The Hurunui Magazine April 2023

The Hurunui Magazine

The only magazine dedicated to the Hurunui region

ISSUE 15 - APRIL 2023

Each month I sit down at my desk, laptop in front of me and ponder what to write as a prelude to this page being turned. Some months the words flow easily and I hope cohesively and on others… Nothing... Not a sausage! Not even a morsel of a sausage!

Thankfully on such months all I have to do is look at what is going to be contained within these pages and I am in awe of those who write so capably, so from them I take both inspiration and their lead.

By the time you have read this edition you will know more about the St Paul’s Church, Glenmark and their incredible fund raising efforts and the Jail on the Waiau Village Green - did you even know there was a jailhouse there? You’ll have spent some time with the team at the Amuri Health Centre and have taken a trip down memory lane with a beautifully written piece on an enduring penpal friendship. We have such a thriving arts community in the region that will be showcased this month, 14th-17th at the Amberley Library, and is well worth a visit, more about that inside too, plus a lot, lot more.

As I said at the start if I am lost for words it’s easy to get inspired by looking within these pages and might I suggest when you’ve read this month’s issue that you too get inspired and get out and about in our beautiful region with its variety of events, people and scenery.

You might even want to write about it!

Best wishes

All efforts are made to verify the correctness of information contained within this publication however Hurunui Media Ltd accept no liability for the correctness or accuracy of any information contained within these pages. Any views, information or opinions expressed within this publication are not necessarily the opinions or views of Hurunui Media Ltd or any of its providers.

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The Food Farm

‘Grow Your Own Food’ Workshops

As food starts to disappear from our supermarket shelves there’s something incredibly comforting about knowing you can grow your own. Even if you are just starting out, growing salad greens and herbs is a way to save money on your weekly grocery bill. As a bonus, they’ll last longer in your fridge, and you’ll know exactly what’s gone into growing them.

If you’re further on in your growing journey, you’ll already know the joy and satisfaction that growing your own food can bring and you’ll be keen to see just how much you can reduce your dependence on sources outside your community for food.

The Food Farm in Broomfield (just outside Amberley) supports people on their food-growing journey by offering a series of seasonal workshops on their Permaculture property. They’ve been offering these workshops for over five years (with a few Covid interruptions) and are a leading light nationally, talking about self and community sufficiency.

The Food Farm is a 16 acre small farm where the Gill-Cliffords raise their own ducks, sheep, laying and meat hens, cattle, pigs and milking cows. They also have bees that contribute to pollination and provide honey. They grow over 80 different varieties of fruit and vegetables including some that might be unexpected in North Canterbury such as kiwifruit, pomegranates and different varieties of table grapes. Their seasonal workshops are hands-on and focussed on the most important tasks at that time of year. Their next one happens on Saturday 6th May and is about composting.

Angela Clifford describes this as one of the most important workshops they offer. “If you can make compost successfully you can grow delicious and nutritious food anywhere. Finding good compost can be expensive and difficult, and nowadays you have to contend with microplastics and residual herbicides. But if you know how to make your own from free or cheap ingredients around you, you’ll never have to worry.”

The workshops also provide a chance to see the abundant small farm throughout the seasons. Each one is seasonal and they’re designed to fit together to address a series of yearly tasks.

In winter (Saturday 29th July) you’ll learn about pruning and planting fruit trees, planning for the season ahead, seed selection and specifics on things such as growing strawberries.

In spring the focus is on seed raising, propagating & transplanting seedlings and the ever-asked question of what to plant when here in North Canterbury.

The summer workshop is about harvesting and preserving the fruit and vegetable crops you’ve grown. There are lots of tips and tricks about when and how to harvest as well as demonstrations and recipes for passata making, fermentation, bottling, drying and other techniques.

The Food Farm family also collects lots of wild food in our region and you can follow their growing and cooking lives on their Instagram page @TheFoodFarmNZ.

You can learn more about their workshops and book tickets at www.thefoodfarm.nz

A proud born and bred Amberley local Maria knows what is great about living in this corner of the country.

Maria’s conscientious enthusiastic approach and professionalism is evident in her work ethic.

List with Maria - she supports her local community!

