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Wednesday November 16, 2016
readers have their say... Find out the WORD on the Street.
Q: How were you affected by Monday’s earthquake?
Campbell Barry, Wainuiomata “It was a big shock when the quake hit, thankfully I wasn’t personally affectedso I focused on getting as much information as possible out to the local community.”
Josh Briggs, Wainuiomata “It reminded me and my family of the importance of being prepared with food and water.”
Keri Brown, Wainuiomata “I was terrified for the safety of my children, and the realisation of being better prepared.”
Jasmine Acker, Wainuiomata “I was shocked as I grew up in Christchuch and I know how devastating it can be.”
Anaru Tuhono-Ryall, Wainuiomata “It was a huge shock; I was not prepared at all.”
Kristen Whiu, Wainuiomata “It was very violent and terrifying. I don’t think you can ever be really prepared.”
School holds health expo By Emma McAuliffe
Arakura School hosted their Health Expo last week to inform the community on health services and providers available in Wainuiomata. Different organisations came along to talk to children and adults about the health service providers on offer. These included Naku Enei Tamariki, Better Breathing, Kickstart Breakfast and WaiPESI, as well as Hutt City
Health Centre and Visique Capital Eyes. Board of Trustees member Katrina Barclay said they had received many “positive comments” from the community following the expo. “We got comments saying it was a nice community gathering. People didn’t know there were so many health providers. And the comments we got from stalls were positive too,” she said.
Tony Binks, Katrina Barclay, Rachel Norman and Carol McMillan with the school’s stand.
Local girl takes top award By Emma McAuliffe
A local girl has proved herself to be top of the class after becoming dux of her year. Sacred Heart College pupil and Wainuiomata resident Alyssa Tomkies received the top academic honour for year 13 students at her school’s prize giving on Monday, October 31.
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Alyssa with her awards. PHOTO: Supplied.
Sacred Heart College’s proxime accessit to dux went to fellow local girl Celina Olivera. Alyssa said she thought it was “quite exciting” to win the dux award. “I didn’t think it would be me. My family was really proud, I think they were more excited than me,” she said. Alyssa said she received diligence in Religious Studies, Honours in Maths with Statistics, English, Biology and Classics. She also received trophies for being Top of Languages for her efforts in German and Top of English. Alyssa said she was surprised by the win as she did not think she had always done well in school. “Level one was really good but I didn’t do as well in level two,” she said. Alyssa said she was yet to celebrate the win. “We haven’t celebrated yet. I went out for dinner with my family and I got sent some flowers from my mum. I also got three identical cards from three different areas.” With year 13 behind her Alyssa said she was now focused on what lay ahead, but was unsure of her future because she had been awarded scholarships for three universities. “When I do go to uni I’d like to do teaching or psychology. It would be nice to carry on German too,” she said.