The Eastbourne Herald April 2019

Upham miniatures presented to RSA

by Carl McRae

A unique gift is how RSA President, Colin Hemingway-Ruston, described a set of replica miniature Victoria Cross medals, as presented to the Eastbourne Memorial RSA on ANZAC Day.

“It’s very special,” he says. “It is a one off. We are the only RSA in New Zealand to have been bestowed with such an incredible honour.”

An emotional family event last year propelled an Eastbourne local into action, the result of which will ensure that generations to follow will have an opportunity to learn of the feats of our greatest ever war hero, Charles Upham.

At the time, the local man, who wants to remain anonymous, was with his brother in the Eastbourne Sports & Services Club. His sibling - these days a Cardiff resident - was back home in New Zealand for a visit. It was 6pm and as is traditional, RSA member, Les Bergman, rang the bell and recited from the Robert Binyon poem, For the Fallen.

The elder brother watched as his younger sibling’s eyes filled with tears and he became quite overwhelmed with emotion.

In the United Kingdom, For the Fallen is observed most notably on Remembrance Sunday, to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women, in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

In New Zealand, verse four of the famous poem is still recited every evening at 6pm in RSAs throughout the country, as well as on ANZAC Day. Seeing the reaction of his younger brother to the traditional 6 o’clock reciting and bell ringing, got the elder brother thinking.

After some consideration, and owing to

a long-term family connection, he was able to arrange for a framed display of miniature versions of the famous New Zealand soldier's medals to be made, which would in turn be presented to the local RSA.

Christchurch-born Charles Hazlitt Upham earned the Victoria Cross twice during the Second World War; in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942.

He is one of only three people to receive the VC twice, the only one to receive two VCs during the Second World War, and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice.

As a result, Charlie Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth’s highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Colin Hemingway-Rushton, who served with the British Army during the Suez Crisis in 1956, says that Upham obviously had a sense of humour to go with his supreme gallantry. “When asked what his favourite weapon was,” says Colin,”he replied; ‘a bag of grenades’.

When asked why he never wore a tin helmet in battle, he said he could never find one big enough.”

The new exhibit, which contains information about the two star attractions, and the highly decorated soldier's official portrait as sketched by renowned Kiwi war artist, Peter McIntyre,  now hangs in pride of place, on permanent loan, in the ESSC/RSA, a fitting ANZAC addition to the local wartime memorabilia.

The family who arranged it say that they are delighted to share their donation for current and future Eastbournites or visitors to look at and further educate themselves about the exploits of Charlie Upham.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

- Verse Four of For the Fallen by Robert Binyon

Above: Charles Upham, and below, The Victoria Cross.

Path consent process underway

With environmental assessment done, plan for consenting is underway for the Eastern Bays Shared Pathway and Mayor Wallace says HCC is fully committed to seeing the the project through to completion.

“The project has been on the board for this community for many years,” he said, “and we know it means a lot to the people of Eastbourne and Bays. Fully notified consent may take between six and twelve months, that’s a reality, but we’re ready to push the green light.”

THERAPY

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SAT, SUN & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

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April Eastbourne Community Board

Next ECB Meeting

Tuesday 25 June 2019 - 7.15pm

East Harbour Women’s Club, Muritai Road

Previous agendas and papers available Council meetings - Home - Hutt City Council

Board members are: Virginia Horrocks (Chair) virginia.horrocks@huttcity.govt.nz

Anna Sutherland (Deputy chair) anna.sutherland@huttcity.govt.nz

Murray Gibbons murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz

Liz Knight liz.knight@huttcity.govt.nz

Robert Ashe robert.ashe@huttcity.govt.nz

Cr Tui Lewis tui.lewis@huttcity.govt.nz

Cr Michael Lulich michael.lulich@huttcity.govt.nz

Great response to annual plan consultation

Many thanks to all those who made comments on the Hutt City annual plan discussion page. There was an interesting range of individual comments and some detailed emails sent.

Maybe the shared path resource consent application will have gone in by the time we can speak to our comments at the Community Plan Committee meeting 8th May 11.00am to 3.00pm.

If you want to make sure you are on the speaking list contact wendy. moore@huttcity.govt.nz

Skate ramp

Great to see the skate ramp almost finished. Looking forward to the opening day announcement once the planting is in and asphalt resealed.

York Bay residents concerned over development

by Carl McRae

A residential development planned for Lowry Bay has raised the hackles of residents of neighbouring York Bay, as vehicular access to the site is likely to be from their side of the hill.

Hutt City Council has granted sesource consent to Robertson for a five-lot subdivision and construction of four dwellings at 15 Gill Road, Lowry Bay. The property has a 6m legal frontage on Waitohu Road, where four properties must cross its boundary by means of entry to their land.

Company director Colin Robertson did not propose ingress via Gill Road, citing an existing garage and the impracticality of forming access over a slope that rises steeply up to the boundary.

HCC’s Acting deputy manager of environmental consents, building and quality assurance Derek Kerite, says that due to the steep gradient of the Gill Road reserve, extending the formed road up to the application site would not be feasible.

“Council can only assess the proposal put forward by the applicant,” he says, “and Waitohu Road is the only road formed up to the boundary of the property."

“The application met all of the rules for the land designated as hill residential,” Mr Robertson says. “Council received a number of letters from residents regarding the use of Waitohu Road for access and required us to obtain an independent traffic report, which the council had externally peer reviewed and then reviewed internally by their own traffic engineers.”

Following that March 2018 traffic

assessment prepared by Harriet Fraser Traffic Engineering & Transportation Planning, HCC consented to physical and vehicular access to the properties being along the narrow and winding upper Waitohu Road.

Iain Bain, chair of the York Bay Residents' Association, sent a letter to residents in late March, canvassing their opinion on the matter, which included a recommendation of preference regarding the three options available to them, as he saw it.

“The first is to accept that this development is going ahead via York Bay,” he stated in the letter. “The second is to oppose it as best we can on those grounds. The third is by issuing a trespass notice against vehicles crossing private land.”

Parts of the road in question are owned by nine property owners. Although legally it is not a road at all, but a drainage reserve, maintained by HCC. Mr. Bain also raised concerns that HCC did not deem it necessary to make the resource application a notified one, despite the fact that the road is in part, privately owned.

Mr Kerite says that as the developer’s proposal was for residential use of residentially zoned land, the application was not able to be publicly notified under the current provisions of the Resource Management Act.

A sign erected at tender close date, on a fence outside Mr. Robertson’s property, annoyed the developer.

“The sign stated that access via upper Waitohu Road was not guaranteed and for potential purchasers to beware,” he said, via a letter addressed to York Bay residents. “This has the effect of sabotaging our sales process.”

Mr. Robertson, himself a resident of the Eastern Bays for 22 years, said that he had

contacted the sign erector and requested an urgent meeting to resolve the situation, but so far that meeting had not been forthcoming.

