The Eastbourne Herald July 2018

Wandering dogs cause controversy in Eastbourne

by Carl McRae

Two small dogs are causing a big ruckus in Eastbourne. The dogs, Ziggy and Lockey, regularly roam the streets of Eastbourne, earning owner Frank Johnstone the reputation of being an irresponsible dog owner.

Frank says he does not deliberately allow his dogs to roam freely, but they occasionally escape from their home near the bus barns and do what dogs do best: go off investigating.

That the dogs roam at will is a bone of contention locally, and their uncontrolled presence in the suburban streets has riled many. Frank says he has been rung up by the pound and has had to pay fines and arrange for his dogs' recovery on numerous occasions

He says that he has had enough of what he terms cyber-bullying, in direct relation to issues around his dogs, but also in the general comments he reads regarding many topics on the Eastbourne community Facebook page.

“I’m pretty thick-skinned myself,” he says, “but I’ve had some experience with family who have been victims of this 'hide behind the keyboard and screen' mentality in the past and I can tell you, it can be particularly vitriolic and psychologically damaging.”

“It is totally annoying,” he says. “I’ve lived here for 30 years and seen a lot of changes in that time, but not much that surpasses the level of venom that can be projected through these vigilantes, via the internet.”

Continues on Page 5

Happy 20th birthday, Toy Library

It was entirely appropriate that teddy bears should be at the centre of the Eastbourne Toy Library's 20th birthday celebrations. The bears had a party, and their owners celebrated the event with an afternoon tea at St Ronan's earlier this month.

The Toy Library has been based at St Ronan's for the entirety of its existence, and committee chair Kathy Claridge says the milestone in passing and reaching platinum status is good cause for celebration.

“Despite the winter weather settling in,” says Kathy, “attendees made the most of the party. Children enjoyed face painting, a bouncy castle, Teddy Bear competitions, activities and their pick of an entire library of toys.”

Afternoon tea was donated by local businesses; Hive, Marmalade and Tartines, and culminated in the cutting of a Teddy Bear birthday cake. In attendance were volunteers, past toy librarians and even founding members.

Kathy says that special mention must be given to long-standing supporters Sandy Lang and Reg Weeks, both of whom seemed intent on winning the prize for Oldest Teddy Bear.

The toy library is funded by membership fees, bouncy castle hire, fundraising, donations and grants. It is open in St Ronan's Church hall on Monday nights (8-9pm) and Tuesday mornings (9.30-10.30am) during school term time. Currently, the Library caters for children aged 0-6, although the current committee are working to increase the toys on offer and extend this age group out by a few years.

Rev Reg Weeks and Jonny Claridge cut the Toy Library's 20th birthday cake.

SMOKE SIGNALS

Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade is currently experiencing a shortage of Volunteer Firefighters and currently have 13 Firefighter vacancies. We are especially short of daytime volunteers which affects our ability to respond with a full crew, which in turn increases the risk to the community.

Are you ready to help to protect your community and learn new skills?

If so, come down to the Fire Station on a Monday night at 7:00PM and introduce yourself to Ross, the Chief Fire Officer or give him a call on 021 648 114.

Heaters & Clothes Dryers

After Kitchen Fires, fires involving heating & drying are the next most common reason the Fire Service is called out.

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

• Don’t store objects on top of your heating appliance.

• Never cover heating appliances.

• Don’t overload clothes dryers and clean lint filter after each cycle.

Portable LPG Gas Heaters.

• If the heater does not light straight away, turn it off and try again. Do not let the gas build up before trying to relight.

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

• Have your heater serviced every 12 months.

• Check to see if the hoses are in good condition and replace if damaged.

.Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives!

For practical advice on Fire Safety visit www. fireandemergency.nz or contact your local Fire Brigade.

Emergency Call Outs:

14 June 2018 – Trees on fire, Point Howard

21 June 2018 – Medical response, Muritai Rd

22 June 2018 – Medical response, Marine Pde.

08 July 2018 – Alarm Activation, Muritai School

08 July 2018 – Alarm Activation, Wellesley College

See Eastbourne musicians perform in An English Country Garden - a taste of the English summer through music from six English composers: St James Church, Woburn Road, Lower Hutt, 3pm Sunday 5 August. Tickets at Eventfinda or at the door. Adults $15, Seniors $12, Tertiary students $8, Sch children free.

St Ronan's Church is hosting a Toolbox Parenting Course, for parents of babies and toddlers (0-4 years). The course involves six sessions, Thursday evenings, 7-9pm (2 August to 6 September). The cost is $37.50 per person or $55.00 per couple (these course fees are heavily discounted thanks to the generosity of Eastbourne Lions. Limited places, to register email office@stronans.org.nz

SAT, SUN & PUBLIC

HOLIDAYS:

Sailings may be cancelled at short notice due to weather. To check today’s sailings, tel. 494 3339

July Eastbourne Community Board

Come and talk to us

Tuesday 4 September 2018 - 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

Robert Ashe (Deputy chair) robert.ashe@huttcity.govt.nz

Murray Gibbons murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz

Liz Knight liz.knight@huttcity.govt.nz

Anna Sutherland anna.sutherland@huttcity.govt.nz

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

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

You can now come and talk to us at the start of the formal meeting at 7.15pm about anything that concerns you whether or not it’s on the agenda. You are welcome to make suggestions, give praise, criticise or just come for a chat.

Representation review

Thanks to the many people who made submissions to the first round of consultation on the representation review. There was strong support for the existing community boards in Eastbourne, Petone and Wainuiomata. Many people said it is unfair that only some areas of the city have boards and would like to see them established across the city. It was also felt that community panels might be a valuable option but are too new for their effectiveness to be evaluated at this time.

The Policy and Regulatory Committee is recommending to Council that it remain with the status quo for both Council and second tier representation arrangements but that second tier representation arrangements be reviewed again in March 2021 as by this stage Council and the community will have more information about how panels are working. Council is meeting Tuesday 24th July to make a final decision on its draft proposal for consultation.

Local housing market's buoyancy continues

by Carl McRae

Local house prices are continuing to increase, according to Stephen Lee of Professionals.

“There has been a swing this year,” he says, “towards the smaller, three-bedroom home, under $900,000, and two-bedroom townhouses and apartments. There have been half as many sales in the $1million plus price range, with one house selling for over $3m last year.”

That single sale inflated the median sale price in 2017 and Stephen says that those spurious figures have resulted in the average house price in Eastbourne lowering during the current year.

He believes, though, that the main problem facing the local market at present is that the homes buyers are looking for are just not available. In the Eastern Bays, 19 fewer homes have sold in 2018 compared with the preceding year.

Stephen views that as an example of how the market has changed. There are currently 23 properties advertised in Eastbourne and Bays; four sections, eight townhouse/apartments and 11 houses, three-bedroom plus.

These trends are all in keeping with figures recorded throughout most of New Zealand during the same timeframe, available to all on the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) website. Housing stock is well down and buyer demand remains high.

