The Eastbourne Herald April 2022

Car vandals strike EB United we stand

Rhyna Cottrell doesn’t usually park her car on the road. But it was early afternoon and she needed the space to do something in her garage.

So the security-conscious Muritai resident, who has cameras “everywhere except her garage”, and uses a keypad to get into her house, couldn’t believe it when she discovered her passenger window had been smashed, in broad daylight, while she was out of earshot. Her neighbor, who was working on the street, heard the noise and found the broken glass.

Amazingly, the car’s TomTom and camera, attached to the same multi-box as the stolen radar detector, had not been taken.

The incident was caught on the neighbour’s camera, which shows the offender getting back into a waiting car before taking off. But Ms Cottrell says Police told her it’s very hard to catch such offenders; “they’re after quick money”.

Ms Cottrell’s was the latest in a string of cars broken into in Eastbourne this month, mostly in streets close to the village. Many occurred in daylight hours and involved rear quarter-light windows, which are often more expensive to replace than larger ones, since they’re more specialized [check].

While Ms Cottrell’s car window is covered by her insurance policy, Totara St resident Gen Packer’s was not – replacing her quarterlight cost $310 and was “hugely inconvenient”.

Like the other incidents – at least six we know of – it came at a cost, not just in money but time to get repairs done. The offenders left behind a bunch of face masks, a lot of glass shards and a broken glove box compartment – but took only $5 in coins.

Stan Swan, one of several residents affected in Tuatoru St, says nothing was taken from his vehicle, and his car insurance “for which we’d wisely paid extra” covered the cost. He says in 33 years in the street they’ve had car windows broken three times and their garage burgled once. Like the others we spoke to, he thinks it’s time to raise the issue of cameras again.

Anzac cousins Jacob Packer, from Sydney, and Amelie Freer from Rona Bay, inspect wreaths laid early on Anzac Day by local groups to honour the community's fallen.

The Eastbourne Herald was unable to get any information on the recent spate of car break ins from Police, who said the officer who could provide comment on the incidents was on leave.

TIMETABLE

Depart Days Bay

What's Happening Hair!?

April 'round hair!

This April, I'm loving short and sassy hair! With the autumn weather cooling us down after a beautiful summer of long hot days, lets change up your look with something short and a bit cheeky

More and more women are coming to me asking for a shorter look. They are wanting to change things up and get a pixie cut, graduated bob, textured lob and more! If you don't like using much product in your hair, and you like to keep things easy, then these are all gorgeous looks that allow you to 'Brush and go' in the morning, with limited work required. Short looks can be one colour or textured to give a highlighted look that adds style and oomph to your day!

Short and sassy hair suits all ages and al occasions If you've done the long hair look for years and you're ready to transition into something short and easy, or if you're wanting to spice things up with a new young and funky look, there is a style and cut ready for you!

SAT,

SUN & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

10.40am (S) 12.45pm (S) 3.00pm (S) 4.25pm (S) 5.30pm

(S) = Sailing calls at Somes Island, subject to passengers.

FERRY FARES One way: adult $12, child $6. Family Days Bay $66 (Return). 10 trip: adult $91, student $68, child $46. Monthly pass: adult $273, child $138. Matiu Somes Island: adult $25, child $13, family $68 (Return).

Sailings may be cancelled at short notice due to weather. To check today’s sailings, call our daily status line on (04) 494 3339.

As I love to say, there is no better feeling than when your hair is right! With a good cut and good colour, everything else just falls into place!

Who needs an excuse to change things up?! Lets lock you in for your next appointment today and get those ends chopped off and having you walking out looking and feeling great!

Anne Mackris-Berdebes

Next ECB meeting:

7.15pm Tuesday 21 June, 2022, East Harbour Women’s Club, 145 Muritai Rd.

New www.eastbourne.nz website

The Community Board has set up a trial website at www.eastbourne.nz which contains the information we regularly share on social media for those who don’t use Facebook. Let us know what you think and what you’d like to see there.

Tupua Horo Nuku (Eastern Bays Shared Path)

The project team advises that pre-fabricated sections of the shared path will start to be laid in Sunshine Bay and Windy Point in August.

Puriri Street development

ECB had expressed concern to Council about plans for a development in Puriri Street which encroached onto public land. We are pleased to note that Council has advised the designer to revise the placement of the outdoor living space within the property boundary.

Have your say on government’s housing intensification changes in Lower Hutt

Public consultation has begun on parts of Lower Hutt’s District Plan affected by the new legislation. Check the library or Hutt City Council website for more information.

