The Eastbourne Herald September 2021 by The Eastbourne Herald

SEPTEMBER MAHURU 2021

Lack of drivers parks the Tons of fun 85 commuter service A severe shortage of drivers is behind the end of the 85 express bus service between Eastbourne and Wellington, for now at least. This month, the Eastbourne Community Board meeting included Metlink explaining the reason for cancelling the popular commuter service, which bypasses Petone during peak hours. Metlink general manager Scott Gallacher apologised for the inconvenience in recent months arising from cancellations because of drivers being off work sick. He said the company had decided it was preferable to run a reduced service, rather than have buses not turn up, leaving people waiting, and wondering when the next bus would arrive. Greater Wellington Regional Council's Daran Ponter agreed, saying Metlink was short 60 drivers, and other routes had also been affected. 'All routes are subjected to this treatment, not just Eastbourne," he said. Earlier, during public comment, four residents spoke about the longer commute time that would result in taking the remaining 81 service through Petone, adding that it was often standing room only. When asked by ECB member Bruce Spedding "Would you be happy with your kids standing at 80 or 90 kms on the motorway?," Mr Ponter replied, "Yes, I would." Mr Gallacher said they would look at deploying the double decker buses more frequently. However, Mr Ponter pointed out that buses often started their journey in Eastbourne but then went on to other routes, which could include narrow, windy streets where double decker buses were unsuitable.

Keep the cottage - EHEA Submissions closed this week on the draft Williams Park Management Plan, which included three options for the park (see The Eastbourne Herald, August 2021). The East Harbour Environmental Association told its members the main issue in the plan is the removal of the Caretaker’s Cottage/House and its replacement with vehicle parking. EHEA believes the cottage should be retained as a Community House. where residents’ associations could hold meetings. EHEA says the Caretaker's Cottage is a heritage building, being the oldest building in Days Bay. It was built 1894, the same time as the wharf. “We need to protect our built heritage as well as our natural heritage, and in this instance we can do the two at the same time. So we are going in to bat to keep the Cottage and not have it destroyed as

Hazel, Molly and Teddy Innes of York Bay enjoy the Eastbourne Toy Library’s latest acquisition, a Pikler Triangle, funded by a grant from the Eastbourne-Bays Community Trust. Developed by Hungarian pediatrician Dr Emmi Pikler, and made by a NZ family-owned business Wooden Wonders, the structure helps babies and toddlers gain confidence, stability and strength at their own pace.

HCC has decided.” The Association is recommending a one-way entry system to the park with, but only for short duration parking (not for all-day parking for ferry users), and for a pedestrian only path alongside the duckpond, with clearly defined pedestrian access to the main bush track, which the Council calls the Korimako Track – so that walkers do not have to struggle through parked cars or dodge those entering/existing car parks. "However much parking is provided, it will never be enough for those sunny summer days when many many people want to come to the beach etc at Days Bay – so that parking provision should only be for the average day, not for those peak-use days."

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

Don J. McIlroy

An Eastbourne lawyer First Floor, 40 Rimu St Tel: 562 6393 Email: arcadia@xtra.co.nz

TIMETABLE Depart Days Bay WEEKDAYS: 6.45am 7.15am 7.45am 8.15am 8.45am 9.15am 10.45am (S) 12.45pm (S) 3.15pm (S) 4.15pm 4.55pm 5.25pm 5.55pm 6.25pm 6.55pm 7.25pm

Depart Queen’s Wharf 6.15am 6.45am 7.15am 7.45am 8.15am 8.45am 10.00am (S) 12 noon (S) 2.05pm (S) 3.50pm 4.30pm 5.00pm 5.30pm 6.00pm 6.30pm 7.00pm

SAT, SUN & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 10.40am (S) 12.45pm (S) 3.00pm (S) 4.25pm (S) 5.30pm

10am (S) 12 noon (S) 2.10pm (S) 3.45pm (S) 5.05pm

(S) = Sailing calls at Somes Island, subject to passengers. FERRY FARES One way: adult $12, child $6. Family Days Bay $66 (Return). 10 trip: adult $91, student $68, child $46. Monthly pass: adult $273, child $138. Matiu Somes Island: adult $25, child $13, family $68 (Return). Sailings may be cancelled at short notice due to weather. To check today’s sailings, call our daily status line on (04) 494 3339.

