit people who are practical, calm under pressure, and can work well in a team.” Tim, who has 35 years’ experience in the ambulance sector, says volunteers in Tākaka work on rostered shifts, while Collingwood volunteers are on-call only. “We know how busy modern life can be, so we like to be as flexible as we can when it comes to the hours and times our volunteers are able to work.” Volunteers also have access to benefits, discounts, and wellbeing support. For more information about becoming a volunteer, including the application process, contact Tim Creagh on ph 027 255 3981, or visit: https://join.stjohn.org. nz/volunteer-jobs.
18 Metre Platform for Hire with Operator
Thank you to all who supported by purchasing raffle tickets Billy Kerrisk Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Inside: Wellbeing app THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2023
• Cleaning • Maintenance • Inspections
027 690 0769 Spring Merriment
Halloween
Barry Graham I Ph 027 465 7888, 525 8787 Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter & Drainlayer
www.goldenbayplumbing.nz
Des Molloy
Rural Views
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
1