Eastbourne Community Board (ECB)

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

Virginia Horrocks (Chair)

virginia.horrocks@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 021 230 8210

Frank Vickers (Deputy Chair) frank.vickers@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 027 406 1419

Bruce Spedding bruce.spedding@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 021 029 74741

Murray Gibbons

murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 04 562 8567

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

Ph 021 271 6249

Belinda Moss

belinda.moss@huttcity.govt.nz

Ph 029 494 1615

Board looks at courts, development

With council meetings still being held via Zoom, no members of the public attended the recent Eastbourne Community Board meeting.

First up on the agenda was the contentious Puriri Street development. The application has been allocated to an external consultant, and placed on hold while the designer has been advised to contain the outdoor living spacewhich had extended into road reserve - within the property boundary.

Previous plans to astroturf the tennis courts next to Wellesley College in Williams Park have been abandoned. Vandals have cut holes in the fence and parts of the surface are rotted through. The tennis nets are also rotten.

Hutt City Council's head of Parks and Reserves Kelly Crandle told the ECB meeting Wellesley is proposing to sign an 18-year lease for three courts and will pay to upgrade the fence. The decision on the proposal will be made by HCC's Community Commitee. The current lease expired in 2021 and has been managed on a month by month basis “so we need to do something about the lease”. Mrs Crandle said.

It was likely officers would request the lease for two courts which Wellesley would use on school days. Outside of school hours, the public would be able to use the courts. The public would continue to have access to the hard courts as they do now.

HCC Head of Transport Jon Kingsbury says there has been a lot of positive feedback in discussions with Bays' residents about the shared path project. In areas where ballustrades have been indicated, some residents questioned if they were needed, as very few pedestrians or cyclists fall over the edge of the current path. Mr Kingsbury said legally, anything over 1m in

Not everyone saw the value of this sign, posted by an unknown person on the Days Bay Wharf. The Days Bay Residents' Association complained about it to the Eastbourne Community Board during the latter's annual "walkabout" to note issues throughout the Eastern Bays.

height needed to have balustrades.

Another point raised was the possibility of putting a ramp in at Sunshine Bay so wheelchair and pram users had improved beach access.

Addressing concerns that street furniture such as signs and seats may impede space, HCC said the plan was to minimise obstruction. Bins would not be placed on the walkway and people would be encouraged to take their rubbish with them.

ECB members asked if local history could be incorporated into signage and Murray Gibbons mentioned building on the series of heritage trail signs already in Eastbourne. Council officers said signage would concentrate on the Tupua Horo Nuku narrative.

Mr Gibbons said some fishermen were concerned that there would be less room in Sunshine Bay for them. Officers said the the sloping rocks to the beach presented a challenge. These would be replaced by a sea wall, and subsequently there will be a smaller area near the petrol station.

Metal recycling in Eastbourne

St Ronan's is trialling a metal recycling scheme.

Along with some plastics and paper etc, your Hutt City Council yellow-lid recycling bin will take only clean aluminium cans and clean steel cans. It won’t take any other metal items such as old window fittings, old cookware etc. There’s a long list of metal hardware items going from your home to landfill each Monday morning. A pity, as clean metal is recyclable…

For a trial period St Ronan’s has placed a METALS bin in the carport out front. Into this you can put any ‘clean’ metal items.

Clean

• For metal recycling, ‘clean’ means minimal contamination by: plastic, rubber, glass, wood, food, etc.

• For low-value metals (steel) contaminant tolerance very low.

• For intermediate value metals (stainless steel, aluminium, lead) contaminant tolerance is a bit higher.

• For higher-value metals (brass, copper) contaminant tolerance is higher still.

If you can’t minimise contamination your reject metal is rubbish – we don’t want your rubbish – if we get rubbish dumped in our METALS bin we will have to stop our METALS recycling…

BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY

St Ronan’s 1960s buildings are heavily used by your community. Maintaining these costs us much more than we get from hiring them out. If our buildings are to remain available to the community, we need community support.

We will sell the clean metal items you give us and use this money to help maintain our buildings and so help us serve the community

through: the Pre-schooler Playground, the Toy Library, the Mainly Music and the Pop-inand-Play playgroups. Also through providing a venue for children’s birthday parties, the Community Fridge and the weekday dance classes and numerous other random hirings.

- Sandy Lang (St Ronan’s Parish Clerk) slang@xtra.co.nz

Rec carpark changes coming

The carpark at the north end of the ESSC clubrooms is to be changed.

Following a near-miss incident in the Community Centre Carpark, the Eastbourne Community Board asked council officers to develop a parking plan that would promote a safer route / connection for all users for all users using the facility.

Under the new draft design, the 22 existing marked parking spaces would become 26, including a mobility parking space

The existing carpark layout facilitates 22 marked parking spaces, where the draft proposal provides 26 marked parking spaces including a Mobility parking space.

Wheel stoppers are proposed for all angle parking spaces to better protect walking and cycling users.

