MP awaits final decision on List or Electorate role
by Ann Packer
Chris Bishop is waiting for the final vote count on November 3 to confirm his return as Hutt South MP. At present, the results show he is ahead of incumbent Ginny Andersen by 1,094 votes; this is unlikely to change once Special Votes are tallied up.
For now, Chris Bishop is simply enjoying being at home in Days Bay, walking dog Ladyhawke on the beach with wife Jenna Raeburn and toddler Jeremy, 15 months.
A Moana Road resident since May of this year, the current National spokesperson for housing and infrastructure is ranked third in Christopher Luxon’s lineup. And with Nicola Willis confirmed as Finance Minister, there’s every chance his dreams of being Leader of the House and becoming a Minister by the age of 40 will both come true. The Leader of the House looks after the government’s legislative programme.
An honours graduate in law with a BA in history and politics, he first set foot in parliament in 2000, as a member of the Youth Parliament under ACT MP Muriel Newman. During university holidays he clerked at Russell McVeagh and Crown Law, and temped at the Ministry of Education, writing letters for then-minister Trevor Mallard – which were signed off by Chris Hipkins, in what he calls “a nice symmetry”.
Chris Bishop “learnt about politics” working as a ministerial advisor for Gerry Brownlee and Steven Joyce, among others. He also explored the darker side, as a tobacco lobbyist after working for Philip Morris as Corporate Affairs Manager – actively
opposing the National Party’s plans to increase excise and introduce plain packaging – but had to step back when he became a National candidate.
Not a bad record for a lad who started off at 49th on the list when entering Parliament just under a decade ago.
“I’ve been really lucky,” he admits. Currently awaiting confirmation of his second term as MP for Hutt South, Mr Bishop has been the Shadow Leader of the House twice since 2020, losing that position briefly when he fell out with Judith Collins and again in January this year, after a cabinet reshuffle.
became the first National MP to win the previously Labour stronghold of Hutt South, which incorporates the former Pencarrow electorate (abolished in 1996) and extends across the valley just north of Kelson.
9 November | 4 – 8pm
He has had a seesaw ride, with two terms on the party list – the first after entering Parliament in 2014, when he came in second behind Trevor Mallard, and the second in 2020, when he lost to Ginny Andersen. He has also served one term as an electorate MP.
It was in 2017, when Mr Mallard stood down to become Speaker, that Mr Bishop
His Facebook page has a telling photo of the “very hard” night in 2020, when Labour was returned to power with an overwhelming majority. But he says it was not only a very hard loss but “very motivational too”.
So what’s the difference between being a List
Continues Page 2
Chris Bishop with wife Jenna Raeburn and son Jeremy.
MP waiting to hear
From Page 1
MP and an electorate MP? For a Wellingtonbased MP, not much, it seems. The man who promised: “I’ll slog my guts out for the Hutt for the next three years” has the best of all possible worlds, he thinks, with none of the travelling faced by more far-flung members.
“We’ve become very grounded here, out and about in the community at weekends. I can do my job as a minister and still live here.”
“Here” is the Moana Road home the Bishop family had designed by Days Bay architect John
Mills, after a potential purchase in Ferry Road fell through.
Having grown up in the Hutt with happy memories of summers on Days Bay beach, the MP wanted that for his own son.
Mr Bishop has yet to take Jeremy to his Friday morning Pop in and Play sessions at St Ronan’s, but hopes to become more involved in the community – which may include more manu from the wharf: who could forget that celebratory bomb the day the ribbon was cut?
And he plans to once more catch the ferry across the harbour to work, now the campaign is over and he’s starting work at a more reasonable hour.
As for what he can do for us in Eastbourne, he’s a fan of the shared path, Tupua Horo Nuku, which he sees as an important part of the capital’s resilience against sea level rise and he’s promised to take a closer look at the blown-out project when the new government is in office.
Asked about support for local businesses he says National’s promised reduction in red tape, and a 90-day trial period for new employees, should help small businesses.
HCC says no to longer swim season
Eastbourne's Summer Pool will continue to close earlier than other Hutt outdoor pools, despite a call from regular users for an extension.
Peter Attwell, representing the early morning swimming group Icebergs asked HCC to extend the opening season for the local pool by a week, in line with other Hutt City summer pools. The coming season runs from November 25-March 3.
