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Community Contact March 2013

Remember your contacts

Ross Annie Hughes 755 4145

Harihari Bronwyn Mason 753 3122

Whataroa Barbara O'Neill 753 4224

Anne Kennedy 753 4050 Franz Susan Miller 752 0747

Fox Fiona Anderson 751 0750

South Brenda Monk Home 751 0892

Brenda Monk Work 751 0837

Haast Liz Hawker 750 0845

Okarito Lynda Kay 7534232

Newsletter Compiler

Lisa Reinhardt 9745651

lisa@redroofproofreading.com

Community Contact is compiled from the contributions of

the people of South Westland. Articles, items, news, recipes,

stories, etc. from everyone are most welcome. All personal

opinions should be signed and publication is at the discretion

of the Community Contact team. The views expressed in

Community Contact are not necessarily the views of the CC

board. Send your articles or adverts to your contact or e-

mail to lisa@redroofproofreading by 15TH March to be

included in the April 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.

There has been a high demand for rhubarb cake recipes lately.

Here’s Community Contact’s favourite:

Nicky’s Rhubarb CakeNicky’s Rhubarb CakeNicky’s Rhubarb CakeNicky’s Rhubarb Cake

150g bu�er

3/4 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 1/2 cups standard flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup milk

TOPPING

500g rhubarb

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tbsp standard flour

1 tsp cinnamon

icing sugar

METHOD

Heat oven to 190° (180° fanbake) Line 23cm square 0n preferably with loose

bo�om.

In a food processor or bowl, beat so4ened bu�er (not melted) and sugar together,

then mix in eggs one at a 0me. S0r in dry ingredients alternately with milk, un0l

both are combined. Spoon cake mixture into baking dish in 16 spoonfuls–don't

worry it will spread out...

TOPPING

Cut rhubarb into 5mm lengths, put into bowl with sugar flour and cinnamon toss

‘0l rhubarb well coated. Sprinkle over the dough pu

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Tena koutou and I hope 2013 is treating you all well.

The year got off to an intense and extremely wet start for Franz Josef Police, with the torrential rain that came down just after New Year causing widespread flooding, and rising rivers that trapped several groups of trampers up in the hills.

The first group, from France, got caught on the Copeland Track when rivers swelled up dramatically within just a few hours of them leaving Welcome Flat Hut. They attempted a river crossing, and one of them was actually knocked off his feet and swept away in the flood waters. Fortunately he made it to the opposite bank, some distance downstream, and went for help. I spoke to this gentleman near the car park of the Copeland Track a few hours later, or tried to - he spoke as little English as I spoke French, which is very little indeed. After playing Charades and Pictionary with him for five or ten minutes, I decided to take him back to the Search and Rescue base in Fox Glacier, and got the SAR team rolling. It was great to see their professionalism and teamwork in action, from the management team at the base to the search team out in the field. It was a credit to them that the party was located and assisted out within less than 8 hours of it first coming to Police attention.

Less than 12 hours later, another lost party came to Police attention after a DOC worker noticed a car parked overnight near the Glacier walk. A little further investigation showed the same people had failed to check out of their accommodation that morning. This time, with the Wanganui River bridge washed out, slips on the Fox Hills, and communications down all over the Coast, getting in touch with Search and Rescue was going to be difficult in itself. However, the Guides, just across the road, were all over it. Within 15 minutes of asking for their help, we had a team ready to go, and soon after that we were setting a cracking pace along the Roberts Point Track. Before long we located the couple, who had al-so been trapped by rising rivers the previous day, and had spent a pretty miserable night out in the bush with no shelter, food or fire. One rope river crossing later, which the Guides made look pretty easy and the job was done. I think they were pretty happy to see us, and thanks to the Guides for that - great work!

