The Eastbourne Herald July 2020

by Ann Packer

Remember those Christmas concerts in Muritai School hall when the black-singleted Three Trevs entertained us with Fred Dagg’s anthem?

That refrain has never been more appropriate – and one of the singers remembers it well. Although Ashley Bloomfield thinks we do realise how lucky we are, he says it’s hard when the rest of the world is in turmoil.

“We know there’s a storm raging around us, yet everything feels normal,” says the Eastbourne-resident doctor who, with the Prime Minister, delivered a daily update on the state of the pandemic as we locked down for Covid-19.

The Bloomfields – wife Libby, also a doctor, is currently chaplain at Wellesley College –came to the capital from Auckland at the end of 1997 on a six-month contract as part of Ash’s public health training. When the contract was extended they started looking for houses, visiting every playground in the area with baby Olivia. On an “absolutely stunning” Wellington day they came to Bishop Park – and across the road was a house for sale. “The kids have grown up here and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Ash says.

Like many New Zealanders, the Bloomfield family found lockdown a blessing. With all three children at home, there was no worrying about how they were doing in another city. It was a beautiful autumn – no traffic, no noise – and no matter what sort of day Ash’d endured they all sat down to a family meal at night. Saturdays were spent walking or biking – locally, of course.

Early on, Ash says, there was great uncertainty. “You had to give advice based on patchy information. Keeping on top of it was

difficult.” Now, there’s so much information others do much of his research but in those days he was dreaming Covid-19. He had to remind himself “to get up every day and keep fronting up”.

While people were isolated, they were connected by the “Ashley and Jacinda Show”, which became a rallying event. “It was a reminder to me of the power of effective communication – simple messages, repeated often, through a range of channels.” In fact, the Ministry had been practising since 27 January, when a team started rehearsing the “alert but not alarm” approach in preparation for lockdown.

In spite of everything, Dr Bloomfield has never felt any sense of threat. “There was no malice whatsoever towards me, even from people whose livelihoods were affected.”

When he started making the daily trek down Molesworth St from his office to the Beehive, drivers would slow down and toot. The gratitude continues – checkout operators ask for selfies, creative types embroidered hand towels and bags raising over $140,000 for Women’s Refuge. Hutt City gave him a citation, the Bloomfields have dined at Government House and especially appreciated the many expressions of support from locals.

These days Ash sticks to his Saturdays off, mountain biking or running with the dog and friends in the hills. Sundays he goes into the office to prepare for the week or reply to letters from children. “Kids get anxious too. This has been a profoundly impactful event for children.” Their empathy is heartening: a recent bunch of letters from a school, noting he’d looked “sad” on TV, offered advice based on their own experience: “Eat junk food. Have a beer.”

He is also going to play in an upcoming charity rugby game organised by Ken

Laban at Wainuiomata against some of the Parliamentarians he works with.

Dr Bloomfield remains confident we can beat the virus. “We still have the highest testing rate per confirmed case in the world…and the tracing app is being improved. But this calm patch probably means we’re just in the eye of the storm.

“We really have to be ready for another wave,” he says. “It’s not if but when.”

“We don’t know how lucky we are!”

Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

Vandalism angers ERAT boss

ERAT’s (Educating Residents About Trapping) manager Sally Bain says she is disappointed with some needless vandalism that occurred recently.

A trap was burnt out on the point between Mahina and York Bays. As a result, Sally is asking people to take a note of licence plates if they notice people tampering with traps used to control rodents.

“I’d like to say to the person who torched one of our traps that I’m sad they feel this action would have an effect on the project.

"They must feel very important to have taken such a risk. But I shall not let their anger infect me and will smile at the birds along the coast all the more.”

ERAT has a trapline along Rona Bay foreshore that requires a volunteer to do a monthly re-bait, and Sally is hoping to find someone living nearby who would be keen to help.

“The Duke of Edinburgh student we had had to drop away from his residential trapline due to extra work commitments after Lockdown. So if there is a community minded person prepared to take on his traps, please get in touch, we’d be very grateful for the help.”

Sally has also noticed that someone or

TIMETABLE

a group has been regularly disposing of an enormous amount of empty beer bottles along the coastline south of Burdan’s Gate.

“They have recently changed from Macs ale to Heineken,” she says, tongue in cheek.

“I’ve seen these bottles in great numbers all the way out to the lighthouses!”

“It also makes me sad that someone is so ungrateful to live in such a fantastic place as this."

She would like to thank those who she does often see collecting rubbish off our beaches and says it is noticed and appreciated.

Sally says ERAT will soon have another team member, but he is waiting to pass his DOC interim exams before he officially joins the team.

SAT, SUN & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

(S)

(S)

(S)

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Sailing calls at Somes Island, subject to passengers.

FERRY FARES EFFECTIVE FROM 15 JULY One way: adult $12, child $6. Family Days Bay $66 (Return). 10 trip: adult $90, student $68, child $45. Monthly pass: adult $270, student $199, child $135. Matiu Somes Island: adult $25, child $13, family $68 (Return).