A 2.5m shared path will be provided near the beach side with two bike stands to encourage sustainable mode shifts and safety.

This path will be similar to that in the south end of HW Shortt Park.

News from Point Howard

Point Howard Community Garden

The AGMs for the Point Howard Association and Point Howard Tennis Club will be held in June 2022.

Please look out for your invitation in your letterbox in the coming weeks, and if you’ve registered your email with the PHA, an invitation will also appear in your inbox.

Several residents have raised issues relating to road closures by utility companies where affected residents were not given advance notice of the complete closure of the road.

The PHA is following up with HCC on their road closure policy and to ensure utility companies provide advance notice to residents.

Thank you to all the ERAT participants with their continued support in trapping pests in Point Howard and Sorrento Bay.

A number of pests have been trapped over summer and autumn. One resident has reported a lot of success with the D-Rat trap that is placed on trees. Please get in touch with pthowarderat@ gmail.com for more information on trapping pests around your home.

The PHA registered a number of road related items to the ECB during the virtual walkabout that took place in March.

We look forward to hearing back from council officers on their proposed solutions for road maintenance and repair.

Caretaker's Cottage well and truly gone

By Stan Swan

It was with a degree of nostalgia and loss that the Williams Park custodian's cottage was demolished on 24 March. Some timbers and fixtures were admirably saved.

Although diverse retention and restoration proposals had been formally considered it was recognised that the weary building's early 20th century function was dated, and – more tellingly – it was poorly and unsafely sited for modern park needs.

Williams Park was initially privately owned and developed, in late Victorian times, an era when horse and carts, bicycles and, especially, ferries transported park day-trippers.

Resident custodians were then the norm for security, tidiness and assistance, probably also acting as fire wardens for the nearby Days Bay Fire Station – now the Menz Shed.

A century later, private motor vehicles dominate (with associated access and parking needs), public transport abounds, smart phone communications are the norm and rubbish, security and repairs are handled by contractors.

The park became publicly owned in 1914 and, aside from vegetation growth, little has changed over the subsequent century. The beautifully ornate Pavilion burnt down in 1952 –the current replacement is much smaller.

Photos from the park's pre-World War 1 pleasure heyday show the custodian's cottage as a modest building, allegedly repositioned by the developer from the Wellington waterfront about 1906. Enhancements and add-ons over subsequent years were of no great architectural merit, and cottage use ceased about 2017.

Two roosters had charmingly taken up residence but building neglect and vandalism increased, with copper fittings stolen. Modern compliance and restoration costs increasingly made revamping unrealistically expensive.

Hutt City Council intends to initially grass over the cleared space for an enhanced picnic area; pleasing sight lines have already resulted. Improved vehicle turning and parking may further develop, perhaps in combination with opening up of the secluded tennis court area to the south of Williams Park.

Perhaps eventually a versatile new park building could be erected house meetings, water safety and emergency services, and high summer policing and traffic control. Who knows – we might even see a band stand!

Maire St path additions mooted

The community board has requested council officers investigate installing a low wall or planting between the walk/cycleway that has been put into the south end of HW Shortt Park, and parked cars.

According to a HCC survey of 142 people,

HEATING SORTED

90 percent were in favour of retaining the pathway. Ten percent were unhappy with it, and ten percent were undecided. About a quarter believed that further improvements on the pathway are required.

This included the installation of bollards or

some other physical barrier such as curbs and/ or planting. Other changes suggested included improved access to Shortt Park, reducing the width somewhat (balanced against those wanting the width retained), and marked car parking spaces (similar to at supermarkets).

The remains of the caretaker's house.

Photo: John Rainey-Smith.

Local teacher is proof of the power of yoga

by Ann Packer

Yoga is Claudia Porto’s life – and it was her lifesaver. It allowed her to return to normal life “and even better,” she says.

“It is a gift to be a survivor.”

The Brazilian teacher has started sharing her practice of yoga Nidra, a form of deep relaxation, with locals above the library on Monday nights.

A teacher of yoga, including Jazz Yoga, at leisure centres in Wellington during the week, Ms Porto has so loved living here – first in Lowry Bay and now Pukatea Street – that she wanted to give back to the community, in the last year of her husband Patricio’s diplomatic posting. “My time is a gift,” she says.

When she arrived in New Zealand in 2018, after breast cancer surgery in the US, the first thing Ms Porto had to do was begin chemotherapy. She lost all her hair – a Sunday Star-Times photo shows her pictured with the American ambassador’s wife to publicise the fundraising Diplomatic Ball, in aid of cancer at a time when three diplomatic spouses were battling breast cancer.

Formerly a mindfulness teacher in a bilingual school in Brasilia and a yoga teacher for children and for people with disabilities in Florida, Ms Porto credits her recovery to her practice of yoga, which she began while working in special education.