Another wee drama we had within a week or so of those incidents was a male breaking into cars to steal their contents in a car park down near the Fox River. The car owner interrupted him before he could properly gain access to the vehicle, and he called Police. Several Police units attended, and I arrested the offender, who had been hiding in the bush. He was convicted in Greymouth District Court this month of Unlawful Interference with a Motor Vehicle.

Other than that, and now that the weather has calmed down a bit, it seems to mostly be the season for crashes, crashes, crashes. Crashes at all time of day and night, from Mount Hercules to Fox Glacier, males and females of all ages and races (but usually from overseas) seem to be skidding, tipping or rolling off the road, and ploughing head-on into each other. Charges are often laid, or at the least In-fringement Notices handed out, but next week there's always a fresh crop of dodgy drivers to deal with. Moral of the story - Drive as if everyone else on the road is an idiot, because they quite possibly are.

That's all from me, until next time.

Constable Guy Bradley

Franz Josef Police

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Walking the Buller Marathon

Last September my daughter Delwyn rang me and asked

if I would like to do the walking half marathon at Buller. I

didn't know what to think and asked for a few days to think

it over. I didn't know that my granddaughter Jessica had

started the ball rolling by asking Delwyn. Well, I de-

cided to give it a go, and then started on serious training.

I had already been walking for two and a half years, just

trying to get fit, but only up to 6 k's. From then on I grad-

ually extended my distances, and incorporated our

Zillion Hill in the workouts at least once a week. By the

fortnight before the marathon, I was keen to try the

full distance. John Caird very kindly took me up to Orman

Falls, and left me to it. Four hours later I was home , and

feeling very pleased with my time. At least I could do it in

the four hour limit I had set myself.

The three generations of our family met in Westport the

day before the big effort, and took a drive out to the

Gorge to size it up. Actually, it didn't look too bad, I

thought. Not as up and down as the Haast Pass. The

Saturday dawned cloudy but clear, cool morning - ideal. I

was full of nerves, and wondering how it would go. They

had been having 30° temps up there, but, lucky us, it

was only going to 22°. We all got bussed up to the starting

area, and had time to hang around and speculate. The

42. 2 runners took off first, then the 21. 1 runners. After

that the walkers in both directions. It was great being part

of the crowd, and I got into stride pretty early. From then

on it was concentrating on trying to get ahead and keep-

ing up with Delwyn and Jessica. Sadly, I didn't quite stay

with them. They are younger after all. This race was

called a "recreational walk". Well, I wouldn't like to be

walking like that every day.

The hardest part for me was the last couple of k's. By

then people were out on the roadsides cheering us on.

There was even a brass band about 4 k's out. When we

hit the Westport main street, people were there egging us

on. The cheeriest was a full complement of old people

from a home all sitting there in chairs, with blankets over

their legs, waving clapper type hands as we hurried

past. You just had to wave and smile. It was all very

encouraging. It was with relief I saw the finish area com-

ing up, and found that I had exceeded my own expecta-

tions, finishing in 3. 23. 47 hours. A whole half our

off my time.

Afterwards we strolled around, I got a massage - ooh

those sore muscles, and went for a soothing shower.

So ended my first half marathon at 71 years, with two

replacement knees. Fools that we are we are thinking

of doing it again. But we are all proud of what we did.

What an wonderful inspiration for us

all—something to well and truly as-

pire to.

I asked Barbara to write this article

for Community Contact because this

amazing achievement is something

we can all be especially proud of with

her.

Congratulations Barbara! (Brenda)

GLACIER

CONCRETE

For all your concrete

needs in Westland

Call Tim Gibb on 0211584043 to

discuss your requirements.

Driveways, dairy sheds, lime bins,

foundations, pole sheds, animals

shelters, standoff areas, farm race

ways etc.

Now might be the time to add a concrete

patio or pathway.

Glacier Contracting can also provide

gravel , sand, large stones for soak holes

etc and can do your site preparation

work. Call Tim for a free no

obligation quote. Email

glacierenterprises@xtra.co.nz

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Haast Happenings

A large pod of bottle-nose dolphins has been sighted off our beaches recently. They have been enjoying the fishing off our coast.