Achievements celebrated

Next ECB meeting:

7.15 pm Tuesday 25 August 2020, East Harbour Women’s Club, 145 Muritai Road.

A meeting to discuss sand build-up, Kauri Street

ECB and HCC have arranged a meeting with one of New Zealand’s leading dune experts, Jim Dahm, to discuss the sand build-up at the end of Kauri Street. Jim Dahm will provide options to help solve the problem. He will be available for any other coastal restoration questions too. All interested residents are welcome.

2pm Wednesday 29 July at the end of Kauri Street. Rain or shine.

Have your say on proposed changes to rubbish and recycling

Look at the options and make a submission at haveyoursay.huttcity.govt.nz/ or at the library. Eastbourne Community Board (ECB)

Eastbourne Community Board (ECB)

Residents are welcome to contact board members. Members often sort minor issues directly with council staff or may ask for a report from officers to go on the next agenda. You can also contact us on the Eastbourne Community Board Facebook page.

Virginia Horrocks (Chair) virginia.horrocks@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 021 230 8210

Murray Gibbons (Deputy Chair) murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 04 562 8567

Tui Lewis (Ward Councillor) tui.lewis@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 04 970 5159

Bruce Spedding bruce.spedding@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 021 029 74741

Frank Vickers

frank.vickers@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 027 406 1419

Belinda Moss

belinda.moss@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 029 494 1615

Your chance to meet the candidates

In less than two months, New Zealanders will go to the polling booths for the 53rd time to determine the next Government.

The local Lions Club is hoping for a good turn out to its Meet the Candidates event at 7.30pm on Wednesday, August 12 at Muritai School Hall. Lions member, Graham Wilson says Neil Newman will host the evening, asking questions of the candidates in attendance.

The Eastern Bays is home to just one of the candidates, Wilf Bearman-Reidel, who will be contesting the Hutt South seat on the New Zealand Outdoors Party ticket, as he did in 2017.

Graham says the Lions are confident of getting all candidates standing for Hutt South along to the meeting.

"And that includes the 'oddballs'," he adds, "who make the night so entertaining."

The 2020 election in brief

• The 2020 New Zealand general election will be held after the currently elected 52nd New Zealand Parliament is dissolved or expires. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the election date as Saturday, 19 September, 2020

• Voters will elect 120 members to the House of Representatives under New Zealand's Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system, in which 72 members are elected from single-member electorates and 48 members are elected from closed party lists

• After the last election, the Labour Party formed a minority coalition Government with the New Zealand First party, with confidence and supply from the Green Party

• A referendum on personal cannabis consumption is planned to be held at the same time, along with a referendum on the End of Life Choice Bill.

We have all been through a lot but things are looking brighter.

If you would like us to stock a new product line or make something unique for a special occasion then come in and we will try to help Your local

It was standing room only at Friday night's authors' get together at Rona Gallery in which publisher Mary McCallum introduced John Horrocks, Anne Manchester and Pete Carter, (pictured above l-r), three local writers who all published books during the Covid Lockdown.

Whodunnit just the ticket for a winter's evening

If last year’s audience numbers are anything to go by, winter seems the perfect time for the Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe to mount a detective murder mystery.

The choice of Snap! an adaptation of the Ngaio Marsh novel Photo Finish, follows the great success the local theatre troupe had with the Agatha Christie murder mystery And Then There Were None. Photo Finish was one of only four novels that Marsh set in New Zealand.

Snap! was adapted by Christchurch playwright Fiona Farrell for a 2013 production at the Court Theatre. It features Marsh's everclever, elegant British detective Roderick Alleyn, who first made his appearance in 1934. In Snap! he is in New Zealand, at a lodge in the middle of a South Island lake, accompanied by his wife, the portrait painter Troy.

Paparazzi, passions and murder collide in this New Zealand whodunit set in the 1960s. Director Anne Manchester describes the play as a melodrama from the golden age of detective fiction. The story centres on an operatic diva, Sicilian-born Isabella Sommita, a little past her prime. She is growing increasingly fearful of a string of unflattering photographs appearing mysteriously in newspapers wherever she goes.

“It’s exciting to at last be able to mount a live show after the weeks of lockdown and restrictions due to Covid-19,” Anne said. “We’re all enjoying being back into the normal routines of rehearsal and pre-production work.”

Anne describes the style of the play as exaggerated and mannered. “Although part of the action takes place during the rehearsals for a new opera, fortunately none of the cast is required to sing. However, the action is punctuated by some dazzling operatic arias, along with projected images that explain the back story and help set the scene.

The cast of ten includes some Butterfly

Snap! will be performed at the Muritai

from August 13-15 and 20-22. Bookings are through Eventfinda or Rona Gallery in Eastbourne.

Further information from Anne Manchester 027 684 5664.

