The Eastbourne Herald July 2023

St Alban's looks to return home after 7 years in exile

by Louise Parry

Eastbourne's oldest church building, St Alban's, has been unused for nearly seven years since it was assessed as not meeting the required earthquake building standard back in 2016. While the church has continued its worship and activities at Wellesley College hall, the parish is now keen to return to its cherished home, and plans are underway to restore the 1910 building to meet current earthquake standards.

The journey of St Alban’s during its time away from Ngaio Street has seen significant changes. The former vicar, Ellie Sanderson, has gone on to become a bishop in both New Zealand and England, and her successor, John Hughes, retired last year. Despite these transitions, regular Sunday and monthly weekday worship, as well as parish activities, have persevered thanks to the dedicated efforts of visiting priests and preachers.

St Alban’s holds a special place in the hearts of Eastbourne residents as it is not only a place of worship but also a venue for various community gatherings, concerts, and cultural events. Designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere, Wellington Diocesan architect, the church stands as a testament to his innovative use of camerated concrete for the outer walls, giving the building its unique and graceful appearance.

However, time and circumstances have changed since the church’s departure from Ngaio Street. The government has reduced the required compliance with the New Building Standard (NBS) from 68% to 34%, and new and improved earthquake-resistant materials are now available. With these changes, the

original ideas and plans for the church’s restoration have become outdated, and new costings are necessary to proceed.

Over the past seven years, the Eastbourne community has remained supportive, and the parish is counting on their continued financial help for the restoration project. Fundraising efforts will include merchandise sales, events, grants, bequests, and pledges. The parish is eager to gather feedback from the community regarding the future of the church and urges everyone to participate in the discussion through the parish website or by attending the planned parish korero for open and constructive dialogue.

In the midst of changes and challenges, St Alban’s is actively seeking a new part-time vicar to lead the congregation forward in the 21st century. The parish acknowledges the generosity of Wellesley College, which has been accommodating them during their time away, but the limitations of the facilities have made the desire to return to their home even stronger.

Since the Blue Skies Day event held back in 2016, the parish has consistently received strong support from the community for keeping the church open and operational. Now, before embarking on an extensive fundraising

campaign, the parish seeks reassurance that the community’s stance remains unchanged.

St Alban's people's warden Joy Baird says the future of St Alban’s Church in Ngaio Street is at a critical juncture, and the parish is dedicated to restoring its historic home to meet modern safety standards.

"With the support of the Eastbourne community, we hope this cherished landmark will continue to serve as a place of worship and a hub for cultural and community activities for generations to come," she says.

St Alban's Church.

Peak Everything – Mike Joy in Eastbourne

by Ann Packer

Ecologist Mike Joy, an outspoken advocate for environmental protection in Aotearoa, will address a public meeting in Eastbourne in midAugust. Organized by the Eastern Bays Climate Response Network, his lecture on The Future of Food and Energy looks at the real cost of growth, and the need to contain it.

Dr Joy (pictured) is a senior researcher at the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University who has received many awards for his work, including the inaugural Universities New Zealand Critics and Conscience of Society award, in 2017.

As an ecologist, he sees the world in terms of interconnected systems – civilization, he says, is facing “peak everything”, with climate change only one of a raft of existential crises that are “symptoms of overshoot”. (Ask any farmer about overshoot – they know you can’t stock more animals on your land than there is feed for them.)

These crises are the result of hitting planetary boundaries that we were warned about way back in the 1970s, Dr Joy says. Now, the combined effect of burgeoning population and high levels of consumption far exceeds the ability of the planet to sustain itself long-term – just like the farmer with too many animals and not enough grass, after a dry summer…or too much rain.

Because the overshoot was enabled using fossil energy – in the case of food, much of it through synthetic nitrogen fertilizer – we have been able to literally “eat the past”, says Dr Joy. While this transition was arrogantly labelled “the green revolution”, and talked up as a great human achievement, it was in fact a one-off subsidy from the past, he says.

Unfortunately, this legacy is close to its end as easy energy pickings diminish. To be able to feed our burgeoning population without fossil fuels and keep greenhouse gas emissions at a safe level will require a drastic reduction in consumption.

“For too long we’ve thought being busy is good, and we’ve collected lots of stuff,” says Dr

Joy. But quality of life is not about the number of cars, TVs, or rooms in a house. “We are energy slaves – but we can reverse that.”

The idea of “degrowth” can frighten people, because it’s linked with recession, he says. However, it can also be seen as enabling

societies that prioritize social and ecological well-being – rather than corporate profits, overproduction and excessive consumption – to flourish. Our inescapable choice, Dr Joy says, is whether we do this in a managed way or have it forced upon us.