“I meet buyers with their wish list,” says Stephen, “they're mostly younger with families,

or couples looking at Eastbourne with a view toward retirement. There is a resurgence of buyer interest from Wellington, where Eastbourne is now seen as a viable option due to the increase in values in central Wellington. But I have fielded recent enquiries from Auckland, Christchurch and overseas.”

Banks and insurance companies have been more diligent with their lending criteria, even though interest rates appear stable. Stephen says that increasingly, these companies are asking for more information on titles, particularly regarding older homes, where valuations and builders/ engineers reports are becoming a prerequisite.

“Some insurance companies have stopped insuring, their principal companies placing embargoes on tsunami and earthquake prone areas,” he says, “which affects not only Eastbourne, but all Wellington waterfront properties.”

Stephen concludes by saying that no matter what home you are attempting to sell in Eastbourne and Bays, values will continue to climb because of what the area has to offer.

“You’re not just buying a house,” he says. “It’s an opportunity to move into a very enjoyable community.”

Median house prices - June 2018 (value compared to June 2017)

National median: $560,000 (+5.7%)

Wellington Region: $595,000 (+12.3%)

Lower Hutt = $530,000

Eastbourne $707,000

National median days to sell: 38

Wellington: 29

Eastbourne: 57-60

Lower Hutt (including Eastern Bays) was down -6.9 percent on houses available, compared with the same time period for 2017, but up 13.5 percent in value from sales.

Nationwide, most movement of housing is in the $500,000-$750,000 bracket, a 29.4 percent increase on the previous 12 month period. At the top end, properties sold in excess of $1 million increased marginally, to 14.4 percent of the market.

It took nearly 12 hours and nine crews to put out last week's fire at Macaulay Metals in Seaview. HV DHB warned people to close windows so as to avoid the fumes from the fire, which could be smelt in Eastbourne.

It's full steam ahead for Seaview Marina

by Carl McRae

Seaview Marina is an acknowledged world class facility and it’s right on our doorstep.

CEO Alan McLellan (pictured), an engineer by trade, has held the position since the Marina, which is wholly owned by Hutt City Council, became an independent business in 2003.

“The facility was poorly financed and maintained,” Alan says, “and run as part of the HCC’s Parks and Reserves. Council crunched the numbers and decided to allow the Marina to stand on its own two feet - literally to survive or sink”.

“We struggled initially with no operational basis to work from,” he says, “but a lot of money has been spent in that 15 year period, to provide better facilities for our diverse community. All money we have made as a business has gone back into further development of the Marina.”

A lot of the initial success was based around the solid breakwater.

In October 1989, Works Civil Construction won the contract for the first stage of the Seaview Marina. HCC's $12m project involved the construction of two breakwaters and a large boat ramp.

The second stage involved the dredging of the Marina basin. The dredged material was used to reclaim four hectares of land for hardstand. With 90 percent of the construction underwater and exposure to the sea and wind conditions, the project was both complex and challenging. But compared with the area's geology, the weather and seas were only a minor obstacle.

“The sea floor is very soft and silty,” Alan says, “so a lot of engineering went into the breakwater construction, with different sized layers of rock and filter materials in place. Even following a spate of moderate to large earthquakes, there has been virtually no sinkage of the breakwater at all, that’s how solid it is.”

Alan admits that in the future, with increases in tide size and sea levels, some measures will need to be taken to further protect the Marina from weather influence. But so far, although waves have occasionally breached the breakwater, it has stood up to the best the Antarctic southerlies can throw at it.

A state-of-the-art Hardstand is a big draw card for many boaties who regularly use the boat

yard and facilities on offer.

“Most boats come out of the water for maintenance,” says Alan. “Recreational vessels are often in need of anti-fouling or repainting work, while commercial boats often have certification issues and come out on a regular basis.”

“The 50 tonne travel lift and hardstand is amongst the best in the world and generates significant revenue for us, with high occupancy rates.”

The Wellington Marine Centre building has over 2000m² of floor area, housing nine separate marine related businesses.

Michael Meads, owner/operator of Compass Cafe says that his business, which opened the day after the Kaikoura earthquake, has shown steady growth over the past 18 months. So much so, that his shipping container premise is no longer big enough to accommodate the burgeoning coffee aficionados and current plans have been approved to build a more permanent cafe on site.

“While I do get some business from live-aboards,” Michael says, “I get a lot of my

patronage from the industrial workers of the district, including those who work inside the complex. Summer visitors to the Marina and Eastbourne mums also make up a lot of my regular clientele.”

Live-aboard numbers have increased over the years, Alan says, and while most can afford to live on land, it is a choice and not an economic rationale that dictates their lifestyle. There are 330 standard floating in-water berths, and 250 trailer parks.

Continual growth is a key component for Alan, who says that a floating diesel/petrol facility is next in the pipeline, following on from the ten Catamaran berths which have just been completed. Seaview Marina is one of only eleven marinas in New Zealand to have been accredited with Level 3 Clean Marina Certification, a partnership between industry, local and central government and the general boating fraternity, to protect coastal water quality by engaging in environmentally sound business and operational practices.

A tale of a man, two dogs, and community outrage

From Page 1

Les Dalton, Hutt City Council regional manager of animal services, says a dog is usually impounded if it is allowed to roam uncontrolled and is reported to HCC, or if it has wandered onto a property and the property owner requests its removal.

“It is a council bylaw,” he says, “that dogs must be kept on a leash unless in an exercise area. Mr. Johnstone has been verbally spoken to, written to, and despite letters and infringement notices from us, we have had no compliance from him. Besides members of the public in Eastbourne informing us of the dogs roaming, shopkeepers have also complained of their annoyance at the dogs being uncontrolled in the village.

“He has even promised us that he will build an area to keep the dogs from escaping. At present we are appropriating a new course of action and the issue will be dealt with.”

One of the complainants, Suzanne LevyBrown, says that her view is simple: owning a dog comes with responsibilities, both to the dog and to the community that the owner lives in.

“I am sympathetic to those who have dogs who escape - we have two dogs - and will always help to reunite in those cases,” she says.

“But Frank's dogs don't escape, he actually lets them out to roam as he thinks this is how dogs should be treated.

"I don't agree with this and nor does the council. He is breaking the council’s bylaws by his own admission.”

Eastbourne community Facebook page administrator Sinead Diederich says that the Facebook page is a closed group used for community notices such as lost cats, bikes to give away and the like. It is not intended for use as a discussion forum, although from time

to time discussions do take place. The example she cites is the recent Significant Natural Areas (SNAs)debate.

“It is also extremely helpful in cases of emergencies, like when the roads are closed. It is not meant for use under any circumstances to abuse or alienate parties, regardless of their beliefs or actions.

“From an admin perspective, we do our best to watch discussions in the group. This is a voluntary role and can be time consuming. There is a facility for members to report a post. Once that happens admin is alerted to any issues.”

“As regards the 'dog story', she says, “once this had been reported to me I took the post down. It is 100 percent my personal belief that we should treat others with respect and kindness.