Friday 14 August

EXPLORE YEARS 7&8

Friday 14 August

EXPERIENCE YEAR 9

Friday 11 September

Creek Theatre Troupe stalwarts like John Marwick, Lian Butcher and Colin Orchiston, but features several new faces.

School Hall

Opera diva Isabella Sommita (Victoria Nelson) on the edge of hysteria, with manager Montague Reece (Colin Orchiston) and his personal assistant Marcia (Leoni McKelvey) attempting to calm her nerves.

Podcast series tackling mental health issues

by Carl McRae

A former Eastbourne woman, Jessica Woodnorth is having some success with a podcast series she co-founded and developed, which she says aims to open up conversations around the ups and downs of mental health.

Learnt My Lesson podcast was the brainchild of Jess and her best friend, Savanna JohnstonKeys. It debuted in March this year, just prior to Level 4 Lockdown.

“The podcasts talk about our own experiences with anxiety and depression,” Jess says, “and how they've been impacted by different areas of our lives".

From high school, to travel, relationships to university, Jess says all topics are unpacked, in the hope that even just a solitary person can feel less alone in what they're going through.

“We also have guests on the podcast,” she says, “such as Commonwealth Games diver, Anton Jenkins, to bring light to the fact that no one, no matter how confident or successful they may be or be seen, has everything together all the time. We’ve also had Roscoe Price Moor, founder of Roady NZ and local Eastbourne girls Emily and Sophie Martin, aka the @tasty. twinsss.”

Growing up in Eastbourne, Jess had a great childhood. She says she loved her time at Muritai School, and always felt grateful to live in such a beautiful spot and was a generally carefree child.

“I went to high school at Wellington Girls' College,” she says, “and while things started off fine, I eventually started suffering from anxiety, a story that is all too common among teenagers these days.”

“My anxiety got progressively worse, and I was convinced that I was going crazy; convinced that I was the only person experiencing such intense emotions. The fact that I was living a life

that, from the outside, looked completely and utterly fine, didn't help things, as I was convinced it meant I didn't 'deserve' to suffer from mental health issues.”

Over the four years following high school, Jess went to university, engaged in relationships, travelled, worked and met so many new people, she quickly found that every area of life comes with its own set of ups and downs, but there are ways to deal with them.

“I met my best friend Sav in our first year at University College, Otago,” Jess says. “Since then Sav and I have flatted together, travelled together, and been there for each other through all the ups and downs. Sav and I both suffer from anxiety and depression, but what we find interesting is that we experience them in different ways to each other.”

At the beginning of 2020, Jess and Sav found that they were having a lot of conversations around the vagaries of their mental health; what's different, what's similar, what makes things worse, and what makes things better. The two young women found themselves wondering ‘why no one talks to you about this stuff when you're in high school?’ That was the catalyst for Learnt My Lesson Podcast.

“We started Learnt My Lesson so that other people trying to navigate their mental health, could hopefully feel a little less alone,” Jess explains. “The name of the podcast is a play on the idea that these are the lessons you should be taught about in high school. Science, Math and English are great, but if you're feeling anxious about going to school each day, or you're struggling to get out of bed, then are they really the most important things to be talking about?”

“The name Learnt My Lesson has another touch of irony, which we love,” she adds. “Because when it comes to life, everyone is still learning, constantly. You will make mistakes,

you will learn from them, and then you'll make more mistakes. That's just how it goes.”

“We aren't qualified, we're two 22-year-old girls who've stumbled through the ups and downs of life, making so many mistakes along the way, and that's what we hope makes us relatable.”

Jess and Sav work with producer Francesca Georgia Pietkiewicz to release an episode each week. The podcast is available on Spotify and iTunes, by searching ‘Learnt My Lesson’ and the podcast Instagram account is @ learntmylesson_.

To date, the podcast has been downloaded more than 4,000 times, has reached 23rd on the ‘Health & Fitness Apple podcast charts’ in New Zealand, and fifth on the mental health chart.

“We are absolutely loving what we are doing,” Jess says, “and we really just hope to reach as many people as possible, because this stuff needs to be talked about.”

“We also have a very special pink ribbon event launching in the coming weeks, in collaboration with the people who've brought you Chow and The Library, so keep an eye out for that."

Jess Woodnorth and Savanna Johnston-Keys.

Kōrero mai: te para me te hangarua Talk

with us: rubbish and recycling

We have some options to make kerbside rubbish and recycling better in Lower Hutt, and it would be great to know what you think. Join the conversation at hutt.city/haveyoursay

GLASS

Mystery native sun orchid found in our park

A rare and unusual native sun orchid has been found growing in the East Harbour Regional Park. Local MIRO member Sally Bain found the mystery orchid on 25 June while walking with her dog and checking rat traps. It was in bud at the time, shortly before the first flower opened.

