Letters 23 April 2010
Perfect pickles
May I, through the medium of your column, thank Joe Bell for his interesting suggestion (GBW Letters 16/3) for yet another way to make money from selling pickled onions.
The Lions Club International magazine has picked up our efforts from the article you wrote in your 11 March edition, so hopefully our endeavours will be made known throughout the Pacific region.
On a local note, the Lions Club of Golden Bay will be selling their Perfect Pickles outside Take Note today, Friday 23 April from 10am onwards.
John Wilkinson, secretary Golden Bay Lions
Integrated health centre
Congratulations to all those involved in the development of the integrated health centre proposals. After many years of conceiving the idea, thinking, listening, planning and consultation it now seems that the integrated health centre is coming to fruition and we can now look forward to a locally governed integrated health scheme that will be an example to other areas of the country and even, perhaps, the envy of many.
Let us now put aside the concerns and acrimony that have existed in the past, and get in behind the scheme. There are many ways in which we shall be able to give our time and energy in support of the work so that we can really celebrate our good fortune in the next 18 months or so.
Well done, everyone.
John Weston
It is clear that Golden Bay residents want access to health services in the Bay to be the best that it can be.
Having chaired the first meeting to discuss the possibility of integrating health services, I would like to pay tribute to the Interim Management Group (IMG) members for their subsequent conscientious work. All of the members of the IMG have put untold hours into developing and considering all of the options before settling on a recommendation to put forward.
It is up to us as a community to enable the IMG to present this information and respond to questions so that it can be fairly considered on the facts. Our community is urged and encouraged to attend the IMG public meeting to be held in the Takaka Primary School hall on Monday 26 April 2010 commencing at 7.30pm.
Joe Bell, chairperson, Golden Bay Community Board
Business mentors needed
Do you have experience in running a business? Could you volunteer a bit of your time to support and advise people in the community who are attempting to start up or run small businesses?
The Golden Bay Community Workers are increasingly being asked for small business mentors and we would love to set up a pool of people who could support others to work through their business problems. If you feel that you could help in any way, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact me at the Community Workers on 525 7013 or <caf@gbcw.co.nz>.
Emma Brazendale
Climate change
Peter Foster’s concerns (GBW Letters 16/4) about the difficulty of testing climate change predictions are a distraction. I suggest that anyone wondering about climate change consider these things:
Fact: Deforestation and use of fossil fuels is releasing to the atmosphere carbon that has been stored on or in the earth for millions of years.
Fact: This carbon is now stored in the oceans and the atmosphere.
Fact: Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen considerably over the last 300 years and are steadily rising.
Fact: All the good science shows a relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and temperature.
Fact: The earth is warming - glacial melting, ice sheets receding, rising sea levels.
Fact: It is difficult to prove that humans are responsible for climate change - at least until it is too late to do anything about it.
There are plenty of studies looking at the likely effects of climate change - very little of it is good. As Peter says, very difficult to prove anything - so maybe we should wait and see? Surely this would only be rational if we could reverse it? So, it’s up to you (readers). How much precaution do you think is prudent?
Ian Alach
Mining in national parks
Is everyone aware that the National government is currently trying to open up most of our remaining pristine conservation areas to mining? National parks, wilderness areas, marine reserves; they propose to be allowed to mine whatever they choose. Are we aware that short-term profit would give way to permanent damage to our wild landscape and the creatures who live there? Have you seen a devastated industrial mining site before, or the rivers downstream from it? Are you aware that if this legislation goes through, our own incredible Kahurangi National Park is on the list of the many parks to be surveyed for minerals to dig up? Is that the rain outside my window or Papatuanuku weeping for her children’s foolishness?
And are you aware that we, as people, have the power to stop this from happening? The comment period on the proposed legislation is open until Tuesday 4 May. There are many ways to speak up. You can visit the website <www.2precious2mine.org.nz> to learn more and find out how to make a submission to voice your concerns to the Government and maybe, just maybe, when they see how many of us there are, they will listen.
Rebecca Reider
Gifted education programmes
The teen suicide rate for gifted (both academically and/or artistically) children is believed to be four times that of their average same-age peers; it may be more in rural areas. These children need challenging, meaningful work to keep them interested and engaged in classroom learning. They often display disruptive behaviour out of boredom, and hide or dumb down their abilities for fear of appearing “geeky”. Schools are without Ministry of Education funding specifically for gifted education programmes and often simply cannot meet the needs of gifted children.