While the idea of reducing consumption seems huge to some people, Dr Joy says we’ve lived with making do, or doing without, before and “it wasn’t that bad. During the first lockdown, people felt really good about it.”

“Most people I know want to simplify their lives. That’s not radical – how we live now is radical.”

So what does Dr Joy do when he needs time out from his too-busy life? He sets sail for the Marlborough Sounds, in a 92-year-old kauri yacht. Some things were built to last.

Dr Mike Joy speaks on Sunday 13 August at 3 pm at St Ronans Church, 234 Muritai Rd, Eastbourne. For more information, go to https://eastbourne.nz/event/degrowth/ or phone 021 230 8210

What's Happening Hair!?

Anne Mackris-Berdebes

July 'round hair!

Bringing back the Rachel Green look of ultra-trendy and funky chop that brings us out of the June Gloom and into Fly-high July! This look is a fun and bouncy style which naturally add volume and jeuje.

This layered classic strikes the perfect balance between the 90's Rachel Green from Friends and the 60's Brigette Bardot The layers bring volume while the bangs shape your face and if you're feeling adventurous, then some face-framing baby-lights will add a colourful and summery look to get you through the cooler months without too much maintenance

So how do I style this RG look you might ask The best way to achieve this look starts with a volumising shampoo and conditioner followed by applying a mousse to damp roots and a heat protectant spray Using a round brush (the bigger the better) blow dry your hair My suggestions for round brushes are certainly the Denman ceramic brush, the heat in which the ceramic holds continues to shape your hair even after you've stopped applying heat Sectioning your hair is the most effective way to create a wavy, look that is loose rather than uniform

All these products and time may seem unnecessary, but with time this morning routine will become second nature and your hair will become iconic to your look, well worth the time investment!

The RG look is one which most suits hair colours which have several tones, whether that be a balayage brunette, soft copper, or of course a natural blonde where there are usually several tones coming through Come in and chat with me during your next chop to decide if this could be your next winter look!

Next ECB meeting:

7.15pm Tuesday 22 August, 2023, East Harbour Women’s Club, 145 Muritai Rd.

Thank you to all the residents who attended the June Eastbourne Community Board (ECB) meeting to speak (about the skateboard park, work in Days Bay, Tupua Horo Nuku and a speed review for roads in the Eastern Bays) and to hear presentations from the Tupua Horo Nuku project team, the Harbour Master, Grant Nalder, Regional Councillor Quentin Duthie, Council’s Head of Transport, and other Officers.

At the start of each meeting, there is time for public comment. During this time, anyone can speak for up to three minutes on anything related to the community. This is a good way to make a suggestion or raise an issue with the ECB and Council.

Keeping up to date

One of the Board’s roles is to inform residents about Council and Regional Council matters. We share information on the eastbourne.nz website, on the Eastbourne Community Notice Board Facebook page, on the display screen at the library, and by email. You can subscribe to the Board’s update emails at eastbourne.nz/ newsletter.

The Future of Food and Energy

A presentation by Dr Mike Joy. Brought to you by the Eastern Bays Climate Response Network. 3pm, Sunday 13 August at St Ronan’s 234 Muritai Road. Koha welcome.

Contacting the Community Board

If you have an issue or a suggestion for Council, including reporting a leak, please complete the Report a Problem form on huttcity.govt.nz. For urgent issues, call 04 570 6666.

Residents are welcome to contact ECB members about other concerns.

Belinda Moss (Chair)

belinda.moss@huttcity.govt.nz

029 494 1615

Bruce Spedding (Deputy Chair) bruce.spedding@huttcity.govt.nz

021 029 74741

Frank Vickers

frank.vickers@huttcity.govt.nz

027 406 1419

Murray Gibbons

murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz

04 562 8567

Emily Keddell emily.keddell@huttcity.govt.nz

021 188 5106

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

021 271 6249

Matariki celebrations

Above: Friends of San Antonio marked Matariki with a bonfire on the beach. Photo: Stan Swan. Right: Robin Gilchrist was among those braving the cold for a Matariki harbour plunge. A regular sea swimmer who swam here as a child growing up, Robin was one of around 30 locals who took the plunge.

RONA BAY BOOKS

Rare books, quality used books bought & sold. See our stock at: www.tinakoribooks.com

Books for a special present 26 Totara Street 562 7376 027 316 4066 tinakoribooks@xtra.co.nz

Eastbourne fire brigade – 100 years of service

BRIEFS

Where’s George? You can find out at Lighthouse Cinema on 10 September, 2.30pm, when Murray Reece’s wacky mystery feature film starring his Moana Rd, Days Bay, neighbours will be screened for the second time. The 80-minute film has an M classification. Tickets from the Lighthouse, Petone.

The Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrates 100 years of service to the East Harbour community on 23 August and will host a series of events to mark the occasion.

This will include a casual barbecue get together for ex-brigade members, a more formal event for invited guests, and an open day for the public.

“We’ll host a barbecue for former members of the brigade and family of members who are no longer with us. We think it’s important to acknowledge all those who have given years, sometimes decades, to the community in which they live, including those who have since passed on,” says Chief Fire Officer Steve Charlton.

The barbecue will be on Wednesday, 23 August, starting at 6pm, exactly 100 years to the day after the brigade was formed. Those interested in attending should contact Senior Firefighter Sue Barton at Sue.Barton@fireandemergency.nz.

An open day will be held on 23 September with lots of opportunities for local families and kids to see what firefighting is all about.

“The youngsters will be able to get a close-up look at some serious firefighting equipment and will get the chance to use our hoses, ride on fire trucks and watch firefighting demonstrations, along with other fun activities,” says Steve Charlton.

Also on 23 September, the brigade will host a ceremony and presentation for invited guests, including former members and people with a historical connection to the brigade, senior representatives from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and political and community leaders.

Steve Charlton says it is amazing to think just how many people in Eastbourne and the Bays have passed through the station since the brigade was formed on 23 August 1923.

“Our estimate is that something like 500 people have served in the brigade, helping people whose homes have been hit by fire or flooding, tackling some challenging bush fires, attending serious medical incidents and

road accidents, and other incidents where local people have needed our help.

“Basically, anyone who’s lived in the area for a while seems to have had family or friends in our ranks. Some people in the brigade have had fathers and grandfathers serve before them.

Steve says a lot has changed over the past century in terms of the equipment firefighters use and the way the fire service is organised, but a few things haven’t.

“The Eastbourne station remains crewed by volunteers and they’re still motivated by the same thing as their predecessors – a desire to turn out to help their neighbours at any hour of the day in fair weather or foul.

“We look forward to seeing former members at the barbecue on 23 August and people in the community at the open day in September,” says Steve Charlton.

Lowry Bay writer Jane Bitomsky, who has a PhD in early modern English history, was shortlisted for the prestigious Michael Gifkins Prize for an unpublished novel. A Foundling’s Sin, “a lively historical novel full of humour, drama and romance, following an orphan named Repentance as she searches for love and navigates domestic service in Jacobean England” was one of five shortlisted by Australian publishing house Text and the New Zealand Society of Authors. The winner was Tina Shaw, whose novel A House Built on Sand will be published by Text in September 2024. As well as being published in a range of academic journals, Jane volunteers as a writer and baker for the Wellington chapter of Good Bitches Baking. She was a finalist for the 2022 First Novel Prize awarded by the non-profit New York-based Center for Fiction.

Congratulations to Paul Rolfe, whose award for Cloudy Bay Winery’s new cellar door building was featured last month. The Days Bay architect took the Green Building award at the Property Council NZ awards in Auckland in late June, as well as a merit in the Leisure and Tourism award, and was shortlisted for the Retail category of the 2023 Interior awards, won by Cheshire Architects’ design for Faradays, a new Auckland space within the Textile Centre.

Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade, 2023.

Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade 1934

Georgia makes a career out of what once was terrifying

by Ann Packer

Georgia Ryan has always been terrified of the ocean.

The winner of this year’s Eastbourne Freemasons’ Scholarship didn’t even like swimming “on top of the water”, and says she was very bad at snorkelling. But having chosen Marine Biology for her Master of Science degree, she found she could train as a scientific diver alongside her degree studies – which might just give her an edge employment-wise in the future.

So Georgia is now scuba diving, as part of her Masters project based in Wellington Harbour where she’s carrying out a conservation value assessment of marine life – and loving it, although she says the visibility in the harbour waters is quite bad.

Over the summer she took part in a project in Doubtful Sound to look at the impact of marine heat waves, working alongside Te Herenga Waka supervisor, Professor James Bell and his other postgraduate researchers.

“Fiordland was so amazing,” she says, “in spite of the insane number of sandflies. I really hope to go back there.”

Not bad for someone who hadn’t even been thinking along the lines of marine biology while doing her undergraduate degree.

“I took one marine class just for fun,” says the former St Oran’s College student, who moved to Eastbourne with her parents in 2017. “And I fell in love with it.”

It’s not the first thing this adventurous student has tried and enjoyed – she holds a Diploma in Dance from the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet in Melbourne, rowed with the Petone Women’s Club eight in 2020 (a bronze at the Nationals and gold at the North Island champs) and has spent time with Eastbourne’s MIRO volunteers, helping restore native forests on and around Cameron Ridge at Pencarrow.