“It is also disappointing that our numerous attempts for a rational meeting with the YBRA have not been granted,” he said. “Nor the Eastbourne Community Board, whom we communicated with upon receipt of our resource consent, requesting a meeting to discuss concerns regarding construction traffic and any issues arising.”

Stephen Phillips, a York Bay resident since the mid-1970s, says he can’t see how Council agreed to grant entry via Waitohu Road in the first instance.

Continues Page 4

A sign that was put on the fence outside the site of a development.

Developer says suggestions were ignored

From Page 3

first instance. “I’m totally alarmed,” he said. “It’s a very narrow and windy road, used by vehicles and pedestrians. It’s time for York Bay to get itself together and raise concerns over this issue, before it’s too late and the time to act has passed.”

Mr Robertson says all of the houses in this section of Waitohu Road were built using the road for access.

“It was managed before and it can be managed again,” he says. “It has always had its issues with the width, passing places and the deep open storm water drains. Our resource consent has been the catalyst to remind residents of its condition. We are trying to get it improved and if we have the support of the majority of residents then this will progress.”

Some York Bay residents are further concerned that if the development goes ahead, it will severely impact the traffic usage in York Bay for years. They estimate that during the development there would be more than 400 truck movements along Taungata, Kaitawa and Waitohu Roads, between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Saturday.

But Mr Kerite says that the traffic engineering assessment had indicated there would be limited timeframes that trucks can operate on Waitohu Road during the construction phase of the development and this will be reflected in the construction management plan.

“Although access along Waitohu Road is already relatively difficult due to the narrow, steep and winding nature of the carriageway,” he says, “the additional vehicles added by the development is sufficiently low.”

The assessment focused on the ongoing effects of five residential properties on the particular stretch of road in question and took into account the existing road condition and

traffic movement, sight lines and accident history. It did not include any possible effects resulting from construction traffic.

The assessment, concluded with the proposal, surmising; “no discernible adverse effects on the existing capacity and safety of this section of Waitohu Road".

In the Notification Report, HCC’s consultant traffic engineer Bill Barclay said that although Waitohu Road is narrow and well below normal design standards, low speeds and low traffic volumes mean that it is able to operate safely, with a minimum of adverse traffic effects.

But traffic flow would increase naturally upon completion of the project, as each new property would potentially add two to three more cars into the daily mix. Residents' concerns are exacerbated by the fact that there is another potential subdivision of up to eight more lots at the top of upper Waitohu Road.

The YBRA have raised their concerns with HCC, pointing out that the road is already heavily used by both vehicles and pedestrians and is totally unsuited to multiple daily truck movements. While a condition of the approval as granted is subject to truck traffic having to meet certain criteria, Mr Bain believes this would be very difficult to police.

“There is also concern that the constant traffic could cause a part of the road to collapse, with severe consequences for residents,” he said. “The council has defended its grant of the resource consent, while stating that this does not preclude any civil action residents might wish to take.”

Mr Robertson said that his company received communication from a lawyer purporting to be acting for the YBRA, addressed to themselves and the HCC, challenging the resource consent decision.

“We met with the lawyer and one of the residents,” he said, “however they were not

interested in our suggestions as to how upper Waitohu Road could be improved and made it clear that they disagreed with the resource consent decision.”

Mr Robertson says the he is open to reasonable offers if the York Bay residents want to purchase the land at 15 Gill Road and covenant it as reserve land.

ERAT aided by Duke of Edinburgh student

by Carl McRae

Fifteen-year-old Scott Langridge of Eastbourne is now in his second year as a volunteer, trapping and clearing traps for local pest control programme ERAT.

The Year 11 HIBS student will assist the local pest control programme  for another six months of service, as part of the silver section of his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Scott empties and re-sets traps along his own patch between Muritai School and HW Shortt Park, and says that ERAT are always looking for more volunteers to work runs.

“In my position, doing my D of E Award,” he says, “it’s a great way to be of real value to the community.

"Perhaps others in a similar position could look at it as an option also.”

In an effort to educate the community further, and hopefully unearth a few more volunteers, Sally Bain of ERAT will be holding another trapping workshop on Sunday, May 5 at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club, between 1-3pm.

“I’ll be running a series of presentations,” Sally says, “including trap maintenance and setting up traplines on private property.

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"We have a guest speaker lined up also.

"We’re always looking for others to become involved with ERAT/MIRO.

" If you may be interested, come on down.”

“We have had a series of DOE students stepping forward and the system seems to suit the scheme extremely well!

Anyone wishing to donate either time or funds should approach through www.MIRO.org.nz or info@ MIRO.org.nz

Sport (football, badminton) and skill (driving, cooking) based activities will enable Scott to complete this section of the award scheme, which has been available to young New Zealand adults, aged 15 years and over, since its inception in 1956.

Scott Langridge with one of the ERAT traps.

Recycling changes on the way for Lower Hutt

As the international market for plastic recycling shrinks, Hutt City Council is signalling changes are on the way for kerbside recycling and at five recycling stations across Lower Hutt.

Other councils around New Zealand are reviewing plastic recycling and have already made similar changes.

“We want to give residents as early advice as possible that changes are going to be made. Many other countries who have traditionally taken our plastic recycling are pulling out of these markets,” Hutt City Council’s sustainability and resilience manager Jörn Scherzer says.

“As a result, plastics numbered 3 to 7 will not be accepted for processing in the near future. We will be communicating with Lower Hutt residents on how these changes will affect them over the next couple of months.”

The plastics market is diverse and complex and while there is still a demand for plastics

classified as 1 and 2, there is little to no demand worldwide for most plastic types 3 to 7.

Plastics classified as 1 and 2 are clear polyethylene terephthalate (PET 1) and HighDensity Polyethylene (HDPE 2).

PET 1, used for soft drink and juice bottles, is recycled by Lower Hutt’s Flight Plastics and is processed into containers for produce like kiwifruit.

Plastic milk bottles and detergent containers which are classified as HDPE 2 are sent to Palmerston North where they’re turned into pallets, ending up as wheelie bins and other products.“The challenge for all of us is to work with businesses and the community to look for alternatives for plastics 3 to 7.”

While the bulk of recyclables in Lower Hutt are collected from the kerbside, there are also five community recycling stations that provide for increased amounts of recycling, such as

bulky cardboard, beyond the capacity of their kerbside crates.

Illegal dumping of rubbish at recycling stations in Lower Hutt is an ongoing problem.

“We are looking to remove the bins which are used primarily for plastics from the recycling stations due to contamination issues and illegal dumping of mainly plastic rubbish at these sites.

“Associated costs for continually clearing the plastic are escalating and are not viewed as sustainable by Waste Management NZ or the Council,” Mr Scherzer says.

Guidance will be provided to residents in the coming months on changes to recycling.

Hutt City Council will be launching a “Let’s sort waste out” campaign to advise people about these changes, and to let residents and businesses know how to minimise waste and contribute to an effective recycling system.

