The Observer - January 2023 Edition

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January

when out in the sun this summer.

Living in New Zealand we are often bombarded with messages about the dangers of sun exposure. And rightly so. With our high rate of skin cancer it is often hard to fathom why we go out into the sun at all – especially during the summer months as we get enough vitamin D by doing outdoor activities outside of peak Ultraviolet Index (UVI) times.

All types of sunburn, whether serious or mild, can cause permanent and irreversible skin damage and can lay the groundwork for skin cancer in later life.

Sunburn occurs when living tissue, like your skin, is overexposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causing it to change in colour from slightly pink to severely red or purple. Severe sunburn may cause blistered skin and even a fever, nausea and dehydration. Your eyes may also be painful or irritated due to overexposure to UVR.

The best way to prevent sunburn is to use sun protection, especially in the summer months between 11am and 4pm. Sunscreen is one type of sun protection and you should also always wear protective clothing during this period, as well as a hat and sunglasses.

However, if you have the misfortune of getting sunburnt come and talk to us as there are ways to help relieve the discomfort, such as using cold compresses, topical sprays and creams, oral pain medication and we can also give advice on how to look after blistered skin.

If the sunburn is severe, your eyes are extremely painful, or you have blisters accompanied by a fever or nausea, see us or doctor immediately. And remember that there is no such thing as a “safe” tan – any change in the colour of the skin is a sign that damage has taken place.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to our January issue. We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and time with friends and family.

There is a lot of sickness out there, and we know that it certainly would have been a different Christmas for many families (including ours).

It was great to see all the Christmas events in December. After a funny old year or two, it certainly was appreciated as we moved into the festive season. We are lucky to live in a community with so much happening.

The Oxford & Districts Lions and Oxford Community Trust Wings with Wheels is on this month and this event was extremely popular last time it was held, so is sure to be a great day.

Check out the ad for this event on Page 14 for more details.

Thank you for supporting the Observer and we look forward to the year ahead.

If you are wanting to promote your business, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us and we can come up with some options for you.

P 0800 627 378 37 e info@oxfordobserver.co.nz www.schnurrbartdesignandpublishing.co.nz

PHOTO

Tammy Pfahlert

WALKING MOUNT OXFORD

For the adventure minded, Mount Oxford offers some truly incredible views, and there’s no need to climb 7 hours to the summit when the views are spectacular even from a more reasonable altitude. The Mt Oxford tracks all offer beautiful views across Lees Valley, the Canterbury Plains, and the surrounding mountains. As well as the full summit track, there are many shorter walks and loop tracks for families and kids, or for those like me, who don’t own hiking boots and don’t plan to change that. The popular Ryde Falls track also winds through the lower levels of the mountain, and is a beautiful and family-friendly loop which welcomes mountain bikes and dogs on leads. The track leads through a very sheltered beech forest, perfect for a rainy day or hot summer sun, so well-suited to any given day in Canterbury. The waterfall makes for a beautiful view, and provides a great spot for a picnic, so tack on an extra hour or so to your walking time and bring lunch!

Things to do in

Summer holidays are in full-swing, and the days With the full effect of daylight savings welcomed by all, So for those looking to see a little bit more of it this New

ART GALLERY WORKSHOPS

The township itself also offers more than enough to fill the day, or even the month. In early February the Oxford Art Gallery offers a handful of art courses, well suited to the absolute beginner. Under the tutelage of two expert artists, Oxford Gallery Toi o Waimakariri is hosting a ceramics workshop and a photography course over these hot summer nights.

The Ceramics Workshop: Surface Decoration Techniques, will be held on Saturday 11 February 2023, from 10:00am – 4:00pm. A one-day ceramics class for ages 15 and onwards, the course is set to explore a wide range of decorative techniques, under the tuition of Ruth Stanton-Macleod. Tea and coffee is offered, and the Main Street cafes are open for Saturday lunch.

At the end of the day, creations are left to be dried, glazed, and fired in the kiln, and reunification with your art is expected to take about 4 weeks.