HCC Head of Aquatics Iain Brown said the council was not in a position to provide the budget increase this would incur. "Part of the reason Eastbourne Pool has a slightly shorter session than the other two outdoor pools is that once school and universities return attendance at the pool drops off considerably, meaning we are funding a service for a very small number of people. We also find it hard to get enough staff to run the pool towards the end of the season due to most of them being university students."
What's Happening Hair!?
Anne Mackris-Berdebes
October 'round hair!
Why not get a bit curly this October as the Disco Curls hair trend seems to be catching the world by storm! With big celebs coming out and rocking a voluptuous curl which can be loose or tight, but most importantly GLAM! this should be your next go-to goingout look
There's definitely a 'more is more' trend this 2023 as we come out of the 'at-home' season and into the 'out and about', enjoy the city again season Let's put some of those subtle, more low-key trends of winter behind us and really come out of our shells this October, because why not? Life is too short to keep the same hair style!
Part of my role as your stylist is to be constantly up-skilling myself with new ways of hair care, how to colour and cut, making sure I use the best products for your hair health, but most importantly, keeping up with the trends of the moment! What I've loved seeing lately is the influx of social media educators empowering women around me to get creative and try new looks with their current resources I've seen guidance to encourage you to use the straighteners typically used to create a sleek look, now helping you try out a new curl, or using your rollers to style some face framing bangs I attribute these Insta and YouTube beauty tutorials to the new wave of big hair! To me, the saying 'When you know, you know' fits in so well here, not unlike riding a bike, when you know how to curl your hair, it will come like second nature to you, which has helped the new-old Disco Curls trend make its comeback even stronger!
This should be the look that empowers women with already naturally textured hair to now rock the locks, and those of you with straighter hair to make a statement using some volumising shampoo and conditioner before some heat protectant and long hold hair spray!
Join ranger Jo Greenman to discuss options for preserving the damaged beech trees at Butterfly Creek at 5.30pm on Tuesday 31 October at East Harbour Women’s Club. Read more at gw.govt.nz
Should cats be neutered and microchipped?
Have your say about proposed new chipping and snipping rules for domestic cats by 6 November at huttcity/cats
‘Eastbournes’ Awards
We are presenting four residents with awards for service at the next Community Board meeting. There is information about the previous 44 awards at eastbourne.nz
Next ECB meeting: 7.15pm Tuesday 31 October, East Harbour Women’s Club, 145 Muritai Rd
Getting wiggy with it
Eastbourne got right behind this month's Wig Wednesday, raising $425 in support of Child Cancer. The annual event raises money to support the foundation, which supports children undergoing cancer treatment, and their whānau. The treatment these children undergo often means they need to brave the world with no hair, and on appeal day people are encouraged to wear wigs. Above,: Richard Lai, Shona Ruane, Sandra Lai and Celeste McCabe.
Rain washes away chances of an October finish at Windy Point
The progress of Tupua Horo Nuku around Windy Point slowed down last week and left locals scratching their heads about why a portion of the shared path was dug up, just as it was nearly completion.
Hutt City Council said the concrete used in part of the shared pathway was designed to be poured in dry conditions so that the
oxide content results in a black concrete slab. "Unexpected rain" washed the oxide out of the freshly poured concrete, and the colour was gone.
The top layer was repoured to the correct specification and quality.
The layers underneath are not affected and have not been disturbed, HCC said.
"These types of repairs are covered under the contingencies for the pathway construction and will not increase the overall cost of the project."
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Faith in the Community
Time for a Change
Although the elections are not quite done and dusted, it’s clear that a significant proportion of Kiwis thought it was time for a change. And whether the result makes you happy or sad, it is now time for promises to be fulfilled and commitments honoured; time for aspirations to meet the reality of a world scene troubled on every front.
Those who follow Jesus have a guide by which to judge performance. He chose to declare his manifesto in the words of a Hebrew prophet named Isaiah, known to be particularly sensitive to the political and international events of his time. He claimed to be speaking the very word of God when he declared that if you want to follow God then “loose the bonds of injustice... let the oppressed go free... share your bread with the hungry... bring the homeless poor into your house.”