"Unfortunately at times others exercise less discretion and admin tries in those cases to act promptly.“

Ironically, dog registrations are due for renewal by July 31.

All information regarding the ownership of animals and HCC bylaws is covered in depth on the Animal Services page on their website; http:// www.huttcity.govt.nz/Services/Animals/ See Letters to the Editor, Page 12, for more on this issue.

Helen Renor Funeral Director

Stephanie van Campfort Embalmer Funeral Director

Sinclair

Funeral Services

Frank Johnstone with his controversial dogs, Ziggy (left) and Lockey.

A Cure for the Winter Blues

Taking steps by Alan Ayckbourn – a Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe production

A farce with no doors, in a house with three floors, played all on one level has set a major challenge for Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe’s next production.

Playwright Alan Ayckbourn says this play, Taking Steps, is his only true farce which director Florence McFarlane says is oozing laughs and has many twists in the tale. “I can’t wait to enjoy it with an audience,” she says. “Elspeth Cotsilinis and I (as co-directors) are laughing ourselves silly as we enjoy the antics of the actors.”

The play is set in a rambling old house in the middle of nowhere, formerly a Victorian brothel and possibly haunted, which leaks like a sieve.

Barry Mawer, as Roland, enjoys his Scotch and is (as he will tell you) a very successful businessman and he wants to buy this large house which will display his position in life.

Lian Butcher plays Elizabeth, Roland's trophy wife. She is bored, yearns to get back to the buzz of her dancing career and is planning to leave him.

Add her romantically frustrated brother Mark (Mike McJorrow) who only wants to open a fishing shop; a cripplingly shy and totally incompetent solicitor Tristram (John Hart);

and Kitty (Amy Blake) who has been picked up by police for soliciting and spends much of her time in a bag, and you have all the ingredients to cure the winter blues.

Many of the laughs come from the actors pretending they are on three floors but are playing it on one level. However, this setting is not without its challenges for the directors. “The audience encircles the action leaving nowhere for the actors to hide and no room for mistakes,” Florence says. “But I'm confident that with such a strong cast it’s bound to hit the mark for Eastbourne audiences.”

Taking Steps opens on 2 August at Muritai

School Theatre.

Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn

Muritai School Theatre

2, 3, 4 and 16,17,18 August at 7.30pm PLUS a matinee at 2pm Sunday 5 August

Tickets at Rona Gallery or website www.bctt. org.nz

For phone bookings – 0832 77790

The cast of Taking Steps.

Phase one of the Heritage Trail is now complete

The completion of phase one of the Eastbourne Heritage Trail project was marked by the installation of further photographic displays, placed on the side of the Sports and Services Club building at the end of Tuatoru Street.

President of the Historical Society of Eastbourne, Dennis Davidson, says that the society are delighted that the first phase is now wrapped up.

“We’d like to register our sincere thanks to the Eastern Bays Community Trust,” he said. “They have worked very closely with us, hand in glove, in helping see this venture successfully through to this stage of development.”

The last Mayor of Eastbourne prior to the Borough Council’s amalgamation into Lower Hutt City, Ross Jamieson, says that he is intrigued by how many people, visitors particularly, stop and look at the heritage plaques along the trail.

“It certainly sparks an interest,” he says, “and helps them pass some time, while learning some of the history of our place across the other side of the harbour.”

Okiwi Volunteer Driving

Phase 2 will include the proposed placement of the old Police cell block at the entrance to Rona Wharf, scheduled for sometime in 2019, once the Hutt City Council’s refurbishment work on the old jetty has been completed.

Local councillor and community board representative, Murray Gibbons, says that the project committee are very grateful to Willie Davis for his assistance with the installation of this last photo display.

Calbeni Flooring is an exciting new business that has just been started up by local businessman Benoit Petit. Ben and his family live in Days Bay.

Calbeni offers the best carpet laying services in NZ! Our friendly and experienced flooring team supplies and fits carpet from our quality range.

We can quote on any size project. From residential to large commercial – we do them all.

We also specialise in Garage Carpet so if you are looking to enhance your garage, workshop, man-cave, or commercial office space then contact our sales representative for a free quote.

* For every job listed in the Eastbourne area we will donate $100 to San Antonio School, until the end of August.

Phone: 027 225 2364

Email: clinton@calbeni.co.nz

Ross Jamieson, Murray Gibbons and Dennis Davidson.

Tireless work has changed barren beach to lush

by Louise Parry

David McDougall is the first to admit he’s a stubborn man, and his wife, Judith is the first to concur.

But that tenacity has seen 600 metres of beach landscape between Makaro Street and Maire Street transformed from a flat, bare landscape to thriving sand dunes.

David and a team of up to twelve keen helpers began planting native, sand-attracting plants on the beach way back in the early 2000s, in response to a plan put forward by the Eastbourne Cricket Club to extend its ground at HW Shortt Park.

David and his group were opposed to the expansion, which the club sought in order to have a standard sized cricket field, and although Hutt Council refused it permission to plant in front of the park, members began putting in pingao by the fence next to the ESSC.

The group did a letterbox drop alerting residents to the proposal,which it said would see forty, 80 year-old Pohutukawas chopped down in the club’s bid to push the oval out a further 25m onto what David says is the best part of the beach.

And so the beach restoration began.

“Some of us have been quite passionate about it ever since,” David says.

David was very ambitious from the start - he and fellow members such as scientist and environmentalist George Gibbs and his wife Keena wanted to plant from HW Shortt Park south, right along to Rona Wharf.

“We soon realised that wasn’t going to be sensible,” David says.

In coastal management specialist Jim Dharm's report to the council on the state of the beach, along with that of Days Bay, he recommended that, in order to prevent sand loss and grow dunes, marram grass should be removed and replaced with natives pingao and spinafex.

This was controversial - some Eastbourne residents didn’t see the point of ripping out hardy marram grass and replacing it with a native plant.

However, the council agreed with the recommendation, and since then has supplied seedlings to David’s group.

These come in the winter months, in two lots of 600 plants, which the McDougalls look after until they can get them out and planted as soon as possible.

“You soon learn what works here,” David says, adding he has planted more than 20 species of natives on the beach.

“Some, there’s not a lot of, but at least they are represented. Biodiversity is important.”

Now, with more than 4000 voluntary hours on the project under his belt over ten years - largely by himself, but with the help of Judith and other group membersDavid is looking to ease back on the workload.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he says, “but I think I’m bowing out.

"I'll still go out and pull out weeds."

He says, at 85, the pressure of getting the plants in the ground and carrying trays of seedlings is getting too much - he hopes some people will continue on the work he and Jude began nearly 20 years ago.

“David is out in all weathers, day after day, after day,” says Jude.

“I don’t know that I’ve met anybody who is so persistent and dedicated - and stubborn.”

Judith and David McDougall.

When restoration began, much of the beach was weed-covered and barren looking. Today dunes have developed with the help of sand-capturing native plants.

Faith in the Community

Shaking the Foundations!