St Paul’s Anglican Church, Glenmark

words and images supplied by Isobel Whyte

The imposing red brick church on SH1, just north of Waipara is St Paul’s, Glenmark, an Historic Places Trust Category 2 Listed Building, funds for which were was donated by Annie Townend in 1907, in memory of her late father and late husband Dr Joseph Townend. Daughter of the owner of Glenmark Station, George Henry Moore, she gave $30,000 to build the church, a 12 room fully furnished vicarage, a glebe and an annual stipend for the vicar, groom and maids. Damaged in the September 2010 earthquake and sustaining further damage in the following earthquakes, services have continued in the Glenmark Domain pavilion while considerable fundraising continues.

Two years ago restoration was started by a local North Canterbury Company, RPC Contracting, intending to finish within a year, but like many building repairs, there have been surprises! Delays caused by Covid, inflation, obtaining supplies and finding further damage have pushed the costings from $1.8m to $2.6m, putting extra financial pressure on local community, Friends of Glenmark Church Inc and the Anglican Parish of Glenmark-Waikari.

NZ Lotteries, Kate Valley Landfill Community Trust (KVLCT), Glenmark Lions, RATA. Waipara Vintage Festival and our local community have all contributed to the fundraising that has been undertaken over the last few years. The stained glass windows have been repaired and restored to their former glory as has the Norman and Beard organ. Once the largest pipe organ in a country church in the Southern Hemisphere, it is being totally restored by the capable and experienced South Island Organ Company in Timaru. The bell tower has 8 tubular bells.

Two Friends of Glenmark committee members have cleaned and painted the old lights and they look amazing, and are now re-hung in the church. Also the speakers, cleaned by a volunteer from Leithfield, are now ready to go back up, and a ramp for disabled access to be built.

The building will be completed to the Code of Compliance safety standards in the next few months. Unfortunately we are financially constrained and are unable to complete the interior to the pre-earthquake condition. Interior finishing jobs such as the plastering and painting will be delayed until we have the funds. The current shortfall is about $300,000.

When removing fixed items and cleaning of bricks, the local Omihi and Waipara communities have been very supportive and we estimate over 40 families have helped.

On Saturday 13th May in the Omihi Community Hall we are holding another of our successful fundraising dinner and auction evenings. These are popular, fun community nights with quality items which reflect our district, donated from the local community and businesses. Guest speakers donating their time are Kendra Cocksedge, a long time Canterbury rugby representative, member of the Matatu and the World Champion Black Ferns. Russell Pitt (owner RPC Contracting) will speak on his Glenmark Church restoration experiences, which will be interesting. Tickets for the next fun auction night are available from committee members from April, or the website at $120 each. Numbers are limited. During the time that St Paul’s has been unable to be used, the congregation have been meeting at the Glenmark Pavilion on the third Sunday of the month at 10.00am. The parish and congregation are keen to be able to worship in St Paul’s again and to be able to share this unique and treasured building with our community.

www.friendsofglenmarkchurch.org.nz

At the Office with Deb Vink

Secretary of the Balcairn Public Hall Society

What does the Balcairn Public Hall Society do?

The hall committee runs 6 to 8 concerts/events per year. Some are provided by Arts on Tour NZ and others are by musicians and artists gathered from the Christchurch and North Canterbury areas. We try to provide a good variety. This year we are also hosting 3 Open Mic events where anyone can sign up and bring their best act to entertain.  The hall can also be booked for private functions.  We also have three permanent weekly tenants including North Canterbury Dance, Balcairn Bowling Club and a Sunday morning church group.

And how did the Society come into being?

The hall was built by the local farming community in 1926 and has a huge history, but, long story short, in 2010 the Balcairn Public Hall Society was formed out of a public meeting to save the hall from further decline. Funds were raised from various agencies and activities.

Over the next 7 years or so the windows were replaced, new roof, floor sanding and resurfacing, new toilet suites, new floor vinyl, new kitchen, lighting and power upgrade, heat pumps, curtains and tables and chairs bought, microwave, dishwasher and fridge freezer added. The committee has tried to keep the upgrades respectful of the hall’s heritage. We need to repaint the hall within a year or so and always welcome help from the community!