Jesus was placing himself squarely in a longstanding prophetic tradition of speaking the truth to power when he framed his calling in the further words of Isaiah – “bring good news to the poor... bind up the broken hearted... proclaim liberty to the captives.”
These have long been useful values by which to judge the outcomes of any government’s policies, so let’s see how they do...
St Ronan’s: Services Sun 9.30am - informal 1st and 3rd, traditional 2nd and 4th. Ask if you’d like our monthly printed magazine the Record. E:office@stronans.org.nz
W:www.stronans.org.nz
St Alban’s: At Wellesley College Sun 10am communion with guest vicar. Special activities for children during term time. 1st Thurs only, 10.30am communion at St Ronan’s Church with guest vicar (note the time change).
E:office@stalbanschurch.nz
W:www.stalbanschurch.nz
San Antonio: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm. Sacred Heart, Petone: Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm.
E: holyspiritparish41@gmail.com
W: www.holyspirit.nz
End
of "war to end all wars" remembered
Armistice Day, traditionally commemorated every November the 11th, marks the cease fire agreement signed between the Allies and Germany in 1918 to end World War 1.
At 11am on 11/11/1918 (being the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), the guns fell silent to end over four years of hostilities.
Many Commonwealth countries observe this as Remembrance Day and red poppies are worn, with two minutes' silence observed at 11am each November 11 to acknowledge the sacrifices made. Over 18,000 Kiwis (including scores of locals) lost their lives in that "war to end all wars".
The Eastbourne Memorial RSA will hold a 2023 Armistice observation from 10:45am on Saturday, November 11 at the Eastbourne War Memorial (at Muritai School gates). Crosses will earlier be placed at the Field of Remembrance in Rata Street. The public are welcome to attend.
The inaugural commemoration at the Field of Remembrance in Rata Street in 2018.
A fire at Rona Bay brought our local fire crew, and Police on Sunday, October 8. Photo: John Rainey-Smith.
Our Forgotten hero of WW1
by Julia Stuart
Eastbourne Borough Council clerk ‘Dith’ Evans was just 21 years old when he enlisted in the New Zealand Army in 1915. War fever was at its height, the battle at Gallipoli was raging, and his employers would have understood his motives, even as they struggled to find staff to keep the Council and its newly acquired ferry service afloat.
Off went Second Lieutenant Francis Meredith Evans overseas to Egypt in early 1916.
He returned briefly in 1917 to divorce his American wife of two years, and by all accounts returned to the European battlefield a different man.
“He soon got a name for being a ‘young thruster’ – someone who can get things done, but not without risk,” said Hawkes Bay military historian Herb Farrant. No doubt it was this attitude that saw Evans selected by his superiors in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade for an advance patrol at Le Quesnoy in November 1918.
Garden Stuff with Sandy Lang Lichens
Oct/Nov: Late spring. Birds anesting, bees abuzzing, water mains aleaking, summer El Niñoing. Level 4 water restrictions possible soon. Get a roof-water tank and get amulching - increases soil water capacity and soil root volume, decreases surface water loss.
Lichens: Pronounced ‘liken’ (USA) or to rhyme with ‘kitchen’ (UK). A lichen’s body (thallus) is a matrix of fungal threads (hyphae) (~90%) with unicellular algae and/or cyanobacteria embedded in it (~10%). Lichens are a classic example of symbiosis - a mutually beneficial relationship between quite different organisms. Fungi are not plants. Algae / cyanobacteria are not plants either.
This month sees the opening of the New Zealand Liberation Museum at Le Quesnoy in Northern France. Called Te Arawhata (the ladder), the museum commemorates New Zealand’s contribution to World War One, and the military bravery that saw the Kiwis assault the German-held walled town by ladder rather than artillery bombardment.
While this approach helped to ensure no civilian lives were lost, many New Zealand soldiers died and are buried in the cemetery in Le Quesnoy.
The liberation created a special bond between the people of Le Quesnoy and New Zealand that endures to this day, and is reflected in the newly opened museum.
And Dith Evans? He led the dawn patrol that found the way into the town.
The last surviving member of the Le Quesnoy assault, Curly Blyth of Napier, always believed that Evans was the unsung hero of that fateful morning.
“It was his patrol that slipped through the German defences, enshrouded in fog and smoke, and discovered the only place where the ramparts could be scaled,” he told Farrant.