She found using meditation in her classes really helped children and in turn their families.

“The children were more focused and in control of themselves. People started coming

and saying ‘my child makes me sit [calmly] and my child guides me.’”

Patricio Porto, a trained architect whose skills are sometimes called on in his diplomatic postings, is vice-consul for the Embassy of Brazil and the couple has a wealth of artefacts collected on postings, including Cape Verde and Guinne-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony in Africa, and Berlin.

Language teaching was a skill from early on – she has taught English to Italians in New

Zealand and Portuguese to Embassy staff in Africa.

Of their three children, only daughter Paula, a university student, lives here – the Portos’ two sons are abroad, one in Japan and the other in Brazil.

Yoga Nidra, which is practised lying down, is like a sleepover – between sleeping and waking.

Claudia says it’s something we often don’t get to do unless guided, and it can release a lot of emotional tension.

Crystal bowls are used during part of the healing practice. Attendees should bring a yoga mat, small pillow and a rug to cover themselves with.

March and April’s koha is going to international organisations working with victims in Ukraine.

Yoga Nidra, above the library, 7.15 – 8 pm Monday nights. For more information, tel 021 981 882.

EASTBOURNE DENTAL CENTRE Kaungāongo’i

The Eastbourne Dental Centre are thrilled to welcome back Dentist and much respected colleague Ceri Benn.

Ceri has worked with our team previously (18 months ago) and has been busy completing her postgraduate degree in Special Care Dentistry. She will now split her working week between working in Eastbourne on Wednesdays and Thursday afternoons and the dental unit at Hutt Hospital.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Ceri, our other Dentists or our Dental Hygienist please email reception@eastbournedental.co.nz or call 562 7506.

EASTBOURNE DENTAL CENTRE

Empathy and Excellence reception@eastbournedental.co.nz

Claudia Porto.

Conservation at the centre of wharf project

by Ann Packer

We’ve all heard rumours about what’s going on at Pt Howard wharf – and there’s some truth in most of them. That mesh is indeed for penguin protection – for keeping them out rather than in. But if you hear the word dolphin, it probably applies to parts of the wharf structure, rather than the marine mammals – though they should be protected too, from sound emitted during piling work. The aquifer, too, needs protecting.

Conservation is an important part of the whole Seaview Energy Resilience Project –Seaview Project for short – the second stage of which recently got underway. The 60-year-old Seaview Wharf, which receives the fuel supply for the whole lower North Island to Taranaki and Hawkes Bay, needed a major upgrade and repair following the 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake – both to ensure it’s as resilient as possible, and to meet international standards for ship berthing and bulk fuel discharge.

CentrePort, which owns the wharf, is working with Z Energy on behalf of the fuel industry, which owns the pipes – both a lifeline and commercial asset – in order to future-proof the critical asset, in three stages, over the next threefive years, says Centrepoint’s John Tulloch.

Stage 1, the replacement of the wharfline – the carbon steel pipe that delivers fuel from ships at Seaview Wharf to fuel storage terminals before being transported by truck around the region – has been completed, except for paint repairs and removal of the old section of pipe. This should be completed by the end of June.

The new pipe had to be “future fit” for lower carbon fuel types, such as biofuels, and even hydrogen, as well as different types of ships.

www.tartinesfrenchcafe.com

Open Wednesday-Sunday 7am-4pm

Tartineseastbourne@gmail.com

For Stage 2, Brian Perry Civil, the firm that carried out the strengthening of Days Bay Wharf, has brought together a team from around the country to work on upgrading the wharf itself, beginning with a series of piles that support the jackup barge Tuapapa – similar to the one used for the cross-harbour pipeline project several years ago. BPC’s cluster of container offices, 100-tonne crane and barge are now protected behind a wire mesh fence.

When we visited, site engineer Nina Tropina explained that working around tanker schedules, penguin nesting seasons and the need to keep noise levels reasonable for the nearby community, had all added to the length of time needed to complete the project. Project manager Lee Griffiths says they’re tailoring work to have as little impact as possible on the community.

Completion of the wharf upgrade is expected in early 2023. Stage 3 will involve the landbased pipeline.

The Seaview Project’s website –seaviewproject.co.nz – offers some splendid aerial views as well as two good introductory videos.

The Seaview Project worked with the Department of Conservation and volunteers from the Eastern Bays Little Penguin program, Days Bay MENZ Shed and pupils from San Antonio and Muritai schools to build 36 nesting boxes to support Little Blue Penguin nesting and breeding in the area.

The project commenced in February 2019 but was hampered by lockdowns. Along with another 19 remaining unassembled, the completed boxes were moved to Matiu/Somes to weather for a year or so, to lose their human smell.

Pictured above, the dog and handler look for evidence of Little Blue Penguins.

