Letters to editor 31 October 2008
Violence-Free Golden Bay
An enormous thank you to all who have helped and supported us this week as we launched our Violence-Free Golden Bay project. I was overwhelmed by the number of people who stopped at our stalls on Tuesday and Saturday to pick up wristbands, pens and information, or just to offer support for the project. We had over 500 visitors to the stall over the two days, and over the week have given away 1800 Violence-Free Golden Bay wristbands. (If you haven't got yours yet, there are still a few available at the Community Centre, but be quick!) The jar of lollies was won by Sam, with a guess of 354 (there were 358). Well done to all those children (and accompanying carers), who came to find us on Saturday, remembered the violence-free message, and claimed a prize. The project launch included assemblies in all the Bay schools, and I was delighted by the welcome and responsiveness of pupils at each one.
It has been wonderful to meet so many of you over the week, and to know what a wonderful, supportive community we live in. Violence-Free Golden Bay feels a step closer to being achieved.
Emma Brazendale
Violence-Free Golden Bay co-ordinator
Grandparents/whanau week
The teachers at Golden Kids would like to extend a warm invitation to the grandparents/whanau of tamariki/children at the centre to pop in for a visit and a cup of tea any time during the week Monday 3 to Friday 7 November. Just pop in when your grandchildren/tamariki are there at their usual times to see some of the amazing things they do. On Friday night we are also having a family fish-and-chip night for all families/whanau at the centre from 5-7pm, with a slideshow of the children. We hope to see you there.
Heather Kearon
on behalf of Golden Kids Inc
Steam Up Day at Rockville
I would like to thank everybody who came along and helped make our day very successful on Sunday. A special thank you to Lisa Bradley for taking on the task of turning milk into wonderful golden butter - your efforts were a crowd-pleaser. Thank you to Graham for his expertise in the boiler room, to Gay Dodson for her kind donation of eggs for us to sell, and to all of our other wonderful workers. Last but not least, a big thank you and an extra lick of molasses to Diddley Squat (alias #61) for her calmness and productiveness on the day. You are a star!
Pam Gardiner, treasurer, Collingwood Museum Society
RDA fundraising
The New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association is planning a nationwide telephone fundraising campaign to be run by Kiwifirst Fundraisers. If you wish to donate to RDA then you have two options.
Option 1: Wait till Kiwifirst telephone you and then follow their model, in which case a percentage of your donation will go to Kiwifirst for administrative costs, a percentage will go to NZRDA in Wellington and a percentage will come back to the Golden Bay RDA group. At this stage we have no idea what these percentages will be.
Option 2: Make your cheque out to Golden Bay RDA and post to 3/189 Commercial St Takaka, in which case all your donation will stay in the Bay to assist the local RDA group to continue to provide their therapeutic riding programme for Golden Bay children.
We are always looking for volunteers to help with Wednesday rallies. For more information please phone me (525 8836).
John Southwood, treasurer, Golden Bay RDA
fizz gig a fizzle? No way!
It may have been called off in its early stages on Saturday due to strong wind, but Sealord Guy Fawkes Fireworks certainly went off with a bang on Sunday night. Special thanks to Terry, Barry, Pete and the Collingwood Fire Brigade for yet another great twenty minutes of terrific entertainment. I know you were all gutted to have to call off the first attempt and agonised over the decision knowing how disappointed the crowd would be, but safety comes first as we all know. From the first explosions on Sunday night to the beautiful, graceful finale, it was again the professional event we have come to expect. Thanks to you all.
Jill Pomeroy
A big thank you to everyone who helped put on the annual firework display in Collingwood last weekend. And especially to everyone who came back on Sunday night for ‘Part Two'.
The wild wind that came up around 9pm on Saturday meant that most of the display was abandoned. We did manage to light the Guy and blow up the Beehive, but the first aerial work quickly showed the strength of the wind was a problem.
However, Sunday night at 9pm all was calm. Everything went without a hitch and the crowd's applause was much appreciated. Unfortunately there's always someone who spoils things - the return of the fire brigade's emergency lighting, which was stolen, would be nice. Saturday had brought record numbers into Collingwood and accordingly the fundraising efforts of Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade were very successful. It will be purchasing medic back packs and other equipment not normally supplied by the New Zealand Fire Service.
Pete Watkins, fizz gig
allshorts festival opening
Thanks to everyone for being such a wonderful audience - another full house. Our sincere apologies to those people we didn't manage to squeeze in. If you'd like to see the entries for 2008 they'll be screening in The White Room, Lollokiki Gallery after the screening on 1 November at The Independent Theatre in Nelson (please urge your Nelson friends to go). We made about $400 profit which will go to The Village Theatre. See you next year.
Paddy Brennan