Unfortunately, there’s just not time to do everything, and three weekends per month on a data collection project for NIWA, interviewing recreational fishers around Wellington harbour (surprisingly non-confrontational) occupies most of her spare time at the moment.

In the future she’d like to do something in the underwater biosecurity field – pest removal, perhaps. “I want to get all the skills I can and

Ryan. see what I can do then.”

We’ll keep you posted.

Georgia

Local pest control success

Possums: 300 possums were caught in the East Harbour Regional Park's Northern Forest in the past year, the highest number since 2017 and up 120 on last year’s total. Why was that? Well, there are a few likely causes. First, a small new trapline (just 6 traps) was established immediately north of the Point Howard reservoir and caught nearly 50 possumes in the first 9 months. There was also a lot more action on the 13 traps on the eastern edge of the Forest (known as the Kiwi Corridor—hopefully creating a safe route for kiwi from Remutaka Forest Park to the Northern Forest). Here the catch was 50 possums, double that of the previous year. In addition to that, many MIRO trappers are now dual-baiting with fresh apple, which lasts a few days, and a cereal-based lure, which lasts a few weeks.

You may remember that OSPRI (formerly TB-free NZ) undertook ground poisoning to control possums around the perimeter of the Forest in the latter half of 2021, followed by an aerial 1080 drop in the core of the forest in November 2022. Prior to that, they did a monitoring study, which showed a 4.3% tracking rate for possums (roughly equivalent to putting out 100 traps for one night and catching just 4 possums). Generally, we regard anything less than 5% as OK for forest health, but for Bovine TB to die out you need it closer to 2%, hence the further control measures in 2021/22 by OSPRI. As far as we are concerned though, with the tracking rate falling fairly consistently below 5% since 2001, the Forest should be fine in terms of possum browsing. This is a great achievement by all the volunteers who have helped with trapping in the Forest since the 1990s.

Stoats, weasels and feral cats: The last year’s catch and monitoring data are also looking positive for feral cat and mustelid (stoat and weasel) control. No feral cats were caught by the traps we have in the core of the forest (we keep these traps well away from the urban areas), with only 2 caught in the past 6 years. Similarly, the stoat and weasel catch (a total of 11) was the lowest since DOC200 traps were deployed across the whole Forest in 2017. Cat and mustelid populations are difficult to monitor as these animals are wary of monitoring tunnels. Instead, we have continued to use three automatic lure feeders monitored with trail cameras to watch for pests. The sites are always away from main tracks, with the cameras positioned about one metre off the ground and closely focussed on the spot where the lure (usually mayonnaise) drips onto the ground. The latest results are consistent with the previous year in that no feral cats were seen and only one stoat.

Hedgehogs: The story is also positive in terms of hedgehog control, although we don’t understand why. Last year’s catch of 48 is down

from 77 the previous year. Similarly, the Greater Wellington monitoring data shows a decrease from 6% tracking in the 2021/22 summer down to zero last summer. We are not aware of any changes that would have caused this decrease, so it will be interesting to see what happens next summer. By comparison, hedgehog tracking in Eastbourne and the Bays, as measured by our regular ERAT monitoring, was at 17% last summer, up from 10% the year before, so bad news for our skinks and lizards.

Finally—rats! As we have explained before, rats are really only controlled in 20% of the Northern Forest through intensive poisoning in the Mainland Island by GWRC, with the aim of keeping tracking below 5%. The boundary

of the Mainland Island goes between southern Days Bay, Burdans Gate, the Butterfly Creek picnic area, up Gollans Stream, then back to the southern end of Days Bay. Outside of this area, the rat population is tracking at quite high levels, usually over 25%. Inside the Mainland Island, however, the 5% tracking rate target was almost achieved for over a year, apart from a recent spike up to 21% in May. In our urban area, the rat tracking rate over the same period has averaged less than 6%, which is a good result, thanks to all the home trappers, most of whom are part of the ERAT project.

-Terry Webb, MIRO Chair. Interested in helping MIRO? Email: info@miro.org.nz

As the number of printed

in Aotearoa declines, The Eastbourne Herald is proactively looking ahead.

Ballad of Burnout: a tribute to Eastbourne

by Ann Packer

An Eastbourne clinical psychologist with years of experience in counselling trauma victims has bared her own soul, in a lyrical memoir in blank verse documenting her personal journey from burnout to balance.

Kerry Makin-Byrd’s self-published The Ballad of Burnout: a helper lost and found is already a #1 New Release on Amazon and will be formally launched in Petone soon.

It comes with endorsements from, among others, Oprah Magazine’s 2020 Visionary Dr Kelly McGonigal, author of The Joy of Movement and The Upside of Stress.