How many can the hall hold? Up to 120 people seated or 150 standing.

How do you source performers/productions?

We are linked to the Arts on Tour NZ Trust who provide their upcoming events during September each year.  The committee then discusses and chooses the events that best suit our audience.

We also support local bands and artists. Some artists who have heard about us, or have been before will contact us again or committee members may know of others.

There is no shortage of talent in this community!

What or who has been your personal favourite so far?

For a good laugh, Andrew London takes the cake.

But the most mind-blowing classical guitar group has been the String Quartet – they are coming to the hall again on 6th May this year. An event not to be missed.

Tell us about the Boy with Wings?

An Arts on Tour NZ event promising school holiday fun “Designed specifically for children aged 5 to 9, but loved by all ages!”

It is an interactive puppetry show – 18th April, 2.00 pm – bring a cushion!

How do we book tickets?

Tickets can be booked online via balcairnhall.com or from our local vendors; Sally Macs in Amberley, Sefton Garage and Stans Pharmacy in Rangiora. Usually we offer door sales on the night, but it helps our catering committee if tickets are pre-purchased. Tickets are $30 – the performers are usually absolutely outstanding.  And, we believe some people, come along mainly to enjoy the free suppers!

If you could have anybody in the world perform, who would it be?

Well that is like asking you to pick your favourite child, but I did ask three committee members and (the late) Leonard Cohen came to mind –perhaps that indicates the average age of the committee members!

TUESDAY 18 APRIL 2PM BALCAIRN BALCAIRN HALL ADULT $30; CHILD (UNDER 16) $15; FAMILY PASS (1 ADULT, UP TO 3 CHILDREN) $60 WWW.BALCAIRNHALL.COM

ARTS ON TOUR NEW ZEALAND PRESENTS

“It’s a gem of a puppet show! The set is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. The Sanders know how to construct beautiful worlds from your everyday cardboard box”

- Ines Maria Almeida, Theatreview

Designed specifically for children ages 5 to 9 years, but loved by all ages!

A Remembrance Drive

words

and images supplied by Barb Demmocks

Have you noticed that avenue of lovely oak trees along the Hawarden-Waikari Road?

And did you also notice at the base of each there is a concrete plinth? Pulling over for a closer look it would soon become evident that each of the plinths has an engraved plate on it with the name and rank of a soldier from the area who sadly never returned from the Great War. A poppy is thoughtfully attached to each name.

A bit of chatting with Mrs Manning of the Waipara County Historical Society Museum revealed those vibrant oaks were purchased using donations to the local garden club around 50 years ago and placed along the road to add to the beauty of the local surroundings. The plinths are of more recent origin.

Hawarden deer farmer Richard Todd was returning home one day along the oak tree'd avenue in the early 2010’s and out of curiosity decided to count the trees as he whizzed by. His tally came to 53, a number which got him thinking of a recent article he'd read regarding local war heroes who didn't make it home. There were 52 of them. Richard recognized the synchronicity and began brainstorming ways of putting the two together to honour the fallen, and so the project began. The 100 year anniversary of the end of WW1 was only 3 years away so with the community behind him and not a lot of time in front of him he organised the plinths, the engraving and working bees to dig the holes for those plinths. By Armistace Day, 2018, it was all completed.

And the 53rd tree? It is dedicated to those wonderful but unfortunate war horses who also never saw their home soil again.

During WWII a further 26 young men of the district lost their lives and there is another stretch of the Hawarden-Waikari Rd that needs beautification. It so happens Richard has a few more young oaks propagating at home!

Charlotte Watson Audiologist MNZAS

Alison Highman Ear Nurse RN

Vera Setz Audiologist MNZAS

Arts Showcase Hurunui

words by Mike Gilbert

Arts Showcase Hurunui is an annual event and although we have missed the last two years due to Covid we are back here for 2023! The idea behind the showcase was that crafts people throughout the Hurunui have the opportunity to display their work to the public.

Entries in the past have consisted of ceramics, jewellery, knitting, crochet, felt, tapestry, quilting and of course photography and painting. Athough that isn’t necessarily a complete list of all the exhibits on show!

