Letters to Editor 3 July
Measles
There is an outbreak of measles in Christchurch among teenagers at a high school. Most were not immunised. Most victims recover, but worldwide of 30 million cases yearly, 450,000 die. Many Pacific people died of measles when Europeans first arrived.
Older adults are generally immune and many younger people have been immunised. The immunisation is very effective, but many skip immunisation because of fear of side effects. Recent studies have proved so-called side effects are no more frequent in immunised people than in those who have not been immunised.
If you are a parent of a child who has missed out on immunisation, it is time to rethink your decision. If you are a young adult over 16 years old, you can decide yourself about immunisation.
If you are not sure if you or your child is immunised, call a practice nurse at Golden Bay Medical Centre.
Immunisations are in stock, and the practice nurses are happy to answer questions.
Vic Eastman MD and Kate O’Byrne RN
Golden Bay Medical Centre
To the men of Golden Bay,
We would like to hear from anyone interested in attending a new weekly men’s group starting in August.
Men often struggle to keep up with the pressure of change in their lives – as a husband/partner, a father, a son, an employer, a colleague, and report feelings of vulnerability, of being ‘unable to cope’ and live up to the expectations that family and society place on them.
Often men feel more comfortable in discussing issues with other men and, with greater openness, men feel supported and nurtured rather than ashamed, inadequate or embarrassed because they ‘said too much’.
Whilst men tend to look to women for support, friendship between men often creates gentle, more certain men. While not a sensational way to promote change, the honesty a men’s group can foster could make relationships more fulfilling.
We will encourage a relaxed social environment, respectful of personal boundaries, and aim to enrich and empower men’s lives in a safe, supportive environment for men to talk freely with each other about issues that directly affect their lives: community, business, marriage, relationships, divorce, health, spirituality, children and family.
For an information pack please email us at: gbmensgroup@gmail.com
Steve James
WOW exhibition in Takaka
The Golden Bay Museum is planning an exhibition of works by Golden Bay artists who have been accepted into the WOW awards over the last two decades. We would like any artist willing to display their work to contact us at the museum on 525 6268 with a view to opening on 1 October 2009.
Jane McDonald and Karen Johnson
Golden Bay Museum
Referendum
At the last Community Whanau meeting, Gina Lyons from Barnados spoke about the referendum on Section 59, which has been called the Anti Smacking Law. This referendum will happen towards the end of this month, and Gina urged us all to give the children a voice and vote ‘yes’ for a law which is working. By voting ‘yes’ you are telling politicians you agree with the law and you don’t tolerate any violence towards children.
The referendum question, “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence?” is misleading as it suggests that smacking is good parental correction. Research shows it is not. Smacking achieves immediate compliance and teaches children that hitting and violence is OK. There are many, many more positive ways to discipline, and help is available to assist you with this. If you’d like to know more contact the Community Workers.
Despite the misleading question, and the dubious morality of spending $8.9 million on a referendum in a time of worldwide recession, I urge you to vote ‘YES”, and take a stand against violence towards all our children.
Emma Brazendale
Violence-Free Golden Bay co-ordinator
Golden Bay Community Workers
Signs on footpaths
I would like to add support to Ann Lewis’s letter (GBW 26/6) on the congestion on the footpaths in Takaka.
I am sure that these free-standing boards are encroaching onto council area and they are a hassle to prams, mobile scooters and foot traffic. The area by Timeless Creations up to the museum is also a problem. I was of the opinion that these notices could only encroach further than their own land if they had written consent from the council. Maybe someone from the council could print the ruling on these free standing billboards.
Nancy Ward
Reply from Mayor Richard Kempthorne: Retail businesses are entitled to one sandwich board per retail frontage and the sandwich board can be a maximum of 0.6m width and at least 2m of clear footpath should be available for pedestrians. If pedestrians find this is not being achieved then they should contact council to ensure retailers are complying with these requirements.
Village Theatre flier
The recent changes to The GB Weekly have caused The Village Theatre to reappraise the way in which we advertise movies. We will no longer produce the separate flier, and will be printing the movie descriptions in the paper instead. The movie information is arranged so that you can quickly snip it out once the paper is finished with, and pin it on the fridge as you used to do. With the new format, you can see both the programme and the descriptions without turning the page over.
The programme is now for two weeks instead of three. This allows us to be more responsive to your preferences for certain films, and also to obtain some movies slightly earlier in their run. In addition, if you have not cut out the programme, you will only have to look back to the previous week’s paper to find it. Alternatively, you may wish to change your routine slightly to pick up a flier from outside the theatre.
In case you were wondering, we always make an effort to vary the days on which a movie screens throughout its run, whilst still screening at times appropriate to the audience for that particular genre.
For those with internet access, the movie programme and lots of film information is available on <www.villagetheatre.org.nz>. This is kept up-to-date with all the latest information, including any last-minute changes. We have recently made some changes to enable easier use. Make it one of your favourites/bookmarks today.
We trust that you will find the new publicity to your liking.
Sarah Kay, manager, Village Theatre
Takaka flood zone
Congratulations former councillor Sangster on winning, in the environment court, the rights of future Takaka development.
I was amazed to see that TDC then claimed they were very happy with the outcome. If you were “very happy with the outcome” then why not listen to what years of local experience had been telling you for a very long time. A pointless exercise that cost every ratepayer money to fight in court and overturn what our representatives had deemed was “right” for us.
Supposedly, TDC’s knowledge came from reports generated in a far-away office, using our ratepayer money, that was paid to these “educated” persons using their vacant hat holder for our wisdom. Mr Sangster’s knowledge came from being local for a long number of years.
The icing now is that we get to pay again to get this changed to what was asked for originally. Two bites at the same cherry; is that why they are “very happy with the outcome”?
Rodney Ward
Ligar Bay baches
I am writing to comment on The GB Weekly’s article about “Ligar Bay baches’ future lies in council’s hand”.
I am informed that at least two of those baches (not just “one” as stated in The GB Weekly) are the year-round homes of local families. They are the Bray family and John Massey.
I understand that these have become their homes where they want to spend the rest of their lives. They have been living here for over 20 years and continuously improved their lovely dwellings, which are all they have got to live in.
I am sure that these bach owners are better caretakers for preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of their privileged lot of land than council workers who use poisonous sprays and ratepayers’ money to do this job.
I hope that the establishing of a proper management plan for Ligar Bay, as has been recommended by Caroline McLellan (community board deputy chair), will help us to find a way for the baches at Ligar Bay to happily coexist with the need for other Ligar Bay residents and Golden Bay visitors to have generous access to the beautiful beach they all enjoy.
Rudolf Samper
Ed. You are right, Rudolf, there are two permanently-occupied baches. We got that wrong.
Thank you from Rewa Costar
Firstly to my wonderful audience who came along and gave such amazingly positive support, you made the night an experience I will never forget. To all the people who couldn’t make it but made a donation anyway, thank you, it meant a lot to me.
To my incredibly talented and amazingly passionate accompanists, Jochim Maurer and Rudolf Samper, this whole thing would have been impossible without you.
To the masterminds behind the scenes at the Mussel Inn, Jane and Andrew Dixon, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
To Neil Wilson. What can I say? An amazing journalist with such contagious excitement and interest for life. Thank you.
It was amazing to be able to perform in front of such an appreciative home-town audience. The amount of interest and support was overwhelmingly huge. I’m definitely coming back.
Rewa Costar
