1 Community Contact is compiled from the contribuons of the people of South Westland. Arcles, items, news, recipes, stories, etc. from everyone are most welcome. All personal opinions should be signed and publicaon is at the discreon of the Community Contact team. The views expressed in Community Contact are not necessarily the views of the CC board. Send your arcles or adverts to your contact or e-mail to [email protected] by 15TH October to be included in the November issue ADVERTISING RATES Full Page $150.00 1/2 Page $80.00 1/4 Page $40.00 1/8 Page $20.00 Address: Brenda Monk - Lake Paringa Post Centre, South Westland 7834 We prefer online banking payments directly into the Bank Account: Community Contact 12 3166 00423000 02 with your name & what the deposit is for. Please do not send cash. Lambs & Lightning Spring really lived up to its reputation during the past few weeks: mild, sunny, grass-growing weather with lambs frolicking among the daffodils one day, and ferocious thunderstorms the next. The big lightning storm wreaked havoc and caused widespread damage throughout South Westland, not to mention the wild weather on the East Coast and the rest of the country. Slips on the Haast Pass caused the road to close for more than a week, and meant tragedy for a young couple from Canada— our hearts go out to the families. Let’s hope October brings more of the good stuff and less of the wild, especially since it’s school holiday time! And, of course, Labour Weekend—see you all at the Bruce Bay Sports Day and Ball on the Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday! Solo around the Coast of New Zealand: Brando August and September saw an amazing young man, Brando Yelavich, passing through our corner of paradise. Brando, 19 years old with ADHD and Dyslexia, is currently walking (and when necessary kayaking) solo around the coast of New Zealand to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House and awareness. While doing so he is living off the land, the sea and the kindness of others. Brando leE Cape Reinga on the first of February, travelling down the West Coast, swim- ming across some harbour crossings and raEing across another. Once he arrived in Wel- lington, Brando crossed the Cook Strait courtesy of SoundsAir.com. The Interislander has agreed to transport Brando across as well, so if he chooses not to kayak back across the Cook Strait he will take the ferry on his return journey. Connued on next page [email protected]
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Community Contact is compiled from the contribu�ons of the people of South Westland. Ar�cles, items,
news, recipes, stories, etc. from everyone are most welcome. All personal opinions should be signed and
publica�on is at the discre�on of the Community Contact team. The views expressed in Community Contact
are not necessarily the views of the CC board. Send your ar�cles or adverts to your contact or e-mail to
[email protected] by 15TH October to be included in the November issue
ADVERTISING RATES
Full Page $150.00 1/2 Page $80.00
1/4 Page $40.00 1/8 Page $20.00
Address: Brenda Monk - Lake Paringa Post Centre, South Westland 7834
We prefer online banking payments directly into the Bank Account:
Community Contact 12 3166 00423000 02 with your name & what the deposit is for. Please do not send
cash.
Lambs & Lightning Spring really lived up to its reputation during the past
few weeks: mild, sunny, grass-growing weather with
lambs frolicking among the daffodils one day, and ferocious
thunderstorms the next.
The big lightning storm wreaked havoc and caused widespread
damage throughout South Westland, not to mention the wild
weather on the East Coast and the rest of the country.
Slips on the Haast Pass caused the road to close for more than
a week, and meant tragedy for a young couple from Canada—
our hearts go out to the families.
Let’s hope October brings more of the good stuff and less of
the wild, especially since it’s school holiday time!
And, of course, Labour Weekend—see you all at the
Bruce Bay Sports Day and Ball on the SundaySundaySundaySunday!
Solo around the Coast of New Zealand: Brando
August and September saw an amazing young man, Brando Yelavich, passing through
our corner of paradise.
Brando, 19 years old with ADHD and Dyslexia, is currently walking (and when necessary
kayaking) solo around the coast of New Zealand to raise funds for Ronald McDonald
House and awareness. While doing so he is living off the land, the sea and the kindness
of others.
Brando leE Cape Reinga on the first of February, travelling down the West Coast, swim-
ming across some harbour crossings and raEing across another. Once he arrived in Wel-
lington, Brando crossed the Cook Strait courtesy of SoundsAir.com. The Interislander has
agreed to transport Brando across as well, so if he chooses not to kayak back across the
Cook Strait he will take the ferry on his return journey.
Far out where have the months gone!! They’re slipping by so fast that before I know it, 2 months have raced by without
geSng our very important Fox input into the past 2 issues! Or something like that…
Well Spring has well and truly arrived with daffodils everywhere and unstable weather paOerns. Since the start of August
�ll now, 22nd
Sept, we’ve had 545mm of rain and that day of nasty lightning that became way too close for comfort for
some Pekanga drive residents.