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

Deer damage alarms MIRO

Next ECB meeting: 7.15pm Tuesday 2 November, 2021, East Harbour Women’s Club, 145 Muritai Rd. Shared Path Open Day The Community Open Day has been rescheduled for 10am to 1pm on Saturday 2 October at the St Ronan’s Church Hall, 234 Muritai Road. The Eastern Bays Shared Path project team invites residents to hear from technical specialists who will take you through the project plan. This is an opportunity to ask questions about the project, speak to the people involved in the construction phase, and provide feedback. Community Engagement Fund The Eastbourne Community Engagement Fund is open for applications by Eastbourne clubs and groups. $2,366 is available over two rounds of the fund - one each in May and September each year. Applications for this round close on 14 October, and decisions will be made by 5 November. You can find more information at huttcity.govt.nz/Services/Funding Eastbourne Bus Services The Community Board remains concerned about the reduced bus service to Eastbourne and we are collecting data and feedback about the new timetable. Contact the ECB if you have feedback or Metlink directly. Eastbourne Community Board (ECB) Residents are welcome to contact board members to sort minor issues or ask for a council officer report for the next ECB meeting. You can also contact us on the Eastbourne Community Board Facebook page. Virginia Horrocks (Chair) virginia.horrocks@huttcity.govt.nz Ph 021 230 8210 Bruce Spedding (Deputy Chair) bruce.spedding@huttcity.govt.nz Ph 021 029 74741 Murray Gibbons murray.gibbons@huttcity.govt.nz Ph 04 562 8567 Tui Lewis (Ward Councillor) tui.lewis@huttcity.govt.nz Ph 021 271 6249 Frank Vickers frank.vickers@huttcity.govt.nz Ph 027 406 1419 Belinda Moss belinda.moss@huttcity.govt.nz Ph 029 494 1615

Deer are threatening to wipe out a native species, and efforts to control them are not working. That's what Sally Bain from MIRO told the Eastbourne Community Board this month, adding she had been "banging on" about the damage the deer cause Rata for seven years, with little action to address the issue. Ms Bain said tree roots had been exposed through heat and rain and deer were damaging these, as well as eating new shoots. Anyone who doubted what the deer had

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done should stand on Days Bay beach and look at the hills, where there were numerous dead trees, thanks to the activities of the deer, she said. "I want people to look at it and see it, and I want the community to know how to recognise it. It's like pig damage; it's all fine and dandy saying report the pig damage, but if people don't understand what that means and what [pigs] do, they won't report it. We could educate the public." Rather than relying on the professional hunters or those balloted, who have to hunt away from public areas, Ms Bain suggested people living on the edge of East Harbour Regional Park, who often see the deer, could report sightings, which would then allow for targeted control. EHRP ranger Jo Greenman said she was currently trying to research the state of the fence on the edge of the park, which only goes as far as the Butterfly Creek picnic area. She said night shooting by professional hunters and reported public sightings increase the number of deer culled. The cull set for Spring this year is being replaced with DNA scat scanning, which will give more data on deer numbers and locations so future planning can be targeted. The public ballot, which includes three days of hunting in the park for those chosen, is not very effective because of the limited area recreational hunters are allowed to be in. "We can't have non-professional hunters around the urban margins and that's where many of the deer live, they live close to urban gardens for easy eating, and on steeper slopedsin the urban forest."

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

Prof Paul is keeping us posted by Ann Packer Once or twice a day, my inbox pings as one of Paul Atkinson’s emails arrives. Nine hundred papers, in 400 emails, in the year and a half since March 2020, delivering the latest Covid news. Often, I can’t begin to decipher the scientific information summarised in the newsletter, sent to around 70 recipients including experts like Michael Baker, Juliet Gerrard and David Skegg, plus a good handful of lay people. The postings must stand up to scrutiny from both groups. While I recognize words like mutations, antivirals and vaccines, and the occasional headline or graph will draw me in, I’m just grateful someone is performing this public service of independently posting what Professor Atkinson (pictured right) calls “new SARS-Cov-2 science” daily, it's gleaned from sources as diverse as The Scientist, New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, Washington Post, the World Health Organisation, the US NIH’s PubMed, as well as the science preprint servers bioRxiv, medRxiv. “These new papers have not yet been peer-reviewed but almost all will end up in published papers,” he says. An Honorary Research Associate in the Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research at Victoria University of Wellington, Eastbourneresident Professor Atkinson was a full professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York for 23 years in his earlier working life, before being headhunted to run Crown Research Institute AgResearch, at Wallaceville, in 1990. In 2004 he moved to Victoria as chair of Chemical Genetics, cosupported by AgResearch and VUW, and since 2015 has been a professor in the department of biological sciences. He still has several graduate students under his supervision. Though not retired by any definition, the fact the university “retired his pay” in 2015 allows Professor Atkinson to maintain an unpaid independence. While he still carries out research into Alzheimers, diabetes and cancer, in association with colleague and co-supervisor Andrew Munkacsi, his Covid research “is not sponsored by anybody – and it’s not my primary research programme either”. He deliberately stays out of the media with his opinions but gets enough feedback from scientists on his list, which is in effect “a de

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Mahina Bay News facto peer review panel”, to know his postings service is valued. Although about as neutral as they come – “I do not advocate for any position. I do not wish to be a go-to source for public enquiries, neither to argue about my opinions, as they are my opinions backed by factual documents and that is all” – Professor Atkinson did express an opinion earlier this year when there was much public discussion about vaccine supplies. He says the MoH website showed we nearly ran out a couple of times and the Government was “late on the job” starting vaccinations. Professor Atkinson says the SARS-COV-2 virus and COVID-19 are going to be with the world indefinitely, as will vaccines and vaccine upgrades. “The problem we now face is the next variant of the virus. It’s steadily getting worse in its transmission and severity. As a result, New Zealand will also have to deal with outbreaks from time to time for the foreseeable future, and will have to maintain its readiness with timely new vaccinations and antiviral medicines as they become available.”