Summer weather has been wonderful from the middle of January. Having warmth and sunshine meant that the school pool has been popular with our families.

The school year has started well and the children have been swimming daily. The pool is warm so there are no hesitations getting into the water. Our youngest students are already showing improvements in their swimming.

Haast School received the first selection of books from the Duffy Books in Home programme this week. The children have been enthusiastically browsing to choose the two books they will order and take home.

We are fortunate to be a part of the programme. It gives the children the joy of owning books. Our school library is enriched by all the sample books that are sent to stay at the school.

January 16th 2013 Haast Hall

Haast Community Allstars

Happy New Year Everyone. Was good to see everyone back at the Haast Hall for our monthly dinners.

This month we had Chicken drumsticks, hedgehog potatoes, grilled tomatoes, salad and peas. For des-sert we had hot muffins made by Kathleen Nolan, fresh fruit salad and cream. Colleen Anderson was a great help in the kitchen preparing the meal and setting the tables. Thank you both Kathleen and Col-leen for your help this month.

After dinner we discussed what we wanted for future dinners and activities. It was decided that we will have silverside and bread and butter pudding next month at the Haast Hall.

The ladies of the group decided to come to the hall one hour earlier to chat and do some knitting for the school. I have spoken to Liz Hawker who said extra slippers and a blanket would come in very handy. If anyone has any donations of extra wool they will be gratefully accepted.

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We have yet to finalise a beginner’s computer course as we are waiting to hear back from the Polytech-nic. Later on in the year we also want to organize a day we can watch old video coverage of the making of the Haast Highway and the end of year play ‘The Lorax’ that the Haast School put on.

I would like to give a big thank you to Bob Cannell for installing the new stove into the Haast Hall. It was so good being able to cook everything in the one place.

I would also like to thank Helen Rasmussen for letting us use her oven at the Food centre.

See you all on the 20th February 2013 at the Haast Hall. 11am for the knitters and chatters and 12pm for dinner.

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 Hoki0ka Library.

Don’t forget to return your books on 0me.

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

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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Licensed Building Practitioner

New Homes, Additions, Renovations,

Concrete Work, Gib Stopping, Tiling

and Finishing Work a Specialty

Phone: 751 0170 Cell: 0272 751017

Email: deancaldwell@getrheel.co.nz

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Congratulations and Congratulations and Congratulations and Congratulations and félicitations félicitations félicitations félicitations to Ben and Alice on the to Ben and Alice on the to Ben and Alice on the to Ben and Alice on the

arrival of James Benjamin Monk.arrival of James Benjamin Monk.arrival of James Benjamin Monk.arrival of James Benjamin Monk.

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Fox Glacier Community Development Officer Report March 2012

WhathaveIbeenuptoforthemonthIhearyousay?