If you tend towards digital art over the messy, handmade kind, later in February begins a course in creative photography. Tutored by Alan Gillard, the Power of Photography is a 5 week course held over 5 nights, beginning on Thursday 23 February 2023, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. The class is brand new in 2023, and the Gallery writes that “you’ll learn about how you can transform your smartphone or camera into much more than just a tool for snaps!” The course treats photography as “a creative vehicle to express ideas”, but it is designed for beginners to enjoy, and you certainly don’t need any experience in order to sign up.

Oxford this Summer

and weeks are stretching out.

by Amy Riach

Oxford is truly beautiful this time of year. Year, the town and the mountains that surround it have a lot to offer.

ASHLEY GORGE RIVER

A short drive out of Oxford, the Ashley Gorge river is even more popular over the holidays, and by all accounts is well worth the trip. The river is clear and perfect for swimming. Easy parking can be found through the Ashley Gorge Holiday Park Entrance. The river is surrounded by a native bush, home to beautiful walks and very vocal birdlife. From the Ashley Gorge Reserve, the Ashley Gorge Loop Track takes you on an easy walk through the surrounding forest, and scenic lookouts.

A bird hide makes this a great walk for families. Keep an eye out for Tui, Fantail, Kereru, and if the timing is right, even the Morepork Owl has been known to join the choir. The loop track also features an 'out and back' track to the Ashley Waterfall, and the optional climb opens to a lookout point before dropping down to the waterfall. The waterfall makes for a wonderful lunchtime view.

The one path in and out leads right back to the loop track, which takes about half an hour to complete on its own.

To add the waterfall, add an extra hour to your walking time, and you’ll find it nestled further into the hillside bush.

WHEELS WITH WINGS

After a Covid-hiatus, three words which have become oddly familiar, ‘Wheels with Wings’ is back for 2023; and on the 22nd of January the day out is returning to Oxford. Local organisers are already predicting that the vintage car rally “will be bigger and better this year”, and for the first time this annual event has not one but two years of planning behind it. This year, motorbikes are expected to join the classic motorcars, and the aircraft are back - some to be grounded on display, and others to take to the air! ‘Wheels with Wings’ is also set to feature the end point of the Oxford Scooter Tour, a fundraising race inspired by the Scooter Tour which transits Christchurch to Hokitika.

The Oxford Scooter Tour will run from Rangiora to Oxford, via Loburn and Ashley Gorge, and will be running as a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease, finishing up at Wheels with Wings. Riders can then face the obstacle course which event organisers are excitedly building, and calling “fun for spectators as well as the participants”. Music, stalls, coffee, and hot food will all be available throughout the day, and the event will be a fundraiser for the Oxford Community Trust, and the Oxford District Lions Club.

A great family day out, ‘Wheels with Wings’ will be one of many event pastimes, to be enjoyed by all, while the summer holidays last.

Guardian Angel comes to Oxford

The Guardian Angel statue was created by Kiwi artist Llew Summers and now stands proudly outside the Oxford Gallery toi o Waimakariri. The statue depicts a divine figure with concrete wings outstretched, shielding a person that lies beneath it. Llew created the statue in 2007 after his late partner's daughter, Douschka, took her own life. It is said to resemble an angel standing over her- hence the name Guardian Angel. However, son Daniel Summers paused when asked about his own interpretation. “Dad always said it was an angel over my step sister. But if you look at it closely, the angel is a woman, standing over a man.”

Llew Summers often called himself New Zealand's most productive sculptor. He created approximately 1000 pieces of original art in his lifetime- not including the reproductions of his work or the pieces he didn’t think were up to scratch. Although it could take around 4 months to create a sculpture, those that Llew disliked were given away or smashed. Daniel reflected on this nature of destruction, saying, “sometimes the worse things are the most productive things. I think that truly comes from the heart, like running loose.”