She knew it was something different because native sun orchids usually flower in summer, so she took a photo with her phone camera and posted a photo to the New Zealand Native Orchid Facebook group. Following a tip from Sally, another group member re-found it and photographed it with the flower beginning to open on 6 July. They noticed that the flower was an unusual mix of pale mauve and pink. After I saw the photos posted online, I went to look for it too. When I found it the next day, I took this photo, by which time the flower was fully open.

The mystery sun orchid is unusual because it is winter flowering rather than summer

flowering, and the flower has remained open continuously around the clock, rather than just between 12 noon and 2pm as sun orchid flowers do in summer. The flower is about four centimetres across, growing a few centimetres above the ground, with thin green leaves up to about ten centimetres tall.

The native sun orchid species known to grow in the park include Spotted Sun Orchid or Makaika, White Sun Orchid, and Hatch’s Sun Orchid. These species often have a subtle sweet spicy fragrance when they flower but the mystery winter flowering sun orchid did not seem to have any fragrance at all.

Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand scientists Carlos Lehnebach and Lara Shepherd are now studying the mystery sun orchid as part of a three-year study that aims to identify the taxonomic status of more than twenty as yet undescribed New Zealand native orchids. Their research project is funded by the Australia and Pacific Science Foundation and involves the use of DNA barcoding markers and gene sequencing technologies.

Ian St George, editor of the New Zealand Native Orchid Journal, thinks the mystery sun orchid is probably Thelymitra hiemalis, an

endangered Victorian Winter Sun Orchid that may have been found in NZ once before on Great Barrier Island in 2019. It is considered by several Australian naturalists to be a rare mutation of one of the spotted sun orchids.

Many people know that pest control benefits small native birds that nest in the park such as Rifleman, Whitehead, and NZ Tomtit. Sally Bain says that she has noticed more native orchids flowering in the Park in recent years thanks to pest control operations carried out by Greater Wellington and MIRO. This is because controlling introduced pest species such as rats, possums and deer removes non-native animals that would otherwise browse on native plants, including native orchids.

- Michael Szabo on behalf of MIRO

Feedback sought on rubbish

Hutt City Council is seeking feedback from the community on a major upgrade proposed for the city’s rubbish and recycling services. Following community feedback and Council decisions, new services would come into place next July.

Mayor Campbell Barry says frustrations about the city’s rubbish and recycling services are a source of constant feedback from people right across the community.

“People across our city know that our current recycling services are not fit for purpose – and they’re right,” Mayor Barry says. “It’s not uncommon to see recycling scattered across our streets on windy days, not to mention the little capacity the current green crates have to accommodate Lower Hutt’s families.”

Under HCC's proposed changes, Lower Hutt households would receive two bins for recycling. One wheelie bin for mixed recycling, and another wheelie bin/crate for glass recyclables.

“When I became Mayor,” he adds, “I strongly signalled that our Council would urgently progress changes to bring our kerbside recycling service into the 21st century. Many other cities have been offering wheelie bins for recycling for years, and our residents know they have been missing out.”

HCC is also seeking community feedback about proposed changes to rubbish services, as well as the potential for optional green waste collection. The four options for rubbish services are:

• Council provides a fortnightly rubbish bin collection service (rates funded)

• Council provides a pay-as-you-throw rubbish collection service

• Council provides a weekly rubbish bin collection service (rates funded)

• Council no longer offers a rubbish collection service

Mayor Barry says there are a range of factors that have led Council to consult on waste collection services and in particular, its preferred option of providing fortnightly rates-funded waste collection. This includes environmental, as well as health and safety considerations.

“The options we’re consulting on aim to reduce contamination,” the Mayor says, “reduce waste going to landfill, as well as phasing out hazardous collection of Council rubbish bags. It would be unwise for us to make these changes and not consider the impact waste collection has on our ability to optimise our recycling services.”

HCC Chief Executive Jo Miller says Hutt City needs to reset and prioritise a more sustainable financial solution to rubbish and recycling.

“We want to take a system wide approach to rubbish and recycling,” the CE says, “and better manage where that rubbish goes. By making our services more effective, we can make our rubbish and recycling collection more environmentally and financially friendly.”

The targeted rate for this service also hasn’t been reviewed for many years,” she adds, “and costs have increased. These changes make a lot of financial sense, and will benefit the ratepayer.”

Consultation runs from 16th July to 16th August, 2020. People can provide their feedback on proposed changes online to haveyoursay. huttcity.govt.nz or visit a library or hub to pick up a copy of the consultation document.

Faith in the Community

Take a break too…

Most were pleased to see that Dr Bloomfield was taking a well-earned break over the school holidays. However, many in the church are familiar with what St Paul wrote in his letter to the Christians in Galatia: “Do not be weary in welldoing…” and take it as an instruction to ‘keep on, keeping on.’ Often the church appears to lay a guilt-trip on willing workers who after years of service need to take a break, and the same also applies in other volunteer organisations. But it can also be a self-imposed burden. You see, getting tired is part of what it means to be human and should not be a cause for guilt. As Eddie Askew said “It’s a lesson many of us find hard to learn. We get busier, burdening ourselves with more and more work, and under the dutiful face of acceptance, resentment builds. Even when we find the courage to say ‘no’ to new demands, we feel guilty.”

