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The Weekend Sun
WinterPick Me Ups
Warning to discard fire ash safely As the nights grow colder, Western Bay of Plenty fire brigades are hoping residents dispose of fire ashes properly to prevent unnecessary fires. Tauranga fire fighters have attended two call-outs for fires caused by discarded ashes since the beginning of May. The first involved a woman sleeping while a fire ignited, while the other involved a fire breaking out four days after someone had discarded ashes. Tauranga senior station officer Mark Keller says the woman woke to the sound of fire alarms and was “very lucky”. “The call was to a smoke-logged house. The occupant had taken ashes from the fire and put them in a cardboard box and left them sitting by the fire. “It was a very poor choice. “Lucky for the occupant she had put fire alarms in the house.” Mark says the house was well ventilated and the woman outside by the time fire fighters arrived.
“She was able to put the fire out by dumping the contents of the box in a basin full of water. “There was still a strong smell of smoke in the house she had all of the doors and windows open. “We still had to deal with hot newspapers around the fire. “Ashes remain hot and they remain hot for a couple of days.” In the second incident, fire fighters responded to a vegetation fire which ignited four days after the ashes were thrown out. Mark says the fire service receive many similar calls each winter and is advising people to be cautious when disposing of ashes from a fire. “When emptying the ashes from a fireplace, put them in a metal bucket and put them out on the lawn, or empty them onto the garden. “Don’t leave them on a wooden deck or lean them against a house. “And don’t put them into a flammable container, like rubbish bags or cardboard boxes, and certainly do not leave them sitting inside the house next to the fireplace.”
Katikati farewell for Merrimans Katikati is putting on a special event to farewell Ken and Nancy Merriman, one of its most influential couples, on June 17 and the whole community is invited.
The Katikati Community Board is hosting the farewell at Katikati War Memorial Hall from 1pm Sunday and chairman Bruce Duske says the event, which includes afternoon tea and entertainment, will be a chance to thank the Merrimans for all they have done over many decades. Nancy received a Queen’s Service Medal in the recent Queen’s Birthday honours in recognition of her services to Katikati and the wider Western Bay community, but now the couple have sold the Katikati HeritKen and Nancy Merriman proudly age Museum they founded to a read the letter informing Nancy of community trust her Queen’s Service Medal. and have left town to live at Bethlehem. Nancy served nine years as deputy chair of the Tauranga Museum Board and is a foundation trustee of the Athenree Homestead Trust. In 1974 she became the first woman elected to the then Tauranga County Council. She was elected to BOP Regional Council in 1989. Nancy helped establish the Katikati Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Katikati Toastmistress Club, Tauranga Women’s Refuge and the first Tauranga Family Planning Clinic. Since 2005, Nancy has chaired the Katikati Community Health Trust, which she helped establish in 1992. Nancy was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1997. By Elaine Fisher
“ Is touring a g o o d w ay to explore the world ? ”
By Letitia Atkinson
Model delight The Tauranga Model Aeroplane Club is holding its annual fundraising auction at Classic Flyers Museum from 10am this Sunday, June 17. Model aeroplane and helicopter parts from propellers to complete kits will be up for grabs at bargain prices. Register to bid, browse the catalogue or drop off auction items from 8.30am when the club starts accepting entries into the sale. Club president Roger Hutson says this is the largest auction of its type in New Zealand and a great opportunity for enthusiasts and interested amateurs to get their hands on bits and bobs, planes, choppers, propellers, transmitters and more, plus find out about the club, meet some of the members and learn about the benefits of building and flying model aircraft. Money raised this year will help fund the new landing strips being laid at TECT All Terrain Park. An east-west runway of 150m and a northsouth landing strip of 200m will enable flyers to land all size model aircraft, including gas turbine powered jet models as recently flown in the Tauranga Air Show. So far the club has spent $60,000 on earthworks preparing the new site and purchasing equipment including a tractor and lawnmowers. Roger is particularly grateful to the Lion Foundation, which has given the club $18,000, and for additional funding from Model Flying New Zealand. “The new field is hugely better. We have signed a 35-year lease with Western Bay of Plenty District Council with an option to renew at the time it expires.” By Paul Kendon
Put the wheels in motion for your next holiday adventure by joining us Downtown the Mount for our Peregrine, Reserve and Gecko’s Information Evening. We will showcase Peregrine, Reserve and Gecko’s inspirational slides that portray the natural beauty and cultural interest of each country. So come along, learn why touring is a great way to explore the world and share the excitement.
When: Tuesday 26 Jun 2012; 5.15pm - 7pm Where: In store, 149 Maunganui Rd, Downtown the Mount rSVP: By 25 Jun to mtmaunganui@harveyworld.co.nz Space is limited.
Harvey World Travel Mt Maunganui, 149 Maunganui Road Phone: (07) 572 3040 Email: mtmaunganui@harveyworld.co.nz