Letters 9 September
Are you throwing fish carcasses on the beach?
To the person who is throwing fish carcasses on the beach between the Selwyn Street reserve and the tree with the swing, you know who you are and now so do we. Yes you have been seen. Could you please stop leaving your fish heads and bones on the beach? Not only is this dangerous for someone to stand on, but also for the dog walkers whose dogs could choke on this rubbish.
We note you are not throwing this rubbish at your end of the beach and in the time it takes you to get to the other end, you could have wrapped the bones and put them in your rubbish bin, buried them in your garden for compost or dug a hole on beach and buried them there! Please stop.
Louise Amitrano and Milly (the dog)
Rural health
Joan Whiting Home is short of $100,000 per year (we’re told). Unsustainable, impossible, must go! The solution is a $6.9 million hospital extension including a $4.3 million mortgage at 8 per cent over 15 years (we’re told). That mortgage alone is $493,000 per year. It will come out of staff and wages cuts, won’t it? And I hear Peddle Thorpe consultants already cost $400,000.
So spend $493,000 per year + $400,000 up front to save $100,000 per year? I think not.
Proponents note the voluntary efforts of committee members. That means they are generous with their time. It does not mean this all-eggs-in-one-basket hospital is a good idea. Nor that the proposal is beyond questioning. Good on Joan Whiting Trustees for jumping ship. I have no confidence in it either.
The committee produces top quality professional PR Silky smooth, but the arithmetic does not add up. It makes me wonder. What agenda is driving this?
We are a farming community. With care we can arrange what we need, but we can’t afford grandiose schemes. The essential starting point is candid honesty about the agenda, and a plan with arithmetic that adds up plausibly.
Andrew Yuill
Thank you Dr Clark for your reply (GBW 2/9). My letter was written out of concern; maybe you could call it constructive criticism. My letter was submitted before your article in The GB Weekly. Your article would have been more worthwhile before you changed the service, so we knew what to expect when you called the medical centre after hours.
I have used the Plunket Helpline on many occasions and have answered basic questions asked by the nurse, but this situation felt more serious at the time. As for seeing a doctor with a “foreign accent” would not have been a problem, you missed my point of understanding a foreign person over the phone as opposed to speaking with them in person.
As I write today I have never been contacted by a nurse or doctor. I was brought up with family doctors or practices, so some reassurance as to the changes in the system or procedures would have been helpful and less stressful. I understand the workload of doctors and did not expect immediate service, but no service at all was disappointing. After reading your article, I have a better understanding of the after hours service. One further question: Why was it the duty doctor never contacted the Golden Bay Hospital when paged? I believe there was not a doctor on duty that night, due to some misunderstanding on the part of the Medical Centre. Maybe an apology for human error would be better than using the new after-hour’s service as an excuse. If there is a next time I need after-hours service, I am sure I will receive the good service I have had over the past years.
Kylee Reynish
I have again had need to use the after-hours service last week and I am very pleased to say the service worked very well.
I was not put onto any call centre that I could distinguish. I went straight to a nurse who told me she was answering for the GB Medical Centre. She listened to the problem, asked me three questions, told me which doctor was on call and said either she or the doctor would ring me back. I was rung back by the doctor in about five minutes. The problem was discussed and the advice and help was given.
I am sure if the service is to be continued that it will be monitored and maybe adapted as time goes by to ensure an effective system as possible can be achieved,
I am very aware that in today’s world we are lucky to have an after hours service at all. Our son who lives in Rangiora with a population of double ours has no after-hours service at all. Christchurch is where they have to go for help.
Anne Gentleman
My five-year-old grandson was recently taken to the local medical centre in the Hutt Valley, staffed mainly by doctors holding locum positions.
How fortunate we are here with our dedicated staff providing excellent personal medical care. Currently there is and will be change. Bringing the positives from the past to the development of new initiatives and advanced practitioner roles, will be to our advantage, irrespective of age.
Recently I experienced surgery on the surgical bus. The information before and after surgery, together with the quiet efficiency of staff on the “bus”, and our community hospital was brilliant. This service provides us with a very privileged option in rural medicine. For the future, with medical and allied staff working together in the modern integrated family health centre, there will be increased efficiency and job satisfaction. All the staff deserve our support and my thanks go to all who afford me such excellent care. I look forward to the future.
Margaret Fricker (45 years in health, now a volunteer)
It has been disappointing, over the last few weeks, to see The Nelson Mail give so much negative publicity to the proposed new health facility for Golden Bay, including a Moreu cartoon in poor taste. In consideration of the many supporters in the Bay for this plan, it would have been nice if we could have had a more balanced account.
There has also been much criticism of the existing medical centre, and especially of the after-hours service. Perhaps the critics of this don’t realise how lucky we are to have the services we do in the Bay. I have been hearing and reading about many centres, both rural and urban, which have no after-hours service at all.
We all tend to think the good old days were best, and it is natural to resist change. However, if we hope to continue to keep a supply of doctors in the Bay, retain our hospital and have rest home facilities for our elderly, we should listen to the medical professionals and concerned residents who set in motion the idea of the new facility. They are a dedicated team, largely volunteers, who have worked hard on our behalf for the last ten years to make it happen, and further delays will only result in more cost increases. It is now time for us to put aside our differences and give this exciting new project our wholehearted support.
Tonie Watts
I’ve had a recent health issue, and I want to write to say how very well I was treated at all stages of this event. I want to write this, because there is so much negative talk about local and regional heath services from a few. We need to be so proud of all services which swing into such comforting action when needed.