Those who look to Jesus for a model would do well to remember the occasion when he said to his friends, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6.31)

It’s probably not so much the demands of our faith or values that run us into the ground, but rather the unthinking demands of others or the unreasonable demands we place on ourselves when pride does not allow us to accept the human limits of our time and energy. Nestlé may just be wanting to sell chocolate but there is real wisdom in their Kit Kat ad. “Take a break”.

St Ronan’s Weekday activities: Toy Library, Community Fridge, Mainly Music, Pop-in-and-Play and Pump-dance etc are all back in full swing. But please wash/sanitise your hands, on arrival and don’t arrive at all if you’re unwell. Our 9.30am Sunday services are back to normal. Our weekly e-Services continue (ask if you want it emailed). Our monthly magazine the Record never stopped for COVID (ask if you want it delivered). E: office@ stronans.org.nz

St Alban’s For some, COVID-19 has raised a search for something more and for others wondering about the big questions of life. If you are interested in being part of a conversation over a fixed number of weeks please contact Rev John Hughes on T: 027 499 4792 E: vicar@stalbanschurch.nz

San Antonio Parish office, Petone (weekdays 10am-2pm) T: (04) 971 7885 E: holyspiritparish41@gmail.com

• This column of church news and views is sponsored by St Alban’s Anglican, St Ronan’s Presbyterian and San Antonio Catholic Churches.

Silent screen star's career began on our local stage

by Julia Stuart

Recent research has uncovered the extraordinary career of Eastbourne’s own star of the silent screen, Thomasina May (“Maisie”) Carte. Born in 1880, the youngest of four girls, Maisie went to school in Wellington, but in 1904 the family moved to south Muritai where her parents had bought land and built a four-room cottage (parts of which still exist). Maisie’s sister Marguerite (“Daisy”) had one of the first local weddings, at the newly built St Ronan’s Presbyterian Church in 1906; her sisters Rose and Maisie were bridesmaids.

After studying drama and music at Wanganui Technical School, in 1909 Maisie appeared on Eastbourne stages in various roles, to appreciative reviews. “Mrs Carte played Mrs Watmuff and May was, as usual, a captivating Emily,” and “Miss Carte played the part of the delectable arch Miss Cleopatra very cleverly,” wrote the Evening Post critic, who was clearly a fan.

Buoyed by these and similar successes, Maisie left for Australia in 1912, joined a school of acting in Sydney and was soon getting good notices. Her film debut in 1915 was in The Loyal Rebel, one of four silent films about the Eureka Stockade incident involving rebellious miners, soldiers and police in Ballarat.

In one scene, as the beautiful heroine, she was dragged out of the bank by the horrible villain and gagged and bound to a horse, which then galloped off into the distance. As she later recalled in a radio interview, the villain looked as though he was snarling at her, but he was

actually saying

“It’s all right matey, I won’t drop you, you’re quite safe!” Another hazard of silent-screen acting, she said, was “passionate kisses” which went on for endless minutes as the camera filmed from all angles.

All this and much more has been faithfully recorded by retired Wellington doctor Ian St George, who recently visited the Historical Society of Eastbourne’s rooms and was shown the relevant records by local historian Ali Carew. The Society has a large collection of ephemera – the priceless print items so often thrown away – and Dr St George was very pleased to find original programmes and photos of the Carte family’s dramatic doings.

Dr St George has been researching the histories of New Zealand’s almost unknown silent-screen stars – all ten of them. Because so few films of the era were made in New Zealand (only 18 are known), aspiring movie actors had to head for Australia and then went on to

Britain or Hollywood; few returned. He finds them fascinating:

“They’re all live-wires, people who saw an opportunity, were excited. Most had come through amateur dramatics, elocution, competition society activities, in New Zealand, and done well at them.”

It’s clear that Maisie loved Eastbourne, he said; she came back regularly, and was also a gifted artist who painted its people and its landscapes.

Stranded in New Zealand by the 1918 influenza epidemic, Maisie, now married, gave birth to her only child, Tess Merriel Lillie Carte Lloyd, in Eastbourne in 1919. The marriage was short-lived, and after a brief return to Australia she scored a major role in the 1921 production

The Birth of New Zealand with famous Kiwi film-maker Rudall Hayward. This is her last known film part, though she may have been in the Hayward classic Rewi’s Last Stand in 1926.

May Carte, now known professionally as Maisie Carte Lloyd, built her post-film career in New Zealand.

Unlike some of the silent-film stars she had a good voice, and she set up a studio in Lower Hutt offering lessons in “elocution and dramatic art”, with her pupils of all ages giving regular recitals. Maisie and Tess moved to Auckland in the mid-1920s and she continued stage acting and teaching, as well as broadcasting in the new medium of radio. She died in 1956.