Daniel was also a part of the creative process, as he would often help his father build the sculptures. In most cases, they were first carved out of oak, then built on a larger scale out of clay with a shell of plaster. Llew would then peel off the layers of plaster and painstakingly connect the pieces together to create a mould for concrete to be poured into.

After the concrete had been added and set, he removed the plaster revealing the final piece. This is the process that resulted in the Guardian Angel statue, which weighs a staggering 6 tonnes. The sculpture was inherited by Daniel when Llew passed away in 2019 and has stood outside the Louden Farm in Banks Peninsula ever since. The decision to loan the Guardian Angel to the Oxford Gallery was made by Daniel himself as a way to honour his mothers' ancestry, and to bring more art into our township. Daniel enlisted the help of a friend with a HIAB truck for the big move and managed to work the statue onto its custom plinth outside the Oxford Gallery- which was no mean feat, especially with onlookers.

In terms of the artist's personal style, the Llew Summers webpage has managed to sum it up well. “His interest was primarily in figurative works, and celebrating the human form, affirming the beauty of the human body.” His sculptures consisted of simple designs, a mixture of the divine and the soul- angels and humanity.

Whilst the Guardian Angel is a stellar reflection of Llew's style, it goes against the grain. Llew's statues typically feature naked women twisted into embraces and stylised poses, whilst this one feels more transparent in its meaning.

by Beka Hunt

Daniel spoke on the female theme, saying “I think my father truly wanted to give women to his children,” as Llew separated from Daniel's mother soon after Daniel turned one. “He wanted us to have a mother figure, so he always built women.”

When asked about the nudity, he held back a laugh.

“I actually believe that was my father's biggest protest- that nudity was turned into pornography. At the end of the day, no one is born with clothes on.” This protest saw Llew in trouble with the law and the Christchurch Council a few times, but never stopped him from pursuing his art.

Now, you can visit the Guardian Angel in Oxford, and decide what it stands for yourself.

The statue has been installed in the gallery forecourt to attract visitors off the footpath & into Oxford Gallery. Some gallery car parks have been closed to accommodate and protect the public artwork, and the Oxford Gallery would like to thank the local community for adapting to their new car park arrangements.

For those looking to visit, more parks are available at the rear and a public car park is signposted next door at Oxford Museum.

the hybrid Wardrobe.

with Stylist - Kerri Booth

Happy New Year!

This is the time we emerge from that sweet spot between Christmas and New Year of not quite knowing what day it is. It always hurts slightly to come out of that space and begin to look at the challenges for the year ahead. Generally that means merging back into the workspace.

Any one heard of the term hybrid working? It’s become more and more common place now since the pandemic, and working from home, mixed with the office is a much more common position people find themselves in.

Just as it has taken people an adjustment to mix their home and work environment, we are finding the same with our wardrobes. Finding the art of being able to intermingle both sides of our wardrobe is where we want to be.

So how does that look?

If you wear something to the office, does that now mean it is now a ‘work top’ and you won’t wear it on days off?

Has it crossed that invisible line in your head of that top not being able to break out and be anything other than a work top?

We are the master of rules for our clothing.

Many a time I have been in a wardrobe and pulled out some magical pieces only to be told that these pieces can only be worn to work, or my ‘going out’ top or my ‘stay at home’ top or my ‘whatever’ top.

Being a New Year, it’s a perfect time to view your own wardrobe with new eyes.

Just because you wore that top down at the river does not mean you can’t wear it with a skirt and heels to the office. There is definitely the practical element to consider also. It’s fair to say that I don’t wear my favourite dress when I’m gardening. Mainly because I’m a messy gardener and it will be ruined in fives seconds flat.

I do have items to wear for those practical elements but its important not to put yourself and your clothing too much in a box with Sergeant Major rules.

Hybrid clothing needs to be a thing which evolves to hybrid wardrobe. Very ‘2023’ I would say.

Kerri.

I have a range of workshops and consultations to help you put your best foot forward with your wardrobe in 2023.

