Letters 4 December 2009
Best Community Mural in NZ
Three cheers and a round of applause for Ngang and the Rototai mural that has been awarded the ‘Best Community Mural in NZ’ by Resene Paint Company.
I am chuffed, along with 30 plus other locals, to have helped so far. The mural is unfinished but received an award anyway. It’s a big plus for our Golden Bay image.
Resene is a mega corporation with an active PR machine that prides itself on promoting a community face. They have won national and overseas awards for campaigns like eco friendly paint disposal and supporting community projects.
So the world is looking at Resene and over the next year Golden Bay can bask in the promotion this link provides.
So good on you Ngang, keep up the good work. The mural is one part of a bigger interactive scheme and the Rototai residents behind it must be beaming right now.
The attitude that folks can get together and create extra value toward sharing our environment and community culture, dignifies our identity in the Bay.
This has caught the eyes of merit and will lead to envious views from afar.
Chris Finlayson
Rototai Road residents are very proud to announce that our mural has won a first prize in Resene Paints annual New Zealand-wide competition. It is for the ”Best Community Mural”, which NgAng and Chris Finlayson designed and painted, helped by high school art teacher, Robin Slow, and his students, and 39 volunteers .
You can see the mural along Rototai Road: If the initator and driving force NgAng is there, stop and have a yarn or maybe you might like to do some painting. And if anyone in our community would like to support the scheme, please contact Sabina on 525 8642. We need funding to purchase wooden panels, install a gutter and to finish the landscaping around the mural.
Thankyou to everyone who has helped to make this truely beautiful Art Project possible.
Sabina Wick and Elizabeth Warren for RR&F
Greengrass Crossword
Hurray! Finally got the crossword out completely. I’m interested to hear how others are doing with it. Is it just me who’s taken this long to finally get one out? Nice one, Greengrass. Infuriating; yet strangely addictive.
Alan Gotlieb
Abel Tasman Memorial
Reading Penny Griffith’s article (Abel Tasman Memorial GBW 20/11) reminded me of the day the dignitaries travelled over the Takaka Hill to the opening of the memorial. It was in the darkest days of World War II.
The local Upper Takaka hotel publican Robert (Bob) Gear (he was a warden) was standing on the intersection of what is now SH60 and the road going to the Cobb Valley directing traffic, as road signs were almost nonexistent then. I watched as Mr Gear waved his arm, pointing out to the car drivers the road to take as they approached the intersection.
I later asked my mother why Mr Gear was directing the traffic. She told me about the opening of the memorial and that there was someone standing on every intersection between Upper Takaka and Tarakohe directing traffic.
The dairy farmers had been advised to keep all animals off the road while the dignitaries were in the valley as several farmers used the main road as a cow lane.
Mac Harwood
Since my note on the Abel Tasman Memorial was published (GBW article 20/11), I’ve received a further insight into the significance of the memorial itself. In 2006 the New Zealand Institute of Architects honoured it with one of their Enduring Architecture awards. Here’s the full citation:
“Experiencing for the first time, this 1942 Ernst Plischke design (his first public building in New Zealand) is a delight to be recommended. Described by his biographer as “a 10-metre concrete stele, as well as a marble slab with inscription that emanated a monumental abstract simplicity”, this is quite simply a national treasure. The jury recommends to DOC that it gives priority to removing the timber platform and reinstating the base as originally designed. New Zealand will then have an internationally significant example of early Modernist architecture”.
As explained in my note, the responsibility for decisions on changes to the site actually rests with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage in Wellington. But the citation clearly makes the point for the memorial’s architectural as well as heritage significance. Definitely a Golden Bay treasure!
Penny Griffith
Village Theatre an inspiration
The Village Theatre is a fantastic asset to Golden Bay, both for locals and visitors. Earlier this year my sister Jane, who lives north of London, visited, and we went to the film Female Agents which was showing at the Village Theatre. Jane was so impressed with the theatre and the films being shown that she decided to set up a film club when she returned to the UK. There was no theatre in the area where they live, and she loves movies. So, she advertised in the local paper, and soon had a core group of interested people. They then applied for grants, found a theatre to hire, and have just had the first film evening. It was a huge success, and films have now been scheduled for the next few months!
A big “Thank You” to the Village Theatre team. You’ve got a winning formula, and are “world famous”!
Sue Lindsay
Fire risk at Milnthorpe
In reply to Mr Schwarz’ letter (GBW 27/11) about the fire risk in Milnthorpe and the non-action of the authorities, as he put it.
In my opinion the fire risk doesn’t come from the thousands of gum trees in the park he writes about, but from ignorant and irresponsible people lighting fires on Milnthorpe beach or on their property. No authority can provide protection against stupidity. We have lived, since 1981, opposite and next to Milnthorpe Park, surrounded by trees and scrub, are well aware of the fire risk and try to act accordingly, as other responsible people do.
To suggest that a speed reduction to 50kmph on that stretch of highway along the park will prevent fires makes no sense. Accidents can happen at any speed, that is why they are called accidents. Lighting fires on Milnthorpe beach or on a property without a permit is deliberate and illegal and the perpetrators are fully responsible for any fire disaster, not the authorities.
John Groen
Can you help?
I am asking if anyone who was at the fire at Takaka Golf Course on 16 November at around 4.30pm can confirm that a local fire truck did back into my daughter’s fawn Toyota Corolla car. It was parked at the No. 9 hole area. Please contact Graeme McCleely on 027 590 7502 or 525 9412. If no answer, please leave a message. Thanks.
Graeme McCleely
Putting our best breasts forward in Golden Bay
An overwhelming response to the “Let’s get plastered for Breast Cancer” project saw our local library inundated with willing participants. Thank you Tish and team for selling the Pink Ribbon Kits. Over $150 kits were issued. Heartwarming and heartbreaking stories were told as women of the Bay (and some men) took part in this community project for the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation. We certainly raised awareness as the comments book at Lollokiki shows - Thanks Kas and Toy for such a perfect venue. I am sending $458 to the NZBCF - thanks to all who took part.
A colourful display is planned for the summer - so you’d better come and get your breast casts for decorating. Pick up 10 and 11 December only from my David Reid office.
Billy Kerrisk
Summer Boredom Busters
The Summer TDC Boredom Buster School Holiday Programme magazine will be out about Monday 7 December at schools, library and TDC office. Horse riding and kayaking at the Parapara Aorere Futures Trust are back, along with favourites like archery and riding mini mx bikes. Programmes and registration forms can be e-mailed. recreation@gbcw.co.nz. Please read the magazine carefully as each activity has fewer general instructions than usual.
Dave Myall, Holiday programme organiser
Boredom Buster/OSCAR School
A huge thank you
Motupipi Public Hall committee members wish to thank the Golden Bay public for supporting us in coming along to our soup luncheons and book fairs, with the money going towards the upgrading of our hall. Our next book fair will be held on 9 January 2010; you are all welcome. If you have any magazines or books that you don’t want or you would like to donate, it would be very much appreciated. Please ring Myrtle 525 9797 or Megan 525 8064.
Megan Nalder (Secretary)
Motupipi Public Hall
St Andrew’s Church
I would like to take just a few words to thank all those who helped St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church back onto firm foundations. There were a number of people in the community who donated towards the cost of the piles. This has enabled us to look to the future of the church building with some confidence. Thank you again.
Bob Reid, Minister
Correction
In last week’s caption under the photo of the volunteer firemen, we got Aaron McKenna’s name wrong, and we apologise. Aaron received a certificate for three years’ service to the brigade.
