Letters
2010 Gardener of the Year
Our Robyn Jones has become the Nelson Gardener Of The Year but now there is a chance to vote her in as Gardener for New Zealand. She has some very tough competition from other good people but please give her a vote. She does so much with her growing plants for the waterways, organising the stoat traps and helping at Mangarakau, and is very humble about it all. You only need go to www.nzgardener.co.nz then fill in a simple form. They ask you which page the form is on in the magazine and the answer is page 37. Votes need to be in before 31 October.
Let’s support Robyn and have a Golden Bay person win.
Kathy Baigent.
Mountain Films raise money for cycle/walkway
A sell-out showing of four short films from Wanaka’s NZ Mountain Film Festival has raised $750 for the GB Cycleway & Walkway Society. This money is most welcome, and will help towards completing the first phase of the riverside track that will connect Paynes Ford to East Takaka. Thanks, everyone, for your support. See you there next year.
Beth Burdett
Destruction of old library
The Takaka community will be saddened by the disastrous fire that destroyed one of the town’s picturesque buildings early Saturday morning, namely the former Takaka Memorial Library. Not only was it the loss of the building but a business I believe to be unique in our town; a business that had quickly flourished and presented itself as a quality establishment with a likewise product. We will all be feeling for the owner at this time.
The memorial library was built around 1950 after the Golden Bay RSA had first endeavoured to finance a memorial hall and eventually decided to build the library. This building was financed by considerable fundraising in the Golden Bay community and received a subsidy from the Government of the day.
Recently this building was inherited by Tasman District Council and I would hope that, as it was built by the community, insurance funds will be retained in rebuilding on the site. No we don’t need a playground extension or a bigger rose garden, but another retail outlet on the site.
Barry Cashman
Motocross noise
Simon says (1 October) Nelson Motor Cycle Club (NMCC) do not have a controlling interest in council decisions. As the president of NMCC he should be aware that the NMCC website states, “The TDC ‘Code’ was the result of over a year’s work by Nelson Motor Cycle Club members.” He should also be aware of Mayor Richard Kempthorne’s recent “huddle” to discuss rural noise issues with the vice-president of NMCC Paul Searancke and NMCC member councillor Trevor Norriss.
John Salmon
Donations sought for Collingwood doors
Having just returned from two months’ travel around the world, it only confirms that New Zealand is certainly the finest country in the world. Driving into Collingwood and seeing the gleaming white of the restoration of the Old Post Office was a truly amazing. All credit must be given to Julia Griffiths for her vision and devotion to this make-over.
Somehow this wonderful old building in its new paint job, lifts the image of the town, and is a focal point of which we should all be proud. However while Julia was given a small grant from the Historic Places Trust for this makeover, she has ploughed all her personal funds in this project, leaving the cupboard bare. This shortfall leaves her unable to restore the front street doors.
I would like for us in Collingwood, as a gesture, to try and raise funds for the restoring of these doors. If we can do this we will feel part of her vision and somehow share the glory of her effort. To this effect I have opened a deposit account at the BNZ Takaka called the “Post Office Front Door Fund“.
Those of us who can afford a donation, please try and raise the necessary amount, estimated at around $5,000. A nice touch would be a brass plate on these doors naming the contributors.
Reg Turner