If any reader has paintings of Eastbourne scenes or anything else by May Carte, please contact Ian St George, via his website https:// onadmiralroad.co.nz/

A still from The Birth of New Zealand.

Dr Ian St George and local historian Ali Carew at the Eastbourne History Room recently.

Mondays

• Retired Persons’ Assn meet 4th Mon, 10am St Ronan's Church hall for morning tea followed by a speaker - $2 entry.Transport can be arranged for these meetings on request, ph 562 7365 or 562 8387.

• East Harbour Women’s Club – Contract Bridge 2pm-5.30pm. Contact Judy Bishop 562 8985

• “Baby Bounce & Rhyme” at the library 10.00am.

• Singalong 1st Mon, 2pm at St Ronan’s.

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 11:45, phone Andrea 02102797311 for more info.

• Pt Howard Playcentre. Mon 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• The Historical Society’s Eastbourne History Room above the library is open 2-4 pm every Monday.

• Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade training every Monday 7-9pm. Ph 562 7001 for more info.

• Toy Library 8-9pm. St Ronans Hall www. eastbournemibase.com.au Elizabeth 021 08224664.

• Eastbourne Karate Dojo junior and senior classes (children 8 year & older, plus parents) on Monday and senior classes on Thursday. Contact lindsaysensei@live.com, cell 021 844 873.

East Harbour Women’s Club

• Duplicate Bridge: 2-5pm. Contact Judy Bishop 562 8985

Keas: Monday 5.15pm – 6.15pm

Kea Leader: Ed 021 738 699

Cubs Monday 6.30pm – 7.45pm

Cub Leader: Damon 022 620 7116

Tuesdays

• Eastbourne Bowling Club. Gentleman’s Casual and Social bowling held every Tuesday from 2.30 to 4.30pm. Experience not required. Bowls and instruction provided. Casual dress code Contact Bruce 562 8401 or Warren 562 8606

• Pt Howard Playcentre Tues 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• Days Bay Playcentre Puddle Jumpers Tues 10:30 to 12 noon: Messy and Sensory play for children 2 years and under. Casual sessions, $3 donation.

• Muritai Tennis Club 9.30–noon. Merryn 562 0236.

• Eastbourne Homebirth Group 1st Tuesday of the month. Phone Kate 562-7096.

• East Harbour Women’s Club Morning Tea & Chat Group 10am. Contact Glendyr 562 7181.

• Eastbourne Embroidery Group, St Ronan’s Church lounge 10am-12noon.

• Indoor Bowls Club 1.30pm, at the croquet club, Oroua Street. Rosemary 562 7365

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Mike

562 8688.

• Poetry group, every second Tuesday meet to read and enjoy poems old and new. Phone 562 8387.

• Toy Library9.30-10.30am. St Ronans Hall. Facebook: Eastbourne Toy Library Elizabeth 021 08224664www.eastbournemibase.com.

au

• 9.30am Nia Dance Fitness Class (low impact - teens to 70+) Music Movement MagicMuritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www.niainwellington.com

• Pump Dance preschool and junior hip hop. 4pm onwards St Ronans Hall. 0274373508 info@pumpdance.com

Wednesdays

• Retired Persons’ Assn meet 2nd Wed at Tartines for morning tea and socialising 11am. Occasional outings arranged. Ph 5627365 or 562 8387.

• Library preschool story time 10.00 am.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Wed 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• Scottish Country Dance. Merryn 562 0236.

• Bridge Club 7-10pm. Shona 562 7073.

• DB Playcentre Mon, Wed, Fri 9-12. Andrea Jensen 02102797311.

• “Steady as You Go” Age Concern sponsored Falls Prevention and Exercise Programme. Held 12 noon each Wednesday at Eastbourne Community Hall. Classes are held for 1 hour and costs only $2. Improve your strength and balance to reduce falls and injuries. Falls are preventable. Please join us!

• Baby Boogie - dance for babies and preschoolers at St Ronan's Hall. 9:30am10am. Intermediate/teen hip hop and contemporary. 5pm onwards St Ronans Hall. 0274373508 info@pumpdance.com

• EHock - Fun Stick and Ball game Girls and Boys 7- 13.Eastbourne Community Hall. Wednesdays 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. Derek Wilshere 0274303596

Thursdays

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Mike 562 8688. Women welcome.

• St Ronan’s Mainly Music, 9.30am-10.30am, contact Cathy 027 213 9342.

• SPACE at Days Bay Playcentre. Michelle 971 8598.

• East Harbour Women’s Club

- Bolivia 12.45pm, Contact Glendyr ph: 562 7181. Guest Speaker (3rd week of month)7pm, drinks and nibbles provide, Contact Diane ph: 562 7555

•Lions meet 2nd Thursday of the month at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club, Tuatoru St 6.30 pm. New members and visitors are welcome. Graham 562 8819.