Commission changes voting system for Hutt City

Harbour Ward Councillor and Eastbourne Community Board member, Michael Lulich, says that only time will tell if the Local Government Commission’s decision to change the representation system for this years Hutt City elections is a good or bad one.

“It’s a decision that can’t be appealed,” he says. “For Eastbourne that will mean only one Harbour Ward Councillor (rather than two) sitting on the Eastbourne Community Board and listening to local residents' issues and concerns and going back to the Council table. That is one disadvantage.”

Council last reviewed its representation arrangements prior to the 2013 local authority elections. Therefore, it was required to undertake a review prior to the next elections this coming October.

At the time of the last review, HCC’s initial and final proposals were for Council to continue to comprise the mayor and 12 councillors, elected from the existing six wards subject to one minor boundary alteration.

The proposals were also for the retention of the three existing community boards with their existing membership. There was one appeal against the council’s final proposal.

For its current review, the council began its consideration of representation options at a workshop in March, 2018, with a further workshop with community boards and community panels in April.

Two surveys (an online citizens' panel survey and a telephone survey) were also undertaken to gauge community views on two particular representation issues; the basis of election for councillors (wards, at large or a mix of both) and second tier representation structures (community boards, community panels).

The LGC met with HCC at a hearing held in Lower Hutt on March 27. HCC was

represented by Councillor Margaret Cousins and Divisional Manager Strategy and Planning, Wendy Moore. Both stated that Council were satisfied there was more support for a ward system, than either a mixed or at large system of representation, and that the council had got its decision right.

Section 19J of the Local Electoral Act requires every territorial authority, as part of its review of representation arrangements, to determine whether there should be community boards in the district and, if so, the nature of those communities and the structure of the community boards.

There have been three community boards since Lower Hutt City was constituted in 1989, with the amalgamation of the existing Lower Hutt City, Petone Borough, Eastbourne Borough and Wainuiomata District. The three areas joining the existing city were recognised as communities, each having a community board which still exist today. “The Eastbourne Community Board is safe from any further LGC reviews until 2022,” says Cr Lulich.

“In their report, the LGC talk about a city wide community of interest as a strong argument for a more city-wide approach to representation.

Hip Hop crews do well in Upper Hutt competition

Two Eastbourne Hip Hop crews took part in the Upper Hutt Competitions Society's 'Troupes' event in late March, the first such occurrence for both of them.

Libby George of Pump Dance Studios says this is also the first year that Eastbourne has had two crews, one for primary school kids, the other for teens at college.

“Our senior crew, called Nova came second,” she says.

“Our junior crew, Limited Edition were awarded Commended. We are so proud of both crews for performing so well to a sold out audience in the Expressions Theatre and we can’t wait to see them at their next performance/

competition.”

Libby says that to get to competition standard, the girls have had to double their training time from last year, meaning they now have two coaches and train twice a week.

“They are also expected to practise at home,” she adds, “and we send home videos and music to help with that.”

Both crews had to plan and purchase matching team costumes. In their inaugural competition, they had to perform three different styles of hip hop, all edited into one

remixed song. They executed hip hop styles such as breaking, whacking and street.

It was an all-boys crew from Pump Dance in Wellington city who took out first place in the Upper Hutt Competition.

“We are hoping to create a boys' crew in Eastbourne sometime this year,” Libby says, “as we reckon they would be a real hit on stage.”

The primary school crew, Limited Edition.

Secondary school crew, Nova.

Time to act on climate change

by Bethany Reitsma

It’s time for Eastern Bays residents to get serious about climate change, says Victoria University of Wellington’s Judy Lawrence.

Climate change adaptation research fellow Judy Lawrence spoke on April 3 to Petone and Eastern Bays residents about what climate change could mean for their areas, where coastal hazards are on the rise due to increasing sea levels.

“Whatever we do now, our emissions will have an impact for decades,” says Lawrence. “When it comes to climate change it’s about confronting the system.”

Lawrence says extreme weather events are on the rise.

“For example, the Eastbourne road is being closed much more frequently. In heavy rain Seaview can see pooling for over a week at times and access issues will continue to be exacerbated.

“If we don’t act now we could see sea levels rise by a metre by 2020.”

Increasing wind speeds mean more debris will be scattered over our beaches and further inland.

Dealing with climate change is a longterm issue and short-term responses to rising sea levels, such as sea walls, will not offer a permanent solution.

“The sea wall on Raumati Beach means there’s now no dry sand on the beach and people aren’t able to enjoy it," Lawrence says.

“We have to make sure actions we take today don’t block us from future actions about our coasts.”

Protecting the environment should go hand in hand with what people value about land and seas and what they can give us, she says.

“It’s about native bush on people’s properties being affected. It’s about being able to enjoy our beaches. It’s about what people value long-term - about protecting that kaupapa.”

Lawrence says now is the time to put pressure on local councillors hoping to run again for office in local body elections this year.

“There’s a lot that council can do about this. Climate change is a particular issue for the Harbour Ward.”

Resident Josh van Lier, who attended the event, says there needs to be more practical action from council on climate change.

“There should be synergy between what the public want to see and what the local and central governments are doing. We can all do more about this.”

Green Party spokesperson Chris Norton says it is great to have a coalition government in which one party is distinctly environmentfocused. He says it is important that the parties agree on the best way forward to deal with climate issues.

“We want to get as much crossparliamentary support as possible. The issue is not and should not be political – it’s existential. It’s about greening our businesses and economy, and we need to act now.”

“We’ve banned new offshore oil and gas exploration. We’ve banned plastic bags, but we can do more. Let’s keep the planet clean, sustainable, and liveable.”

Organiser Peter Glensor from the Petone branch of the Labour party says he was “delighted” with the turnout. Attendees included children, families, and older people. A group of keen Weltec students filled the back rows.

Glensor hopes the event gave people space to have a conversation with each other about climate action. “People are keen to be part of ongoing actions, it’s no longer a fringe issue."

He says the key for communities facing climate change is to take part in focus groups and work together to voice their ideas to people in power.

“It’s no longer a debate - it’s undoubted that it is happening, and we’re now seeing what climate change looks and feels like.

“The issue now is what to do about it. It will become increasingly important both at a local and national level, and particularly for us here in Petone and the Eastern Bays.”

“We know what we need to do. The question is: is it possible?”

MICHAEL LULICH Harbour Ward Councillor

Elected Representation Change

The Local Government Commission has determined that there will be changes to how Lower Hutt residents are represented by Hutt City Council. For Eastbourne and the Bays this will mean that you will be represented by one Harbour Ward Councillor rather than two; you can vote for city wide councillors across the city; and the Eastbourne Community Board would stay minus one Harbour Ward Councillor on the Board.

Have your Say

Thank you for those who had their say online for this year annual plan. Your feedback on the Shared Pathway and others issues will be valuable.