Immigrants living their best life

by Ann Packer

A French builder’s apprentice and an English abseiler who’d never sailed anything larger than a P class yacht between them have been living on board their own sloop at Seaview Marina since May last year.

Sydney Feougier-Bouvet and Josh Coombs, who met threeand-a-half years ago while surfing on Pāpāmōa beach in the Bay of Plenty, are currently refurbishing Manurere on the hardstand at the marina.

They’re staying with friends on land while stripping and repainting the kauri exterior of the 38 foot (11.58 m) vessel built by Auckland firm Owen Woolley in 1965, which they bought from two women who now live onboard at Chaffers Marina.

The couple, who were living in Owhiro Bay when they decided to buy a yacht, visited all four marinas in the Wellington region –chatting to people and checking out parking and storage facilities – before joining the waiting list for a berth at Seaview, which is capped at 60.

They lived in their car for six weeks before they could move into Manurere. Newfound friends in the marina community helped them make the decision about which boat to buy.

Sydney, who has a Master’s degree in political science and communications from Lyon, in France, has lived a nomadic existence, travelling “where the wind took me” since deciding to leave the “fake” life she had been living.

With a bike, backpack and van, she travelled around Australia working on farms and orchards – picking pumpkins, melons, apples and limes – and working for a housing authority. But she’d long wanted to sail, even though she’d not really done anything nautical

before taking Manurere to sea prior to signing the deed of purchase.

Josh’s life had had “a more normal rhythm” – hailing from north of London, near St Albans, his abseiling work had involved repainting high-rise exteriors in the city before he came here on a working holiday, and signed up to service turbines on the wind farm at Makara.

In spite of some major career changes, everything they’ve done has come together in this project – Sydney’s ability to plan and keep track of projects, Josh’s knowledge of paints and his abseiling skills, her choice of apprenticeship. She has just half a year to qualify (and needs to find an employer who’ll get her through the last six months), but meanwhile is using every spare moment to work on weatherproofing the exterior so they can get the vessel into the water and beginning remodeling the interior, which is all teak. A woodstove is next on their wish list…

Sydney and Josh have an Instagram page for people who’d like to follow their progress: @apickledpear

Faith in the Community

Take a break...

Do not be weary in well-doing wrote St Paul to the little group of Christians in Galatia Galatians 6:9 (near modern Ankara). While this may seem to lay a heavier burden on people already doing well, it was Paul’s way of giving them encouragementkia kaha

But all too often churches can be insensitive to the burdens they lay on willing workers or the guilt-trip they can lay on those who after long periods of service need to take a break. And this can be true too in other volunteer organisations, not just churches.

On the other hand, it can also be a self-imposed burden. Getting tired is part of what it is to be human and should not be a cause for guilt. As Eddie Askew (Leprosy Mission) said - It’s a lesson many find hard to learn. We get busier, burdening ourselves with more and more work. Under the dutiful face of acceptance, resentment builds. Even when we find the courage to say ‘no’ to new demands, we feel guilty.

Those who look to Jesus as a model would do well to remember the occasion when he said to his friends, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. Mark 6:31

It’s probably not so much the demands of our faith or values that run us into the ground, but rather the unthinking demands of others, or the demands we place on ourselves when pride does not allow us to accept the human limits to our energy.

Nestlé may just be wanting to sell chocolate, but there’s real wisdom in their Kit Kat ad. Take a break…

St Ronan’s: Services: Sun 9.30am - informal 1st and 3rd, traditional 2nd and 4th. Ask if you’d like our monthly printed magazine the Record E:office@stronans.org.nz W:www.stronans.org. nz

Community Fridge: The vulnerable come daily and sometimes find it bare. Spare a thought, drop something in…Take something out… St Alban’s: Back to Wellesley College and to one service, Sun 10am, with guest vicar. Kids Club (primary) and Hot Chocolate Club (intermediate) term times. Parish AGM, Wellesley College, Sun 1 May 10am. Communion first Thurs only 10am, at St Ronan’s, with guest vicar

San Antonio: Services: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm, San Antonio. Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm, Sacred Heart, Petone. E:holyspiritparish41@ gmail.com W:www.holyspirit.nz

Hard work at the Hardstand. Sydney and Josh with the nameplate which will go back onto the yacht.

Don J. McIlroy

Chamber concert coming

by Anne Manchester

Trio Muritai, a newly formed chamber music ensemble featuring piano, cello and flute, will give its inaugural performance at St Ronan’s Church on Sunday, May 15, 4pm. The programme will consist of music from the German romantic repertoire.

The group comprises York Bay cellist Roger Brown, Auckland pianist Rosemary Barnes and Wellington flautist Rebecca Steel. Trio Muritai had planned to launch themselves last year, but COVID restrictions put an end to a number of planned events. They are thrilled to be finally able to perform publicly.