1. 90 percent of Mahina Bay’s residents support the reduction of speed in the bay, both on Marine Drive and the connecting roads. We await Hutt City Council’s clear and positive response to our request to have these speed limits reduced. This initiative was gained from the local survey of residents and is supported by the majority of members of the Eastbourne Community Board and the local community Police. Approaches are being made to other resident groupings in the other local bays to seek their support. We hope it won’t be long before we see this judicious action happen. 2. Mahina Bay is to get a defibrillator soon. It is to be installed at a yet to be determined location in the Bay for use in an emergency. Individuals are being found to be trained in its use. This has been funded by the Eastbourne First Response Trust. More on this when the decision for placement is made. 3. The stream planting took place on the 25th of July, finally, and with some success by a small group of residents and assistance from a team member from Hutt City Council.

mahinabay@gmail.com Please note: this column is a repeat of last month’s, which was only printed digitally

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

EB film producer moves to new role by Ann Packer Angela Littlejohn knows better than most how much film makers rely on the New Zealand Film Commission to get their work made. As producer of Juniper, which finally screens on October 28 after lockdown delays, the Eastbourne resident of 20 years is grateful for the support from the funding body that allowed the movie starring international actress Charlotte Rampling to be made in New Zealand, in January and February 2020. After 30 years in the industry,, working up to 80 hours a week, Ms Littlejohn is enjoying life on the other side of the funding divide in her new role as senior investment executive at the Film Commission. While she’s loved working as a freelance producer, “I didn’t want to keep turning up on set in gumboots at five in the morning,” she says. So despite never having worked in a government department before, she is enjoying being “an enabler” and helping others find a way to make films. Ms Littlejohn shared the Juniper production role with Sandy Lane Productions’ Desray Armstrong, who developed Kiwi director Matthew J Saville’s script for his first feature film. Ms Armstrong also accompanied the auteur to Paris to successfully pitch the story to Ms Rampling, who has lived there for 40 years. The semi-autobiographical film tells of the developing relationship between a teen

Tāne Rolfe, left, Days Bay actor, featured in Juniper alongside MGeorge Ferrier and Charlotte Rampling.

recently expelled from boarding school, and the prickly grandmother he’s never met, sent here to recuperate from a fall. Or as Ms Littlejohn prefers it: “A love story with a lot of gin.” It’s not only unusual for such an A-list actor to work with a first-time director, but the star, now 75, is also known to hate flying. However, there was one thing in their favour – Rampling was once married to a Kiwi for four years. Bryan Southcombe, father of her son Barnaby, died in 2007.

Working with the international star on the production of Juniper was an enormous privilege, Ms Littlejohn says. “She was wonderful to work with – although very private, she was very generous, especially supporting first-time director Matthew J Saville and young actor George Ferrier, who played the role of her grandson Sam. “ Continues on Page 6

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The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

Film has Eastbourne connections From Page 5 “We were really nervous about sending her (Rampling) the film earlier this year when we finished but she watched it three times in a row and really loved it.” Ms Littlejohn, who says she found Eastbourne almost by chance and comes home to regenerate, has made four films in the last two years, this includes a local Wellington film, Millie Lies Low, about an architectural graduate who misses her flight to New York and hides out in the capital whilst trying to find a way to buy another airline ticket. It is due to premiere at the NZ International Film Festival in November, with a general release planned for March/April 2022.

As a producer she is in charge of the whole production – from casting and recruiting heads of department and crew, organizing all the elements needed for shooting and post production, contracts, film equipment and transport, to securing international sales agents and theatrical distribution in New Zealand and Australia, as well as all on-set publicity and stills, including getting every still photograph signed off by the star. There’s another Eastbourne connection in Juniper too: local actor Tāne Rolfe, a graduate of Toi Whakaari, plays the part of a friend of Sam (George Ferrier), the teen expelled from boarding school. Juniper is set for a nationwide release October 28, 2021.

BRIEFS Although the electric ferry project was again delayed by the latest Covid lockdown, East by West managing director Jeremy Ward is hopeful the new vessel will be in operation by the end of October. He says the engineering team has arrived from Auckland and work has resumed on testing the ferry, which was originally due to be launched mid-2020. Wellington Zoo is open for applications for its Conservation Fund grants. These grants will provide funding for projects or programmes with clear community conservation value for native wildlife and wild places. Grants will be awarded up to a maximum of $5,000, with most grants awarded between $1,500 $3,000. The deadline for applications is 5pm Friday 8 October 2021. For more information go to https://wellingtonzoo.com/conservation/ local-grants/ The Local Alcohol Plan, raised recently because of a rumoured plan by a potential business to set up a convenience store including takeaway liquor in Days Bay, will be reviewed before 2024, The Eastbourne Community Board says. The board is hoping to limit the number of off-licenced businesses in the

Eastern Bays to the current two. Hutt City Council Director of Economy and Development Kara Puketapu-Dentice has a bold plan for Days Bay Wharf, and is looking at making the new shelter for ferry passengers an eye-catching work of art. “I want kids and families taking photos in front of this cool little thing that we create on our wharf,” he told the Eastbourne Community Board meeting. The council’s open day for the Eastern Bays Shared Path is now being held on Oct 2. For more information, see advertisement, Page 7.