Eastbourne Community Board Meeting

The Community Board meeting was held on the 09 April. Items included a presentation by the Greater Wellington Regional Council on their plan to consult with the public in introducing double-decker bus services in Eastbourne and the Bays. It will increase seating capacity on the buses but my concern is still on the effect on some trees that need to be trimmed or culled. It is important that the GWRC Councillors listens carefully to the views of the community here. The Days Bay Wharf Refurbishment was discussed by a Hutt City Council officer at the meeting.

Pencarrow Coastal Trail Entrance

– Beach Clean and Vehicle Usage Policy

I joined the Beach Clean around Pencarrow Coastal Trail Entrance at Burdan’s gate. Sarah Pettus and family organised it. Council support it by providing bags and rubbish pick-ups. The Bike Shed kindly provided free bike rides. Good to see a bin installed there that a resident requested through me.

A number of people hold vehicle access keys to pass through Burdan’s Gate for various reasons. It has been difficult for officers to control who is using the gate, and how many people pass through, so I have asked officers to review the Pencarrow Coast Road Policy. With the increase of people using the access road for walking and cycling my personal view is we need to reduce the amount of vehicles using that road. With the importance of the Great Harbour Cycleway and Remutaka Cycle Trail for leisure use and tourism we must ensure better control of vehicle usage on the access toad.

Residents

Rubbish continues to be dumped on our beaches

The East Harbour Environmental Association held their biannual Burdan’s Gate southwards, Saturday morning beach clean up earlier in April, a traditional event that organiser Sarah Pettus says has been going for decades.

“We host two cleans a year,” she says, “in April and November. Volunteer numbers were averaging around ten until we started using social media - the Eastbourne Community Notice Board Facebook page - to inform and invite the larger community to participate.”

For the past three clean ups, the EHEA have been aided by up to 35 people, from toddlers to octogenarians.

“We usually collect about thirty bags of rubbish,” says Sarah, “plus miscellaneous flotsam and jetsam that doesn’t fit in bags. Hutt City Council provide us with a banner on the day, plus bags and gloves, and they collect the rubbish for us on the following Monday.”

Sarah says that the number one item collected by far is still bits of plastic (straws, clothes pegs, milk bottle caps, plastic coated parking tickets, lolly wrappers) that have washed up from elsewhere.

“Most of the rubbish we find is ‘accidental’,” she adds, “though we’ll always find caches of alcohol bottles and other rubbish intentionally left beside fire pits or shoved into bushes. One of the nastiest things we’ve been encountering is used nappies that picnickers are throwing in the Ngaio bushes where we set up to meet and greet, by the Bike Shed. This is especially insulting and bewildering because there’s a picnic table and rubbish bin right there.”

Harbour Ward Councillor and Eastbourne Community Board member Michael Lulich was among those lending a helping hand and

said it was good at least to see the bin installed there, from a resident request he had passed on to council officers.

“I joined the trail at the entrance to Burdan’s Gate. It was great to have Council support it by providing bags and rubbish pick up and the Bike Shed for providing free bike rides for those who helped, which was nice.”

SMOKE SIGNALS

With the cooler weather starting to bite, before you stoke up the fire and bring out the heaters & electric blankets from the cupboard, follow these Fire Safety tips to help keep you and your family safe.

• Clean chimneys and flues before your first fire of the season.

• Always use a fireguard or spark guard with open fires.

• Check the electric blanket for signs of wear and replace if necessary, don’t take the risk.

• Always make sure the electric blanket is switched off before getting into bed.

• Remember the heater metre rule; always keep furniture, curtains, clothes and children at least 1 metre away from heaters or fireplaces.

• Never cover heating appliances.

• Check LPG gas heater hoses for damage or wear.

• Always have fresh air coming into a room where a gas heater is in use.

• Test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if required.

Remember!

Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives.

Emergency Call Outs:

• 21 March 19 – Alarm Activation, Wellesley College

• 04 April 19 – Medical Response, Muritai Rd

• 07 April 19 – Flooding, Houhere Tce

• 07 April 19 – Flooding, Rimu St

• 07 April 19 – Flooding, 94 Muritai Rd

• 07 April 19 – Flooding, 273 Muritai Rd

• 07 April 19 – Flooding, 319 Muritai Rd

• 07 April 19 – Flooding, 127 Muritai Rd

• 08 April 19 – Alarm Activation, Muritai Rd

• 15 April 19 – Assist Public, Marine Pde

The Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade is still 11 Firefighters short of its optimum membership which is nearly 50% of the Brigade operational establishment, so please give some serious thought to becoming a Volunteer to help protect your community.

Please call Ross Carroll, Chief Fire Officer (021 648 114), if you think you’ve got what it takes.

Hannah Park had no trouble finding enough rubbish to fill a bag.

I am so lucky, two months into my new role as East Harbour Regional Park Ranger and I’ve both met great people who are passionate about their park and been involved in the wide range of activities they undertake in working with us to improve our parks.

Here’s just a sample of what our “invisible army” of supporters gets up to.

I helped Hamish and the Eastbourne Scouts carry the pieces of a bench up the new Kaeaea track, which was no mean feat. We left the kids to the construction, which took a bit of figuring out, but just before dark the bench was in the ground and hopefully will be in place to provide a well-earned rest stop for many years to come.

What a great group of people MIRO is. They are excellent representatives of the huge number of hard working volunteers quietly beavering away to create a huge protective network for the park and its biodiversity.

Similarly, the Friends of Baring Head are working hard on preparations to plant 5000 plants along the Wainuiomata stream this winter with funding from Million Metres and volunteer from Conservation Volunteers NZ. Soon the Baring Head light house complex will undergo the next phase in its restoration with external building painting and work on how to tell the fascinating stories of this historic site.

Recently I accompanied the Wellington Mountain Bike club on my 30 year old “beater” as they called it along the Rata Ridge Track to look at the impacts of riding and decide on remedial work and planting they will undertake. The aim is to reduce braiding and scouring on the track and protect our majestic beach forest. I did make it home safely.

On 8 April Mana Whenua, Taranaki Whānui, lifted the Rāhui from the dotterel nesting area at Parangarahu lakes. A rāhui is a temporary ban in an area which in this case protects the breeding tuturiwhatu/banded dotterels during their breeding season. These birds are nationally threatened and very vulnerable as their nests are little more than a depression in the beech or cushion plant community. With pebble coloured eggs they are easily crushed by foot or bikes. This year no nests were impacted by visitors, which is great. I look forward to the birds’ return in August.

The maintenance team have been working hard to upgrade the Mackenzie track down to Butterfly Creek. This will give better access to the creek valley enabling a faster response to track damage and tree falls. The bottom section was always going to be tricky with a narrow, steep descent. Unfortunately two days after

work was completed the newly cut track, yet to settle, had to cope with a huge deluge which caused a slip that blocked the track. Due to improved access the team was able to clear the slip in four days.

While I feel I have just scratched the surface of getting to know the park, it’s clear that it takes many hands and many people to maintain it in great condition. I look forward to the coming winter.