COLOUR CONSULTATION

You will discover if you are warm or cool toned, and we will go through your seasonal palette to work out the colours that will suit you best - $180.00pp

WARDROBE CONSULTATION

I will help you go through your wardrobe with you, to make outfits from the clothes you already have, sharing my knowledge with tips and tricks to create outfits that suit your body type and style - $200.00pp

WORKSHOP

We will work out your personal style, and give you information on how to create a wardrobe that truly reflects the best version of you - $150.00pp

Contact me to find out more!

KERRI BOOTH STYLIST

Community Trust Oxford

Social Services

Thank you to everyone who made the Christmas Wonderland such a success.

We had a committee that supported the Wonderland and many volunteers that came forward to help create this event that so many enjoyed in the lead up to Christmas.

Special thanks to Kevin Mehrtens from Mehrtens Ag, Anton from Oxford GAS and Dale from Aktins Electrical for their huge help with the Wonderland.

Thank you to everyone who has made donations to the Trust in the form of vouchers, money, meat and Christmas Gifts.

We would like to mention a person who donates a huge amount of gifts regularlyyour support of families in the community is so appreciated.

Thank you also to The Networkers Oxford and Moonies Movers who also donated Christmas presents.

Thank you to Linda McCarthy who has been running meat raffles at The West Oxford Hotel on Friday nights to raise money for the Trust. There are so many people who contribute to the work we do, and it makes a big difference to people's lives.

In touch with Matt Doocey

MP FOR WAIMAKARIRI

As local MP my role is to advocate on behalf of residents across my electorate, so when I was approached by a number of people in Oxford concerned at the prospect of a landfill being established I met with a group of them to better understand the issues.

Since news broke of the application by Woodstock Quarries Ltd to expand its existing quarry footprint and establish a landfill at the site, the group has worked hard to inform the rest of the community about the applications. One of the concerns was around the timeframe for submitting on the applications, which was deemed too short for many, particularly the elderly without internet access, to lodge a submission. In response to these concerns, I wrote to Environment Canterbury to request an extension to the submission deadline. This request was granted, with an extra two weeks provided for submissions.

Oxford and the surrounding area prides itself on the natural environment, with popular walking tracks and Department of Conservation land right next to the proposed landfill site. I share the concerns of the community for the environment if the proposal were to go ahead. There are valid concerns about the adverse effects an operating landfill could pose to the town and surrounding areas, but also the wider implications of major water quality issues in the event of an incident.

To this end, I have lodged a submission opposing the quarry expansion and landfill.

In my submission I outline some of the specific concerns raised with me by the community.

I agree the operation would pose significant risk to native flora, including neighbouring native beech forests, and fauna, including reintroduced tui. A fire in the landfill would be disastrous for the surrounding land.

• Rata Foundation

• COGS

• Lottery Foundation

• Waimakariri District Council

The impacts of potential leaching of contaminated materials into the many aquifers below the site could be catastrophic for water quality, not only in the immediate vicinity, but with ramifications for drinking water supplies as far away as Christchurch.

The materials intended for the landfill are also concerning, with medical waste, man-made chemicals, asbestos and other toxic items listed in the consent application. Kate Valley in Hurunui is a purpose-built facility designed to take such materials, and with capacity to continue doing so until 2040, I see no rational argument for a private landfill being built at Oxford.

At the request of the community group I have offered to facilitate a meeting with the applicant, however unfortunately the applicant has declined to meet at this time. The offer still stands if he changes his mind. Well done to the Oxford community for presenting a united front and making themselves heard on this proposal.

Oxford Community Trust

Responsive to the physical, social, emotional,and financial needs of individuals, families and groups of people within the community of Oxford and Districts.