I was recently at a church meeting where the discussion was about earthquake strengthening. Since Christchurch, few organisations can avoid this troublesome and expensive topic.

It can even call in question the need for a building. After all, the church is really the people, right? And any space will do, right? Well not quite. In all the discussion and the search for simplicity and multi-use, a couple of important factors may be overlooked. The church is not just a place where some people gather for religious exercises. From time immemorial a church has been regarded by the whole community as somehow ‘holy ground’, a quiet space to withdraw for a while from the everyday grind. Even Pope Francis pleads for his churches to leave their doors open. A church has also long been a place of sanctuary, and a sign like the beach flags of the life-savers, that somebody in the community cares about those who are struggling and in need of help. It doesn’t need to be the tallest or most impressive building in the town but as long as it carries a cross it will remain a welcome symbol of comfort and care. Of course, the people who regularly meet there need also to live out those values.

St Alban’s: Men’s group meets first Wednesdays at 6pm at the RSA for a drink and a bite. Women’s Group meets third Mondays at 10am at the Hive.

St Ronan’s: • Taizé by candlelight 5 August at 6.30pm (1st Sunday each winter month).

• Toolbox Parenting Course. Babies and Toddlers (0-4 years). Six sessions, Thursday evenings, 7-9pm (2 August to 6 September). Email office@stronans.org.nz to register –places are limited.

Local artist wins prestigious award

Lowry Bay resident Jacqui Colley has won the 2018 Parkin Drawing Prize, earning $20,000 and national recognition.

The Parkin Prize is a national award and an annual exhibition held at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.

Each year the winning entry will be purchased and added to a unique collection of drawings by New Zealand artists.

The Parkin Prize was established by Chris Parkin, an arts patron and former owner of New Zealand’s only boutique art hotel – the Museum Art Hotel in Wellington.

The award is open to anyone who lives permanently in New Zealand or has New Zealand citizenship.

Jacqui is currently in South Africa researching a new project.

" Long Echo , the work I submitted for this award, gave me the chance to create something that challenged me on multiple levels," says Jacqui.

"It required both measured and release approaches to fully realise my idea. For this work I needed to work on an industrial surface, aluminium – a surface that reflects and is hard

and at a scale that’s immersive and dominates. I threw acid on the surface to create my initial marks followed by drawing with engraving tools, gouging the metal. Long Echo loosely references aerial views of Canterbury."

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

Football club celebrates turning 50 in style

by Carl McRae

Eastbourne Football Club members celebrated their golden jubilee in fine style on June 30, with many former players and administrators attending festivities at the ESSC in Tuatoru Street.

There was much laughter and reminiscing, with stories retold of both triumph and despair.

Celebrations began in earnest with the In-betweeners invitational match, organised by former club chair, Sola Freeman; a fun display of quality football from the many talented players, aged 14-22, who have come through the club. Many were reunited with others they had played with for many years while at Eastbourne.

The opposing sides each wore replica strips from yesteryear. The players enjoyed catching up with old team mates and having the opportunity to pit themselves against others older or younger than themselves. Some even asked if it could become an annual event.

“The game was exactly what I had hoped for,” says Sola. “Best spin-off for me was the number of parents who thoroughly enjoyed the chance to reconnect with each other. Funny how those many years of standing on the sideline together forms lasting friendships. ”

Club President Brendon Bentley says the celebrations went off far better than imagined.

“There were many highlights,” he said. “The amazing weather in the middle of winter, the junior players' faces when their coaches brought out 50th birthday cakes and then the national

coverage of the event on TV One News, which was screened after the formalities to raucous applause.”

“But if I did have to single one highlight out it would have to be seeing the whole community coming together as one to celebrate our little club's impact in the Bays. It is astounding how many people have an affiliation to the club in one way or another over the past 50 years.”

An estimated 200 people who shared that connection were reunited for the evening (and some the night before at the same venue), some making the journey from Australia and others from various parts of New Zealand.

“It was just incredible how many current and past members came along to make the day so special,” Brendon says. “On the night we had many legends of our club in attendance - names like McKinlay, Weatherhead, Whitehead, Adam and Hall.”

Another of those legends, former senior player, committee member and women’s coach,

Bill Hobbs, said it was well worth the trip from Brisbane.

“It was fantastic seeing so many faces I’d not seen in twenty plus years,” Bill said. “The football club was the catalyst around which so many life-long friendships have been formed and it was great to catch up with these people and chat and celebrate our achievement.”

Continues next page

Eastbourne 13th grade All Stars (left to right) Flynn Cook (in background); Ollie Fastier (scored a hat trick in the game); Barney Marsden (with the ball) and Ming Bao (in the background). Eastbourne winners 8-2 against North Wellington Wolves.

Players and supporters reunite for celebrations

From previous page

Brendon Bentley says it was quite emotional seeing Jim McKinlay and Dean Burrows unveil the club's first ever honours board, which now hangs proudly in the EFC’s corner of the shared clubrooms.

The pair shared the honour, as it was difficult to distinguish between the credentials of the club's two living legends. Jim was an early and long-serving committee member, first captain (and goal scorer) of the inaugural senior side in 1970. Dean was in only his second season then as a young schoolboy, but 49 years on (as a junior, senior and master) it is estimated that he has made somewhere around 700 appearances for the Eastbourne Club.

Attendees, especially the elder bracket, are hoping that these reunions will be organised more frequently in the future, such was their shared

enjoyment of the weekend. Brendon says that following the overall success of the venture, that may be a distinct possibility.

“For now we’d like to thank the Eastbourne rugby club parents for volunteering hours of their time in the kitchen,” he says. “Local businesses including the Four Square and Hive Café for donating goods and Phil Benge who provided his photography expertise to make sure the event was captured for our

history books, and of course all our past and present members.”

Above, Xolani Lynskey, Honor Velvin, Lucy Sherwin; Right, Unveiling of the honours board at Eastbourne Sports and Services Club by Eastbourne FC life members Jim Mckinlay and Dean Burrows; Below right, Antony Holden of the Eastbourne G’s (Geriatrics) masters team playing against the Brooklyn Northern United Pacemakers. Eastbourne G’s winners 4-1. Photos: Phil Benge.

LETTERS

If you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all

I have been breaking the dog control laws for two years by letting my dogs be full free range. Reasons: 1. I am passionate about quality of life for the dogs. No animals (humans included) tolerate confinement. 2. Happy, healthy, free dogs contribute significantly to the social make up. Dog therapy is well proven. 3. I have a lifestyle property unable to be fenced. The "Manitowoc" garage is mine, and my driveway is at the rear of the bus depot.

My law breaking activities were tolerated by all because of the contribution the dogs actually did make to the social structure of Eastbourne, especially the elderly.

I have had to start early retirement because of the huge number of calls to the pound by a select few people organising these activities through the Eastbourne Facebook notice board. I now walk the dogs two to three times a day and they choose to stay home the rest of the time.

The volume of people stopping me to talk while on my walks is absolutely phenomenal. The message is always the same: The hatred of the Facebook community notes board.