There are many talented artists working either semi professionally or just as a hobby and our Showcase allows them to see what their fellow Hurunui residents are making. It also allows the public the opportunity to view and even purchase some beautiful pieces.

We have the widely acclaimed Lissa Holland, a talented Hurunui artist, as our guest artist who is exhibiting some of her beautiful paintings.

We are looking forward to once again hosting Showcase at the Amberley Public Library from April 14th until April 17th so come along and see what our accomplished Hurunui artists have been creating.

Who knows, maybe next year you might be inspired to put in an entry yourself.

Further enquiries to art.hurunui@gmail.com

14–17 April 2023

Showcasing the Arts by artists of the Hurunui

Hurunui Memorial Library

AMBERLEY

Friday 9am–5pm

Saturday 9am–4pm

Sunday 10am–4pm

Monday 9am–3pm

Register by 24 March

Entry forms available at the library

Guest artist

Lissa Holland of Culverden

Art & objects for sale

People’s choice prizes

warren thompson waitaha ki hurunui

Hurunui Arts Council

Rugby in 2023 kicks off on April 1 and it’s no joke that it will be bigger and better than before. North Canterbury hosted the Luisettis Combined Competition final last year as two teams, Glenmark-Cheviot and Saracens, rose to the top with Glenmark-Cheviot taking the final. In 2023, both of these teams will be looking to rise to the top of this competition again.

This year’s competition will see two pools of ten from Mid-Canterbury, Ellesmere and North Canterbury. With North Canterbury having eight teams split across the two pools, we will be playing three games of the North Canterbury competition during the Combined Competition.

Teams across the area look good for another season of highly competitive rugby.

Kaiapoi have had a few changes in the playing department, including the loss of their representative half back, Codey Grimes, to Nelson. It’ll be tough for the champions, however, one player doesn’t make a team and Kaiapoi have had a number of promising new players show up at pre-season training.

Hurunui continue to increase their number of teenage players and it’s starting to pay with the ability of the players now being reflected at the senior level. Players who stood last year were Digby Heard, Flynn Crean and Johnno Schwass. There is a chance that Ben Funnell and Hamish Dalzell might make an appearance this year with their aim to finish higher in the Luisettis Combined Competition and take out the North Canterbury Competition.

Ashley continue to develop their young senior side and the coaching staff will be looking to see the squad start to get those tougher wins under their belt. With the change back to power scrummaging at this level the Ashley forward pack, lead by the the Duckworth brothers, will look to assert some scrum dominance. This may provide opportunities out wide for Matt Couch, Anthony Tavendale and former Tasman Mako under age player Tamatoa Nicholas.

Glenmark-Cheviot will be hoping to perform well in both the Luisettis Combined Competition and the North Canterbury Competition. After qualifying last in the Luisettis Combined Competition quarter-finals they fought hard to beat a previously dominant Saracens side. They’ve picked up some new players and have some experienced players returning from injury and premature retirement. Ben Anderson returns from a season off due to injury, and they have strengthened their forward pack with former Crusaders prop Harrison Allen and North Canterbury and Country Hooker Richard Taylor. Add to that Crusader Development players Nick Hyde and Andrew Hull with Canterbury B halfback Jordy Gray.

Saracens will be hoping to build on a season that offered so much last year. As the season progressed there were opportunities that were just missed and the coaching and management teams will be looking to take their chances in 2023. Returning for one more orbit around the sun will be veterans, Josh Maynard, Geoff Cherry and Brett Hancox. These grizzled forwards should be supplying great ball to the likes of Kerran Jenkins and Harry Murray along with the youth of Lachie Grant, Oscar Burney and new recruit Caleb Pomare Edwards

Rugby Season Preview

supplied by Craig Calder

Ohoka, “Brotherhood” should be the rallying cry for this team in 2023 as they now have 3 sets of brothers. The Wedlakes brothers will now be joined by the Allin Brothers as Ricky has joined Scott and both MaCallum brothers will be going out to boost the forces out at Mandeville. The back line should connect well with greater depth than 2022. The management has been working on technical detail to improve their outcomes in 2023.