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News from Point Howard

Welcome to spring! The community garden would love your fruit and vegetable scraps for the compost bin. The system is: 1. Collect in the LEFT bin, 2. Put a handful of compost from the MIDDLE bin over the top of your additions. Layers are best or mix in. Please cut up larger scraps e.g. cabbage leaves. 3. The RIGHT hand bin is for compost that is (nearly) ready and maturing. So long as COVID-19 alert levels allow the: • Hutt Valley Motor Sports Port Road Street Sprints will be held on Sunday, 24 October, from 7:00am to 6:00pm. • Port Road Drags will be held on Sunday, 28 November from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Noise complaints, reports of dangerous driving or any other illegal activities outside our road closure hours and cordon (during the event) should be reported to the HCC Noise control or/and the Police. The Eastern Shared Path Open Day has been rescheduled to Saturday, 02 October between 10am and 1pm at St Ronan’s Church, Eastbourne. The Open Day will give you the opportunity to share your views on any aspect of the project plan, and, most importantly, for Council and the project team to take back your views to help shape the future direction of this regional asset. The Point Howard Assn sends out monthly newsletters to residents of Point Howard and Sorrento Bay. If you don’t receive these newsletters and would like to, then please email pthowardassn@gmail.com to subscribe.

pthowardassn@gmail.com

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

Award-winning butcher farewells the Village One of Eastbourne’s constants, Barry the Butcher, is moving on. From the end of this month, Eastbourne Village Meats will have new owners. Barry and his wife and business partner, Christine, will step away from the business which they have owned for 20 years. Barry and Bryan Yuile purchased the shop from Rex Jonasen in 2001. Barry carried on serving the Eastbourne community after Bryan left in 2007. With a determination to continue being the traditional village butcher but with a gourmet twist, Barry built a smoke house and has made a huge variety of smallgoods over the years. Over the 20 years Eastbourne Village Meats has won many awards such as twice being a Top Shop winner in the food and beverage category, and at least eight national awards for sausages a great achievement for a small village butchery. Eastbourne people are used to travelling and many want a taste from overseas – such as sausages from their butcher in Italy, or haggis for Burns nights, or andouille for a creole celebration. "We have enjoyed creating these and making them available for everyone to try," says Barry. Although they don't reside here, the couple are very much part of the community, getting involved in sponsorship of local events and helping out where they can. One customer came into the shop and his stitches from a recent operation suddenly burst. So Barry sat him down, cleaned him up and reapplied his bandages. The customer quipped “I was

butchered by the doctor and doctored by the butcher!” The shop has won fame throughout NZ, including the article about its mutton birds which Barry brought in especially for the fire chief, Ross Carroll; their bacon chops which Lois Daish featured in a recipe; and the ‘holy sainted bacon chop’ Frank Hayden wrote about, saying “every time I see a pig I salute!”. Barry and Christine say they are grateful for the community's support, as witnessed when butchers were unable to trade in Level 4 Lockdown last year. Following a call out for people to come and get the stock that wouldn't keep, they were overwhelmed with the demand, which Christine says was “almost like Christmas”, and were left with little wastage. They were pleased to be able to deliver during Level 4 this year, although there was no profit in the exercise, “it was more a ser vice to the c o m m u n i t y ”, Barry says. Despite supplying restaurants and cafes throughout We l l i n g t o n , Barry is happy to slice a couple of pieces of ham for s ome one’s sandwich, but will also deliver Dejian, Barry and Liam. large orders for weddings and other events, including an unusual request for mini haggis’ for hors d'oeuvres at a wedding. Barry says his staff Liam, Dejian, and Sam (who left in June) have been the powerhouse behind him. They were all his apprentices and their loyalty has been second to none. Barry says nowadays apprentices do unit standards and can qualify “without ever having boned out beef ”. He makes sure his apprentices are taught the traditional skills on the job, and says even if they never use some of the techniques again, at least they understand the animals they are working on. Barry himself began his working life at age 14 at the Gear Meat Company, and after Gear Meat closed down, he moved to

Christine and Barry with one of their awards.

Woolworths to complete his apprenticeship. Those were the days when customers would bang on the door at 5am to buy meat for their breakfasts and lunches, he says. Barry is selling the shop to take some time out and give his body a rest. He has been a butcher for almost 49 years and it’s time for a break. He does this with a heavy heart as he'll greatly miss the stories and jokes and general chats with the wonderful people in Eastbourne. “Thank you so very much for being such loyal customers, it’s very humbling to have been part of this great community.”- Barry and Christine have been wonderful supporters of The EB Herald, advertising with us through thick and thin for many years. We wish them all the best for the future. - Ed.