- Jo Greenman East Harbour Regional Park Ranger

The Point Howard Association (PHA) and the Point Howard Tennis Club would like to notify all members that they will be holding their

News from Point Howard

Swim club going green in 2020

The Eastbourne Swim Club held their annual race night on March 28, bringing the curtain down on the 2018/19 season.

Committee member and coach, Kaye Wilmhurst says it was a successful evening with a good turnout despite the cold snap that was passing through.

“The festivities concluded with the fun coaches' race, parent relay and new sibling relay, followed by prize giving,” she said.

As in previous years, winners received age group cups, but for the first time, certificates were issued for all place getters, featuring a brand new logo.

To launch this, all swimmers on race night received a free swimming cap, which are now available to purchase.

“The club would like to send a massive

thank you to Genevieve Packer,” said Kaye, “who donated her time and expertise to develop an amazing logo for the club.”

“The club also announced that as of next season it would be going green,” she added, “encouraging people to BYO cups for the free milo that is provided weekly. This news was very well received.”

Established in 1952, the swim club has been around as long as the pool itself, with local swimming icon, Ray Gough involved from the very beginning.

After hitting a record number of registrations during the 2017/18 season, numbers were slightly down on that this season,

but there was still a healthy membership in excess of 120. Swim club runs whilst the Eastbourne summer pool is open, usually mid November till mid March.

Anyone interested in getting involved with the committee or coaching should contact: Eastbourneswimclub@gmail.com

The EB Swim Club cup holders, 2018/19.

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.

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

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

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

• 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 Ross Carroll Chief Fire Officer 562 7001 for more info.

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

• 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

Tuesdays

• 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 5627096.

• 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 Library 8-9pm. Elizabeth 021 08224664. www.eastbournemibase.com.au

• 9.30am Nia Dance Fitness Class (low impact - teens to 70+) Music Movement

Magic - Muritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www.niainwellington.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 2–2.25pm.

• 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! Pump Dance Hip hop & contemporary classes Wed afternoons in St Ronan’s hall 0274373508 info@pumpdance.com

Thursdays

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

• St Ronan’s Mainly Music, 9.30am10.30am, contact Cathy 027 213 9342.

• SPACE at Days Bay Playcentre. Michelle 971 8598.

East Harbour Women’s Club

New Members Welcome

- Bolivia 12.45pm

Contact Glendyr ph: 562 7181 - Bridge 1.00pm

Contact Heather ph: 562 7995 Guest Speaker (3rd week of month) 7.00pm - Drinks and nibbles provided 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.

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, 9.3010.30am. 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 10.00am Muritai Croquet Club. Lyn 562 8722 or Val 562 8181.

• Eastbourne Dune Restoration Group Meets at the 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

• Church services - see page 28.

• AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Pauline 562 7833.

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Greater Wellington Regional Council recently voted to confine its regional rates increase for 2019/20 to to an average of 5.9%, a decision made after considering the impact of unprecedented increases in residential property valuations in some parts of the region last year.

But Sharnahea Wilson of GWRC says that in real terms, weekly increases for Hutt Valley residential owners were almost negligible.

“The 5.9% came from the average increase across the whole region,” she said. “Property values rose faster in some parts of the region than others, and these spikes mean that those districts will have a greater regional rate increase compared with other districts.”

The new rates for Hutt City property owners are as follows:

• Residential (incl. GST): 3.7% - an average increase of $0.44 per week.

• Rural (excl. GST): 4.8% - an average increase of $0.46 per week.

• Business (excl. GST): 6.5% - an average increase of $2.48 per week.

Following tenders received, Hutt City Council as appointed a contractor to undertake restoration work on the pre-1900 heritage wharf at Days Bay.

Strategic Advisor for HCC, Bruce Hodgins, advised attendees at the recent Eastbourne Community Board meeting, that work would commence toward the end of April and is expected to take twelve months to complete.

“It will take approximately three months to get to the head of the wharf,” he said.

“A temporary walkway will be erected for passengers using the East by West ferry service, but with health and safety regulations, we need some separation between workers and people using the wharf.”

Council has pulled out all stops to ensure that as little disruption as possible occurs during the restoration process, which literally means the relocation of the bus stop adjacent to the wharf entrance, which will be temporarily relocated 100 metres to the north.

“There will also be a reduction in car parks,” Mr Hodgins added, “perhaps nine or ten parks, plus one disabled park. It is a different project from the recent one at Rona Wharf, with a lot more public interaction.

"We would like the wharf to remain open for the ferry service, fishermen, wharf jumpers, while work is in progress.”

Mr Hodgins said that by sheer numbers of peole and traffic, next summer could have an impact on proceedings, but the six month lead in should be sufficient for Council and contractors to work through any issues they are likely to encounter.

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DONALD TYLER BAIRD

26.4.39 – 30.12.18

Don Baird was a cricket tragic. His family find it very fitting the last thing he did before his death was watch TV coverage of the Black Caps winning a cricket test against Sri Lanka.

Born in Lower Hutt to Molly and Alan Baird (later general manager of BALM paints) the family, including younger brother Ferguson, lived in Ludlam Cres, then Puriri St. Don went to school first at Waiwhetu where his behaviour had him spending more time in the broom cupboard than at his desk. This resulted in his parents sending him to Wellesley College, where a successful primary education was completed. He then boarded at Firth House, Wellington College. His best subject was maths, with other subjects less complimentary. Long remembered anecdotes told of the surreptitious making of home brew by the boys in the dormitory after hours, when the masters weren’t around.

The decision to become an architect led to night classes at Wellington Polytechnic, completing architectural intermediate, working days at Structon Group Architects. Don graduated with a Diploma in Architecture from Auckland School of Architecture in 1962, after three years in student mixed flats – very advanced for New Zealand in the early 1960s –which resulted in him learning to cook.

Don met Joy Kennedy in Auckland in 1962 at the notorious annual Architects’ Ball (brawl!) which was held of necessity in a different hall each year. They married in Auckland in 1963, then flatted in York Bay.

In December 1964, the couple travelled to England for their “big OE”, on the Northern Star, the first ship to leave from the newly completed Overseas Terminal. In London, Don worked for Yorke, Rosenberg and Mardall, designing tower blocks to replace slums and war damaged housing.

Don joined his firm’s mercantile cricket league, where professional firms played each Wednesday after work. Joy collected the guys and gear in the old London taxi they’d bought, taking them to Regents Park for the game.

The London taxi, one of the original black style with an open luggage compartment beside the driver and two fold-up seats facing the back seat, gave wonderful service as a touring vehicle. The first year, it carried the Bairds to France and the Netherlands, and survived six weeks’ wet summer camping around England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. During the second summer, four months’ European travel began in Bergen, Norway through Greece, to Italy, where it was sold illegally, for 16,000 lire, to a group of young Italians on the wharf in Naples, where its previous owners boarded their ship home.