One of around 5 million medical professionals who suffered burnout – defined by the WHO as an occupational rather than medical condition – as a result of the Covid pandemic, Dr Makin-Byrd has set down her struggle in an accessible form that credits locals with being part of her recovery.

Kerry received her PhD from Penn State University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University. After working at New York University and the National Center for PTSD, she was a founding psychologist (and employee #5) of a mental health start-up. She came here from Colorado just two years ago, with scientist husband Tim Hilton and daughter Liliana, arriving at a time when many colleagues world-wide were suffering similar symptoms.

Dr Makin-Byrd was experienced and well-qualified in dealing with people who had been through the mill in terms of violence such as abuse, PTSD and other trauma, and marginalized groups such as new immigrants. She came from a family of helpers – caring professionals, including pastors, who as she puts it “want to be present with great suffering”. Her dad was a school psychologist, her mother a social worker. It was practically in her genes. Widely published, peer-reviewed and

a contributor to books on trauma and resilience, Dr Makin-Byrd had even earned a Special Contribution Award from the US Veterans’ Health Administration, recognising her policy contributions and clinical teaching on veterans' mental health services.

Work had become her identity. But when she found herself unable to function in the job she once loved, couldn’t sleep and didn’t want to eat, she didn’t know how to help herself. “If I work hard enough I can overcome this” leads only to exhaustion, she found.

She watched herself even as she suffers, in a disembodied state.

“I was giving talks on the definition of work burnout as I was experiencing it,” she says. “Denial works until it doesn’t” she writes, laying out the excuses she used to blame herself, as she bargained her way to rock bottom.

One of the benefits of waiting for her work visa to come through was having the time and space to practise self-compassion, she says. Her slow recovery, over the enforced hiatus, she credits largely to Eastbourne – the natural environment of sea and bush, the people befriended here, and being able to talk with loved ones – her husband and daughter, as well as colleagues and friends overseas, via the internet.

“It’s not won and done,” she warns. “There will always be a struggle between the need to control and let go. But New Zealand gave me a chance to heal. The people I met here, being welcomed into a society that values having a rich, full life outside of work, it all helped me recover. This book is dedicated to all helpers, but it probably should also be dedicated to the people of New Zealand.”

For others wishing to “find meaning from madness”, Dr Makin-Byrd’s next book is a manual entitled Start Here: a guide for the overwhelmed Ballad to Burnout is available from

Screening success

A full house turned out for the world premiere on 2 July of At the Bay: A Photographic Tribute Capturing Five Scenes.

The audiovisual presentation featuring five vignettes from one of Katherine Mansfield's most-loved stories was part of a tribute by Eastbourne creatives to mark the centenary of the death of the writer who will always be associated with Eastbourne, and Days Bay in particular. Appropriately, it was screened in the assembly hall of Wellesley College, the Anglican boys’ school centred around the imposing twostoreyed building known in Mansfield’s day as Days Bay House.

The evening included a selection of the author’s favourite music, and the AV, which will be screened again at Eastbourne Library as part of a commemorative exhibition later in the year about Katherine Mansfield’s relationship with the Eastern Bays. It’s also available for screenings in schools and at KM-related events and seminars. View it on: vimeo.com/ southlightnz/KM2023

Schrödingers, Petone, (04) 260 3777, $21.

Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd.

From California to Seaview

by Ann Packer

Tim Lidgard has a dream – he wants Seaview Marina to be a destination for people to come and visit. “It will be our point of difference over the other marinas in Wellington,” says the Auckland-born and raised, and now Eastbourne-resident CE, who took up the job July 2021. “The community is front and centre in our future planning – we want to interact with it.”

The former highperformance sailor has already produced a successful Rock around the Dock event at the marina last summer, and hopes more will follow. He also sees the Tupua Horo Nuku path playing an important role in connecting the marina with Eastbourne, the Hutt Valley and Wellington CBD.

It’s a big change from running a high-end, exclusive California yacht service facility to a 375-berth marina owned by a local authority in Wellington, New Zealand. And yes, it was Covid-related, in a way.

Tim Lidgard comes from a long line of sailors – his father, who manages Auckland’s marinas, grew up on the water’s edge at Kawau island; his family were the first to get a berth at Westhaven Marina and his grandparents have together “sailed to the moon and back” in nautical miles.

So as a 19-year-old, the chance to live in California and be paid to sail – a third of his year was taken up racing in regattas around the world – was a dream come true. But a decade or so on, becoming a dad changed things. Once daughter Charlotte was born, followed by Ondine, he and wife Allison opted to become shore-based.