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The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

LETTERS Remembering Ian Return to church? The first paragraph in Jacob West’s article in The Eastbourne Herald of 27/4/17 states-“The St Alban’s community remains confident it is on track to reach a solution to the issues leading to the vacating of its earthquake-prone church and hall”.(August 21 2016 was the closing date). In May 2017 ,a newsletter from St Mary of the Angels Church was headed”Restored,Rebl essed,Reopened”. When will parishioners of our wonderful Frederick de Jersey Clere designed church at the Ian Freegard. Photo: Simon Hoyle, Southlight Studio. foot of Ngaio St be allowed to return? My heartfelt thanks to all our Eastbourne friends who loved and supported my husband, Ian Freegard, during his long illness and for all your kindness to me after he died peacefully at Enliven Home in Woburn in July. Ian moved to Eastbourne in 1986 and will be remembered by many in the community for his skills as a master painter and decorator and for his cheerful, outgoing personality. A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia around eight years ago was a bitter blow but he bore his illness with great courage and good humour. Your messages and help were a great comfort to me and the rest of Ian’s family. To contribute to the further study of neurological diseases, the bequest of Ian’s brain was made to the Auckland Centre for Brain Research. Please accept our grateful thanks. Hilary Tipping, Julia and Alice Leonard and Janis Freegard

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Faith in the Community

It’s all in your mind…

The composure and focus of teenager Emma Raducanu, who just won the Women’s Singles at the US Open, brought to mind a question once put to Martina Navratilova, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles. She made an important point, particularly apt when our stress, anxiety and mental health issues are high. Martina was asked, How do you maintain your focus, physique and sharp game even at the age of 43? Her reply, The ball doesn’t know how old I am…! That’s a perspective Emma seems to have grasped. As psychologist, Dr Melodie de Jager says, Every game in life is actually played on a six-inch ground – the space between your two ears. The key factor to performing well in life is the ability to control the quality and quantity of your ‘internal dialogue’. Live in peace, not in pieces… The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. Rather than the end of conflict, shalom means ‘wholeness of life’, or ‘well-being’. St Francis saw all of creation as family relationships; singing of ‘brother sun’ and ‘sister moon’; even speaking of ‘sister death’. So, it was quite natural recently for a Franciscan to refer to the virus as ‘brother covid’, not minimising the danger but seeing it as a reality of the created order with which we must learn to live. It’s a matter of perception…

St Ronan’s: Services: Sundays 9.30am. Taizé, first Sundays 6.30pm. Ask if you’d like our weekly emailed e-Service or monthly printed magazine the Record. E:office@stronans.org.nz W:www. stronans.org.nz Community Fridge: Closed under Alert Level 2. Reopens under Alert Level 1. The vulnerable come daily and sometimes find it bare. Spare a thought… St Alban’s: Two services Wellesley School Sun: 8:30am (traditional) and 10am (contemporary), with Kids Club (primary) and Hot Chocolate Club (intermediate). Communion Thur 10am, various 2/10/14 9:35 AMvenues. E:office@stalbanschurch.nz W:www. 2/10/14 9:35 AM stalbanschurch.nz San Antonio: Services: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm, San Antonio. Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm, Sacred Heart, Petone. E:holyspiritparish41@ page gmail.com W:www.holyspirit.nz

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The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

Two-day journey fundraising for those in need by Ann Packer Stew Sexton (right) has climbed the Great Wall of China, been elephant trekking in Thailand and tackled the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Closer to home, he’s run the Hawkes Bay marathon and completed the Alps to Ocean event in the South Island. Locals will recognise him as the guy with the bandanna in the wheelchair – the scarf stops sweat getting in his eyes, he says. He had a “brilliant” lockdown, making the most of emptier roads. Training hard when Covid-19 hit last year, Mr Sexton was thwarted in his first bid to participate in an international ultra-marathon in Bali, in support of a charity for Balinese children. The event has been postponed again this year, so now he’s set himself a new challenge – an event inspired by ultra-endurance athlete David Goggins. The event, a 4x4x48, will see him run four miles (6.4 km) every four hours over two days with limited sleep, again in support of the Balinese charity. He plans to start at 6 pm on October 28 and finish just after 7 pm on October 30. Born with spina bifida, Mr Sexton has never allowed his disability to get in the way of an adventure. “If someone tells me I can’t do something, I feel challenged to do it,” he says. That there were five kids at his Masterton

