Letters to Editor 9 October
Integrated health services
We are concerned about the correspondence and comments that have been aired recently regarding the option to keep the Joan Whiting Rest Home operating. These discussions are stalling the progress, are short sighted, and not practical if we are to bring the health services in the area into the 21st century.
What are the reasons for the businessmen’s proposal to inject finances into the home? Is it sustainable and for how long?
The “dear old JWR” is old (old being the operative word). In spite of the dedicated staff and the trust committee, it is a facility past its “use by” date. Its situation at Collingwood is not an ideal location as most residents are not from that area, making it more difficult for their families to visit or to involve the residents in activities outside the rest home. Most of the residents’ rooms are very small, all without individual facilities, surely a requirement in today’s society.
We have the opportunity to look at and have our say as to the health services that we want for the future. Don’t be the silent majority and just sit on your hands and say nothing and allow this opportunity to pass. Be involved in the decisions being made. An integrated health service is our way forward and any monies available from any source should be channelled into a facility that meets the requirements that we are entitled to expect for our community.
Phil and Judy O’Connor
The GB Weekly stops printing
Well, just for one week. The next deadline will be noon on Tuesday 20 October and the paper will be delivered around the Bay on Friday 23 October.
Marg Braggins, Manager
H.A.N.D.S.: much more than 10,000 trades
Many thanks for featuring H.A.N.D.S., Golden Bay’s Local Employment and Trading System, in last week’s issue. I’d like to correct an inaccuracy in the title, “Twenty years and 10,000 trades.” The correct information is found in the last paragraph: over 10,000 trades totalling nearly 300,000 HANDS traded since we started keeping cumulative records about four years ago. In fact, in September of this year alone, trading valued at over 10,000 HANDS was recorded on the H.A.N.D.S. website, community-exchange.org.
Also, the “cake” in the article’s title refers to the special cake two members are baking for the H.A.N.D.S. twentieth anniversary celebration this Sunday 11 October, at the Mussel Inn. The cake will be a replica of the H.A.N.D.S. logo, two hands facing upwards and bridged by a rainbow, one hand wheat flour, the other gluten free! All members are encouraged to attend the celebration, also featuring food and drink for all HANDS, highlights from H.A.N.D.S. history, an anniversary poem by Joe Bell, music and opportunities for members to share H.A.N.D.S. stories.
Murray Rogers and Joanna Piekarski for Golden Bay H.A.N.D.S.
Reading the Weekly online
Just a quick email to let you know how much I enjoy reading your newsletter online. I left Golden Bay 40 years ago, have resided in Sydney since 1973 and I still love to follow what is happening in the Bay. So thanks and keep up the good work.
Dianne Saad (nee Brough)
Bus trip to National Male Choir in Nelson
The National Male Choir of NZ is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in Nelson this Labour Weekend. Part of the celebrations will be a public concert in the Nelson College hall on Saturday 24 October commencing at 7.30pm. The choir has gone from strength to strength over the last ten years to the extent that it is now regarded as one of the top five male choirs in the world. The repertoire covers a very wide range with something for everyone. The guest choir will be the Metropolitan Male Choir of South Australia from Adelaide, and one of the brackets in the concert will feature the massed choirs.
In order that as many Golden Bay residents as possible can attend the concert, a bus will be chartered from Takaka leaving at 4.00pm with the return journey immediately after the concert, much like we do for Opera in the Park. Cost of concert tickets is $25 per head to be purchased at the door, and the bus is $10 each. It is suggested that you bring a picnic tea to enjoy at, say, Washbourne Gardens in Richmond. For bus reservations and information phone 525 8477 or 525 9135. There is a lot of interest from the community so it would be advisable to make your bookings as soon as possible.
Stuart Borlase
Clean Up of Golden Bay
Once again more than 50km of coast and 50km of road were covered in our annual September Clean Up of Golden Bay. The worst areas were the Waitapu Bridge area and the stretch of road from Rangihaeata to Patons Rock.
Groups who took part were GB Alpine & Tramping Club, Correction Department clients, GB Forest & Bird, Pakawau Coast Care, Collingwood Area School, Onekaka Biodiversity Group, Kiwi Conservation Group, Central Takaka School, Golden Bay High School, Bainham Rural Women, Motupipi School and our GB Community Board members. Along with the groups there were another 30 individuals who helped out. Keep Golden Bay would like to thank GB Rubbish Collection Ltd, TDC, DOC and Fonterra staff for supporting us.
Thanks again for your support in keeping Golden Bay Beautiful.
Kathy Hindmarsh Secretary, Keep Golden Bay Beautiful
Annual plan community meetings
The Golden Bay Community Board is again holding the eight community meetings across the Bay to discuss items for consideration in the 2010-11 Tasman District annual plan process.
Commencing the week starting 19 October, meetings will be held in Upper Takaka, East Takaka, Takaka, Pohara, Onekaka, Collingwood, Bainham and Pakawau. Dates and venues will be advertised separately.
Residents are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings. They are a grass-roots initiative to bring requests to the attention of the council through the community board in a co-ordinated manner. The meetings also provide an additional opportunity to raise maintenance and other issues.
Joe Bell, chairperson, Golden Bay Community Board
Thank you Village Theatre
Through your column I would like to thank the Village Theatre for bringing us the Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival last week. What a treat it was to see some of those beautiful and thought-provoking documentaries. If you didn’t go, you missed a great opportunity! Let’s hope the Reel Earth film festival will return to Takaka next year, around Conservation Week time.
Jenny Treloar