Let’s look at the wider picture rather than bleat about some small mishap. So what if my skin is getting so old that a Nelson nurse seeking blood, referred to me as an elephant!
Thank you all so very much. When I needed you, you were there for me.
John Lee
Good dialogue in our community is always good to see, however I was very disappointed to see the petition against the IMG with its half truths and innuendos.
What concerns me, and I think we should be all clear about this, is that some of the people who have signed have done so on the basis that they have a concern with just one aspect stated in the petition. Also there has been a definite attempt to hound people to sign, eg in the supermarket, by a strong-minded petitioner, where to get away from them you need to be equally strong-minded, dodge around the aisles to avoid them or sign to get rid of them. So I would have a concern about the accuracy of the numbers that have signed.
I see with interest the well-worded comments by Kate and Alexia and the many well-written letters in support of the IMG far outdo the letters supporting the petition.
I believe we need to give the IMG our support and thank the members of the original grouping for all the work they have done, and in concluding note that you cannot please everyone in every detail.
Paul Marcussen
By-election public meetings
Congratulations to those who have offered their candidacy for the upcoming Tasman District Council Golden Bay Ward By-Election.
Bainham and Pakawau Rural Women are organising, and encouraging the public to attend, Meet the Candidates meetings to be held Sunday 11 September, Collingwood 1.30pm at St Cuthbert’s Sunday School Hall and Grey Power and the GB Community Workers are doing the same in Takaka at the Community Centre hall at 7.30pm.
Each candidate will give a short presentation followed by a question session and time to chat individually over a cuppa.
A great opportunity to become more informed prior to voting papers being released 12 September.
Michelle Riley on behalf of Rural Women, Bainham Branch
Wrinklies bus
In a recent paper (GBW 26/8) it was mentioned under letters by Karen McCleely that the Wrinklies Bus has said they struggle to get drivers.
Actually the Wrinklies, in its present format, is doing very well for drivers. However, it was mentioned at a St John’s meeting that if the Wrinklies Bus was to extend its membership to people of all ages it would be a real struggle to get volunteer drivers.
Therefore, we intend to keep going the way it is set up. Membership for people over 50 years of age or disabled only.
Henk Visker
Democratic outcomes
Jeff Allen (GBW 2/9) is assured that the suggested change to the Local Electoral Act 2001 is to improve democratic outcomes.
Those selected to be mayor and councillors by their peers are “representatives” elected by local communities. Local communities have the best opportunity to know candidates and their abilities.
There are many democratic organisations which appoint office-holders from those elected. For example, regional councils don’t have a separate poll for their chairperson. The chairperson is elected or appointed by successful candidates. This method provides the positive opportunity for the best available person to take up the role supported by the representatives they will be working with. This has to be better than the current presidential-style mayoral lottery.
During the 2010 Golden Bay A& P Show a quiz was held on the TDC stand. One of the questions was to name Tasman’s mayor. Very few participants could do so. The 2010 election results record that 73.47 per cent of eligible voters did not vote for the current Tasman mayor. As part of this, 322 blank voting papers were returned in the mayoral election.
“Representation” is too precious for us not to try to enable it to be the best it can be.
Joe Bell
Historical trees info needed
I am doing research on historical trees in your area, which have a story from the early days of settlement. Many of these stories are in danger of being lost and it is important that they are recorded. The trees are most likely to have been planted by pioneers, but also may be natives that have been there for even longer.
I would appreciate any contact from people who have this knowledge and can relate the story plus let me know where the tree is situated. Should you contact me I would like to meet with you and also to visit the tree and take photographs. Please contact me on nztreestories@gmail.com or phone 021 033 5645.
Anne Stanton, Stoke
Price Of Milk variety concert
The immense talent in Golden Bay ensured that the Price Of Milk concert was a roaring success. Eleven acts, forty-three individual performers and a short local film kept the audience entertained far longer than was originally planned.
Thanks to TDC, Takaka Drama Society, GBHS, the Village Theatre staff, the performers and of course the wonderful appreciative audience. Especially the young boys who danced to Mohua Sun...you boys rocked!
Dave Myall, GB Recreation & Way2Go co-ordinator
Youth Open Mic Night
Nice one Paddy Brennan and Tasman Youth Council for a much needed event in the form of the Youth Open Mic night, held at the Brigand last Sunday. Just shows how many young people out there want this sort of thing to happen. So many performers. Hope it happens again.
Peter Blasdale
Meals on Wheels
Having been involved with Meals on Wheels since the Reverend John William instigated the service in the mid-eighties, I wish to express my appreciation through this media to the volunteer drivers who give their time and care to deliver meals to the elderly and disabled. This helps them to stay in their own homes. Also to those convenors who organise the drivers each week, thank you. There are still a number of us who have been delivering meals since this service began. A lot of kilometres have been clocked up in that time. Some of the drivers have eventually become recipients of the meals.
Dot Scott
Conservation Week
Next week is Conservation Week, with the theme “Love NZ”. Golden Bay branch of Forest and Bird, together with DOC have planned a raft of activities centred around welcoming the Godwits back to the Bay. Although it is a little early yet, we have arranged many opportunities to get to know these amazing birds before they start arriving in another week or two. There will be a display at the DOC office, where the programme is listed.
There are many dogs running on the beaches every day, and I ask that owners do not allow their dogs to harass any shorebirds, especially over the next two or three months. Godwits are exhausted and starving when they land back in New Zealand, and need to be left in peace.
Welcome, Kuaka! Love New Zealand and pick up rubbish for Keep Golden Bay Beautiful!
Jenny Treloar, Forest and Bird