Don and Joy returned to New Zealand, via Suez and Australian ports, disembarking in Auckland with just enough money for the overnight train to Wellington.

Back in Wellington, living in a central city property later demolished for the motorway, Don was employed by Kofoed and Arnold, including as project architect for the James Cook hotel in 1970.

In 1972 Don joined Athfield Architects, having known Ian Athfield at university. During 13 eventful years, Don worked as part of the Athfield design team on the Petone Lions Foreshore Development, the Recreation Centre Extension at Victoria University and a number of very recognisable houses in Point Howard, Mahina Bay and Days Bay. Don was one of the practical ones, who translated brilliant designs into plans builders could use easily.

In 1976 Athfield Architects’ design team won the Low Cost Housing Project Competition in Manila. This involved community housing, using low cost local materials, with potential residents assisting with construction, to be built on a cleared slum site in Manila. Sadly, due largely to Philippines politics, the project was never built. However, with the prize money, the office project team, partners and children spent a week in the sunshine at a Fijian resort.

In 1983, Don joined Burwell Hunt architects, where his work focused on swimming pool complexes, including Huia, Naenae and Kilbirnie pools. He was project architect for early additions and alterations to Te Omanga Hospice at its original Woburn Road site.

In the 1990s Don established Don Baird Architects, working closely with Burrell Wilkinson Construction and Veda Design on commercial projects, many in the Hutt Valley.

Over the years, he was involved in a number of local projects, including the redevelopment of Muritai School’s hall, kitchen, backstage and green room, and indoor/outdoor access and facilities at St Alban’s church hall.

Don’s love of cricket led to his involvement with the Eastbourne Cricket Club, where he became president and later a life member. As a player, his enthusiasm exceeded his ability, although he continued as wicketkeeper for Eastbourne 4th grade long after his knees allowed a conventional wicketkeeper stance.

Don represented the club in the establishment of the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club, relocating the cricket club premises to the northern end of the ground, and

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designing new sections so the enlarged building would work. Twenty years later, all three who worked on this project – Don, John McFarlane (Rugby) and Rae Walsh (RSA) – died within weeks of each other in late 2018.

Don designed two houses for his family: in 1970, in Point Howard and the 1980s at Pukawa, Lake Taupo, and he designed and built imaginative toys for children Hannah, Duncan and Charlotte. He was a laid-back, fun dad, full of good humour, and quirky dad jokes and a keen cook, though with a limited range of recipes. “Egg dook” (French fried toast, a recipe passed on from his father) for breakfast, and pancakes with lemon and sugar were his specialities.

Don spent many hours watching cricket from the terraces at the Basin Reserve, stands at the Stadium and, as his health declined, at home on TV. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2016 and initially cared for at home, but as his mobility and cognition became affected, spent the last few months of his life receiving splendid care at Enliven Presbyterian Home in Woburn.

- Joy Baird, Charlotte Baird, Ann Packer

OBITUARY

Game, Set and Match! Farewell to Mary Turner (1924-2019)

Long-time Eastbourne resident and personality, much involved with community groups over decades, Mary Turner died on 2nd January 2019. She had come as a bride in 1945.

Mina Mary Monro was youngest child of Colin and Mina Monro, of Khandallah and intensely proud of her Scottish heritage of Munro Keir and Pottinger families.

The youngest of four children, Mary grew up in Khandallah, ranging its undulations in utter freedom and schooled at Queen Margaret’s College. Smiled with talk of tennis parties, gardening, car trips, carefree times. Mary talked fondly of her sweet, refined, feminine mother and fun-loving, gregarious, life-of-the party father – both shy at heart, but covering well. And enjoying dry wit and making people laugh. Something Mary would prove expert at.

Mary met Geoff Read at a National Party fund-raiser theatrical, she a fainting belle on stage! He was a Wellington accountant with an incisive mind and thirst for both knowledge and life: she described life with Geoff as ‘exhausting, but never dull’… ‘intense, exciting, adventurous and very challenging’.

They were married and moved to a tiny seaside cottage on Marine Parade in 1945. Tiny box brownie photos of shingling the front of the house and first-two children, Jennifer and James, bleached with sun. They involved themselves in the Eastbourne community, Geoff running for Borough Council at one stage, always interested and involved.

In 1959 they moved to Inverey in Maire Street, with two more children following: John, then Stuart. Another old house to fix up and large garden to tend, but they made a welcoming home. Holidays were fun, camping and dragging little caravans around New Zealand.

Children’s many and varied enthusiasms were fostered: building tree forts up pohutukawas and the karaka: playing in the sand hills across the street with Mary, the optimist, ringing a supper bell at the gate!

Geoff died in 1976 and Mary, rather in shock, endured over a decade of widowhood, a blow after such an active marriage and lively partnership. She said she would have liked to be a physiotherapist, but was too short! She took an office retraining course in 1967 and part-time work with a friend, Bill Turner, at his Valley Printing Company in Petone. That temporary gig turned into 18 years, juggling kids, teenagers, over-worked husband and inlaws needing more attention. ‘I ran it for years and loved it. The tennis was fitted in between and has been my life saver and such great fun and friendship’, she said.

Mary joined the Rona Bay Lawn Tennis Club in 1957, after one visit. She never

looked back, relishing the constant spirit of camaraderie. She brought her own irrepressible spirit to the courts and to the committee, serving several terms as president and being elected a Life Member in 1984. No one who played with her will ever forget the fun, laughter, provocative questions and hilarious doggerel that was her trademark. So many happy times were spent on its courts or its deck, cultivating friendships over decades that she called the club ‘my spiritual home’.

Tennis wasn’t her only racquet sport –winter meant badminton, cussing about the speed and dexterity needed but no doubt providing both, when required!

She said Bill Turner talked her into becoming the second Mrs Turner – he had been widowed for a decade after his first wife, Susan, passed away. Born Wilhelm Turnovski in East Prussia and a pacifist, he fled Hitler’s Germany for New Zealand. Bill was a printer and self-made man. They wed in 1988 and Mary moved to Bill’s house and garden, Belhaven, in Days Bay.

Scottish country dancing was a vein in Turner and Read lives, Bill’s wife Susan ran the local club, Mary and Stuart (at least) dancing there regularly. Mary sang, speaking fondly of her days with Wellington city organist, Maxwell Fernie and his Schola Polyphonica choir. Mary loved music, doubtless cultivated by her parents’ sing-alongs around the piano, zipping into Wellington and Lower Hutt to concerts, opera, theatre, or films for years.

Grandchildren are now seven – and two great-grandchildren, in Singapore. She loved them all somehow juggling comings-andgoings, remembering birthdays, aghast at lack of manners and gently prodding to make amends. Bill somehow coped, rising to the challenge! He died in 2001.

