News in Brief
Living Lagacies
Aotearoa’s first natural funeral company, Living Legacies, is achieving cultural and ecological change. There are natural burial parks in Motueka and Wellington, and others are soon to be established in Takaka, Nelson, Spring Grove, and other centres.
These areas provide places where people can be buried without toxic chemicals leaching into the soil, in sustainably produced, biodegradable coffins in shallow graves with trees planted on them as memorials. They provide pockets of native bush as sanctuaries for wildlife, and a naturally pleasant place for mourners to remember.
Other benefits include: a reduction in the use of fossil fuels for cremation, mowing and maintenance of cemeteries, and production of concrete for grave berms; a reduction in the amount of toxic gas emissions from crematoria; a reduction in the use of MDF and hardwood timbers in coffin manufacture; a reduction in the use of toxic chemicals used to embalm bodies, including formaldehyde; and an increased awareness of our personal and collective responsibility to planet
A workshop will be held on Tuesday 24 May, 7pm at Takaka Community Centre: How and why to plan your own funeral, how to arrange a funeral for someone you love, how to save thousands of dollars in funeral expenses, the environmental implications of the funeral industry, the value of a meaningful celebration of life, natural burial parks.
The workshop costs $30 per person or $50 per couple. Registration is essential. See advert in the Learning column in this issue.
Submitted by Living Legacies
GBHS Busy Brain Bees preparefor the challenge
Three of the brightest students from Golden Bay High School are preparing for the competition of their young lives, after winning a place in the New Zealand South Island Finals of the Australian/New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge.
The year 11 students (Fynn Campbell-Bowden, Oliver Bailey and Holly Johnson) outwitted and outsmarted 140 teenagers from throughout the South Island in a multiple-choice neuroscience quiz to make the final.
But the hard work is only just beginning for the finalists.
They will travel to the University of Otago on 28 June for the regional finals, where they will take part in a brain-teasing team challenge and neuroscience exam to test their knowledge of the brain and how it works. Brain Bee finalists will also be given an exclusive tour of the world-class facilities at the University of Otago and meet with renowned researchers.
“This competition gives students a feel for what a career in neuroscience can be like. The very smartest students from around the country will be allowed to explore the facilities and be challenged in a way they can’t normally be challenged in the classroom,” Brain Bee organiser and University of Otago neuroscientist Dr Stephen Bunn said.
“Neurological and mental illness account for a huge proportion of the disease burden in our community so we need to attract the best and brightest minds to take up a career in science.”
A record 11,850 students from 384 schools across Australia and New Zealand took part in the first round of this year’s competition.
The student who tussles to the top of the state finals will be offered a place in the Australian Brain Bee Challenge National Final, being held on the Gold Coast next January at the Australian Neuroscience Society Annual Conference.
The students are starting to raise funds to subsidise their travel costs and would appreciate the support of the community in their endeavours.
Submitted by Golden Bay High School
New Books at the library
Fiction
In the King’s Name by Alexander Kent. The return of the legendary Adam Bolitho in another naval adventure.
Eight White Nights by Andre Aciman. “A recreation of all the feints and counterfeints, yearnings and frustrations of a modern courtship… There was no resisting the book’s artistic power and truthfulness and intensity.”
Bright and Distant Shores by Dominic Smith. Historical novel. Chicago in the 1890s mixed up with the far-flung islands of the South Pacific.
Even the Dogs by Jon McGregor. “Jon McGregor treads with unflinching respect through the debris of a dead man’s home ...a short brilliant and beautiful lesson in empathy.”
Non-Fiction
Complete Chinese Cookbook by Ken Hom. Over 250 recipes mixing old favourites with new flavours and a comprehensive guide to ingredients and techniques.
The Raw Truth: recipes and resources for the living foods lifestyle by Jeremy A. Safron.
The Natural Wedding Book by Louise Moon. Your guide to planning an eco-friendly wedding day.
Spain: an Eyewitness travel guide.
My Spiritual Autobiography by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The World Encyclopedia of Rifles and Machine Guns: an illustrated guide to 500 firearms by Will Flower and Patrick Sweeney.
Three fabulous new knitting books-
Classic Knits: Marianne Isager collection.
Brave New Knits: 26 projects and personalities from the knitting blogosphere by Julie Turjoman.
Luxe Knits: Couture designs to knit and crochet by Laura Zukaite
Playhouse debut
On Saturday night at the Playhouse, Julia Muntwyler orchestrated a brilliant evening’s entertainment, showcasing her pupils and other respected local musicians.
What a wonderful opportunity for these musicians to share their talent, many going public for the first time. Twenty-three performers treated us to a rich variety of instruments and styles of music including classic, pop, recent hits and traditional (Swiss cowbell included!).
The young and not-so-young shared their expertise and their delight in music to a very supportive and enthusiastic audience. They highlighted the fact that music and our enjoyment of it is a lifelong pleasure. From four-year-old Tarn, who captivated us playing his two piano pieces with such precision and confidence, to the Duo Westrupp, livening us up with their versatility and sheer delight in playing, and to all performers in-between. Congratulations on a fine performance.
Funds raised from this wonderful evening’s entertainment, which will go to Community Chest, amounted to $320, and from the supper $220 was raised for the Playhouse roof.
Special thank you to Julia, the brainchild behind it all.
Looking forward to a repeat performance next year.
Karen Pringle
Adam Boaz heads to the national dairy awards
2011 West Coast Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year, Adam Boaz, is heading to Queenstown for the finals this week.