Matt Doocey MP for Waimakariri

Thank you to our fab 4 funders

The Stray Cats of Oxford

and what locals are doing about it.

by Amy Riach

It’s no secret that the stray cat population of Oxford seems to be growing, and exponentially at that. In fact, the number of stray cats around town rivals the number of pets, and as kitten season begins, local rescue organization Cat Care is, “like any rescue, just flat out!” One of many foster carers, and a dedicated committee member at Cat Care, Rachel Foster has two cats of her own, but Fox and Amur are not stopping her from opening up her home to rescue kittens. Living in her lounge until they find a forever family, Jamie, Jimmy, and Judy are the 'J' litter, number 10 in an alphabetised list of kitten rescues. The three kittens were rescued together, alongside their mother; and soon the J litter kittens, plus mum, will all find their very own forever home. For this young stray family, the cycle of stray cats has been broken.

However Rachel reveals that such welcome success is not always possible, and says that sadly, fatalities are becoming more and more common. As the stray population grows, disease is spreading, and highly contagious infections are easily passed on to the domestic population. Cat Care has always been very conscious of the large stray cat population in Oxford, and is lending every helping hand at their disposal. However, over the last season there has been a notable and disproportionate increase in severe disease within the local population, namely an increase of the Panleukopenia and Feline Leukemia Virus, both transferable and fatal conditions.

These diseases are devastating for cats, strays and pets alike, but they are also very preventable, and Rachel says, “it would be so great to get our community on board, both in terms of the importance of desexing and vaccinating their own cats but more importantly in addressing the stray cat population”.

She tells me that many people still believe that cats can simply look after themselves, and when it comes to stray cats, most people are prepared to leave out food, but don't or can't take on the responsibility of neutering or vaccinating, saying “with kitten season again in full swing, it would be great if we could break the cycle and prevent so much sickness and suffering”.

Rachel adds that “when it comes to cats, it takes a community”, and there are many ways that our Oxford community can help to reduce the stray population, and protect our pets.

It is very common, from about August through to September, for pet cats to go missing; and though there are always exceptions, often those 'Missing Pet' flyers are due to stray Tom cats who are marking territory and hunting for a mate, driving away pets.

Rachel tells me that Cat Care and other rescues like it are essential, for protecting pets as well as taking care of strays, and says “we want to reduce the stray population, and that is then a benefit to the domestic population”.

With the proper vaccinations and care, Panleukopenia and the Feline Leukemia Virus, as well as other preventable diseases which afflict cats and kittens, can be stopped before they even start. And although cats are remarkably capable, Rachel points out that “they’re still domestic pets, and they deserve everything that comes with that”.

Cat Care is urging locals to microchip, vaccinate, and neuter their pets, but they are also calling for a new attitude towards strays. In Oxford and beyond, there remains “this feeling that cats can kind of just look after themselves”, and Rachel tells me, “we’re trying to dispel that myth, that cats are just fine on their own”.

Just like dogs, cats need to be vaccinated, and when your cats are outdoors and roaming, they also need to be neutered and microchipped. Microchipping is essential, to stop an adventurous pet from becoming a stray, and to keep curiosity from killing the cat. Cat Care asks that if you do see strays, about town or on your property, that you give them a call.

Rachel says, “it’s quite possible that they’ve got an owner somewhere missing it”, and even if the cat is a stray and not a lost pet, Cat Care will foster, vaccinate, neuter, and ultimately love any new arrival until a new home can be found.

Rachel also explains that in rural Oxford barn cats are nothing new, and many families have happened upon a litter of kittens in the hay at one point or another. But if you can't take care of the cats, and aren't prepared for another pet, Rachel says, “let us know the minute you see them, don’t wait for them to stop being cute!” And the problem is certainty not confined to Oxford.

Kittens have arrived at Cat Care having been rescued many hours away, and Rachel tells me, “I've had kittens come down from Hanmer, from Culverden, we branch out”.

And what she really wants to impress on each and every community, is the understanding that “every cat is entitled to have someone responsible for them”, Rachel going on to say, “they deserve to be in a home, to have people looking after them, to be loved and petted.

And they deserve to have people who will know if something is wrong”.