All three have impressive musical pedigrees. Roger and Rebecca were contemporaries at the Christchurch School of Music and Canterbury University. Scholarships from the International Festival of Youth Orchestras and the QE2 Arts Foundation took Roger to London where he studied and worked for 23 years, mainly as a chamber orchestra and ensemble player. He joined the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) in 1999, relinquishing this post two years ago.

Rebecca has lectured in flute at the University of Canterbury and played principal flute in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. She has worked for the Australian Opera and

Ballet Orchestra in Sydney and studied in London. She moved to Wellington to play with the NZSO and Wellington Regional Orchestra, and is currently principal flautist with the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band.

Rosemary is known throughout New Zealand as a pianist, vocal coach, music director, opera translator, chamber music collaborator and adjudicator. She spent 25 years based in London, working mainly in opera at English National Opera, Musica nel Chiostro (Italy) and Opera Northern Ireland. She ran the postgraduate opera diploma at the University of Auckland from 1993-99 and plays regularly with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra. She was awarded an MNZM for her services to music in the 2000 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Both Roger and Rosemary have been involved in productions mounted by Rhona Fraser’s Opera in a Days Bay Garden.

Trio Muritai will be offering three works at their inaugural concert, beginning with Carl Reinecke’s Undine Sonata for flute and piano Op167 and Schumann’s Three Fantasy Pieces for cello and piano Op73. It will conclude with Mendelssohn’s magnificent Piano Trio No 1 in D minor Op49. Recognised as one of his greatest chamber works, the piece was scored for piano, violin and cello, but is often performed in this configuration, with the flute replacing the violin.

Organiser of the St Ronan’s performance, Sandy Lang, is delighted the church is able to offer such an exciting concert to the community. He is also hoping it will be the first of ongoing musical events at St Ronan’s. “The church is an attractive venue and has good acoustics for music performance.”

The programme will run just over one hour with no interval. Admission is by general admission, with tickets, restricted to 100, costing $20, children free. For further information and to purchase tickets, email Sandy on slang@xtra.co.nz

Cat bylaw for Hutt City?

Eastbourne Community Board member Frank Vickers has asked council officers about the possibility of introducing a cat control policy in line with some other councils. In 2016 Wellington City Council changed its bylaw to make microchipping of cats mandatory. Hutt City Council is yet to introduce such a bylaw, but Mr Vickers said that doing so would be easy

Last pint poured

The Still Room in Oroua Street finally closed its doors on Good Friday. It’s been five years since Rowan and Anthony Hall took over the restaurant, which has undergone many changes since it was transformed from a boutique dress shop into a hospitality venue sometime back in the 1990s.

Ms Hall says they have really enjoyed collaborating with and supporting other small businesses in the Wellington region, such as brewers and small producers, and also with the Hutt City Council’s promotional team in showcasing what the area has to offer.

“Getting through the Covid period we were humbled by the support we received from our customers,” she says, “in the way of buying SOS vouchers and takeaways when we were scrambling to make that work.”

She says they also enjoyed the special character and heritage of their building, once home to the Dellabarca family, and met many descendants with connections and memories there. While they will miss their team and all the people they’ve met along the way, they’re looking forward to a more calm and secure future with their young family.

“We want to wish the new owner all the best along with all the businesses in the village, who have had a stressful few years.”

Rumour has it there’ll be an Asian Fusion flavor when the venue reopens. Watch this space.

as it could juyst be a “boilerplate” policy already used by other councils.

He said voluntary organisations were already doing cat control, but need the assistance of a bylaw. Council officers said they didn't presently have staffing levels sufficient to ensure such a bylaw was taylored to the local area.

York Bay speed considered

York Bay may soon have a speed reduction from 50kph to 30kph on its narrow winding streets. The request was put to the Eastbourne Community Board on its annual walkaround - this year conducted virtually - that heard concerns raised by residents from each of the Bays.

In a report to the council, the board noted concerns over poor and fast driving by "local boy racers and their friends".

Residents also raised the possibility of installing convex mirrors around the corners of the upper Waitohu Road (left branch) to help with visibility and general driving congestion.

Council officers are currently considering the request. According to a 2021 survey, residents want: reduction of the speed limit along the York Bay section of Marine Drive to 50kph; a pedestrian crossing on Marine Drive; double yellow lines throughout Marine Drive in Mahina Bay; greater traffic policing in York Bay (incidents of speeding, overtaking and dangerous driving "are common"); signage or paintwork on Mahina Road reminding downhill traffic to give way to uphill traffic as it is essentially a one-lane road with no pedestrian protection; a speed limit of 30 kph on Richmond and Mahina Roads.

APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS

Closing date: 31 May 2022

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: Gaby Brown 021 179 5311 or email: trustees@ebct.org.nz

APPLICATIONS FOR EASTBOURNE FREEMASONS’

SCHOLARSHIP

Closing date 15 June 2022

This $5,500 scholarship is available to students who have distinguished themselves during a minimum of three years tertiary study and who have lived in Eastbourne for a minimum of five years during their life.

Application forms are available from the website www.ebct.org.nz

Contact: Gaby Brown 021 179 5311

TradeMe listing uncovers details of epic race

by Ali Carew

This story was sparked by a recent listing on TradeMe for a small silver trophy, awarded at the 1923 Eastbourne Carnival to the winner of the ‘Orongorongo Race’.

Intrigued, we headed for PapersPast, where we found extensive coverage of the race in Wellington newspapers. Described as a ‘marathon’, the 25-mile (40-km) event covered some of the region’s steepest and roughest terrain: from the Recreation Ground, where the Carnival was held, over the Eastbourne hills to the Catchpool, and on via the Five Mile Track to the foot of Mt Matthews in the Orongorongo Valley; then, after a ten-minute breather and a cup of tea, slogging all the way back again.

So, not an event for the unfit or fainthearted! The 17 contestants (all men) were described as ‘experienced trampers’, who had to pass a strict medical examination before they set off, wearing heavy boots and carrying a 20-pound (9 kg) sealed pack. The 15 who managed to finish the race were hailed by one journalist as ‘fine specimens of manhood’.

The winner, in a time of 5 hours, 34 minutes, was T. H. S. (Stuart) Fyfe, aged 31, a member of the Tararua Tramping Club (TTC), who had served in World War I. At the finish line, he said it was the first race he’d ever won, and that he was ‘just about done in’. Fyfe also acknowledged the ‘two good chaps’ who had revived him with another cup of tea on the long home stretch. In second place, only three minutes behind, was W. Clapham.

In the years that followed, Fyfe remained a TTC stalwart, involved in guiding, search and rescue, and competitive tramping. This new sport, possibly inspired by the Orongorongo Race, involved individuals (known as ‘hissers’) trying to beat the fastest recorded time over a given route. Enthusiasm for the sport seems to have spread rapidly. When Eastbourne

resident John Pascoe first moved to Wellington in the late 1930s, he was amazed that ‘so many [local trampers] ran, where ordinary mortals walked’. To him, this obsession with speed seemed alien to the true spirit of tramping.

The Orongorongo ‘marathon’ was revived in 1930 when the TTC organised a handicap race over a much shorter but still gruelling route: via the Five Mile to the Orongorongo Valley and back via the Cattle Ridge Track, a distance of 15 km. Packs were not required, but boots were still mandatory.

This ‘Trampers’ Marathon’ became a popular annual event, and one of remarkable longevity. It also became an inter-club competition, although this inclusiveness did not extend to women until its latter years. Age was no barrier, however: the oldest-ever competitor, Peter Jagger, ran his first race in 1969 at the age of 42, and his last in 1989: a record 20 ‘runs’ in all. (When asked what drove him, he replied: ‘A proud indifference to pain’.) By the 1980s, however, interest in the event was beginning to wane, and the final race was held in 1995.

Next year is the centenary of that first Orongorongo Race, which seems a perfect excuse for a re-run. Maybe a true marathon, over the original route, under the original rules? When I suggested this to the current

TTC president, he replied ‘Great idea’. What do you think? Are there any masochists out there, eager to beat Stuart Fyfe’s record?

PS: The small silver trophy (starting price $875) has failed to attract any bids so far.

- Ali Carew (Historical Society of Eastbourne) Sources: PapersPast; Chris Maclean, Tararua: The Story of a Mountain Range; Shaun Barnett & Chris Maclean, Leading the Way: 100 years of the Tararua Tramping Club.

2/206 Muritai Road, Eastbourne

1/250 Muritai Road, Eastbourne

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.

m-5.30pm. Contact Judy Bishop 562 8985

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

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

• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.

• Pt Howard Playcentre. Mon 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391.

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

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

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

• Keas: Monday 5.15pm – 6.15pm. Kea Leader: Ed 021 738 699

• Venturers: 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Susan 0275 35 4962

Tuesdays

• Pt Howard Playcentre Tues 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391.

• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.

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

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

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

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

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome.

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

• Toy Library 9.30-10.30am. St Ronans Hall. Facebook: Eastbourne Toy Library Elizabeth 021 08224664www.eastbournemibase.com.

au

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

WHAT'S ON

Muritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www.niainwellington.com

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

Wednesdays

Cubs: 5.30pm - 7.00pm, Erica 021 190 3900

• Library preschool story time 10.00 am.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Wed 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391.