Luckily we have our very own fireman Sam who along with the help of Simon, who called the fire brigade, got the good
old garden hose, and dealt to the fire before it got too carried away. Good on ya Sam!!
Meanwhile Annie and MaOhew had to spend the rest of the day wondering what became of Snow White as their DVD
watching was cut short as their TV went out with a bang!
FOX SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
As we look back on term 3, there has been plenty going on as well as a big focus on fundraising for the school. First up
was the aEernoon of make-up, scarves and jewellery up for sale with a por�on of sales going to the school, followed a
week later, by the great quiz night at the pub.
Room 1 also welcomed Kerah Alexander into their midst at the end of August.
QUIZ NIGHT
A HUGE thank you to all the families of the school, who donated such fantas�c items for both the auc�ons and the raffle.
Also a big thank you to Nick who was the master quiz master and to the Heartland Hotel and Luton and Janine for
hos�ng the event, and then to Peter Halford who was our awesome auc�oneer.
Also a very big thank you to those of you on the fundraising commiOee, who made this night happen!
Final figures for the night were… Entries - $380
Raffles - $638
Auc�ons- $2,475
GRAND TOTAL OF - $3,493 !!!
FOX SCHOOL PET DAY.
The school pet day is to be held on the 21st
October (wet weather con�ngency day 22nd
October) Everyone is welcome to
come along and join in the fun and/or carnage of having a wide range of “pets” in one place and to view the kids pet
projects, art work and baking that will be on display from 12.30 onwards.
There is also a sausage sizzle to keep you going with a great aEernoon tea put on, once the prizes and trophies have
been handed out.
This day always provides great entertainment, so come along and check it out.
I cringe in fear as I write this, but some things just have to be said!!
CONGRATULATIONS Robert ScoO and Krissy Mitchell on your engagement! :)
Well that’s about it from here, as always please let me know if you have a good story or anything to contribute,
otherwise see ya next month.
I have been meaning to email you for some months now to tell you what a great job you and your fellow contacts are doing with Community Contact. Brenda did a great job of it too of course and it is wonderful for me as one of the 5 originators of CC to see it still going strong after all of these years. My oldest son just turned 31 and he was about 1 when we started it with our crummy little portable typewriters and our gestetner duplicator working away monthly in the priest’s house in Whataroa. Actually, we used to gather and work in the priests house each month but the gestetner was in the Postill's garage and Bruce Postill a Senior park ranger at Fox at the time used to draw on his printing skills from a former life to persuade it to print the 150 or so copies.
I feel you have got it going from strength to strength. Good on you all and great that you have the wonderful skills of Ruth Gordon on board.
Kind regards, Carrol Browne
We your feedback
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Permanent &
Casual
Commercial &
Household
HARI HARI TO
FOX GLACIER
(03) 753 4151
South
Westland
Rubbish
We now offer 2 new services:
AREA DISTRIBUTORS OF MORRIS OILS – For a complete range
of oil and grease, all freight FREE to our depot
CONCRETE CUTTING AND BREAKING – Asphalt/concrete road
saw, power saw cuOer, Electric saw plus a range of electric
breakers including the large rock/concrete demoli�on breaker
fiOed to our Hyundai 160 Excavator
BLACKS bolts/nuts/washers – high tensile grade; grinding and
cuSng discs
Now with eEpos for Franz Hire and Renton Hardware
• Machinery hire
• Contrac�ng
• Site works
• Farm drainage
• Landscaping
• Track work
Excavator is now available in Fox
Glacier
Ian: 027 695 6988 Kathy: 0274 741 306
Donation to Community Contact.
If you would like a receipt for your donation, please use this form and we will send you one.
Community Contact,
C/o Lake Paringa Postal Centre
South Westland 7834
We prefer you to make a direct payment to Community Contact
ASB 12 3166 0042300 02—please include your name as a reference & what the deposit is for.
Name…………………………………………………………………………………
Email address for receipt…………………………………………………
Or Postal address……………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
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Haast OCTOBER 2013
15th
August 2013 Haast School
Haast Community Allstars
We had a great turn out at the Haast School where some Hannah’s Clearing residents put on a meal for the Allstars. We had Joy and Evan McLean visitors from out of town join us and Anne Nichol had her first day with us from the Turnbull.
A big thank you to Margaret, Linny, Mauryne, and Phillipa, who put on a beau�ful meal.
Also special thanks to Glubby who was our chief waiter.
We had a choice of two meat casseroles, pumpkin, peas, silverbeet, cabbage mix, mashed potatoes and bread nibbles. For dessert we had a wide variety of cream cakes, slices and treats. Everyone was amazed at the wide variety and selec�on of dessert to choose from.
The Allstars were privileged to have the Haast School Children read their stories to us before dinner. What a wonderful effort they made, we were all thrilled to listen to the children and see how well they are doing at school. It was most entertaining. We would like to thank Liz Hawker for arranging the children to perform for us.