Then Covid arrived. Both Tim’s job, considered critical maritime infrastructure, and Allison’s, which involved commissioning a new hospital, were deemed essential. The children were home-schooled by their grandparents who lived an hour-and-a-half away. For nine months the family saw each other only at weekends. With the stress factor already intense and the smallest scheduling holdup having the potential to derail respective work projects, their work/life balance was seriously impaired.

“We had to decide what was really important,” says Tim. “We loved the States, loved everything about it. The culture is hugely industrious, and amazingly, no one ever holds a grudge – it’s quite refreshing.”

But with family here – including greatgrandparents – it seemed time to give life down under a chance. This job was on offer, and when it came time to look at real estate, Tim remembered the 1996 national Laser champs

at Muritai Yacht Club... It all felt familiar, and tempting. So close to work too... So they found somewhere to live in Eastbourne, and made the move.

Why Seaview, rather than somewhere bigger? “The reason I took this job is the potential of this site – the opportunities. I’m not a Wellingtonian – everything I look at I see with fresh eyes. The forecast growth of boat ownership in the next 30 years suggests 300 more berths are needed regionally. We have the space for further development in the water and on land. We are in a prime position to cater to the demand.”

As a CCTO (Council controlled trading organization), with HCC the sole shareholder, the marina is required to act commercially. “We have to find a balance between the social responsibility of local government and commercial reality. We’re entirely self-funding, we can’t call on Council for a bailout – we pay them for business support and land leases, plus a dividend. We pay our own security and insurance.”

He credits former Chief Executive Alan McLellan with building up the marina over 17 years “from nothing – it wouldn’t be possible without what he’s done”.

Now, says his successor, “we’re trying to connect all the dots with the community in mind”.

News from Point Howard

The Point Howard Association (PHA) and the Point Howard Tennis Club (PHTC) held their AGMs on Sunday, 25 June at 3:30pm. We had a great turnout, and thank you to all who attended. Your time and input was appreciated.

Key topics included the Howard Road restoration after the slip in March, Wellington Water update on pipe replacement, noise from street racers in Gracefield & commercial operators at Seaview Marina, road & footpath maintenance, civil defence update & a fabulous community garden update by song!

It’s also subs time again. You can renew your membership or join the residents association for $25 per year per residential address. The membership year runs from April to March. Thanks to all those residents who have just joined or renewed their membership.

We really appreciate your support! For details on how to renew or join please contact the PHA via pthowardassn@gmail. com. Residents will also shortly receive a copy of the PHA “What We Do” flyer for 2023/24 in their letterboxes which contains further information.

pthowardassn@gmail.com

Tim Lidgard.

Eastbourne 35 Pukatea Street

504sqm

Pack your bags for Pukatea!

Picturesque Pukatea street is always a winner, as will you be if you purchase this idyllic single level, centrally heated and warm family home flooded with sunlight and indoor outdoor flow. View now to avoid disappointment.

Deadline Sale 3rd August 2023 (Unless Sold Prior)

View by appointment harcourts.co.nz/LH5087

Eastbourne 10 Nikau Street

336sqm

2 1 1

Vendor says SELL on auction day

Nikau street needs no introduction – a much loved address! Here’s a fantastic opportunity to acquire a rare-as single level low maintenance standalone home on the flat. Make no mistake – vendor has moved, selling NOW!

Auction 20th August 2023

View by appointment harcourts.co.nz/LH6020

Eastbourne 314 Muritai Road

304sqm

Thought you couldn’t afford Eastbourne?

You can now! Situated at the heart of Eastbourne on the flat, close to beach, buses, bush – what more can you ask for? Flat section, fenced with a garage and calling out for newcomers to Eastbourne and/or the property market. Get your skates on – interest is strong!

Asking price $795,000

View by appointment harcourts.co.nz/LH6012

Eastbourne 3/415 Muritai Road

Lovely and Little

One-bedroom flats are hard to come by so if you’re a couple or singleton, retired or professional, come and make this cosy little home your own. Ideally situated close to the beach and bus stop – bring your suitcase and – aaah – relax!

For Sale by Negotiation from Min $300’s

View by appointment harcourts.co.nz/LH6023

Christelle Van Zyl 0210 758 291

christelle.vanzyl@harcourts.co.nz

Christelle Van Zyl

Mondays

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

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

• Toy Library - Two Monday Sessions at 1.302.30pm and 7.30-8.30pm.

EastbourneToyLibrary on Facebook. Kathy

0273551950

• 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.

• 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.

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

Wednesdays

• Cubs: 5.30pm - 7.00pm, Ed 021 738 699.

• 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.

WHAT'S ON

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!

• 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, 9.15am-11.15am, during school terms. 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 Celeste 021 206 5713

•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.

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

• Eastbourne Bowling Club casual summer bowls 5.30pm for an hour or so. Make up a mixed team of three. Contact Keith Turner ph 04 934 4142.