Evans and his runner managed to pass on
the message that led to the successful assault. But they paid for it with their lives – at about 8 that morning they were shot and killed.
Dith Evans, the Borough Council clerk, was Eastbourne’s last combat death in the last New Zealand operation of World War One.
His name appears on neither our War Memorial nor that of Napier, his birthplace. But France still remembers, and honours him.
Don J. McIlroy
An Eastbourne lawyer
First Floor, 40 Rimu St Tel: 562 6393
Email: arcadia@xtra.co.nz
Roles: The algae / cyanobacteria photosynthesise (do the job of leaves) to produce sugars which they share with the fungus. The fungus protects the algae / cyanobacteria and its hyphae anchor it to the substrate and capture whatever water / minerals they can from it (do the job of roots). They also exude harsh chemicals that etch rock. Some lichens ‘fix’ atmospheric nitrogen (make nitrate fertiliser from air). There are 20,000 lichen species. They grow very slowly. Some individuals are over 8,000 years old. Lichens cover 7% of the land surface.
Appearance: Some lichens look like bird poop, others look a bit leafy and are wrongly called “mosses” (mosses are true plants - nothing to do with fungi, or algae, or cyanobacteria). Often lichens are just a coloured smear on a tree or rock. They come in a range of drab or bright colours. They change colour when wet. They are identified by colour (when dry) and by surface texture, using nice words like ‘squamulose’.
Substrate: Lichens grow on any surface, anywhere. They are pioneers, grow on freshly exposed rock, on tree bark, on roofs, on cars. Some also grow on loose substrates (soil, sand) stabilising them so plants can establish. Some lichens live on rocks undersea, others under freshwater, others on beach pebbles. Some attach to nothing at all (‘vagrant lichens’) - blow about in the wind. Lichens live about everywhere - at sea level, on high mountains, in hot dry deserts, on frozen arctic tundra. They are not killed by total desiccation, or freezing, or baking in the sun.
Uses: Some lichens can be eaten. Others are poisonous. Some are sources of traditional fabric dyes (Harris Tweed). Litmus paper (think school chemistry) is made from a lichen. slang@xtra.co.nz www.mulchpile.org
A re-creation of the attack on Le Quesnoy, by ladder, published in a 1920 book about soldiers.
26/67 2nd Lt Francis Meredith Evans, 18941918.
Lowry Bay 3 Dillon Street
Entertainers and families must view!
An elegant character home in the heart of Lowry Bay on a sunny 1028m2 section is coming to market. Beautifully maintained and presented home, generous floorplan throughout, including 4 spacious bedrooms, fantastic home office, multiple living spaces with superb indoor-outdoor flow to the established, fully fenced, sheltered gardens with swimming pool for family fun and entertaining. Contact us for further information and viewings. Team Group Realty Limited Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Sinéad Diederich M 021 025 81960 sinead.diederich@harcourts.co.nz
Christelle Van Zyl M 0210 758 291 christelle.vanzyl@harcourts.co.nz
Bay 41 Kotari Road
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.
• “Baby Bounce & Rhyme” at the library 10.00am.
• Toy Library - Two Monday Sessions at 1.302.30pm and 7.30-8.30pm.
EastbourneToyLibrary on Facebook. Kathy 0273551950
• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.
• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.
• 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.
• 9.30am Nia Dance Fitness Class (low impactteens to 70+) Music Movement Magic - Muritai Yacht Club - call Amanda 021 316692 www. niainwellington.com
• DB Playcentre Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 9:15 to 12 noon, Drop in anytime to visit a session or call James on 022 043 7841 to arrange a visit.
• “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
WHAT'S ON
and costs only $2. Improve your strength and balance to reduce falls and injuries. Falls are preventable. Please join us!
• 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, 9.15am-11.15am, during school terms. 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 Celeste 021 206 5713 •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.
• AA Plunket Rooms 7.30pm. Mark 566 6444/ Pauline 562 7833
• DB Playcentre 9.15-12 noon Puddle Jumpers casual ‘drop-in’ session.$5 per child per session. Call James on 022 043 7841
Saturdays
• Justice of the Peace at the Eastbourne Community Library, first Saturday of each month 12pm-1pm.
