Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
tuesday 13 december 2016
wow! exhibition opens
All I want for Christmas...
page 7
Sailing champs page 24
page 16-18
Council to NZTA: ‘We want the link’ Andrew Board
Julie says it’s been the highlight of her career. “I guess the job has given me a lot over the years and now a fiancée.” Julie started her bus driving career in Waiau, in North Canterbury. There she drove the school bus but she left Waiau with her two children
In its strongest, clearest voice yet, Nelson City Council is expected to tell the government that building the Southern Link to ease pressure on the region’s roading network is its top priority. Successive councils have been noncommittal about the proposed road, which would see the state highway diverted from Rocks Rd and Tahunanui to a new road through the suburb of Victory. The official line of the last council was that it understood the investigation of New Zealand Transport Agency into the road, but neither supported nor opposed it. That was mainly because councillors were split on the issue so the council found itself in a middle ground. But that has changed after a sweep of new councillors, who are supportive of the road, were elected in October. If Mayor Rachel Reese gets the numbers at a full council meeting this Thursday, she will write to NZTA and tell them the region is supportive of their investigation – which is only part of the way complete – and that it sees the project as the number one priority for the region.
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Bus driver Julie Eddy celebrated 25 years driving passengers between Nelson and Richmond with one of her passengers, Brian Gabites [insert, with Julie] proposing marriage to her. Photo: Andrew Board.
Driver finds love on the bus Andrew Board
In her 25-year career driving buses between Nelson and Richmond, Julie Eddy has come across all sorts of passengers: abusive passengers, funny passengers, kind passengers, passengers that have become friends and even one that is set to become her hus-
band. Julie has just celebrated 25 years as a Nelson bus driver and, although she says she’s had many friendships with her passengers, it’s clear who her favourite is. Brian Gabites started catching the bus from his Stoke home to Nelson, where he works at NBS, four years ago. They got
talking while on the bus and became friendly. Then Julie’s lawn mower broke and Brian offered to lend her his. She gratefully accepted and, after using it, dropped it back to Brian, who suggested dinner. Several months later, the pair announced in front of their families last week that they were engaged to be married.
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