• EFC Social Womens Football. Every Thursday, 6.30pm, Bishop Park (unless otherwise notified). Contact: Trysh, 02102931247

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

Saturdays

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

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

• Lions' Bin - cost effective rubbish and e-waste disposal. Last Saturday of the month (except December) by Bus Barns. Gavin 027 488 5602.

Sundays

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

• Mindful Mummas group for Mums and preschool children. Childminder onsite. 1011.30. Text Emily 027 552 6119 to join or go to bemoreyou.co.nz for more info.

CLASSIFIEDS

Studio Apartment to Rent. Fully furnished, selfcontained, Mahina Bay. Drive on with great views and sun. Free gas water heating. Available short to medium term for singles or a couple. Text : SEAVIEW LOFT 021 1115297.

Mid-week Badminton at Badminton Hall, Vogel Street, Naenae Thursdays 9.15am to 10.45am. We are a friendly group of mixed ages and welcome beginners and experienced players. $6 per session, and rackets provided for $5 per session. For info email freersontauroa@gmail.com

Boat or jet ski storage available in Seaview/Gracefield. Contact 02102581960

CLASSIFIED advertising costs 50c perword. Email editor@eastbourneherald.co.nz

Long links with EFC celebrated

With all the nation’s attention firmly fixed on the role of women in football this month, it only seems proper to focus on the important role played by a local centurion in the development of the sport in our area.

June Whitehead, aged 101, had a ringside seat at the founding of the club by her late husband Stan Whitehead, back in 1967. Together with fellow locals Des Warman and Ron Weatherhead, Stan was keen to provide local children the chance to indulge in their favourite sport, not least because his son Peter (then aged seven) was very eager to get involved.

A team was entered into the 1967-8 competition, including Peter. Over the years many other members of June’s family have donned the club jersey, including her son-in-law Andrew Cowman. The family tradition continues to the present day, with her great-great nephews Giles and Toby Chinn representing Eastbourne FC, turning out for the 13th grade Lions and 9th grade Panthers respectively.

Football’s not confined to the children either, with her great-nephew Craig Coles regularly leading the line for the Toros in Master’s 6, while Andrew’s son Chris Cowman also featured for the team earlier this season.

June continues to take a keen interest in the fortunes of the club, while her contributions to the country during World War Two are also honoured in the clubroom, which doubles as the local Returned Services Association.

This length of family involvement is consistent with the core values of the community-focused local club, with multiple generations of many other families also regularly turning out for, or supporting, Eastbourne, from first kicks to master’s grades.

This sense of belonging and camaraderie has come a long way from the club’s nascent beginnings, encompassing the complimentary BBQs on match-days, overseen by committeemember Kurt Renner, to after-match debriefing sessions at the ESSC. And it’s at this much-loved venue that the community will no doubt come together again to lend their support to the Football Ferns as they embark on their much anticipated World Cup journey.

- by Ruth and Dave Chinn

Garden Stuff with Sandy Lang

C3, C4 & CAM

July/August: Mid/late-winter. Days longer and warmer. Finish winter jobs. Prune only when dry. WUE: Last month, I talked about plant ‘water use efficiency’. The amount of sugar (energy food) produced by photosynthesis, per the amount of water lost through the stomata. Hydrophytes (plants adapted to wet environments) have lower WUEs than mesophytes (plants adapted to drier environments), than xerophytes (plants adapted to very dry environments). Plants use many tricks to raise their WUEs to cope with dry/very dry environments (Google xerophytes) but two are worth special mention. When plants have applied all the usual tricks but still need more, they mess around with photosynthesis itself.

C3 Plants: About 85% of all plants have so-called C3 photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a complex process (Google photosynthesis). Sufficient to say it involves two sets of reactions: (a) light-independent ones and (b) light-dependent ones. These C3 plants waste some of their light energy due to photorespiration because they carry out these two sets of reactions in the same cells and they also waste water by carrying out these two sets of reactions at the same time. Two strategies improve things: (1) do these in different cells and (2) do them at different times.