Oxford is playing its cards very close to its chest so far this season. Players returning for 2023 will be Matt Roberts, current North Canterbury Rep, along with George Prain and Jesse Houston both who have worn that Black Jersey with the Silver Fern. It sounds like a number of schoolboy players from last season have been called upon to boost the ranks as well as a Hooker from the North Island. The big question for many is, will we see the evergreen Stew Dalzell appear one more time?

Woodend has been in the spotlight with the recruiting of Zac Guildford as Player/Coach. Zac will bring a wealth of experience on the field and in the coaching of the team as well. Jordie Swain has been looking great in the build up to the season and will be a fantastic support to the former All Black. Like most clubs, Woodend will be hoping the season brings some fresh players to bolster their bench.

Senior Division starts April 1, Division 2 April 15, Colts April 15

Autumn/Winter 2023 Property Predictions

Depending on whose company you are in at the time, the property market is either going up or down and just occasionally by the end of your lunch or dinner together, it's going both up and down! So who better to ask than three highly regarded real estate agents from Hurunui for their predictions on the housing market for Autumn/Winter 23. Here's what they said...

Fiona McDonald, Ray White

As rising interest rates keep putting pressure on the economy and the upcoming election starts to feature in buyers’ decision making, we may see a continuation of the slowing market conditions we face now. Supply is starting to outweigh demand and this can put downward pressure on pricing - but for the most part, if you have owned for several years you are still far better off than you were a few years ago.

We are hopeful that the excellent value for money which Canterbury offers will insulate it somewhat from this. This is evidenced by the strong numbers of buyers through property of late, although many are subject to sale. We are expecting the economy and Kiwi's sentiment to start swinging in a more positive direction towards the end of the year. And remember - if you buy and sell in the same market a lot of the rest is irrelevant.

Maria Rickerby, PGG Wrightson

With the median days of Amberley residential properties advertised online currently being approximately 57 days the market has slowed compared to what we were seeing twelve months ago. However, we are still seeing good activity at the majority of our open homes which suggests that buyers are still active in our market.

We are expecting a steady number of listings to come to the market over the next few months as would be usual for a normal autumn/winter market historically.

With the Oakfields and Tekoa subdivisions having their titles issued for their last stages recently, numerous new builds are underway creating a hive of activity in Amberley. We are experiencing increased demand from buyers outside of Canterbury with Hurunui being seen as an attractive option for North Island buyers looking to move south. There appears to be a growing demand for properties generally that are suitable for working from home which has been a growing trend in recent times.

Where there has been a lot of publicity around the softening of house prices recently throughout New Zealand, North Canterbury has been reasonably insulated from the price drops that have occurred in the other parts of the country. Climatic conditions may play a factor in the movement of people from some of the areas more prone to adverse climate conditions in the future, which should be encouraging for the local market.

We have had a busy start to 2023 and we are expecting this to continue into the Autumn/Early Winter.

Victoria Thompson, Harcourts

With the grass surprisingly green for this time of year, I see the Hurunui and all its diversity confidently weathering a cold winter and ongoing economic variations with good old fashioned common sense and hard work. In my view, in real estate there is always someone wanting to downsize from a bigger property, and someone wanting or needing to upsize; we have sellers whose circumstances have changed, and amongst the mix are our brave first home buyers and business owners; in essence real estate never sleeps and regardless of the seasons or interest rates, property continues to change hands. The property market in Hurunui is very active with genuine buyers from all over the country interested in moving here. Residential builders in Amberley and Hanmer Springs are full steam ahead and once the Gib goes in, buyers step forward with confidence. Quality finished newbuilds with good designs are selling well. There’s good interest in rural properties, our rural specialist Bill Dowle says its mainly from farmers wanting to increase scale by using their equity to expand and improve viability. Sales are active with financial transactions requiring more lead time. Hanmer Springs market continues to have strong buyer enquiry, with still low levels of stock available. The rental market here in the Hurunui is experiencing a genuine shortage of stock with all our current properties rented. With the population north of Christchurch growing, companies are looking to move into the region to be closer to both their customers and their workforce. Our North Canterbury Commercial specialist Brian Davey adds that North Island based rural businesses are looking at reducing their risks and one option many are considering is adding South Island operations to their portfolio and the Hurunui district is well placed for this. With the increased activity of the last three years, I envisage Hurunui continuing to grow over the colder months ahead.