A former soldier, 30-year-old Adam swapped war zones for dairy farming in 2008 and is in his third season assisting on a 180-cow Takaka farm for Brian Nesbit.
With stints in East Timor and Iraq, Adam is now focused on moving up the dairy ladder. He plans to manage the farm he is on before moving on to a larger enterprise.
It was the third time he had entered the awards, this time pocketing $5500 in prizes.
Adam will compete against 12 other regional winners for the New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year title in Queenstown on 14 May.
Submitted by
New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Trust
Local author produces eBook
Growth, the second book in Golden Bay author Ray Parkes’ Rayman series, is now available. It continues the story of the Rayman.
“Today they were being taught about sharing. Sharing everything was better than bartering, Donna was told. If everyone gave, they all received and the community thrived.”
Donna, a young friend of Carrie and the Rayman, has an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Her search for information embarks her on a journey of self-discovery.
Natural Portal has released Growth as a free eBook. “We have decided to put this book out for free in the spirit of the books themselves,” says Ray. “They are dedicated to spreading a sense of harmony and well-being.”
“It is fairly obvious even to the most hardened supporter that commerce no longer works. As a publisher working on the cutting edge of new media we are fully aware of the demise of the conventional high street book store. They are going the way of the record shop. Publishing, like every other industry, is in decline. This is actually a very good thing.
“Service to self has always been destined to be replaced by service to others and commerce will drop away to insignificance as we, the human race, start to prosper and share. It is a very exciting time.”
An electronic book is a small file that can be read on a dedicated reader, smartphone, tablet or any computer. You could carry 2000 of your favourite ebooks in your phone; that’s 10 per cent of Takaka library. EBooks are the mp3 of the book world and can be shared just as easily. More and more people are discovering them every day and there are plenty of free eBooks if you care to look.
Growth can be downloaded now from either of our websites, www.therayman.com or www.NaturalPortal.info
Submitted by Natural Portal
Blair Riordan wins Golden Bay Open by one shot
A deft chip on the last hole set up Blair Riordan’s one-shot victory over his brother Sean in the Golden Bay Open last weekend.
Chipping close from off the back of the green on the 18th meant that Sean had to hole a three-metre putt to force a play-off. The putt lipped out, leaving Blair a short putt for the overall victory.
Blair carded 67 and 68 to beat Sean’s two 68, for the best gross and the Open title.
Blair’s win was highlighted by holing out on the 17th for an eagle three from an impossible position left of the green in the Saturday round. That catapulted him into the lead.
In the second round on Sunday he played steadily through the first nine to build a three-shot lead, then hung on around the second nine scrambling four pars and a birdie in the last eight holes to win by a solitary shot.
Tee to green Sean played really well but he missed seven makeable putts of three metres or less in the second 18 holes. There was drama when he holed an eight-metre putt on the 16th to draw within one shot, but his chance to tie evaporated on the last green.
The Open has been a Riordan preserve for the past 5 years. Sean first won in 2006, Blair in 2007 then Sean again for the past three years. But on the back of some great form, including reaching the semi-final of the NZ Amateur at Russley last month, it was Blair’s turn in 2011.
Well over 100 mm of rain fell in the week leading up to the Open so the course was soggy underfoot. There was light rain at times during the tournament but the wet but warm and calm conditions did not deter golfers.
The best round of the tournament was a 66 shot on Sunday by Motueka’s Nick Van Leeuwen, the 2004 winner.
More than 140 people from throughout the Nelson Tasman District, Marlborough, West Coast and Canterbury played the 36-hole tournament.
Overall nett winner was Simon Page on 130 and overall stableford winner was Len Trent with 80 points. Both are Takaka members. Other sectional winners included: Senior: gross Sean Riordan 136, nett Bruce Thompson 140 on count back, stableford Tom Dasler 68 on countback. Intermediate: gross Dave Win 162, nett Bob Nicolle 138, stableford Derek McKay 69 on count back. Junior: gross Larry Moses 171, nett Doug Collis 137, stableford Saxon Balck 69 on count back. Women: gross Jaimee-Lee Moses 161, nett Sue James 145, stableford Fiona Shearer 60.
Submitted by Takaka Golf Club
Nominations open for Nelson Tasman Community Awards
The once-a-year opportunity to celebrate and recognise local volunteers has arrived, with nominations opening for the TrustPower Nelson Tasman Community Awards on Monday 9 May.
The awards, which are run in conjunction with the Nelson City and Tasman District Councils, are open to all voluntary groups and organisations working to make the Nelson Tasman region a better place to live.
Since the TrustPower Nelson Tasman Community Awards began in 2000, more than $55,000 has been given away to deserving voluntary groups and organisations. This year more than $6,500 is up for grabs.
“Every year when I see the groups and organisations who are nominated for the TrustPower Community Awards I am proud of the dedication and support that volunteers give to the Nelson Tasman region. These groups deserve recognition for the work they do in our communities,” says Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne.
Anyone can nominate a voluntary group for the awards – groups can even nominate themselves. Last year 116 nominations were received.
The awards cover five categories: Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Educational and Child/Youth Development. Category winners receive $500, runners-up $250 and the Supreme Winner $1,500 and an all-expenses paid trip to the TrustPower National Community Awards, being held in March 2012.
Nomination forms are available from Tasman District Council service centres or can be completed online at www.trustpower.co.nz/communityawards. Nominations close on Friday 15 July 2011.
Submitted by TrustPower