• Croquet from 10am Muritai Croquet Club. Lyn 562 8722 or Val 562 8181.
• Lions' Bin - cost effective rubbish and e-waste disposal. Last Saturday of the month (except December) by Bus Barns. Gavin 027 488 5602.
Sundays
• AA Plunket Rooms 10am. Karen 021 440 705.
• Mindful Mummas group for Mums and preschool children. Childminder onsite. 1011.30. Text Emily 027 552 6119 to join or go to bemoreyou.co.nz for more info.
• Community Fair Saturday 4 November, 10am-2pm, Miramar Christian School, 41 Camperdown Rd, Miramar.
BRIEFS
The next Burdan’s Gate to Pencarrow Lighthouse beach clean up is scheduled for Saturday, November 25, 9am-12pm. Bags and gloves provided. All welcome.
Eastbourne butcher Brook Lyall and his team have won the Best Pork Sausages award in the Great Sausage Competition 2023, which drew over 600 entries nationally this year. It’s a scoop for the man who took over the business from Barry Spooner just two years ago. The award, a gold fork on a printed sausage, will join prizewinning plaques from previous years,going right back to when the butchery took out a Top Shop award, which master butcher Liam recalls winning back in Barry’s day.
Record Winter planting at Parangarahu Lakes
Winter 2023 was the 17th year of revegetation at the Parangarahu Lakes Block, an area of pristine freshwater lakes and wetlands at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. MIRO has worked in cooperation with Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Greater Wellington Regional Council to plant over 30,000 plants over this time.
Plantings this year have continued to focus on Cameron Ridge between the lakes, both inside the protective fenced plots and outside using individual protectors on plants. This has been possible because of improved stock control in cooperation between GWRC and local farmers.
Tree planting started in May and continued through to October. This year a record number of plants, over 4000, made it into the ground. The MIRO Nursery supplied 2600 primary plants and 550 secondary trees. These were supplemented by 944 manuka raised by the HEM of Remutaka team, based at Catchpool. Conditions for planting were great with good weather and wet ground conditions making for easy digging. Experimental planting using weed mats and protectors has continued following positive results last year. We have now expanded this method to include secondary tree species which have been planted amongst vegetation that is naturally growing. Fingers crossed for these trees.
The planting programme at Baring Head has also received a boost with 19,000 plants in the ground. The lion's share were planted by Contractors, Kaitiaki restoration. This was made possible by the Low Carbon Acceleration Fund.
We are very grateful to those who have supported the plantings, especially Taranaki Whānui, MIRO volunteers and the HEM of Remutaka. - Gail Abel and Jo Greenman
Students put words into action
Above: Volunteers have been hard at work in the Parangarahu Lakes Block, planting more than 4,000 plants in the Block, which contains pristine lakes and wetlands.. It was a perfect day for this celebration of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori last month, which followed a packed-out performance in Eastbourne library.
A cracker of a show
One of the world’s all-time favourite ballets, The Nutcracker, is the inspiration for this year’s Pump Dance Studios production.
Very different in mood from 2022’s critically-acclaimed, environmentally themed show, The Nutcracker is “an uplifting production for the whole family to enjoy”, says Pump Dance founder and director Libby George, an Eastbourne resident who turned her teenage ability to teach hip hop dance into an established school offering jazz, hip hop and contemporary dance in its own three-studio complex in Taranaki St – plus three suburban Wellington venues including Eastbourne.
Sixty-five local dancers and coaches are among 320 all up performing in the highenergy annual showcase, their 15th in the Opera House. They have been rehearsing at St Ronan's church hall for the 3 pm matinee, and 7 pm evening show, on 4 November. Some of the voices for the soundtrack have been performed by a couple of Eastbourne parents.
Usually around eight months in preparation, Pump has been presenting their spectacular shows since 2001, when Ms George decided not to offer exams but instead focus on an annual production. Hip hop “crews” also
compete nationally, and internationally at world championships.
Pump shows sell out every year and
with just two performances those wishing to book should move quickly. https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/pump-dancetickets/artist/3063900
Market, Garage Sale, Book Sale - bargains galore are on the way
Eastbourne Lions have had to make a few changes to their normal end of year events to fit around hall renovations at Muritai School.
With previous markets rain-affected, the school hall was chosen as a wet weather alternative for the coming market, with the date pushed out to December 17 for the completion of renovations.