Cat Care is steadily working towards reducing stray numbers and keeping local cats healthy, and they have a base of 20 foster carers and 7 committee members, who all share Rachel’s passion. The local rescue is a non-funded Registered Charity, and the fosters and committee members are unpaid volunteers who deliver all their love and care from their own homes; but as Cat Care doesn't have a shelter, they are limited to taking on the cats and kittens that their foster parents can accommodate, Rachel saying “we are always grateful for more foster parents!”

So this kitten season, if you'd like to open your home to a rescue kitten or two, everyone is welcome to get in touch and get onboard. For now, Cat Care asks Oxford to please vaccinate your cats and keep an eye out for strays, with the volunteers at Cat Care on hand and ready to help.

And if you'd like to adopt a Cat Care rescue, take a look at their Facebook page, where all the foster cats and kittens are advertised and ready for a home.

Mike Hart

Tumuaki|Principal update

Kia ora koutou katoa

Kia ora e te whānau, One of the highlights from the last term was the annual Activity Days.

Amazing learning opportunities outside the classroom (EOTC). Again I have heard many positive comments about our Activity Days. With many students in many activities across our region, it is an awesome opportunity for tuakana-teina - our young students working with our older students.

This is what uniquely makes us an area school and something we are very proud of. It also provides opportunities for our staff to work with students they haven't worked with before.

One of the activities took a group of students to the summit of Mt Oxford. This is a 15 km hike up a mountain (1360m) over five hours. At school we have been focusing on the competency of character and one of those components is GRIT - sticking at it!

And my goodness they stuck at it and conquered our mountainMount Oxford | Te Poho Rakahua.

As always we are truly grateful for the parents and families that volunteered to support the activities making them successful opportunities. I would also like to thank the work of Anthea Anderson and Tara Egerton who orchestrated these complex couple of days, as well as all of our staff involved in what continues to be a significant learning event for our school.

Ngā mihi nui, Mike Hart Tumuaki | Principal

Folios

Congratuation to our Year 11, 12, and 13 Art students for completing their folios. The folios are off being marked and we will look forward to sharing the results in the future. In the meantime here are a selection of the excellent work submitted. Thank you to the Ms Davis for sharing

Homestays required for

Oxford Area School International Students

As New Zealand's borders open up to International students, we are looking for suitable host families in the Oxford township or on the school bus route.

We are currently seeking homestays with horses for next year and beyond.

· We require caring, kind and inclusive host families who can provide a safe, warm home.

Horse stays provide students with an interest in horses to ride, work with and generally be around horses/ponies.

· Options to host students short term (1 week to a month) or long term (one term to a year or more)

· Students must have their own room and a place to study

· There is a generous weekly payment (reflecting the additional equine aspect)

· Hosts should be active and willing, on occasion, to take students out for local sight-seeing or other activities

· We do our best to match the students’ hobbies, interests and riding ability to the host family and horse

· Police vetting is mandatory for anyone in the home over 18 and other conditions may apply

If you are interested or have any questions please contact: International Homestay Coordinator international@oxford.school.nz

Give Taekwondo a go!

by Beka Hunt

If you entered 2023 vowing to focus on fitness, the Oxford Alpine Taekwondo club has a solution for your resolution. Beginning the 18th of January, the club is launching a 6 week introductory training course for adults only. This will take place on the Monday and Wednesday of each week (starting on a Wednesday) in the Oxford GP hall. This adults only class is a new concept, as the sessions throughout the year have included a large mix of ages- often seeing those as young as 5 working alongside 40 year olds. Club president, Andy Dockerill, explained that this new venture is to focus on the individual talents of the older athletes. “Sometimes it can be hard to get one on one time when you’re dealing with kids. You can have a class of mixed ages, and have to watch the adults hang on for dear life when we do all the exercise.” With this in mind, the first adults only night will be focused around learning the strengths of all its participants. Once it is clear what level everyone is on, the class will begin with some basic fitness whilst the instructor (Club president Andy) plans out a more detailed program. He hopes to engage everyone, as exercise is a true passion that Taekwondo has nurtured.