school all making the transition from calipers and crutches to wheelchairs – “so much faster to get around” – may have helped in his early years. His first job was as a chef, fulfilling a dream he’d had from age 12; after training at Wellington Polytechnic, he’d use bar stools to get up to the bench, then graduated to a standup wheelchair. Cooking remains one of his greatest loves. Building a fully accessible home at Windy Point, with the help of brothers Andrew Sexton, an architect, and builder brother Richard, has given him full independence – he tells a story about how in his 40s he was finally able to drive home with his supermarket shopping, park, go upstairs in the lift and unload groceries into the fridge – all without help. As a teen growing up, Mr Sexton was very active. But in midlife, unfit and overweight, it was a friend’s death, following a fall from a wheelchair during the Hawkes Bay marathon, that spurred him on to bike the Alps to Ocean cycle trail with a bunch of friends. While doing that he was offered a place in the Hawkes Bay marathon, which he first ran in 2019. Then he applied to join the Bali Hope Ultra, which starts off running up the side of a volcano. Participants must raise AU$5000. Mr Sexton’s consultancy business puts ability before disability – hence the name AbilityDis. His latest job, with Capital and

Coast DHB, has seen him working to ensure that vaccination centres are accessible for all people and this includes a drive-through event for more than 7000 people in one week at the Stadium, and smaller events for people with special needs, such as low sensory environments (no music, low light, vaccinators with no perfume) and the Deaf community. To donate to Mr Sexton’s latest challenge, where $25 feeds a Balinese family for a month, go to fundraise.balichildrenfoundation.org/ fundraisers/stewabilitydisbiz

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

WHAT'S ON Mondays • Retired Persons’ Assn meet 4th Mon, 10am St Ronan's Church hall for morning tea followed by a speaker - $2 entry.Transport can be arranged for these meetings on request, ph 562 7365 or 562 8387. m-5.30pm. Contact Judy Bishop 562 8985 • “Baby Bounce & Rhyme” at the library 10.00am. • Singalong 1st Mon, 2pm at St Ronan’s. • D B P l a y c e n t r e M o n d a y, Tu e s d a y, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 11:45, phone Jeanne 021979177. • Pt Howard Playcentre. Mon 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391. • The Historical Society’s Eastbourne History Room above the library is open 2-4 pm every Monday. • Eastbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade training every Monday 7-9pm. Ph 562 7001 for more info. • Toy Library 8-9pm. St Ronans Hall www. eastbournemibase.com.au Elizabeth 021 08224664. • Eastbourne Karate Dojo junior and senior classes (children 8 year & older, plus parents) on Monday and senior classes on Thursday. Contact lindsaysensei@live.com, cell 021 844 873. • Keas: Monday 5.15pm – 6.15pm. Kea Leader: Ed 021 738 699 • Venturers: 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Susan 0275 35 4962 Tuesdays • Pt Howard Playcentre Tues 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391. • Days Bay Playcentre Puddle Jumpers Tues 10:30 to 12 noon: Messy and Sensory play for children 2 years and under. Casual sessions, $3 donation. • Muritai Tennis Club 9.30–noon. Merryn 562 0236. • Eastbourne Homebirth Group 1st Tuesday of the month. Phone Kate 562-7096. • East Harbour Women’s Club Morning Tea & Chat Group 10am. Contact Glendyr 562 7181. • Indoor Bowls Club 1.30pm, at the croquet club, Oroua Street. Rosemary 562 7365 • Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome. • Poetry group, every second Tuesday meet to read and enjoy poems old and new. Phone 562 8387. • Toy Library 9.30-10.30am. St Ronans Hall. Facebook: Eastbourne Toy Library Elizabeth 021 08224664www.eastbournemibase.com. au • 9.30am Nia Dance Fitness Class (low impact - teens to 70+) Music Movement Magic Muritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www.niainwellington.com

• Pump Dance preschool and junior hip hop. 4pm onwards St Ronans Hall. 0274373508 info@pumpdance.com Wednesdays Cubs: 5.30pm - 7.00pm, Erica 021 190 3900 • Retired Persons’ Assn meet 2nd Wed at Tartines for morning tea and socialising 11am. Occasional outings arranged. Ph 5627365 or 562 8387. • Library preschool story time 10.00 am. • Pt Howard Playcentre Wed 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391. • Scottish Country Dance. Merryn 562 0236. • Bridge Club 7-10pm. Shona 562 7073. • DB Playcentre Mon, Wed, Fri 9-12. Siobhan siobhan_whelan@yahoo.ie • “Steady as You Go” Age Concern sponsored Falls Prevention and Exercise Programme. Held 12 noon each Wednesday at Eastbourne Community Hall. Classes are held for 1 hour and costs only $2. Improve your strength and balance to reduce falls and injuries. Falls are preventable. Please join us! • Intermediate/teen hip hop and contemporary. 5pm onwards St Ronans Hall. 0274373508 info@pumpdance.com • EHock - Fun Stick and Ball game Girls and Boys 7- 13.Eastbourne Community Hall. Wednesdays 6.00 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. Derek Wilshere 0274303596 Thursdays • Menzshed 9 till 12 , Williams Park, Barrie barrielittlefair@gmail.com 0204 1234511. Women welcome. • St Ronan’s Mainly Music, 9.30am-10.30am, contact Cathy 027 213 9342. • SPACE at Days Bay Playcentre. Michelle 971 8598. • East Harbour Women’s Club - Bolivia 12.45pm, Contact Glendyr ph: 562 7181. Guest Speaker (3rd week of month)7pm, drinks and nibbles provide, Contact Diane ph: 562 7555 •Lions meet 2nd Thursday of the month at the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club, Tuatoru St 6.30 pm. New members and visitors are welcome. Graham 562 8819. • Eastbourne Karate Dojo junior and senior classes (children 8 year & older, plus parents) on Monday and senior classes on Thursday. Contact lindsaysensei@live.com, cell 021 844 873. • Intermediate Contemporary Dance Thursdays 6:30pm - 7:30pm St Ronan's Hall info@pumpdance.com,0274373508 • Scouts: Thursday 6.00pm - 8.00pm, Damon 022 620 7116 Fridays • Pop in and Play playgroup at St Ronan's Church Hall, 9am-11.30am during school terms. All preschoolers (0-4 years) welcome. Cath 027 213 9342.