Radio, reading, crosswords and a life of the mind were central to Mary Read/Turner. She lapped up books of all descriptions and loved writers’ festivals. A book of synonyms was kept beside her bed – to crack cryptic crosswords! Late author and friend James McNeish praised her breadth of reading and outlook. I think we all knew we had someone special. She lived too long – her Scottish strength hanging on – but is at peace now. And we are all the richer for having had time with this ‘girl from Khandallah’ – the ‘garden of Allan’ as she put it. - Stuart Read

Garden Stuff with Sandy Lang

April/May: Mid/late autumn. Shorter days, less photosynthesis. Cooler, less growth.

Sex: Time we had that little talk. About 4 billion years ago, nature produced the first life forms, prokaryotes (cells with no organelles). About 2 billion years ago, it produced the eukaryotes (cells with organelles). We are eukaryotes, as are most other living things today. After the prokaryotes and before the eukaryotes, nature invented sex. Almost all living things now reproduce sexually. What’s so great about sex? When a new seed or baby (etc) arrives, it has an equal share of the genes of each parent. We have ~20,000 genes, so each baby has ~10,000 ‘mum’ genes and ~10,000 ‘dad’ genes (total ~20,000). But no two babies are the same because each gained a different, random selection of parental genes. In a challenging world, diversity ensures some will thrive, almost whatever happens. So, sex drives diversity and diversity drives adaptation and survival.

Odds: Apples have ~10 seeds. Plant these and you get 10 different trees, each bearing fruit of different quality. Most will revert to wildtype (small, sour). An apple breeder plants 1,000 seeds, then spends years finding the 1 ‘elite’ tree and culling the 999 ‘mediocre’ trees. The odds of an elite tree are ~1 in 1,000. Elites: Growers (apples, kiwifruit, grapes, forests…) always plant genetically-identical, elite, named, varieties (propagated by cuttings, grafting etc). Why spend years growing a tree from seed, then find its fruit are inedible? Same with harvesting veggie seeds for next year. Fun, maybe, but wise, not very. Buy new seeds. You get what’s on the pack. Sexually incompatible: Most plants produce both male and female parts. But, so the advantages of sex are not lost, they are usually sexually ‘self-incompatible’ (they can’t fertilise themselves). So, a fruit tree requires pollen from a different variety. Growers plant sexually compatible varieties together. For a small garden, buy a tree with two/three sexually compatible varieties grafted on one trunk. No insects, no sex, no seeds, no hormones, no fruit: •Insects transfer pollen, tree to tree (no insects=no sex). •A seed results when an ovule is fertilised by a pollen grain (no sex=no seed). •Seeds produce growth hormones (no seeds=no hormones). •It’s rare you get a seedless fruit because seed hormones drive fruit growth (no hormones=no growth). In most fruits (grapes, apples, kiwifruit, tomatoes…) more insects=more sex=more seeds=more hormones=bigger fruit.

Sandy Lang slang@xtra.co.nz

Twins make impact on rugby team

Followers of the Eastbourne senior rugby team, not to mention their opponents, may be forgiven for thinking they’re seeing double lately.

The Eastbourne team has created something of an optical illusion, and a defensive dilemma for rivals, with twins Josh and Isaac Love playing at first and second five-eighths this season.

Josh and Isaac are sons of Danny Love, who previously played for the Eastbourne team, and nephews of Haami Love who continues to play at halfback, giving the Love family a mortgage on all three inside back positions.

The brothers were stand out players last weekend in Eastbourne’s impressive 43-5 win over Wests. The Eastbourne backline performed well on a dry ground and the Loves were central to that performance, perhaps because defenders were bewildered by the impression the same player was in two places at once.

The Love brothers are returning to rugby after a seven year absence, urged back by their uncle Haami. They are among a large group of newcomers to the senior squad, including several Eastbourne-based players or former Eastbourne junior players who have decided to turn out this season.

Coach Barry Luke is pleased with the way a new-look Eastbourne team is coming together at this early stage of the season.

Eastbourne had the toughest task in the opening round of the Wellington 85kg first division when they were drawn against defending champion Avalon. Wet conditions

Kidztalk

made the task harder but Eastbourne, trialling new combinations, emerged with credit from a 10-0 defeat.

The Avalon team was almost unchanged from last year when it dominated the division and the young Eastbourne players, having their first match in the grade, gained valuable experience.

“They’re a very good team but I thought they also looked very beatable, to be honest,” Luke said. “It was a good start for us with a whole new group of guys.

“The guys have got to get some confidence and I think they did that.”

Eastbourne has also been boosted this season by the return of former coach Kevin Hewson to the coaching team. Hewson is helping out with the backs, reviving his longterm coaching partnership with Luke.

“I’m happy with the way we’re going,” Luke said. “I think over time we’ll weld this group into a good, competitive unit.”

News from our local playcentres

It’s been a really busy first term. We’ve welcomed several new families who are already loving exploring what playcentre has to offer. The most requested activities this term have been:

• a car wash for all the cars and bikes, which grew over a couple of sessions to include bike maintenance with a spanner and tyre pump

• a ‘hair salon’ which involved everything from washing mannequins’ hair in the sink, to hair chalk, to taking money from ‘customers’.

Our first offsite trip was a visit to the Newtown SPCA, where we learnt about what animals need to be happy and healthy - from food and water to shelter and love. Then it was time for a special treat – our tamariki got to try out their gentle patting on some puppies, kittens and a rabbit. Next up was a beach visit which was followed up with beach-related activities back at playcentre. We finished the term with our annual Whānau Day which this year coincided with our end of term easter egg hunt. Many thanks to the Point Howard Association for the sparkling new paint job on our building and for all their ongoing support.

If you’d like to join us, you can find out more by visiting us at 1 Ngaumatau Road any time from 9.15 to 11.45 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday during term time, by visiting our Facebook page or by contacting Caroline on 021 072 1070.

Authorised by C. Bishop, 66 Bloomfield Tce, L. Hutt

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NEWS FROM POINT HOWARD PLAYCENTRE

Masters footy thriving in the Bays

Eastboune senior football’s newest team has christened its debut season with a win, feeding into the highly positive feeling which surrounds the club’s flourishing masters teams.

The Eastbourne Masters 5s, formed this season, beat the North Wellington Zimmers 5-2 on Good Friday to post its first win in its competition. The team, whose members include Eastbourne Football Cub chairman Mike Andrews, lost to Naenae in its first match but showed rapid improvement and now lies mid-table.

Masters football has taken off in Eastbourne this season with almost 60 players aged over 35 on the club’s books and spread across three teams - the Masters 2s, Masters 5s and Masters 43s. Rather than each operating in a silo, concentrating on its own members and ambitions, the teams are co-operating to ensure all teams are able to field competitive line-ups each week.

Team managers meet each week on a Monday to determine which is likely to have players absent through injury or for personal reasons on a Saturday and are able to move players around among teams to ensure each have a full complement. Each team operates

with a squad of about 18 players on a regular basis. Andrews said the Eastbourne club is putting extra emphasis on the performance of the Masters 2 team this season, in the absence of a senior team. Despite strenuous efforts Eastbourne wasn’t able to pull together enough players to field a senior side in Capital Four.