• Eastbourne Karate Dojo junior and senior classes (children 8 year & older, plus parents) on Monday and senior classes on Thursday. Contact lindsaysensei@live.com, cell 021 844 873.

• Pump Dance boys hip hop. 5pm-6pm St Ronans Hall. 0274373508 info@pumpdance. com

Scouts: Thursday 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Scout Leader: Susan 027 535 4962

Fridays

• Pop in and Play playgroup at St Ronan's Church Hall, 9am-11.30am during school terms. All preschoolers (0-4 years) welcome. Cath 027 213 9342.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Fri 9.15 -11.45am. Caroline 021 072 1070.

• AA Plunket Rooms 7.30pm. Mark 566 6444/ Pauline 562 7833

• DB Playcentre Mon, Wed, Fri 9-12. Andrea Jensen 02102797311.

• Discovery Time for 4years+ at San Antonio School, 78 Oroua Street, 9.30-10.30am. Office 562 7398.

Saturdays

• Justice of the Peace at the Eastbourne Community Library, first Saturday of each month 12pm-1pm.

• Lions’ rubbish bin last Saturday of each month.

• Croquet from 10am Muritai Croquet Club. Lyn 562 8722 or Val 562 8181.

• Eastbourne Dune Restoration Group Meets dunes area in front of the Eastbourne Recreation Ground, on the first Saturday of the month at 9am. Contact Keena for more details on 562 0992.

Sundays

• AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Karen 021 440 705.

OKIWI TRUST

AGM

7.30pm, Wed August 19 2020, St Ronan’s Church

All welcome to attend. Members of the Trust encourage ongoing community involvement in this highly effective organisation that seeks to meet the needs of Eastbourne’s elderly residents. Further information about trust activities, see www.facebook.com/OkiwiTrust/

Notice of Annual General Meeting for the Muritai Tennis Club to be held at the Clubrooms - 356 Muritai Road on Sunday, August 23 at 12:30pm to be followed by shared lunch. All members are invited to attend. For further information please ring Wendy Manson on 027 5628287.

Top deck installation brings electric sailing closer

by Carl McRae

The sustainable future of waterborne passenger transport on Wellington Harbour came a step closer to reality on July 10, following the top deck assembly of the Southern Hemisphere’s first fully electric ferry in Seaview.

East by West Managing Director, Jeremy Ward, said that the placement of the top deck on the 19 metre long fully electric, zero emission ferry was a significant milestone.

East by West has been operating ferry services on Wellington Harbour since 1989, but Mr. Ward said that this particular media event was all about the future.

“This is a momentous occasion for New Zealand’s first zero-emission ferry,” Mr. Ward said, “as we transition towards a zero-carbon country. A tribute to the local companies who have collaborated to ensure this vessel is a true feat of renewable technology.”

The 135 passenger ferry was designed by experienced boat builder, Fraser Foote, formerly of Whangarei, who also designed and built East by West’s second ferry, Cobar Cat in 2006. Mr. Foote, the MD of the Wellington Electric Boat Building Company (WEBB) in Seaview, spoke of the sheer excitement of the project,

the very first of its kind, with an innovative approach which has already received national and international interest. The new vessel is expected to generate further orders.

Managing Director of McKay Electrical, Lindsay Faithfull, spoke of his company's ongoing commitment to what he called an outstanding project with a bright future and the fact that it was based locally in Seaview, which would serve the whole area well on many levels.

Mr Ward said that a clear picture was now forming of how the future of marine transport around Wellington Harbour will look and it was an exciting prospect.

“This would not have been possible without the assistance of all the partners involved; Gurit, McKay Electrical, the naval architects at SSC Marine, renewable energy experts ‘retyna’ and

Meridian Energy,” said Mr Ward.

"And it will enable us to continue to grow East by West as a service. We’d like to add an airport run to our existing routes, for example, and we are looking into that prospect. But the completion of this vessel and its entry into service is top priority.”

The forward thinking group of companies, having excelled thus far, have the future of cross-harbour ferry transport pretty well covered. The good news is that the future is not all that far away.

Photo: Simon Hoyle

Pirates doing well in Under 12

The Eastbourne RFC's Under 12 Pirates were in action at HW Shortt last Saturday, recording a massive 50-10 win over their arch rivals, Petone.

Most of the team have been playing together since the Under 7s and are now Year 7 or 8 at Muritai, with a couple of boys from Wellesley and HIBS. Bella Diamond is the only girl playing in the team, described by a parent as 'very gritty'.

The Pirates have made a great start to their season with a couple of dominant wins against formidable opposition. There are just six games left for 2020 .

Hammers on track for Masters 1

The EFC Hammers have bolted out of the post Covid-blocks, winning six from six games so far this season and club chairman Mike Andrews says that motivation can be a pretty powerful tool.