• Pt Howard Playcentre Fri 9.15 -11.45am. Lucy 021 335 391. • AA Plunket Rooms 7.30pm. Mark 566 6444/ Pauline 562 7833 • DB Playcentre Mon, Wed, Fri 9-12. Siobhan siobhan_whelan@yahoo.ie • Discovery Time for 4years+ at San Antonio School, 78 Oroua Street, 9.30-10.30am. Office 562 7398. • Eastbourne Bowling Club. Newly formed Ladies casual bowling group meets Fridays at 2.00pm. Experience is not required. Bowls & instruction available. Casual dress code. Contact Cheri - 021 0699 274. Saturdays • Justice of the Peace at the Eastbourne Community Library, first Saturday of each month 12pm-1pm. • Lions’ rubbish bin last Saturday of each month. • Croquet from 10am Muritai Croquet Club. Lyn 562 8722 or Val 562 8181. Sundays • AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Karen 021 440 705.

CLASSIFIEDS SONNY'S YOGA - EASTBOURNE CLASSES - Enjoy a relaxing yoga class near the ocean. Every Wednesday 6.45pm at Muritai Yacht Club. Beginners welcome. First Wednesday of each month will be a gentle YIN yoga class. For more info visit www.sonnysyoga.nz ECOGARDENER-restoration,restyling,maintenance. All sizes. All styles. txt 027 6939 323 Dan Reed lawn mowing, lawn and garden care. Contact 027 337 1360. WATERBLASTING Services – For all exterior cleaning and maintenance – call Mike on 027 587 5871. Lawn mowing and gardening services. Contact Supreme mowing. Phone Grant 0212481771.

EASTBOURNE SPORTS & SERVICES CLUB (INCORPORATED)

AGM Revised date: 2pm Sunday 10th October, 2021 at the ESSC clubrooms 48 Tuatoru Street, EB

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

PARKSIDE Back in 2013 the Mackenzie track received some TLC but now, eight years and many downpours later, the lower sections are showing strain from wear and tear. Before Christmas this section will get an upgrad in preparation for the renewal of the steps at the road entrance. The track will be closed for a period whilst this work is completed. Unfortunately this will be disruptive but the end result should be a big improvement. We do not currently have dates for the step replacement but I will let you know as soon as we do. Deer, although beautiful animals, need a large amount of plant matter to survive. They disproportionately browse on desirable species such as kamahi, mahoe, broadleaf and Coprosma species, and sustained browsing by deer and goats can ultimately change forest composition through the removal of these species. They have already wiped out native species such as Kirks Tree Daisy and Raukawa. There are negative knock-on effects. Clearing out forest undergrowth opens it up to the elements, which in turn causes loss of soil nutrients and undermines water retention. Loss of these species also reduces fruits that support Jordan Munn and Andre Witehira undertaking Faecal DNA Sampling in Northland native birds and insects that would otherwise inhabit a leafy forest floor, leading to a decline in both plant and animal biodiversity. Due to autumn) with a little help from a recreational be sent for DNA analysis. I am hoping this will be followed by a shorter deer cull if funding historic high numbers of deer there are already hunting ballot (late summer/the roar). We need to better understand the spread permits. Once we have the baseline data this very few preferred broadleaf species throughout much of the forest. Even low numbers of deer and population size of deer in the park. We did should give us a much better picture of deer in can inhibit the growth and recovery of those consider helicopter thermal imaging but after the park, how many individuals there are and consultation with deer control professionals their home ranges. We can then re-establish a that remain. new set of targets to keep deer to low densities A strategy to maintain low numbers of deer Greater Wellington Regional Council and throughout the park and use the information in the park to support a healthier forest over Hutt City Council are currently planning to to inform our ongoing culling methodology. undertake Faecal DNA sampling. This involves recent years has led to the current approach of - Jo Greenman, EHRP Ranger a grid survey of the park for deer scat that will two professional hunting blocks (spring and

Kidztalk

WELCOME TO DAYS BAY PLAYCENTRE

Spring koanga at Days Bay Playcentre! Before lockdown we busily built and planted our new raised garden. Lots of fun was had with drills and bolts, then shovels and shifting dirt, then planting. Thanks to Countdown for their grant through their Growing for Good initiative which aims to encourage our next generation of budding environmentalists, gardeners and conservationists. PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

Above left: Every, Björn and Charlie building the garden. Above right: Pia enjoying the spring blooms.