Karma is coming to these people writing negative, hateful things about me and the dogs, because this is a small, gorgeous community

filled with intelligent folk who like to accentuate the positive.

Mob mentality has been fired up by a few cowardly keyboard warriors, but judging by the huge number of unsolicited encounters I have had, this lovely community is fully over the Facebook notice board, or at least the negative aspect, which seems to dominate.

Leaving the dogs and myself out, the EB Facebook notice board has become infamous for whingeing, complaining, personal attacks and name calling.

There seems to be no checks and balances. The EB Facebook notice board is like no other notice board, and is gaining a reputation in the wider community that is making a laughing stock out of our special, warm, close community.

Cyber etiquette: if you cannot say anything positive, say nothing at all.

It takes a modicum of intellect to seek and view the positive. Anyone of any ability can accentuate the negative.

Frank Johnstone

Port Arthur Port Nicholson

Garden Stuff with Sandy Lang

August: The last month of winter - yeah…! Time to get on with the pruning. If you want a new tree/shrub, now’s the time to buy it. There’s no rush to plant it as it’ll not do much till the soil warms up. So why buy now? Because you’ll find the range and quality of garden-centre trees/shrubs is best now. The range will lessen as spring stocks dwindle and the quality will lessen as early buyers choose the best plants - leaving you the residue and the weaklings. The early bird gets the (fattest) worm… Now for those late-winter days when it’s wet and you can’t prune. Let’s ponder CO2, your garden and your grandchildren…

Climate change: The greatest threat to humankind is climate change. Arguably more dangerous than nuclear war. Climate change is mostly due to rising atmospheric CO2 and this to burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas). When I was born, atmospheric CO2 was 310 ppm (parts per million), today it’s 410 ppm and rising. Not only do we urgently need to stop burning fossil fuels but we also need to find ways to put the extra atmospheric carbon back underground where it belongs. All that’s proving difficult without collapsing the world economy…

Biochar: I bet you’ve never heard of biochar (see biochar Wikipedia). I’ve often banged on about adding tree chip to your sandy Eastbourne soil to increase its organic content and its biome, and so also its waterand nutrient-holding capacities. From 450 BC through 950 AD Amazonian farmers added biochar (charcoal) to their low-grade soils to create terra preta – a highly fertile ‘anthropogenic’ black soil. Terra preta is also found around ancient settlements in Africa and Asia (see terra preta Wikipedia).

Sequestration: Mixing biochar into the soil takes carbon out of the plant-atmosphere cycle and puts it underground. Biochar is a form of carbon that’s resistant to oxidation so it stays where you put it - almost forever. Biochar works with organic carbon (tree chip) to enhance soil fertility, even further raising its water- and nutrient-holding capacities.

How to: Put tree chip in a biscuit tin (hole in lid so it doesn’t explode) and put it in a fire (1 hour?). ‘Cooking’ the tree chip without air pyrolyses it. What’s left is biochar. Break it up to a coarse powder and mix it with your garden soil. Nature will do the rest and hey presto terra preta…!

Sandy Lang slang@xtra.co.nz

EASTBOURNE

EASTBOURNE 24a Tawa Street

Build the Dream

This 4,571sqm section in a truly stunning location is the chance to make your new dream home a reality.

Close to the beach, the bush, Pencarrow cycle/walking path and public transport you’ll enjoy all year sunshine and views that keep on giving the higher you choose to go. In a peaceful, sought after cul-de-sac access is direct from the established road. Easy! And an architect’s concept design is available to help start the creative process. Whether you are scheming big or thinking small, consideration of this site is highly recommended.

EASTBOURNE

EASTBOURNE 374 Muritai Road

Exceptional Home, Excellent Value!

EASTBOURNE xxxx address

Locals call Eastbourne paradise - call me today to explore the lifestyle options this opportunity provides.

CONTACT: Kim Slessor 027 230 3328

BY NEGOTIATION: Buyer Enquiry From $370,000

VIEW ONLINE: www.justpaterson.co.nz/JP1196

EASTBOURNE xxxx address

This high quality, contemporary home ticks all the boxes! Just move in, become part of Eastbourne’s wonderful community and enjoy life by the beach. Wow factor flows throughout a well designed 406sqm interior. An open plan kitchen, dining and living room include the thrill of a cathedral ceiling, expansive glazing, space and style. On the same floor is a further living/ tv room plus separate o ce, laundry and craft room/second o ce. And of five double bedrooms, four are upstairs where a master ensuite (with bath and double shower), a family bathroom and versatile living room combine the ultimate in comfort and convenience. Back on the ground floor the fifth bedroom and shower room are excellent for guests. There is perfect flow to a flat garden, a large internal access double garage and an easy stroll along the path from the back gate to the beach, schools and village. Fully insulated with with year round comfort from great sun, underfloor heating and a gas fire. It is rare to find so many benefits under one roof. This is a stunning opportunity.

CONTACT: Kim Slessor 027 230 3328

BY NEGOTIATION: Buyer Enquiry From $1,395,000

VIEW ONLINE: www.justpaterson.co.nz/JP1259

Muritai Road

Contributor to realestate.co.nz

Mondays

• Retired Persons’ Assn 4th Mon. Ph 5627365.

• “Baby Bounce & Rhyme” at the library 10.30am.

• 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.

• Historical Society of Eastbourne local studies room open above the library 2-4 pm every Monday. (Check Saturday).

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

• Rotary Pencarrow meets 6.30pm Lowry Bay Yacht Club, Seaview - phone Don 562 7409.

• 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.

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. Jeanne 562 8555.

WHAT’S ON

• 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

• 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

• 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 Card Groups (weekly)

- 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

• St Alban’s Pop in and Play, at St Ronan’s Church Hall, 9am-11.30am, contact Stefi 021 178 2099.

• 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.

• Historical Society of Eastbourne local studies room open above the library 11am - Noon on Last Saturday every month. (Check Mondays).

• 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.

Regular walkers in the forest above Eastbourne will have noticed that some of the largest trees had metal bands fastened around their trunks. You may wonder why they were put there and why they have suddenly disappeared.

It all began back in 1992. At that time there was a government-subsidised youth development programme called Conservation Corps (it ran from 1988 until 2012), which used conservation, education and recreation activities to assist young people to find employment and obtain further education and training.

The conservation activities involved small teams of young people, with two supervisors, taking on projects that lasted for about six months.

Chris Ferkins was involved in searching out conservation project opportunities in the Wellington Region and was invited to look at the big Rata trees in our park, where there were many dead treetops (called ‘stags heads’) and some completely dead trees, due to heavy browsing by possums. Since the Conservation Corps projects were only partly funded by government, a sponsor was needed. Fortunately, Greater Wellington was already involved with the Corps to pursue environmental goals, so a project plan was developed.

Thanks to the efforts of Chris and others in putting forward a robust proposal, as well as the Greater Wellington support, the Rata tree banding project got the go-ahead (only about half of proposed projects got funded). It kicked off in February 1992 with a team of 15 young people (plus Chris and one other as supervisors) gathering in Days Bay armed with hammers, nails, tape measures, lengths of rubber and strips of aluminium.