·WorkedalongsidetheWestlandDistrictCouncil,localbusinessandmembersofthepublictogettheworksstartedonthefootpathsandmaintenanceissuessorted.·WorkedwithamemberCounciltogettheFreedomCampingIssuesandproposestothebylawaddressed.·GeneralAdminforFoxINC.·WorkedwithmembersofCounciltohelpimprovetheongoingmaintenancethatneededdoingaroundFoxGlacier.·WorkingontheBigDayOut.AsyouallknowIhavespentagoodpartofthemonthinmedicalcare.SoIhavenotful(illedallofmydutiesforthemonth.Butwouldliketothankeveryonefortheirhelpandsupportduringthistimeasithasbeentesting. Butastheysayonwardsandupwards. IwouldliketoputforwardthepersonofthemonthforFebruaryisAndyHodgesasheisalwaysbusymow-ingandkeepingthetowngardenslookingsogreat..Andyhasdonethisformanyyearshassoasavolunteer.SoIsayifyouseehimatthebar“buyhimaBeer”. TheBouncyCastlehasbeenoutforafewtripsallovertheplacesoifyouwishtohireitisnow$50.00foraday(Noticedthediscountedprice!!)sokeepthekidsbusynextparty. TheFoxGlacierBigDayOutiscominguponthe6thAprilsoifyouwouldliketoholdastallorareabletovol-unteeranhourortwopleasecontactme. ThenextCommunityMeetingisonthe14thofMarchat7.30pm. Everyoneiswelcometoattendandifyouhaveanyquestionspleasecontact Meonthedetailsbelow. Thebesttimestocontactme: Monday10am-12pmthen1.30-3pm Wednesday9.30am-12pmthen1.30-3pm Friday10am-12pmthen1.30pm-3pm Iamabletobecontactedbyemailorbyphoneonthesedays.IfIdonotanswerpleasejustleaveamessageandIwillcontactyouassoonasIamable. Ifyoudidnotreceiveacopyoftheagendaorminutesandwouldliketogetacopypleasefeelfreetocontactme. AbyeeWilliams CommunityDevelopmentOf(icerFoxGlacier 0274211721

Saturday 6th April

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2013 COGS PUBLIC MEETING - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

COGS public meetings are an opportunity to discuss local needs and priorities for funding with the COGS Local Distribution Committee (LDC), which will guide the Committee in the 2013/2014 round. The LDC will also present their report on the COGS funds distributed in the 2012/2013 funding round.

The meetings are not just for community groups that have applied to COGS and are open to anyone.

To find out more about COGS funding, public meetings and to register your interest in attending, please contact us:

Community Operations, Department of Internal Affairs, West Coast contact details:

Physical Address: Postal Address: Websites:

146 Mackay Street* P O Box 33 www.dia.govt.nz

Greymouth 7805 Greymouth 7840 www.communitymatters.govt.nz

Freephone: 0800 824 824

All Enquiries:

Dyan Hansen DDI: 03 768 1001 dyan.hansen@dia.govt.nz

Kamaya Crawford DDI: 03 768 1003 kamaya.crawford@dia.govt.nz

*Please note that as we are re-locating, the street address above will change in March. All other contact details will remain the same.

Ross Ramblings Wow, the first month of 2013 is gone already! I have no doubt that the rest of the year will go by just as quickly. The weather for the past couple of weeks has been fantastic. Let’s hope we get lots more of the same for Feb.

Ross School is under way for the first term. There were 3 new entrants at the start of school with three more due to begin school later this month. There will be an interschool swimming sports day later this month. School children from Kokatahi, Kowhitirangi, possibly Kumara and Ross will participate. Locals will be more than welcome to go along for any or all of the day.

Swimming lessons will be held on a Wed morning from 11-noon otherwise the children will be using the Pool around 2pm on school days.

Housie: Housie continues to be on at the Empire Hotel on the first and third Friday of the month. The next date is Feb 15th where we will be continuing to have 20 x $10 houses as well as 10 x $5 houses. We will review this and the number of games at the end of Feb. Dates for March are March 1st & 15th.

Ross Pool: The pool committee have had a couple of meetings with Westland District Council concern-ing the leaking panels and pool maintenance. The budget has been used up for this season, so the panels will continue to leak until the end of this season when we hope to get more funding from Council and to have a more lasting repair made to the panels. The good thing is that even with the leaks the water is heating on these lovely days and is around 25° most days. Lots of folk enjoying the fantastic facility.

Ross Playgroup: Swimming lessons for pre-schoolers will be held beginning on Thursday 7th Feb for six weeks. The 1st class of 4 to 5 yr olds will be from 10am to 10.45 and the 2nd class 3 to 4 yrs is from 11am to 11.45. Be sure to enrol your child with Desma Ready at West Reap to have your child take part in this great opportunity.

Pool charges of $2 per session for children of non Keyholders. This is a separate amount to the Lesson Fee.