“I just love it- it’s a constant challenge. There’s always someone bigger and taller than you, and Taekwondo just brings out the confidence to push through.”

Additionally, the sport brings together like-minded people. “Taekwondo has the most wonderful community. Take for example this year's Nationals- you have so much respect for the person you are sparring. People would be sitting around sharing a drink after their fight.” The new class is an opportunity to step into the world of martial arts, with constant support all around.

Taekwondo can be broken into two distinct styles; ITF, which focuses on Tradition and WT, which is the Olympic version of the sport. WT includes more sparring, with the aim of achieving the most points. The Oxford club has instructors from both branches, and enjoys teaching self defence alongside the Poomsae (patterns) and sparring (fighting). Poomsae is a slower, structured side of Taekwondo. It involves learning a set pattern with a mixture of kicks, punches and blocks.

On the flipside, sparring is fast paced, high energy and is mainly kicks. Then there is the self defence, which is applicable in all walks of life.

The sport can truly be taught to beginners and masters alike, as there is a plethora of skills to learn.

If you are interested, you can simply turn up on the 18th at 6pm. The course does include a small fee of $30, to pay for the hall hire. Otherwise, all equipment is provided. If you have any questions, you can contact the club via the ‘Oxford Alpine Taekwondo’ Facebook page- or contact Andy at info@oxfordtaekwondo.club.

Christmas events

POLICE update

with Mitch Alatalo

As I sit here writing this, it is pouring rain and I’m scratching my head wondering where summer has gone, and hoping it’s just around the corner.

I hope you have all had a great Christmas and safely negotiated your way through the new year’s festivities.

If you’re planning on going away for a break, make sure you let your neighbours know to keep an eye on your place. We don’t want any of those nice new shiny toys disappearing before you have had a chance to play with them.

Please keep an eye out on mail boxes. There has been an increase in mail theft over the past few months leading up to Christmas, but I am sure it will continue.

If you see anything suspicious, let us know. Also try and obtain a registration numbeand a description if possible. It all helps.

I am getting some complaints from contractors and normal road users alike, about vehicles passing where there is no room to pass. At the same time, if you are driving a slow vehicle and you can see that the traffic is backing up, pull over and let them pass. That’s enough from me, have a great year and see you out there. Thanks again for reading.

Be safe. Feel safe.

FIRE RESCUE update

with Trevor Ealam

November was another fairly busy month for the Brigade with nine calls. One call was to assist the Cust Brigade at a shed fire that had also got into a hedge.

In our area we attended three vegetation fires. With two of them no action was required by the Brigade and the other was a rubbish fire that caught the surrounding grass on fire which got close to trees.

Two were to medical assists, one to a rubbish drum fire with the owner in attendance,(seen by a passer by) one to a gas cylinder on fire and one to a private fire alarm activation which was a false alarm.

During the month the brigade also welcomed Brad Ellis to the team. Brad had previously served with the Lincoln and Rolleston Volunteer Fire Brigades.

This month's message is; Looking around some areas the vegetation is starting to get high around some buildings; a recipe for disaster and some of the access is impossible for emergency service vehicles. Please be aware we find it very frustrating if we are not able to gain access to save your property.

As a gauge, if a freight truck can not get in a fire engine certainly will not.

What ever you do stay safe and have a great start to the new year.

FOR ALL EMERGENCIES DIAL 111

YOGA

FITNESS TAI CHI Weekly Classes in Oxford

January Special $10 each Class

From Wednesday 18th January Yoga at 9:30am and Yoga Fitness at 10:45am Yoga Fitness Fridays at 11am NEW Classes from 27th January Yoga Friday 7:30am Tai Chi Friday 9:45am Gabrielle 027 225 1646 info@taomotion.co.nz www.taomotion.co.nz

St Peter Chanel Catholic Parish

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church 98 Main Street, Oxford ENQUIRIES: Waimakariri Parish Ph: 03 313 6285 REGULAR SUNDAY MASS 8.30AM EVENING MASS:Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 7pm ALL WELCOME