They proceeded to climb up the hills above Days Bay and York Bay, locating large Rata trees and placing possum-proof bands of aluminium around the trees.

The bands were held off each tree by rubber stoppers threaded on the nails, designed to create space to allow lizards and insects to climb the tree and give the tree space to grow. This proved to be effective—after 26 years, very few of the bands were tight on the trunks and no trunks were significantly deformed.

The project was completed in June, with the Corps members giving presentations to an

audience comprising the Ministers of Youth Affairs and Conservation and the Chairman of Greater Wellington, but more daunting still, the Corps members’ friends and family. In their presentations, the Corps members explained their project and what they learnt along the way—of which they could rightly feel very proud (having become involved with the Corps to pursue environmental goals, Greater Wellington reportedly stayed on because of the amazing effect they saw on the young participants).

So why is it that, 26 years later, the bands on the Rata trees are coming down? Well at that time, reducing the possum population to a consistently low level was regarded as unrealistic, given that there were (literally) thousands of possums living in the Northern Forest, so bands were the best immediate solution.

However, through the use of aerial 1080 drops to achieve the initial knock-down, followed by the establishment of an extensive trap network in 2004 by Greater Wellington, serviced regularly by MIRO and other volunteers, possum numbers are now kept at a very low level. In addition, removing the possums has seen a rapid recovery of the tree canopy, so the bands are no longer effective, as possums could climb a neighbouring tree to get at the tasty Rata. For these reasons, as well as the fact that the bands detract from the natural beauty of the forest, it was decided to

remove them.

Removing the bands turned out to be surprisingly easy compared to putting them up. Three volunteers, working under the guidance of Alan Bagnall (who could still remember roughly where most bands were), were able to remove over 60 bands in five days.

Only one tree required the use of a small ladder and, all up, 63kg of aluminium was taken to the recyclers, with the resulting cash deposited in the MIRO bank account to be used for further conservation work.

It is really heartening to see how much the forest has improved over the years, especially the health of the large trees and the increase in birdlife. So many thanks are due to the Conservation Corps team members who scrambled up the steep hill slopes on that February day in 1992 to protect the big Rata trees of Eastbourne.

One last request: if you spot a band that we have missed (there are sure to be some) please email info@miro.org.nz with a clear description of the location or, better still, the GPS coordinates.

- Terry Webb and Chris Firkins, MIRO

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

Adrian Macnee removes a metal band in the forest above Days Bay.

Waterbourne is ramping up for 2019

Following the success of Waterbourne 2018, event organiser Laurence Carey will be hosting a community gathering at Muritai Yacht Club on July 29, to give the public a sneak preview of what he has organised for 2019.

The inaugural Waterbourne, staged at Rona Bay Beach and Bishop Park in March of this year, added a special vibrancy and colour to the district's overall summer programme, with more than of 100 competitors from all over Australasia and the Pacific.

The event has already gained a higher profile around the Pacific and Laurence says that it is his dream to see Waterbourne become New Zealand’s premier extreme water sports series, with additional venues to include Raglan and Tauranga.

Building upon the foundations as established in 2018, Laurence would like to add the Olympic disciplines: surfing, kite foiling and wind foiling.

“Eastbourne provided some ideal conditions,” Laurence said. “Not only did Lower Hutt deliver high winds, great for kite and windsurfing, but also idyllic calm waters for the Paddle for Hope.”

“The beach culture apparent, flowed from the sea to the shore,” he added, “and live music fuelled those vibes until the stars filled the sky.”

Laurence says that the purpose of the meeting is to provide an insight into the immediate future of Waterbourne and what it is

likely to bring to the Eastbourne community and Lower Hutt in general. He will begin by making a presentation, followed by a Q&A session based around the entire event.

He believes that Eastbourne offers something very unique, with all disciplines able to base themselves in the one location, ensuring the public can engage directly with each sport.

The Paddle for Hope was extremely popular, with local politicians Chris Bishop and Ginny Anderson lending their muscle toward raising the profile of the charity event.

“The PFH is an ideal way for the local community to get engaged with Waterbourne,” Laurence said, “as sponsors provide paddle boards for those who need them and all money raised goes towards cancer rehabilitation.”

“It's great to be able to host something which helps engage the public with an active lifestyle whilst raising much needed funds for a great cause.”

The professional windsurfer and reigning NZ Champion in his sport decided to incorporate this event in the Waterbourne programme, as he has a personal connection with cancer, an illness with which he was inflicted as a teenager.

Laurence invites the wider community to come along to this free event in the hope of them gaining a better understanding of what to expect at Waterbourne 2019 and how they can become involved with this project.

Waterbourne Community Meeting and Q&A session hosted by Laurence Carey Muritai Yacht Club Sunday, July 29th. 9:30am-11:00am

Track work now completed

The best intentions of the Greater Wellington Regional Council were hampered by the bad weather in late June, as it looked to complete track work in the East Harbour Regional Park behind Eastbourne.

Stephen Heath from GWRC says that the metal/gravel work has now been completed on the Kaearea track and work on the summit signs is in the design phase.

“We’re working closely with the Historical Society of Eastbourne on the detail,” Stephen says, “and will send our photographer up to the lookouts to take photos for the interpretive display boards once we’ve cleared the copy.

"We plan to have everything in place before the official opening of the track, around Labour Day weekend.”

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Library still at the forefront of the community

by Carl McRae

Forever the hub of any community, the library is more important now than it ever was, according to Eastbourne Community Library manager Jacquie Arnot.

Jacquie says libraries have adapted very successfully to changing times, and they are uniquely placed to offer a variety of specialised services and events of interest to their communities.

The core business of libraries has always been the delivery and dissemination of information, for the purposes of knowledge, education and learning or for pleasure and enjoyment.

“Those core values remain,” Jacquie says, “and the modern library is still at the forefront of the information world.

"Traditional services such as lending books and making available ephemera are still very much a part of what libraries do. But of course a vast amount of information is now widely accessible via the internet, including e-books and the like, and libraries are having to compete with that widely and easily accessible pool of information.”

The library website itself provides a gateway to a large number of online databases and a browse through will reveal a huge number of e-resources which customers can link to free of charge.

"The old multi-set encyclopaedia, Britannica - for example - is now available via the catalogue on-line, is easy to use and flexible, possibly more so than the old paper volumes.

“One of our most impressive resources is called Press Reader,” says Jacquie, “an on-line database of newspapers from all around the world. Customers can read today’s newspaper

Kidztalk

Winter days still mean messy play!!

from almost any part of the globe.”

The database Index New Zealand covers current affairs, politics, education, history and the arts. Highly valued as an essential source for information on New Zealand topics, it also contains details of articles from New Zealand magazines and newspapers.

“We informally offer people assistance with things to do around computers,” Jacquie says.

“We help with their devices and accessing information online for them and have gained something of a reputation among older folk, which draws them in for that specific service. But our aim really is to have something for everyone, and I think that is reflected in the demographics.”