"We've got lots of returning and new stall
holders lined up, so it will be a great day out," Rod Park, Lions Market coordinator says
The annual Lions Garage Sale and Market has been postponed until next year and will be "bigger and better than before," says Lions Project Coordinator Gavin Redpath. Small donations are being accepted now if anyone is having a spring clean, but the call will go out closer to March.
News
There will also be the increasingly popular Book Sale in April 2024.
"Lions are always grateful for the support of the Eastbourne community as far as donations and being willing customers goes, and all funds raised are returned to worthy local, regional and national causes," says Allan Hardie, Eastbourne Lions President.
from our local early childhood centres
As the weather warms up we have been enjoying heading out on local bush walks to further explore the natural world around us. These excursions support tamariki to be curious and develop their knowledge of native plants/trees and learn more about the Tuna/Eels. Our historical Calendar is out now to purchase, thank you for all the community's support with this fundraiser, all the proceeds go to East Harbour Kindergarten.
Three local dancers dressed as presents for the Christmas party are, from left, Ruby Drager, Emma Bleier and Stella Scott.
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No 'dead bread' for our baker
by Ann Packer
Yesterday it was flour, salt, starter and water. Today, it’s fresh, handcrafted sourdough bread, in the oven at 6am and on sale to customers at 8am. It doesn’t come much fresher than this – all Eastbourne Bakery’s bread and pastries are handcrafted on the premises, using local ingredients wherever possible.
Mark Armstrong may be new to the business of running a bakery, but he started his working life baking bread commercially. It was on such an industrial scale he thought he would eventually be out of a job – everything was getting bigger and bigger, including what went into the mix. He went on to other jobs in the food industry, including working for the Seaview mill that makes the Mauri brand, from Australian wheat, stocked by Moore Wilsons.
“I know what good bread is, what good food is,” he says.
News from Point Howard
News from Point Howard
Howard Road Slip Update
The remediation of Howard Road commenced on 9 October and is expected to take 6 weeks to complete. The duration of the work is weather dependent. If you live above the slip and would like to be added to the PHA text notification service regarding changes to road closure times, then please email pthowardassn@gmail. com.
HCC are working with NZ Post regarding ongoing issues with mail and parcel delivery. There will then be a break from work from Thursday 26 October until Monday 6 November, with works resuming that day. The break is to enable the concrete used in the anchor installation process to cure and during this time, the road will be open. A huge thanks to all our volunteers who are helping out at this time!
Port Road Drags 12 November
The Port Road Drags will take place on Sunday 12 November from 7am to 6pm. 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 and/or the Police.
pthowardassn@gmail.com
Fast forward to lockdown and the Woburn father of two, with his wife Sascha’s backing, decided it was time to give bread-making a go. His kids wouldn’t eat “dead bread” (bread made with additives and preservatives) so he started making his own at home.
He bought an existing business in Rimu St, invested in some essentials like the deck oven, which has controls on the top and bottom elements, plus a steam button to produce the crust that marks his signature Eastbourne loaf – everything except the ciabatta and rye loaves, in fact – and opened for business last July. He has Sundays off for church, otherwise it’s a 24-hour fermentation, six days a week.
To give himself time to perfect his range, Mark hired Saije McLeod and Erin Armstrong for six months, out front. “I knew I had found what I wanted to do,” he says, “but I couldn’t have done it without them. My knowledge grew and I didn’t have to worry about the shop.”
Then it was time to go it alone, with assistant baker Martin out the back, and Tyler, Ekat and Lo in the shop.
Time spent working overseas, including in London, had allowed him to practise viennoiserie, that style of baking that comes between boulangerie – French breads – and patisserie, or confectionery. According to Le Cordon Bleu, an Austrian military official, August Zang, first took these, which include croissants, to Paris.
Mark’s sweet, enriched breads include, brioches (the raspberry jam one is divine), scrolls (chocolate and pistachio, ham and cheese) and his best-selling (non-sticky, uniced) cinnamon swirl morning bun. Since he inherited a fat fryer (the previous occupants did hot chips and chicken) he also makes doughnuts. There are more traditional meat pies (eight varieties) and sandwiches of course, and coffee can also be served, since the machine came along with the premises.