We now have got Housie running every Wednesday night at the Haast World Heritage Hotel. If there is anyone able to help out with baking for the cake raffles each week please contact Barbara on 7500-805. The proceeds from the raffles and Housie will go to the Allstars to help pay for an ou�ng to Dunedin to go on the Taieri Gorge Rail Car.
Our computer course has stopped for whitebait season and may resume in November.
Our next meet will be at the Haast World Heritage Hotel on 18th
September at 12pm.
Haast Playgroup
Monday 10:30am to 12:30pm Wednesday 11:30am to 1:30pm pre-school for the big kids with Karyn
Thursday 10:30am
Wear your high visibility vests when on the road.
Worst times to see you are early morning and late evening. Be seen!!!
Haast Community Library
Open Saturdays 1pm – 4pm
at the Hall in the Haast township.
Books are issued out on a three weekly basis,
And we are lucky enough to get 100 books
changed over every 3 months
from the Hoki�ka Library.
Don’t forget to return your
books on �me
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Okarito OCTOBER 2013
Okarito
Once again a pretty quiet month in Okkers. Although the Whitebait season has opened you would hardly know it...there’s hardly anyone with their nets in the water. At least this year the bar hasn’t blocked for the start of the season! Please note: the Okarito Community Association AGM date has been changed and will now be held on the 5th October 7.30pm, Donovans Store. There will be a pot luck at 6pm, and an ordinary meet-ing at 7pm. Keep December 1st free so you can come along to The Eastern who are playing again at Donovans Store. They really are an act not to be missed. Tickets from Okarito Nature Tours 03 7534 014. Ad-am McGrath, lead singer from The Eastern was here earlier this month playing a concert to help raise funds for Laura and Ryan after fire destroyed all of their belongings. What an amazingly gener-ous thing to do!! There were a lot of generous donations from all sorts of individuals and businesses. A huge thanks to everyone who contributed. It was very much appreciated. Remember, the best way to hear about upcoming events at Donovans is by joining Donovans Store on Facebook. There are a number of fabulous acts coming up next year, starting early January. Some of these acts are new to Okarito, and some, like the fabulously talented and entertaining violin-ist Fiona Pears, are welcomed back for a repeat show. And Remember:
"Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings."
Ross School has had a busy term three, with students recently returned from a 'damp' but fun school camp visi�ng
South Westland's scenic wonders. The juniors had an exci�ng night at Okarito; special thanks have to go out to the
Aviator Cafe and Kimmy for hos�ng these mul�tupes on a wet Tuesday! The seniors kayaked, hot pooled, tramped,
visited Kiwi and had a guided walk on the ice of Fox Glacier.
The annual PTA carwash was a great success, thanks to the many locals who supported the day. These important
events help keep events like camp affordable for everyone.
Pet day is also coming on the last day of term – 27 September. No doubt children are busy training and grooming their
favourite furry friends.
Gardening is also geSng under way at the school, with new fruit trees being mulched and the extremely solid
greenhouse geSng planted out by parents and children.
The next Playgroup Melody Makers session is now on 21 October, and yoga is s�ll being held with Laksmi at playgroup
on Wednesdays at 7pm. No experience is necessary for this, and anyone interested can call Marie Gill on 7554013.
Congratula�ons to local girls Meg Cornish, Smanatha Birchfield, Libby Manera-Wilson and Danielle O'Brien for making
it in to Hoki�ka Rep Netball teams this season. The girls played three tournaments – Greymouth, Westport and
Rengiora – a preOy impressive representa�on from our small popula�on. Samantha Birchfield and Brooke Manera also
went to South Island Secondary Schools netball tournament with the Westland High School A team, coming 8th out of
32 teams.
With spring well advanced we should see cherry trees blossoming at the beginning of October, and there may be a few
weeds in our curbside gardens that could be pulled by anyone green fingered. Pool season is coming up too, and we
can look forward to another season mee�ng up at this fantas�c community resource.
DAFFODIL DAY THANK S
On behalf of the Canterbury/Westcoast Cancer Society I wish to thank most sincerely all in South Westland who helped make Daffodil Day such a success. Many people in Hokitika and South Westland will benefit from your generosity. Special thanks to Terrace Motels, Glacier Helicopters, Franz Hot Pools, and The Landing Bar Ltd who provided the wonderful 1st prize of a weekend escape,
A huge thank you to you all, we are so lucky to live in such a generous and supportive area of New Zea-land.