The shortened season has meant that there are only eight teams in each grade, as opposed to the usual 10. This led to Capital Football establishing a new “Masters Qualifying league”, consisting of the two M1 teams that were relegated last season, the two promoted teams from the M2 grade (which includes the Hammers) and a bunch of highly-placed Capital Football Senior grade teams who wanted to go into the Masters competition, but were too good to start off in the lowest grade, M6.

“It’s fair to say the Hammers are pretty fired up,” Mike says, “after earning promotion to the

Kidztalk

M1 grade last season, but having to play-off AGAIN for the right to play in that grade next year.”

Capital Football has come to the party and scheduled 10 of their 14 games on the artificial pitch at Petone Memorial this season, which Mike says really suits the Hammers' style of play.

“For the ‘Thirsty 5s’ (M6) who did make the trip to Petone Memorial in support after their own game, the Hammers' run of good form continued with a 3-1 victory over the Marist Mavericks."

Marist were a notch or two above what the Hammers had encountered so far this season and the game was intense and scoreless, until the Hammers scored a couple of goals after a period of intense pressure.

Marist came straight back before the break

and converted a penalty. In the second half the game opened up. Both teams put on a display of open, entertaining football before the Hammers closed out the game by scoring another goal with 15 minutes to go.

The ‘Thirsty 5’s’ themselves had turned a scoreless half-time stalemate into a victory of their own, also 3-1, against the IBU Internationals. Second half goals by Matt (‘Flying Mullet’), Anthony Holden and - out of retirement for the afternoon and coming off the bench - James Hutton secured the side an important win.

WELCOME TO DAYS BAY PLAYCENTRE

Term 3 has started with beautiful sunshine and lots of outside play. We're making mud pies in the mud kitchen, and riding bikes on the tennis courts.

We are celebrating matariki, learning about the seasons and weather. We've been making lanterns and decorating our Playcentre with stars. Some of our stars move in the wind, which appeal to babies and toddlers alike.

We still have spaces available for term 3 enrollment. Sessions run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9 to noon. Please contact Andrea 02102797311 to arrange a visit.

Right: Pia Ludbrook, one of our newest members, and friend.

Above: The Pirates gather together at full-time, having just put Petone to the sword.

Picture book illustrates environmentalism for young

think about ways they could do things to help reduce waste and save the planet."

Three local students are hoping their book, Aroha's Promise, will raise the profile of environmental issues among children, while raising money for the Sustainability Trust, a social enterprise trust supporting sustainable living in NZ.

The children's book was devised and written by St Oran's business studies group Fifth Sense, which includes locals Emma Beevers, Lucy Crawford and Charlotte Goble, along with Tyla Harvey and MacKenzie Campbell.

Aroha’s Promise’, is a story featuring Aroha, who uses simple environmental practices such as picking up rubbish and cycling to school to encourage children, between the ages of 4-9 years, to be positively motivated through the book.

Charlotte says the book is set in the Wellington region and incorporates Te Reo Māori, giving it a local and relatable feel.

"We were looking for a project for business studies that would benefit a charity and we all thought of something that could provide some environmental education," she says.

"We wanted it to be a fun way for kids to

The book is illustrated by QMC student Isabella Barber. It is being printed in August, and will cost $15, which includes a free drop off within Eastbourne, or alternatively it can be shipped for $8, in a recyclable and sustainable postage bag. Twenty five percent of the profits from the book will be going to the Sustainability Trust charity.

If you are interested in supporting Fifth Sense through purchasing the book, please

contact Fifth Sense at fifthsense2020@gmail. com or visit fifthsense.mystorbie.com and they will get back to you as soon as possible with further information, or some samples.

Senior rugby side looking strong

The Eastbourne senior rugby side have made a solid start to the 2020 rugby season and have improved with every game says assistant coach, Greg Halford.

“They dropped the first two games to the two top sides (Avalon and the Wellington Axemen),” says Greg, “but have turned things

around in the past fortnight with wins against OBU and then Hutt OB/Marist last Saturday by 31-22.”

Greg says the side have approached the season in a positive fashion, with a few new faces in the team who make the trip from Wellington to train in Eastbourne.

Although there is no official end, Greg says the Wellington administrators of the competition are hopeful that two rounds will be successfully completed in order to conclude the season toward the end of September.

August 8th is ‘Club Day’, an important date for the senior side, who will be at home on HW Shortt against the powerful Upper Hutt outfit.

“That’ll be a good work out for the boys,” Greg says, “and should be a great game of rugby, worthy of a visit if you are in the neighbourhood.”

Fifth Sense: Tyla Harvey, Lucy Crawford, Charlotte Goble, Emma Beevers and MacKenzie Campbell.

REF: THV02457

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View By Appointment

Sinead Diederich

04 392 0001 | 021 02581960

sinead@tommyshv.co.nz

CURRENT LISTINGS

OPTIONS GALORE - ESTATE SALE

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Povey 027 5971 080

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234 Marine Drive, Lowry Bay, Eastbourne Buyer Enquiry From $2,250,000

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ON THE PARADE

REF: THV02662