Andrews said the absence of a senior squad makes the Masters 2 team Eastbourne’s marquee team. “We’re expecting big things of them this season ... no pressure,” Andrews said. “The team went very well in Masters 2 last season. While they finished mid-table there was a feeling they were much better than that.

“They’re a very good team, well-organised and very competitive in that division. That’s the reason for the big expectations. The club’s goal is to have a team in the top masters division and we’re working very hard towards that.”

The Masters 2 team is living up to those expectations and is unbeaten after two games. After a 5-1 win over Brooklyn Northern United, Eastbourne drew 1-1 with Upper Hutt in its most recent match.

The Eastbourne Gs, playing in the Masters 43 division, has had narrow losses in its first two games, losing 4-3 to Petone and 4-3 to Seatoun.

German call up

Eastbourne's Maya Hahn may chart a new course in her football career after being invited to play for the Germany under-19 women's team in a friendly match against the United States in June.

Hahn was a member of the New Zealand under-17 women's team which placed third at last year's World Cup in Uruguay and won't jeopardise her ability to play for New Zealand again if she turns out for Germany in the unofficial international. She qualifies to play for Germany through her father Peter.

Hahn recently contacted the Germany Football Association and sent video of herself in action to see whether they might be interested in selecting her in future. The GFA replied with an invitation to join their under-19 team for the United States friendly, though a date and venue have yet to be confirmed.

Germany is ranked No. 2 in the world in women's football.

Hahn is currently settling in to her freshman year at the University of Oregon. Recognising the importance of the opportunity, she is returning to New Zealand in May to train at the Ole Football Academy.

SPORT

MYC sailors post good results

Sailors from the Muritai Yacht Club have posted a series of good results at local and national regattas in recent weeks as the high part of the season nears an end.

Peter Robins of Muritai finished 11th overall at the National Paper Tiger Championships recently hosted by the Evans Bay club. Greg Shadbolt was 22nd in a large fleet, Brett Gawn 25th and John Tattersall 34th. Dave Bamford finished the eight races of the regatta in 44th place.

Muritai sailors were also prominent at the Evans Bay Centenary Regatta which attracted 146 entries over various classes. Simon Beck was fourth, James Sorenson fifth and Garth Cheyne 14th in the hotly-contested laser division. Peter Robins was sixth in the paper tiger class, Brett Gawn was 10th and Dave Bamford 24th. Felix Pummer was 4th in the optimist open division while Amelie Adair was third in the optimist green division. Max Beck was 10th and Jasper McLaren 12th in the starling class.

Bowlers continue to blaze

Mike Solomon continued an outstanding season for the Eastbourne Bowling Club in Wellington centre competitions, reaching the semifinals of the recent Wellington champion of champion singles. Solomon breezed through section play and early post-section rounds before losing 21-19 in a thrilling semifinal to Island Bay’s Aaron Love. Love was beaten by Naenae’s Robbie Bird in the final.

Faith in the

Israel Folau - one Christian perspective… His comments on others have been much in the news. It’s easy to respond with the following: I don’t like what he says, the way he said it or his timing. Therefore, I condemn it. It is within our rights to totally disagree. To feel he is being very judgemental. That his comments lack grace and love. They reinforce the stereotypical view that many have of Christians. That Christians are judgemental and always against everything.

Here are the ironies. Who has done most to propagate his viewpoint? Israel or the press? We condemn his harsh words, but is our response as judgemental of him as he is of others? In tearing up his contract and passing judgement and punishment on him, the Australian Rugby Union are behaving in the same way as Israel. Effectively, they say ‘For your comments that consign others to hell, we consign you to rugby hell. You are no longer allowed to play…!’

With Christchurch, we as a nation have shown that the power of forgiveness and love has more power than hatred and judgement. Lastly, freedom of belief and speech are indivisible. If someone’s views are curtailed (even if are contrary to mine) then in the end, so are mine. I remind you of the words of Martin Niemöller, a German pastor who spent seven years in concentration camps because of his opposition to Hitler…

First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out…

Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out…

Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out…

Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me…

St Alban’s: • Men’s group, a drink and a bite, first Wednesdays, 6pm, RSA. • Women’s Group third Mondays, 10am, The Hive Café. St Ronan’s: •Mainly Music, every Thurs, 9.1511.15am (term times). •Toy Library, Mons 8-9pm & Tues 9.30-10.30am (term times).

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

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Wednesdays 9-10am, 1st May  to 19th June.

Eastbourne Library committee room

Contact Lois Ollivier 04 5899951 or 027 6011858

Weekly Yoga Classes

At the Muritai Yacht Club

Every Wednesday 3.45pm

Join Jennifer from Anahata Yoga

Casual $15, Concession  cards $120 for 10

Which can also be used at the Studio in Petone  Please bring a Mat

Dan Reed lawn mowing, lawn and garden care. Contact 027 337 1360.

Made Local Jewellery Pop Up Shop

Saturday 4 May 9.30 - 2pm at Hartspace Rimu Street Eastbourne Village

For unique presents for Mothers Day (and other occasions).

Hand crafted jewellery designed by Philothea Flynn, Shona Drake, Zoe Lovell-Smith and others

APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS

Closing date: 15 May 2019

Applications from Eastbourne-Bays groups are invited. Application forms are available on the website (see below) or from Eastbourne Library.

Please refer to the following website for information on the Trust: www.ebct.org.nz

Contact: George Tuffin 562 7520 or email: trustees@ebct.org.nz

REF: THV02362

MAHINA BAY AT ITS FINEST

Can you imagine falling asleep to the sound of the sea each night? Here you can make this a reality: a fantastic beachfront property in the heart of the Bays!

A CELEBRATION OF COLOUR AND LIGHT

Sinead Diederich

04 392 0001 | 021 02581960

Built in 1972, this substantial home offers generous spaces for all the family, starting with internal access double garaging and off street parking on the ground level. sinead@tommyshv.co.nz

Sinead Diederich

04 392 0001 | 021 02581960

CURRENT LISTINGS

VIEW DETAILS OF THESE HOMES ON www.tommys.co.nz OR POP IN TO OUR OFFICE IN THE VILLAGE

Diederich 021 025 81960

Povey 027 5971 080

Duncan Povey 0275 971 080

sinead@tommyshv.co.nz

Duncan Povey

Occupying a superb site with a sensational combination of privacy, established trees and garden, and the sheer practicality of having 2 street frontages, this Architect designed home now comes to the market for the very first time. Giving very little away from either side, the house sits beautifully for all seasons and weathers, allowing year round entertaining. duncan@tommyshv.co.nz

04 568 2222 | 0275 971 080

415 Marine Drive, Mahina Bay, Eastbourne Buyer Enquiry From $995,000

REF: THV02346

22 Puriri Street, Eastbourne Buyer Enquiry From $1,750,000