Everything here is handcrafted – a far cry from the automated, industrialised baking he started out doing. That’s worth celebrating.
www.eastbournebakery.co.nz
Baker Mark Armstrong.
Numbers using Okiwi service dropping
by Ann Packer
The service offered by Okiwi Trust to local seniors has been a lifeline to many – but coordinator Celeste McCabe says the numbers using it are dropping and more people could take advantage of what’s offered, including door to door escorts for medical appointments, the supermarket and occasional group trips to movies.
Eastbourne resident Enid Moore (pictured right), who has just turned 90, says she would be lost without Okiwi. She’s had total knee replacements, survived cancer and lives with macular degeneration, and says the service was valuable even before her husband Tom died, some years ago, when getting him to medical appointments was “absolutely vital”.
“It’s been a godsend for me. I want to know that any time, rain or shine, I’m going to be able to get to any appointment,” she says. And the volunteer drivers are always happy to go the extra mile:
“When I’ve had my eye injections I can’t see to put the key in the door, and they’re even happy to do that for me.”
Mrs Moore is careful to let her volunteer drivers know how long she’ll be, so they can maximize their trips out of Eastbourne, by fitting in their own supermarket shopping, for example.
While one of the best things about Okiwi is the social aspect, like trips to the movies, Mrs Moore says this is not about “caring for the elderly” – the drivers aren’t expected to do anything personal.
The retired school teacher loves the fact that some of the drivers picking her up are people she taught at Muritai as children. However, with
the cost of everything going up, she fears the suggested koha of $20 per outing may put some people off using the service.
Okiwi Volunteer Driving Service
Provides transport to appointments in the Hutt Valley and Wellington, for older residents living in Eastbourne and the Bays. Our ‘20-Minute Volunteers’ are also available for small jobs around the home.
Upcoming
LETTERS
Correct measurements, please
Re: Mixed views on 20kph. Page 3, Eastbourne Herald, 29 September 2023
We have now used metric measurements since the seventies., “kph” is a modified imperial standard where the m of mile was replaced by a k; mph to kph. Since the seventies the standard to indicate speed is km/h. The Eastbourne Herald seems to follow The Post who also have no clue about metric measures and are pushing kph. For the last 50 years the NZ Standard has been km/h.
You also use: 2.7kms. If you want to use the plural of kilometre the whole word has to be used. “2.7km or 2.7 kilometres”. The indicator for the dimension is km without a s.
For the last 50 years the NZ Standard has been the same as the international ISO Standard.
Please, do not follow The Post measurements and spelling. The Post journalist are all people without any knowledge of language and without the basic knowledge of physics.
Adrian Moonen
Eastbourne
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SPORT
Great football season comes to an end
The EFC completed another highly successful season which included some standout performances from the masters and junior teams.
Leading the charge was EFC’s top masters team, the Hammers, who competed in Capital Football’s Masters 1 grade against the best and biggest clubs in Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
The team finished a credible fourth in their grade and capped off a fine season by winning a Plate competition on penalties against Wellington Marist. Close on their heels were the
Thirsties who this year had gained promotion to Capital Football’s Masters 4 grade.
The team almost defied the odds to win promotion to Masters 3 but lost their last game of the season and eventually finished in third place, an incredible effort considering they were competing in the Masters 6 grade only two years ago.
Competing in the Masters 6 grade, the Toros had another outstanding season which included an early-season winning streak that positioned the team nicely for a promotion to Masters 5.
Another winning streak towards the end of the season wasn’t quite enough to get the team over the line but they finished a very credible fourth position on the table and have high hopes that next season will be their year.
The club’s over 45 team, the Gs, competed admirably throughout the season in what has arguably become Capital Football’s most
competitive masters grade. While finishing on the lower half of the ladder, the team hit its straps numerous times throughout the season and tasted victory against teams well above them on the table.
The season was rounded off with a friendly “mixed” game between a number of men’s masters players and the club’s latest team, the Orcas, a women's team who are targeting next season as their foray into competitive footy.
The club staged a highly entertaining endof-year prize-giving function. The next day the Junior prizegiving was held, celebrating First Kicks through to the U15s.
A big congratulations to all our winners at both prizegivings and a big shout out to all the coaches, players, management and supporters of all our teams.