• Scottish Country Dance. Merryn 562 0236.

• Bridge Club 7-10pm. Shona 562 7073.

• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.

• “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!

• Intermediate/teen hip hop and contemporary. 5pm onwards St Ronans Hall. 0274373508 info@pumpdance.com

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

Thursdays

• Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome.

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

• SPACE at Days Bay Playcentre. Michelle 971 8598.

• East Harbour Women’s Club

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

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

• Intermediate Contemporary Dance Thursdays 6:30pm - 7:30pm St Ronan's Hall info@pumpdance.com,0274373508

• Scouts: Thursday 6.00pm - 8.00pm, Vanessa 021 669 727.

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.

Lucy 021 335 391.

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

• DB Playcentre 9.15-12 noon Puddle Jumpers casual ‘drop-in’ session.$5 per child per session. call James on 022 043 7841

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

• Eastbourne Bowling Club. Newly formed Ladies casual bowling group meets Fridays at 2.00pm. Experience is not required. Bowls & instruction available. Casual dress code. Contact Cheri - 021 0699 274.

Saturdays

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

• Lions’ rubbish bin last Saturday of each month.

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

Sundays

• AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Karen 021 440

Greetings, my name is Zane Gillgren one of the Park Rangers here in East Harbour and I’m here today to talk weeds! The three areas of East Harbour (Northern Forest, Parangarahu Lakes Baring Head) are as diverse as they are stunning and each has its own challenges and unique situations when it comes to pest plants, today I will cover a significant weed from each area.

Northern Forest (Cathedral Bells)

Hailing from central and South America Cathedral Bells (Cobaea Scandens) is a striking Perennial Evergreen climbing vine with angled stems (purplish when young, light brown when older) with leaves arranged alternately and are made up of three pairs of oval leaflets with a small basal pair. This plant has distinctive purple bell-shaped flowers and large green fruits which releases winged seeds (Between September-May)

Unfortunately, this plant has the potential to spread through undisturbed native forests, growing up to 6 metres tall and capable of smothering all plants up to medium to high canopy, which prevents the establishment of native plant seedlings. I have seen this plant especially in gullies in and around Ferry Road and the Kereru Track so keep your eyes peeled!

Kidztalk

Spread throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world Beggars Tick (Bidens Frondosa) is an upright annual which is usually between 20-60cm tall. It has a reddish stem with attractive yellow-orange daisy-like flowers (November-May). The leaves have aggressive looking tooth-like edges and are grouped in 3-5 leaflets at the base of opposing branches.

Beggars Tick ,in particular, is a huge threat to wetlands and waterways for its ability to grow quickly and push out native plants. It also produces barbed seeds which easily attach to animals and clothing and disperse throughout the bush.

The most effective way to control Beggars Tick is to remove the entire plant, take it away with you and dispose it with the special care that needs to be paid to the flower heads and seeds. Once this plant establishes it’s hard to remove so finding infestations early is very important, particularly when it comes to an area as special as the Lakes.

Baring Head (Sweet Briar)

Sweet Briar (Rosa Rubiginosa), also known as Briar Rose, is a prickly customer from Europe & North Africa which is suited to the open, windy, well drained scree slopes of Baring Head’s escarpments. Its appearance is that of a large perennial much branched, scrambling, or uptight rose, growing up to three metres tall with single pink flowers followed by bright red rose hips. Its leaves are compound, hairy, serrated and release an apple-like fragrance when crushed and Its stems have a green and red colouration and vicious thorns of unequal size, usually hooked downwards but pointing straight out on occasion.

Sweet Briar’s ability to endure extreme temperatures, wind, low fertility, drought and colonise more extreme areas means it can aggressively colonise these areas and smother natives.

These weeds can have a really negative impact on our beautiful environment. If you have any questions, especially about how to recognise and remove them, please don’t hesitate to send an email my way at zanegillgren@gw.govt.n

WELCOME TO DAYS BAY PLAYCENTRE

Tēnā koutou! Here at Days Bay Playcentre we have had a fantastic term where lots of new whānau have been welcomed to the centre and our tamariki are busy making new friends. After the success of the new mud kitchen (thanks again to Menzshed), our fort / slide has now been lovingly re-decorated and given a new lease of life, thanks to Howard Grigg for the donation of chalk board paint!

As we head into Term 2 and Autumn / Ngahuru we look forward to planning our Matariki celebrations and more role-play, music, playdough and painting as the weather starts to turn and we spend more time indoors.

We run sessions for kids and a caregiver on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9.15 – 12 noon, and casual ‘Puddle Jumper’ drop-in sessions on Fridays ($5 koha per child). Please drop in anytime to visit or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit. Mā te wā!

Ayla taking a leap off the fancy new fort!

Parangarahu Lakes (Beggars Tick)