C4 Plants (different cells): About 3% of all plants have C4 photosynthesis. (Google C4 photosynthesis). The C4 plants have a special ‘Kranz’ leaf anatomy that lets them reduce energy-wasting photorespiration by carrying out the light-independent reactions in their ‘bundlesheath’ cells and the light-dependent ones in their ‘mesophyll’ cells. This spatial separation makes C4 photosynthesis about 50% more efficient than C3 photosynthesis, especially under harsh conditions – hot, limited water. Some important C4 plants are maize, sugarcane and paspalum.

www.tartinesfrenchcafe.com

Tartineseastbourne@gmail.com

CAM Plants (different times): And when even C4 photosynthesis is not enough, there’s crassulacean acid metabolism (Google CAM plants). About 8% of all plants have CAM photosynthesis. These have the highest WUEs of all and they inhabit the hottest, driest environments. They achieve this by carrying out the two sets of photosynthetic reactions at different times. They open their stomata at night (cooler, more humid, less water loss), take in CO₂ and store it. Then they close their stomata all day (hot, dry) and photosynthesise their stored CO₂ to make sugars. This way CAM plants have very high WUEs. Some important CAM plants are cacti, succulents, pineapples and 40% of orchids.

slang@xtra.co.nz

www.mulchpile.org

June Whitehead.

Faith in the Community

Political barrow-pushing..

The campaigns have begun... I’m reminded of a comment by Karl du Fresne (Stuff 6/7/2018) who wrote Churches turn to political barrow pushing to stay relevant. It’s as if he thought sharing a view on public questions was a new development for the church.

CS Lewis once wrote ...it is Christ himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. When Jesus began his ministry, he declared his purpose by quoting a Hebrew prophet, Isaiah, who’d lived 800 years earlier. Isaiah was known to have been particularly sensitive to the political events of his time.

Isaiah claimed to be speaking the very word of God when he said to the people of his day (Isaiah:58:6) Is not true worship to loose the bonds of injustice... ...to let the oppressed go free... ...to share your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into your house?

So, Jesus was placing himself squarely in a longstanding prophetic tradition of speaking the truth to power. He saw his calling in the further words of Isaiah (61:1)...to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, and to proclaim liberty to the captives. Relevance is not the issue; the churches are just being true to his word.

Shared Service - St Alban’s + St Ronan’s: Sun 6 August at Wellesley at 10am.

St Ronan’s: Services Sun 9.30am - informal 1st and 3rd, traditional 2nd and 4th. Our 5th Sunday, Pot-Luck Fellowship Lunch is 30 July at 12 noon. Ask if you’d like our monthly printed magazine the Record E:office@stronans.org.

nz W:www.stronans.org.nz

St Alban’s: At Wellesley College Sun 10am communion with guest vicar. Special activities for children during term time. 1st Thurs only, 10.30am communion at St Ronan’s Church with guest vicar (note the time change. E:office@ stalbanschurch.nz

W:www.stalbanschurch.nz

San Antonio: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm.

Sacred Heart, Petone: Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm. E: holyspiritparish41@gmail.com

W: www.holyspirit.nz

Tall Ferns Captain goes for balance

Eastbourne basketballer and Tall Ferns captain Stella Beck is having some rare down time, travelling in Italy following the Tall Ferns’ matches in the Asia Cup last month. The women beat the Philippines 83 – 78 but lost to Japan 52 – 88 and Australia 59-81, taking the bronze.

The Tall Ferns are working to qualify for the Olympics next year, “which will be a dream of mine completed, and amazing for the young girls to see it as a reality,” Stella says.

“We came in with a goal and we’ve achieved that goal,” says the 27-year-old, who began playing for the Tall Ferns while still at Hutt Valley High School. As captain, she still remembers what it was like to be one of the younger new ones and works hard at making sure the previously uncapped players are happy and having fun, even though they’re up against highly professional players from teams such as China and South Korea.

“My advice to young players is to make sure you enjoy it – sport of any kind should always be fun,” she says. “You will develop, learn and perform much better if you are enjoying yourself.”

After living a high-pressure lifestyle playing fulltime for some years Stella took on a day job, working at the Beehive while playing at weekends. With a BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience, from a Californian university, she wishes she’d made a career outside of sport rather than playing full-time, including across the Tasman.

No longer working at the Beehive, she’s still playing basketball “just not year round anymore. It was really tough to step back from professional sport but it wasn’t filling enough

cups for me. I struggled with the amount of pressure I put on the sport alone.

“Now I have a more balanced life and more freedom to explore – including backpacking and tramping in some beautiful places in South America – so I have a lot more enthusiasm when I play.”

She says New Zealand has an amazing new professional league going with Tauihi, and feels very lucky that it supports her lifestyle. The fivestrong Tauihi league includes the Tokomanawa Queens, of which she is captain, and last year they won the inaugural season of the Women’s Tauihi league.

Stella is travelling at the moment but when she returns will play for the Tokomanawa Queens again. “I will find some work but I’m in a bit of an in-between phase.”

The Asia Cup, played at Olympic Park in Sydney, was the first phase of Olympic Qualifications and the Tall Ferns qualified by coming in the top four. Next, they go to a tournament “sometime in February – not sure when”, and if they come in the top three of four teams there, they go to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Stella Beck.