“I live local, support local and sell

Your Amberley local. pggwre.co.nz

027 563 1733

mrickerby@pggwrightson.co.nz Maria Rickerby Lifestyle and Residential Sales

List with Maria - she supports her local community!

A Day at Amuri Community Health Centre Rotherham

The day starts at 8am when staff start arriving for the day. First in is usually myself, the Practice Manager, closely followed by Sharon the Administration Coordinator.

Reception duties are shared by Miranda on a Monday, Angela on a Tuesday and Wednesday and Wendy covers Thursday and Friday. The Practice Nurses Rhona, Nerissa, Becky, Kate and Misha share the week with two on each day.

The Doctors are Dr Margriet, Monday to Thursday, and Dr Sarah is Wednesday to Friday. We also have two Health Care Assistants – Sam and Honey who are responsible for helping the clinical team and following up recalls with patients. Charlie is there on a Thursday. He’s a Paramedic Professional who works at ACHC as well as other clinics around the Hurunui. At 8:30am the phones are switched from ‘nights’ and the day begins ready for the first patients to arrive before 9am. On an average day about 50 patients pass through the clinic. As a General Practice no two days are the same. Variety is the spice of life! The Amuri Health Care (AHC) vision is to actively and continually strive to have a real and meaningful impact on the quality of life of the our patients. Currently we have 1850 enrolled patients - our books are open for new enrolments.

AHC embraces wellness and working with patients to keep them well. Most of the time this works well until life throws a curve ball. In our diverse patient population, the clinical team see an equally diverse range of conditions. The team bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the practice. When something is beyond being looked after in primary care, cases are referred on to a specialist service elsewhere or to one of the allied services that visit the clinic. There is a physiotherapist and mental health specialist on site each Thursday, and the podiatrist every six weeks. Plunket, Cancer Society, He Waka Tapu and the diabetics specialist nurse use rooms at the clinic as required. One of the features we are proud of is our teamwork.

“Together we achieve more.” Teamwork where the patient is at the centre of everything we do. Teamwork where the community paid for and built the centre, where the team members live in the wider Hurunui area, the Board of Directors are all part of the Amuri community and where people in the community know they can come for their primary care needs in an inclusive environment where respect, empathy, trust and professionalism are the key values. At 5pm the phones are turned back to ‘nights’ ready to do it all again the next day.

Rhona Roberts RN and Dr Margriet Dijkstra

words and image supplied by Ken McIntosh

The Amberley Art Group

words by Sandra Bamford

The Amberley Art Group commenced around the 1980’s and in the following years the numbers waxed and waned. In 2015 an expo of all the clubs in the district was organised and held in Amberley, including the art group. The expo reawakened people’s interest in learning to paint and draw.

Many people believe they cannot paint or draw and we specialise in developing those skills that are hidden away in everyone. Our group enables artists to grow in their chosen medium with help and expertise from others in the group. Formal tutorials, given by professional artists are provided, about twice a year. We try to cover all mediums so everyone can either be challenged if new to the medium, or increase skills in a current medium.

Most artists like to exhibit their work, so with the assistance of a hard working liaison person we now have a number of places showing our work, the Nor’Wester Cafe, the Railway Tavern and the Amberley Memorial Library. These locations have enabled artists to sell some of their work. Along with these venues we do periodically obtain other spaces for pop up galleries. From time to time we are also able to join in exhibitions or fund raisers held by other art groups in the district. An annual Ann Holloway Exhibition is also held for artists in the Hurunui area to encourage artists to show their work and have their name on a trophy.

To give our members additional inspiration we visit galleries to see other artists’ work and in some instances we get the opportunity to talk with those artists. These outings can be quite a memorable experience and are always interesting and informative. The group has great support from the Hurunui Community Arts Council and our artists are encouraged to exhibit their work in the annual Hurunui Showcase staged by the HCAC.

The AAG provides a friendly location for both new and experienced artists to be creative for a few hours each Monday afternoon along with the camaraderie of like-minded people. We meet in the Amberley Bowling Club pavilion in the Amberley Domain. If you would like to join us do come along as you will be most welcome.