PETONE News from our local playcentres

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

Happy in her own company – an Okiwi life story Nola Brown’s love of Days Bay and Eastbourne began when she was five. But it would take another half century for her to call the community her home. “When I was five, my family would come over on the Cobar for picnics at Days Bay, followed by a visit to relatives in Moana Rd, and afternoon tea at the Days Bay Pavilion. “We would also take the Cobar from Miramar Wharf to Days Bay for our annual school picnics. As we boarded the boat, we would be given an apple and a bag of boiled lollies. There were always a lot of races – the three-legged and sack races among them – which I was never any good at.” Later in life, Nola and her husband Bill would visit their daughter Sue, then a teacher at Muritai School, in Huia Road. As they returned to their home in Karori, they would look back at Eastbourne shining in the late afternoon sun and long to live there. It wasn’t until Bill neared retirement that they finally found a house on Muritai Rd that suited them, and they could afford. The couple’s first home was in Wainuiomata. In the 1950s, it was often cheaper to buy land and build, than to buy a ready-built house. With some savings and a State Advances loan, they managed to buy a third of an acre and to build a small house. Bill would catch the free workers’ bus to the Ford Motor Company in Gracefield. During their six years in Wainuiomata, three children were born, all under four at one stage. “There wasn’t a lot to do in Wainuiomata in those days!” Nola said, with a twinkle in her eye. “The women all seemed to get pregnant at the same time.” Life – and particularly doing the laundry - was tough for mothers in those days. “I didn’t get a washing machine until I had three children and, even then, it was second-hand.” When Bill joined the ANZ bank as an economist, the family moved to Melbourne. “I had only been on an aeroplane once, so it was quite an undertaking,” Nola said. “Leaving our little house was a wrench. It had been our first home and where we had had our babies.” Two years later, the family moved to

Private functions Outside catering Office morning & afternoon teas

Inquiries: 021 028 85347 Tartineseastbourne@gmail.com

drives to her monthly eye appointments – she suffers from macular degeneration - and to the hearing clinic, as needed. Nola enjoys her own company and can still get to the village with her walker. She is a firm believer that you need to mix with people of different ages to keep a healthy perspective on life. By Anne Manchester, photo: Pippa de Court

London for three years, then back to New Zealand for a while, followed by a return to Melbourne. This could have become their permanent home, but Nola, an only child, preferred the New Zealand lifestyle and wanted the family to be closer to grandparents. Nola has lived in her present home 30 years now – the longest she has lived anywhere. Bill died 20 years ago, and it’s more than three years since Sue also died. Nola’s son Andrew and his wife Karen live in Waerenga Road, Days Bay, and keep a good eye on her. Her son Michael lives in Christchurch, daughter Jill in the Coromandel. “Andrew and Karen put on a wonderful 90th birthday party for me in July,” she said. “Karen is a wonderful cook. When I was a child, my favourite birthday tea was corned beef, potatoes and tinned peas, followed by tinned peaches and jelly. It was certainly well worth waiting for this party!” Playing word games with friends on her iPad, scrolling through Facebook, keeping in contact with the unofficial Eastbourne widows’ club and exploring family history are favourite pastimes. Nola also enjoys social outings with the Okiwi Trust and will call on the Trust for

The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

SPORTS Chris

Bishop Getting things done for Eastbourne and the Bays

Farewell glasses were raised to mark the closing of Van Helden Gallery last week by (from left) Debby Smith, Claire Takacs, owner Claire Schmidt and Suzanne Eastwood. The gallery was established in the 1960s by artists Leo van Helden and his wife Julia. Photo: Simon Hoyle, Southlight Studios.

W: chrisbishop.co.nz F: ChrisBishopMP

Authorised by Chris Bishop MP, 66 Bloomfield Tce, Lower Hutt.

Lions Book Sale is back Eastbourne Scout Hall (level 1 or 2 dependent) Sat 23 Oct 9am - 3pm, Sun 24 Oct 9am - 12 noon Plenty of books to choose from, cash only, BYO bag (please observe any tracing, mask and distancing requests on the day)

Lower Hutt – your river city IT’S BIG, IT’S BOLD, IT’S BEAUTIFUL, AND IT’S COMING! KNOW WHAT IT’S ABOUT?

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Indicative image: Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River looking north

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The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

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The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

SERVICE EXPERTS Bookkeeping & Admin Services Need a hand? I can help! ¦Office accounts - on & off-site ¦Ad-hoc work ¦Set-up systems incl. xero ¦Account reconciliation & collection Krissy Crooks

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The Eastbourne Herald, 24 September 2021

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