By way of drawing people together, the Eastbourne Library has introduced several popular regular programmes specifically aimed at 9-12 year olds.

Each of these programmes focuses on specific in areas of literacy, numeracy, problem solving, team work, analysing and social.

“We have always offered traditional programmes such as Baby Bounce and Preschool Storytime,” Jacquie says, “but some initiatives have had little to do with traditional library services. Plant Swap, for example, was about drawing people together and sharing knowledge.

“Our monthly book group, Books on Wednesday, has been meeting for many years now.”

Heritage research is another very important service offered by Hutt City Libraries and by chance, August is National Family History Month.

“Here in Eastbourne we have a new monthly family history drop-in session, with a specialist family history librarian on-hand to help with queries,” Jacquie said.

WELCOME TO DAYS

Whether it's sunny and we're digging in the sandpit or southern gales have forced us inside, our tamariki are never short of things to get their hands in. Our enclosed patio is the perfect place for painting and swinging, while the warm inside is a hive of activity: from puzzles to playdough, drumming to dress-ups, and always something delicious in the oven or on the stove.

Spaces are available for term 3! Sessions run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, 9:15am-11:45; stay for a snack, leave for a nap as your child needs.

Pop in for a visit or phone Andrea 021027973111 for more information.

“Customers also have access to several ancestry research e-resources including Ancestry. com (accessible through the library computers), and FamilySearch.”

She says that the staff have worked hard this past year to increase the number of regular events held at the library and there is always something to look forward to. National Poetry Day is on August 24.

"The library belongs to the community and is here to offer the community what it wants as far as possible.”

Jacquie says that one of the more disappointing things for some folk is that libraries are no longer places of absolute quiet as they once were.

“Some people really do struggle with this,” she says.

Gautrey off to world champs

Eastbourne's George Gautrey will compete at the Sailing World Championships at Aarhus in Denmark from July 30 to August 12.

Gautrey will represent New Zealand in the men's laser class along with national high performance and Olympic development teammates Andrew McKenzie, Sam Meech, Thomas Saunders and Andrew Kempkers. Conditions in Aarhus are notoriously tricky but Gautrey has some experience after competing at a world championship test event at the venue late last year. After finishing 11th at the last Laser World Championships, the Muritai Yacht Club sailor is seen to be a major player in the laser fleet at the championships.

BY

Elijah Marwick - 9 months

BAY PLAYCENTRE

Beck moves into top Aussie bball league

Eastbourne's Stella Beck was hoping to get her foot in the door of a professional basketball career when she took up a contract last month with the Townsville Flames in Australia's second tier Queensland Basketball League.

Instead, Beck knocked the door down when she was picked up by the Flames' umbrella club, the Townsville Fire, who play in Australia's premier Women's National Basketball League.

For the Fire, Beck was just too good to pass up. The 22-year-old former Hutt Valley High School student has spent the past four years at St Mary's College near San Francisco which has been a reliable nursery of Australia's top basketball talent. Its products include Australian women's star Patty Mills and men's star Matthew Dellavedova.

Beck's versatility and defensive work ethic in her few appearances for the Flames, who top the QBL standings, caught the eye of Fire coach Claudia Brassard. Beck also supplied a readymade solution to the Fire's search for a player who could take over the swingman position from veteran guard Mia Murray who had decided to take the WNBL season off.

In her senior year at St Mary's, Beck averaged 5.8 points, 6.2 rebounds 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals which earned her a play on the All West Coast Conference in the women's NCAA basketball competition.

Those stats showed Beck was just the player the Fire needed to fill in the swingman role.

"She's got the size, athleticism and length in the arms and gets after it," Brassard told the Townsville Bulletin. "We wanted a long guard to fill that defensive hole.

"Defensively she brings something we haven't had previously. We're quite fortunate she came to play QBL in Townsville and we got to work her out and watch her play."

Beck will have to take a short break from her contract with the Fire after being named in the New Zealand women's squad to tour Asia this month.

Stock sails into fifth place

The winter weather in Wellington hasn't been kind to yachties and whales have sometimes been more common on the harbour than sails.

But Noah Stock (pictured) from the Muritai Yacht Club managed to shrug off two weeks of forced inactivity to finish fifth overall in the O'Pen Bic gold fleet at the Manly Winter Championships in Auckland earlier this month.

The O'Pen Bic class is one of the fastest growing in New Zealand and the championships attracted more than 90 entrants from throughout New Zealand.

Noah is a rising star of the class and in finishing fifth he was close behind the 2017 under-17 world champion Sean Herbert and 2017 under-13 world champion Mattias Coutts, son of America's Cup legend Russell Coutts who is also the Manly Sailing Club commodore.

Coutts won all nine races to finish 10 points clear of his nearest rival Jack Pye while Herbert was third.

The experience was a valuable one for Noah as the Manly club will also host the 2019 O'Pen Bic World Championships in the new year and the winter regatta was used as a virtual qualifying event. In that case, Noah clearly proved he is ready to take on the best in the world in the class. Racing took place in often testing conditions

with high winds and choppy seas.

America's Cup yachtsman Russell Coutts told Yachting New Zealand the championships had been a great success. "We had 92 Bics here this weekend so it was a good fleet, particularly in the silver and bronze fleets," he said. "That bodes well for the future. The kids in the gold fleet handled the conditions today really well because there was plenty of breeze out there. It was a good standard of racing."

News from Point Howard

Look out in your letterbox for the Pt Howard Assn 2018/2019 “What We Do” brochure. Your $25 per household subs includes; contributions towards the maintenance of the Tennis Pavilion / Emergency Community Hub, as well as the security camera at the entrance to Point Howard. The provision of camera images is free for members of the Point Howard Assn, but non-members will incur a fee of $150 payable before the images are provided.

Unfortunately, residents are still experiencing break and enter thefts from their vehicles. We would like to remind everyone to not store any valuables in their vehicles whether they be parked at the roadside, or down a driveway.

For those residents affected by noise from Seaview, dates for your calendar are:

Hutt Valley Motorsport Club Street Sprints will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2018 and Sunday, January 20, 2019.

Port Road Drags will be held on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

With all the wet weather we’ve been having, the Assn would like to thank Glenn S for clearing debris from the stormwater gutters and drain grates. Residents can help out by adopting a stormwater grate near their house and keeping it clear before a forecast or during a heavy rainfall. This may help alleviate any unintended consequences of heavy rain causing slips or the flooding of houses further down the hill.

pthowardassn@gmail.com

EB girls are NZ Futsal champs

Church Services In Eastbourne

St Alban’s Anglican: Sunday Worship 10am at Wellesley College. Thursday Worship 10am - check venue with Parish office, 11 Ngaio St, Eastbourne tel: 562 6269

Children and Families Ministry: see www.stalbanschurch.nz

St Ronan’s Presbyterian: Muritai Rd, Eastbourne tel: Parish Clerk 562 8753

Sunday Morning Worship: 9.30am. Power Hour: 9.30am

San Antonio Roman Catholic: Oroua St, Eastbourne tel: Fr Marlon Maylon Parish Priest 970 8405

Saturday Vigil Mass: 5.30pm

Sunday (Sacred Heart, Petone): 9.30am & 5.30pm

Eastbourne's Macey Caughley, Eleanor Humphrey, Ariana Gray and Nea Blackham were members of the Capital team which won the Under-16 Girls' title at the National Futsal Championships in Palmerston North this month.