For further information contact sandra10bamford@gmail.com

Come in and say hi to Jay and Tony at our new framing store, conveniently located in the heart of Amberley,

Bringing you 50+ years of custom framing experience specialising in everything from framing needlework through to the most sentimental item of memorabilia, we will bring anything to life with custom framing.

• Photo printing available up to A2 size on premium papers with our premium Canon Pro printer

• Gallery stocked with original art from New Zealand’s best artistsincludes an increasing number of local artists

• Framed Mirrors ready to hang in your home

www.fineartandframing.co.nz

03) 314 0226

Monday - Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm Saturday 9:30am to 1:00pm

< Experience New Zealand 100% Merino fingerless gloves, we carry lots of different colours and designs, also available in plain, super lightweight yet so warm. Hand printed & Made in New Zealand $35ea

Night Lights for the little ones in the family, we stock a great range from bunny, dinosaur, unicorn $37ea + mini gorilla, unicorn, rhino or elephant $16ea all with 15min timer and tap function for colour change.

KAMA - the original LOVE OIL > come see our range from diffusers $59, buddha sticks $6, hand & body wash $21, perfume oil 5ml $18, 15ml $28, cream perfume $28, hand & body lotion $30, shower gel $24, love soap $10

Troop {Unisex} Bags & Caps are made using the finest leather & cotton canvas to make them tough, which are available in lots of different colours and sizes. Bag

Gorgeous 100% cotton lavender hand towel $22 team it up with a 2/Set face cloths $16 makes a beautiful gift, need a little extra add a linen coat hanger $11, other selections include butterflies, bees + more....

$74 Cap $43

A 50 Year Penfriend Reunion

I have always been fascinated with travel. As a youngster growing up in various locations around the Hurunui the closest I could get to foreign travel was through reading, and I was quite a reader.

My Form 1 year (Year 5) found me at Amberley School where the older students were offered the chance to write to a child from another land. What excitement I felt. I was told that this person would be a 'penfriend', someone with similar interests with whom I could write to and receive mail, from a different part of the globe. It was a new concept to me; virtual travel in its original form!

I trawled through the school atlas for weeks trying to choose a country to get my penfriend from and I petitioned various countries with names I couldn't at first pronounce: Cameroon, Madagascar, Indonesia, and I did write briefly to a girl in Indonesia. I had other penpals, too, and the highlight of my days, after the excitement of scrutinising the mailbox of course, was buying stamps.

Yes, I practically lived in the post office that at the time was just by the rail crossing down from the school. Each letter I wrote I hand delivered to the post office during the school lunch hour. The teller usually humoured me with a selection of stamps of different denominations to make up the correct postage. Choosing stamps was always fun and I anticipated my new penfriends would appreciate them and begin a stamp collection as I had. To this day I rarely send a letter with just one stamp on it.

One of my first penfriends was Jenny from Warner's Bay, NSW, Australia. We were about 10 and 12 years old when we first started writing. Fifty plus years later we are still writing regularly.

I followed my dreams and travelled all over the globe and her letters found their way to me wherever I stayed long enough to let the dust settle. Jenny followed her dreams also. She married the love of her life and they had three great boys who are now married with children of their own. Jenny and her husband have stayed in their first home for 42 years and are very involved with their grandchildren. I travelled for many years and returned to New Zealand in 2017 and have gradually settled down. Now it's Jenny and her husband who are travelling a lot!

During our 50 plus years of friendship we had met in person only twice, once as teenagers when she visited New Zealand and then again when Jenny was in hospital with her second son, I surprise visited her. Until last week!

For the first time in 36 years we were in the same place at the same time in the same country. I was hugely excited to see Jenny again, and somewhat nervous too, I must admit. She and some of her family were in Christchurch for a day before touring NZ and I was so thrilled to see her I nearly got hit by the tram!

Over the fifty years as penfriends our relationship has morphed into true friendship and interestingly we didn't have to be in each other’s physical space for this to happen. From my point of view our friendship has evolved with mutual respect and thoughtfulness. Somehow that consciously composed letter always arrived just when it was needed most, yet birthday cards were often hit or miss, and that never mattered.