Raffle Results. 1st` 03 7555325
2nd` 03 7556577
3rd` 0211551743
4th` Wayne. PO Box 68, Hari Hari
5th 03 7500727 Haast
6th 03 7557857
Chris Cuff Cancer Support Co-ordinator Hokitika Ph 03 7557010 Email : [email protected]
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Astronomy OCTOBER 2013
Planet Watching
Sky watching, like whitebaiting, cultivates patience. Last month I wrote about the spectacular evening line up of Venus, Saturn, and the new Moon which would occur early in September. But the fickle weather gods intervened, and when I ventured down to the beach on the evening of the 10th, during a brief lull, there was not a star to be seen.
October brings another month, and another sky. The Venus/Saturn/Mercury show continues to dazzle early in the month, although as the days lengthen Saturn and Mercury will become increasingly hard to pick out in the evening twilight and will be lost to view by month end. The three planets move swiftly. Venus is always the brightest and highest of the three, and by month end will have swung well to the southwest, setting four hours after sunset. Saturn lies more or less directly below Venus, and – although fainter – will be brighter than any star in the immediate vicinity, and easily visible until about the 15th. Mercury is fainter again, and appears more star-like than its two companions, but will be particularly easy to identify on the 6th, when it will lie immediately to the left of Saturn at the same altitude.
For the next three nights, the new Moon returns to the party. On the 7th its thin crescent (only 6% illuminated) lies directly above Saturn, and will form a right angled triangle with Mercury, a little higher than Saturn. The Moon will lie below Venus on the 8th, and above her on the 9th, now well on the way to first quarter. At such times, the unlit portion of the Moon is often clearly visible thanks to reflected earthlight, a phenomenon called the ashen glow or – more poetically – the old Moon in the new Moon’s arms.
On the 17th, Venus lies directly beside the star know to the Greeks as Antares, and to the Māori as Rehua. One of the brightest stars in the sky, Antares is a red supergiant with a radius 880 times larger than our own Sun: if it were placed in the centre of the Solar System, its surface would lie beyond the orbit of Mars.
Early risers should keep a watch out for Jupiter, now prominent in the morning sky to the northeast. For this year and next, the vagaries of Solar System geometry mean that Jupiter never rises very high, as its orbit lies low above the northern horizon like the Sun in winter. Even so, it is the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon and Venus, and is fat enough to look distinctly non-stellar. If you have binoculars, and can find a way to keep them steady – try leaning them against a high rail or fence – try looking for Jupiter’s four Galilean moons. Strung out on either side of Jupiter like beads on a wire they change position nightly, occasionally dis-appearing from view as they pass behind or in front of Jupiter.
In a sky randomly scattered with bright stars, it’s hard to resist mentally joining the dots. Humans have identified the most compelling patterns with mythological figures since an-cient times: the stars marking the face and horns of Taurus the bull appear on the Las-caux cave paintings of 15,000 B.C. Equally vivid are Orion the hunter, Leo the lion, and the curling sting of Scorpius. In 150 A.D., the scholar Ptolemy compiled a list of 48 group-ings of stars – con-stellations – which are still recognised. When trying to identify a con-stellation, bear in mind that most merely honour their namesakes. Expecting Virgo to look like a young woman is like expecting Mt Cook to resemble James Cook.
New constellations added in the 17th and 18th centuries filled southern gaps hidden from Athens and Alexandria. Often named for inventions seen as important by observers of the day, such as the chemical furnace (Fornax) and pendulum clock (Horologium), their names now seem prosaic but have stuck. Today’s constellations number Ptolemy’s 48, plus the modern 40. Defined by internationally agreed boundaries since 1930, they divide the heavens into 88 regions analogous to countries on a world map.
The stick figures that most of us associate with constellations are more correctly known as asterisms: patterns with an easily recognisable shape, but no defined boundary. The Southern Cross is an asterism, enclosed within the larger rectangular border of the con-stellation Crux. Asterisms – Orion’s belt is another – lack official status, but are the sign-posts by which we can learn to navigate the night sky.
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Royal New Zealand Plunket Society (Inc)
Westland Car-Seat Rental Scheme
“Baby Seats” - “Toddler Seats”
Phone Anne 03 755 4039
CHURCH SERVICES—October 2013
Catholic 6th 13th 20th 27th
Hari Hari 9am 6pm Sat. 9am
Whataroa 10.30am 9am 10.30am 7pm Sat.
Franz Josef 5pm 5pm
Fox Glacier 11am 9.30am
Haast 5pm
South Westland Catholic Parish: Contact Fr. Michael Mahoney, 0210333746 or 037534140
Note: This mass is the normal parish schedule. It is wise to check that a mass has not been changed for some special reason.
Anglican 6th 13th 18th 27th
Ross 10.30am 10.30am
Hari Hari 5pm 5pm
Whataroa 1pm
Franz Josef 3pm
Jacobs River
Haast 6pm
Anglican Contact: Rev’d Vivien Harber (03) 755 5125