On Tuesday 27 April, 1pm to 3pm, at the Golden Bay Community Centre, there is an opportunity to have the opportunity to prioritise opportunities and funding for gifted education. On that date, Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) will hold a public meeting. Anyone is welcome to attend, to examine where the COGS funding has been going, and have input on where it should go in the future. It is a fabulous process to participate in.
Gifted education programming is an investment in children who are the best New Zealand has to offer of itself in every field of the future - we should support and celebrate these children and their abilities. COGS can help us, and our schools, to do it.
Leanne Pressman, regional co-ordinator,
Gifted Education Centre, One Day School
Bedding supplies low at community workers
The nights are getting colder and our bedding supplies are low. If you have any warm bedding, duvets and blankets that you could donate to the Community Workers we would love to have them to give to members of the community in need. Thank you.
Emma Brazendale
Tribute to Tamsin Hayter
Unfortunately I was overseas when Tamsin died, but I would like to share some of my thoughts.
If it hadn’t been for Tamsin, my wife and I may never have come to Golden Bay. The people of Golden Bay had fund-raised for a new surgery and advertised for a doctor. I applied and my address was given to an older GP and to Tamsin who were both in Golden Bay. The older doctor wrote advising me not to come because there wasn’t enough work here. Tamsin wrote, saying that another doctor was needed and saying “I hope you come “. I did come.
The older doctor was away when I arrived and had not arranged a locum cover. Tamsin welcomed me, but as she had two small children was unable to work. After six weeks she took pity on me and offered to do after-hours cover on one night a week. Later this became a couple of day sessions too. After some years Dr Kingston joined us and, as Tamsin’s children were older, we organised a roster of one night in three.
If somehow she could read these thoughts, a smile would spread across her face and with a twinkle in her eye she’d poke me in the ribs and say “It’s your turn next.“
Arthur Pearson (abridged with permission)
Ed. Dr Pearson has kindly agreed to contribute to the obituary for Tamsin Hayter which we will publish next week.
Boogie on Tap
I went to bed last Friday night with very sore jaw (smiling) muscles from watching Boogie on Tap on the opening night. Hats off to Debbie Neale and all those involved in the production. What an entertaining and well done production. The emcee promised entertainment, and Debbie and cast offered us just that, and more.
I’m not sure who enjoyed this show more, the audience or the cast? The Playhouse was certainly filled with smiles on opening night, going both ways.
I’m convinced that the grand finale alone was worth the price of admission which I understand was done twice on Saturday, the closing night. So I’m guessing those of us who went on Friday are owed one more grand finale....don’t ya’ think? lol Great show. Golden Bay continues to amaze and amuse me. What a wonderful and delightful community.
Tenzin Kalden
Thank you, Debbie, for your boundless energy and encouragement getting us ready for the show. It was great to showcase other dance, music and singing from the Bay, fantastic to partake in, and from feedback, fun and enjoyable to watch.
Boogie on Tappers cast
Food for much thought
Rachel Tompkinson, the founder and director of Better Bods Better Health, will be taking a seminar in Takaka on Saturday 1 May at the Masonic Hall, 9am to 12 noon.
Rachel, a qualified nurse, personal trainer and massage therapist, thought that she was doing everything right when it came to health and nutrition. After searching to find a cure for her daughter Jenna (who had severe eczema and 24 food allergies), she found foodwise that she was doing everything wrong. When supposedly “healthy” they were sick, and now supposedly being “unhealthy” they were well.
Rachel, in her book Jennas’ Journey tells of her experience of identifying common foods which are bad for our health. By not eating these, because she was breastfeeding at the time, Jenna’s eczema disappeared. This back-to-basic eating also helps people suffering from migrains, food allergies (including dairy, wheat and gluten), Crohns disease and coeliac. This book will be available to purchase on the day. Visit her website <www.betterbods.co.nz> to view her interview that was on Campbell Live.
Entry is by way of a “real” food item (a list of which can be found at www.betterbods.co.nz/whoohoo.html ) or by a gold coin which goes to the Salvation Army food bank. Local contact, phone 525 9409.
Pam Gardiner
