Monday August 18, 2014
MEET THE LOCALS:
Authors come to town
Life of service for Ken By Sam Duff
Children and their families will have a tale of a time on Sunday, August 24, when author Joy Cowley starts the day off as one of 15 authors, illustrators, and storytellers who will read, perform and dress up with children at the Storylines Free Family Day. Held in the Michael Fowler Centre, children will meet John McCrystal's Shackleton Bear, see marine and wildflie in the Antartic Zone, and create their own snow globe. They can also visit the Monster Fun Zone, Bugs ‘N Bees Zone and get their faces painted. Philippa Werry will be in a War Zone with her books Anzac Day and Best Mates, helping kids to sample hard tack and make poppies and medals. Soldiers will be on site for kids to meet. Kilbirnie's Children's Bookshop will guide reading adventures as children discover New Zealand books, and enter writing and drawing competitions. Visit www.storylines.org.nz for more information.
A Queen’s Service Medal, Senior New Zealander of the Year and an Indian Gold Award are just a few of the many accolades given to a Maupuia local for his years of volunteer work. Ken Patel has spent years involved in the Wellington Indian community as well as taking part in many other organisations – from district health boards to community patrols. “We must try to help each other,” he says. “That is the most important thing in the whole world.” “I met a saint in India and his story touched my heart. He said ‘tell the people be friendly, be peaceful and help each other’.” Travelling to New Zealand in 1961, Ken says the country he moved to was a beautiful place. “You hardly heard of murder in the country at that time and nobody had to lock their doors,” he says. “It was very nice.” “This country has given me so much so I wanted to pay back the community.” For a day job, Ken worked in the accounts department at New Zealand Post until being made redundant in 1997.
Ken proudly keeps photos and clippings of the many dignitaries he has met during his career – from Prime Ministers and Governor Generals to the Dalai Lama and everyday men and women. Ken says his family have always been happy to share him with the community. “You can’t clap with one hand,” he says. “You always clap with two hands.” The Justice of the Peace says he enjoys making time to be a marriage celebrant when he can. “One day a girl rang me, she was crying and I asked why,” Ken says. “She said she rang many marriage celebrants and they all charged too much. “I did it for free and she was very happy.” Ken says despite having osteo arthritis and the beginnings of diabetes, his health is going well. He says everybody should take the time to do some volunteer work. “They can go and pass some time,” Ken says. “When you work with those people you learn respect, manners and discipline instead of arguing with each other.”
PROUD LOCAL: Maupuia resident Ken Patel has spent years volunteering in the community. PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Duff
City light burns bright Wellington’s well-known Lux Light Festival begins this week’s, celebrating light, sustainability, technology, and culture. In its fourth year, the festival will be running from August 22 till the 31, around the Wellington Waterfront. It starts at 6pm each evening.
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HALF SISTERS: Wellington City Mayor Celia Wade-Brown enjoys meeting her half-sister Brigette Ruppe for the first time.
Sisters meet for first time By Sam Duff Being the mayor of a capital city is helpful when on the other side of the world your half-sister is trying to find you. The last name Wade-Brown was all Austrian Brigette Ruppe had when she started a Google search for her long lost half-sister. Wellington City Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, who was born in London, recently made a personally funded trip to Europe to meet her half-sister for the first time. Her father was a member of the British military when he was sta-
tioned in Graz, Southern Austria. “He met a young woman and they had a romance and we never knew anything about that until I got an email two years ago,” Mayor Wade-Brown says. “It’s not just meeting one person, it opens the door to a whole family I didn’t know about.” Mayor Wade-Brown says the pair has much in common and will keep in touch via internet messaging service Skype. “It’s lovely,” she says. “We got on really well.” “We both enjoy our food and drink.”
Over a glass of Brigette’s vintage red wine, the sisters filled each other in on their respective lives. Brigette used to be a teacher, makes organic red wine and volunteers for a group called Children of the Occupation, Mayor Wade-Brown says. “She took me around the city and the country side,” Mayor Wade-Brown says. She says Brigette is nervous about flying but one day would like the opportunity to show her half-sister around the city that she runs.
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