I have been re-reading some of my early letters to Jenny (she has kept some of the first ones) and I've noticed that my childhood dreams, which I thought were impossible to realise have all come true. I'm sure Jenny has had that experience too.

words and images supplied by Barb Demmocks

PH: 0800 888 485

email: office@mariathackwell.co.nz www.mariathackwell.co.nz

PH: 0800 888 485  email: office@mariathackwell.co.nz

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Bulk Fertiliser Store – Lime & Super Spreading (Spreadmark Accredited)

Weighbridge - Quarry

Livestock eddie@amuritransport.co.nz

Fertiliser fert@amuritransport.co.nz

Freight freight@amuritransport.co.nz

56 ST LEONARDS ROAD, CULVERDEN

PHONE: 03 315 3033

Fundraiser for Broomfield School

Randolph Downs Horse Trek

Sunday 30th April 2023

This year’s annual fundraising event for Broomfield School will have a change of scenery and be taking place at Randolph Downs Farm which is just 12 minutes north of Amberley, on Sunday 30th April 2023.  Participants will be taking part to raise funds for the construction of a new playground at the school which will compliment the building of a new administration centre and refurbishment of some classrooms. Riders can access this private farmland with stunning views over Mt Grey, Three Deans Range, and views of the limestone rocks on the Waipara River and further out to sea.

A variation of surfaces can be expected including grass, gravel farm tracks and dirt tracks. The terrain is a mixture of undulating rolling countryside, some straight stretches and one steeper climb onto Mt Brown to catch those winning views. There will be two rides to choose from on the day: a 2 – 2.5 hour ride and a 2.5 – 3 hour ride (timings are approximate). The shorter ride is around 12km, with the longer around 15km. Shoes are recommended. Riders will be asked to check in on arrival and ride out at their own leisure from 9.30am. Final ride out time will be 11am. There will be marshals for safety and direction along the way. The cost of the ride is $50 per adult and $25 per child under 16.

Lunch is available to purchase for $20 and includes a large filled gourmet bun, fruit and home baking. For those wishing to stay close to the venue the night before, basic camping amenities will be available for $20 per person at Broomfield School – this is just 5 minutes drive from Randolph Downs. Clean portaloo facilities will be available here.

Broomfield School both appreciates and thanks you for your ongoing support!

Registration will open on Friday 31st March. Please check our Facebook page @Randolph Downs Horse Trek for updates, or email randolphdownshorsetrek@gmail.com for more information.

The Historic Waiau Jail

words supplied by Mary Bowron

The Waiau Lock Up or Jail was originally constructed in 1866 as a free standing unit inside the courthouse. The first constable and magistrate’s clerk, R.J. Malcolm was appointed in 1867 and in 1869 was succeeded by G.W. Schroder. One story has it that a well-concerted plan enabled one of Mr Schroder’s prisoners to escape from the Waiau lock-up. A strong fast horse was kept saddled at Daniel’s Hotel, awaiting the moment when the prisoner was brought out for transfer to Christchurch. While Schroder’s attention was diverted, the prisoner made a dash over the fence to the hotel stables, galloped off to the flooded Waiau River which he forded and got clear away.

The main activities in the Court House between 1870 – 1880 were prosecutions against runholders with scabby sheep. ‘The Scab’, being a parasite, was eventually eliminated after some 20,000 sheep were slaughtered in 1884. The sitting of the court in Waiau was often turned into quite the social occasion with a large number of inhabitants meeting up and enjoying the delights of the hotel after proceedings.

By 1879 the courthouse was taken over by the Post and Telegraph Department and used as a storeroom, and the court affairs were transferred to Culverden.

The two-room jail was salvaged in 1955 when the Post and Telegraph Department dismantled the courthouse, which had been used as a storage shed at the historic Rotherham Store for 40 years and then moved to a nearby farm.

It was Tony Arps owner of Rotherham Store at the time who came up with the idea of returning the jail back to Waiau so it could be restored, which was no easy task considering the jail weighed over 3 tonne!

The restoration was left to the late Bruce Forbes and helpers ‘Rocky’ and Grahame Clark whose remarkable efforts can still be viewed and enjoyed on the Village Green Waiau.