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Ross Community Society: The first meeting for this group for 2013 will have been held last night, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday 4th March at the Hall at 7.30pm

Ross Cell Phone Tower: This construction is going ahead quickly. It will be good to have cell phone coverage over all Ross, not just in some pockets like it is now.

Local Body Elections: These will happen later this year. Now is the time to be making a decision about your availability to stand to represent us at Council. There have been changes made to the num-ber of Councillors from this coming election. South Westland looks to be one of the areas affected by this change with a reduction in Councillors for this area.

Take Care until next time.

FOR ALL YOUR

ELECTRICAL NEEDS

For advice and a price

contact Gordon

Phone/Fax (03) 753 4068

*Need a painter?

*Need a Gib Stopper?

Kevin Hansen Painters

Whataroa 0275 753405

kevinhansenpaintrs@farmside.co.nz

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Kids! Can you find the 5 Easter eggs hidden in

Community Contact, not including the ones on

the front page?

WESTLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL

CREATIVE COMMUNITIES NEW ZEALAND

LOCAL ARTS FUNDING SCHEME 2013

Applications for Financial Assistance under the Creative Communities New Zealand Local Arts Funding

Scheme are now being called for.

A total of $10,000 is available for distribution for art and cultural activities.

Applicants should be resident in Westland District Council area and apply for art and cultural purposes on-

ly.

Application forms and further information are available on our website www.westland.govt.nz or from;

Community Services Department

Westland District Council Phone: (03) 756 9082

Private Bag 704 Fax: (03) 756 9045

Hokitika 7842 Email: glenys.byrne@westlanddc.govt.nz

Applications close at 4.00 pm on Friday 5th April 2013.

A Town Plan for Whataroa - Dates to remember

Thursday March 21st at the Whataroa Pub - a quiz night to raise funds for the first planning workshop

Saturday April 6th in the Whataroa Hall - workshops with Mark Hall to draw up a brief for the plan

- school children in the morning - adults in the afternoon

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Permanent &

Casual

Commercial &

Household

HARI HARI TO

FOX GLACIER

(03) 753 4151

South

Westland

Rubbish

Franz Hire New Location

14 Donavan Drive

• Excavators, Loaders, Trucks,

Roller and compactors, Waterblasters, Electric concrete breakers,

Generators, Lasers, and much more.

• All with or without operator

• Transport to/from site

• Siteworks and contracting — small or large

Over 35 years experience; for no obligation quote

contact ; Ian Hartshorne o27 695 6988 info@franzhire.co.nz

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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—March 2013

Catholic 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st

Ross 10.30am 10.30am

Hari Hari 9am 6pm Sat. 9am 6pm Sat

Whataroa 7pm Sat. 9am 7pm Sat. 7pm Sat. 10.30am

Franz Josef 5pm 5pm

Fox Glacier 11am 9.30am 8.30

Haast

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 3rd 10th 15th 24th 29th 31st

Ross 10.30am 10.30am

Hari Hari 5pm 5pm 10.30am

Whataroa 1pm

Franz Josef 3pm 8pm

Haast 6pm

Anglican Contact: Rev’d Vivien Harber (03) 755 5125

5pm

Lifeline – West Coast Toll Free 0800 353 353

Kidsline – 4pm – 6pm every school day

0800 543 754

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) (03) 7534005

HEALTHLINE – FREE 24 HR

HEALTH ADVICE 0800 611 116

SUPPORT, HELP, ADVICE?

West Coast contact numbers are:-

Westland Victim Support – ask for

Victim Support (03) 755 8088

Arthritis Foundation (03) 768 7254

Women’s Refuge (9am – 3pm)

(03) 7898025 AH 0800 208 339

Child Support Agency – queries re

child support 0800 221 221

Disability Information Service

0800 100 946

West Coast Rural Support—

Dianne Milne 0800 787 254