Capital beat Canterbury 3-2 in an exciting final. Macey, Eleanor and Ariana attend Hutt Valley High School while Nea has played for the Hutt Valley High School first XI while attending Wa Ora Montesori School.

Theo Jones, Josh Apaapa and Daniel Makowem of Eastbourne played for Capital boys teams. Capital finished runner up in the under-14 boys division.

The fast-growing sport of Futsal is a five aside variant of football usually played indoors. More than 700 players took part in the interprovincial event.

Eastbourne Herald August deadlines

Booking:

Wed August 15

Copy:

Thurs August 16

Deliveries:

August 24/25

editor@eastbourneherald.co.nz

562 7500

Rugby seniors look strong for finals contention

Eastbourne's senior rugby team is still steering a steady course in its bid to win the Wellington 85kg restricted division in Wellington Senior Rugby.

Playing for the Paul Potiki Shield after qualifying in the first half of the season to play in the top half of division one, Eastbourne is currently fourth on the championship table with one win and two narrow losses from three games.

After a 10-5 loss to Avalon and 13-5 loss to Upper Hutt Rams, Eastbourne launched itself into the top four last weekend with a 36-12 win over perennial rivals, the Old Boys-University Bunnies.

Eastbourne plays Paraparaumu Plimmerton this weekend and a win would consolidate its place in the top four, leaving it in a strong position to contest the championship trophy.

Maybe next year

by Steve McMorran

The Eastbourne senior football team gave another glimpse of what might have been when it posted its second win of the season while remaining trapped at the bottom of Capital Division Three.

At full strength on one of only a few occasions this season, Eastbourne beat Kapiti Coast United 5-1 to show how well they might have fared in better circumstances.

But a late start to the season - the senior team was only confirmed days before the competition began - and the relative youth of the side at an average age of less than 20 - have worked against it. That has been exacerbated by a number of injuries which have deprived the team of its top players at crucial times, including its leading goalscorer.

It may be too late to turn the tide this season but the team has shown huge potential for the 2019 season. A strong team spirit exists and players are eager to return next year, while the Eastbourne club is hopeful of recruiting a young coach who may help to unite the team and provide the organisation which has at times been missing this season.

Victories have narrowly eluded the team and that has prevented it lifting itself from the bottom of the table. A 2-0 loss to Lower Hutt City last weekend was a case in point; Eastbourne created numerous chances but, in the absence of leading striker Rupert McRae who has 10 goals this season, was unable to capitalise.

SPORT

They came, they saw, they knitted

The Eastbourne Rugby Club’s Under 10 Pirates team were so impressed with the green and gold beanies, as kindly presented to them by the East Harbour Woman’s Club knitting group, they decided to do something for the ladies in return.

Impressed by the warmth the beanies have provided on the cold winter match-day mornings, the Pirates went to the women’s club one Tuesday morning in June and took them morning tea to say thank you.

“The kids enjoyed meeting the ladies,” says Pirate mum, Jo Bentley, “and I think the ladies enjoyed the kids invading their club for an hour.”

on 021 150 9341

Editor: Louise Goble

Stories: Carl McRae

Sports: Steve McMorran

Advertising enquires: editor@eastbourneherald.co.nz

562 7500

Email: editor@eastbourneherald.co.nz

Phone: 562 7500

Website: www.eastbourneherald.co.nz

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CLASSIFIEDS

Cash for scrap - Copper, Brass, Aluminium, Stainless, Cars, Whiteware, Steel. Ingot Metals, 2 Port Road, Seaview. Ph 568 8300.

GARDEN WORKER for all weeding, tidying and garden maintenance contact Hamish on 022 3748453.

Lawn Mowing and all Lawn Care phone Dan Reed 027 3371360.

SONNY’S YOGA - EASTBOURNE CLASSESEnjoy a relaxing yoga class near the ocean. Every Wednesday 6.30pm at Muritai Yacht Club. Beginners welcome. For more info call Sonny on 021 800 512.

Guthrie Cottage - beautiful self-contained beach-front accommodation. Perfect for excess visitors or enjoy all of the comforts of home while you renovate. www.guthriecottage. co.nz - email: gceastbourne@gmail.com

FELDENKRAIS METHOD® classes .Improve your self-use. Learn to move more easily, reduce tension and increase mobility.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Wednesdays 7.30 – 8.30pm, 15th August to 26th September. Eastbourne Library committee room. Contact Lois Ollivier 04 5899951 or 027 6011858

BOOMERANG BAGS: Remember, bring your bag back to the bins provided in Eastbourne Village. Each bag takes approximately 1 hour's worth of work by a volunteer. The bags are for everyone's convenience, so use and return.

Notice of 113th Annual General Meeting for the Muritai Tennis Club to be held at the Clubrooms - 356 Muritai Road on August 19th 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.

AGM 7.30pm, Wednesday August 15, 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.

CURRENT LISTINGS

Tender

LUXURIOUS YET PRACTICAL BEACHSIDE IDYLL

Prime beachfront house with all day sun & spectacular harbour views. Architecturally redesigned by John Mills, with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living areas. Fully insulated with central heating, stunning open plan kitchen living space and superb decking for watching the sea and sunset, view now to avoid disappointment. For Sale by closed tender. sinead@tommyshv.co.nz

04 568 2222 | 021 02581960

We are past the shortest day and spring is just a few short weeks away. If you are thinking about selling now is the time to start getting prepared.

Call SINEAD or DUNCAN for advice on how to put your best foot forward and let us help you get the best price for your property.

Sinead Diederich 021 025 81960

Duncan Povey 027 5971 080

Offering seclusion & privacy a mere 30 minute drive from the city & viewed only from the Harbour, 24 Richmond Road is your sanctuary for relaxed family living that can also accommodate fabulous entertaining on a grand scale.

Extending to over 500m2 plus additional extensive covered & sheltered decking, the house is surrounded by 2.7 hectares of largely native bush, adjacent to the East Harbour Regional Park & provides an intoxicating blend of 180 degree views, shelter & fabulous sun from its elevated position. 4 Beautiful Bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, are arranged over 2 levels, in addition to a spacious study & media room that could be converted to further bedrooms if required.

The vaulted living space is a truly spectacular room with floor to ceiling windows framing the harbour & city views to perfection & accommodating 100+ guests with sophisticated ease. This magnificent property is presented to the market with many many features.

tommys.co.nz

456 Muritai Rd, Eastbourne

REF: THV02112

Sinead Diederich

Richmond Road , Mahina Bay, Eastbourne Buyer Enquiry From $2,750,000