Plimmerton Residents’ Association Newsletter

What’s new in Plimmerton?

November 2010

Mana by-election Saturday 20 November … get out and vote! You can select one of eight candidates standing for election at any of 42 polling places in the Mana electorate, including two in Plimmerton ... St Theresa’s School in James Street and Plimmerton School in School Road.

Want to meet the candidates? Pukerua Bay School Hall, November 18, 7.30pm Pukerua Bay Residents’ Association invites us to join them (after their 7pm AGM) and put questions to candidates: Kris Faafoi, Labour; Jan Logie, Green; Matt McCarten, Independent; and Hekia Parata, National. Be early to be guaranteed a seat.

Railway station waiting room seating … help! The railway restoration team are looking for seating, similar to original 1940s seating, for the newly refurbished station waiting room, and it’s proving tricky.

If you have any suggestions, or sources, please contact project manager Allan Dodson 233 1087

Moana road … little blue penguins alert … slow down! Joan Reader tells us, “While we were out on our early morning walk last week we came across a dead little blue penguin. We think it had been hit by a car. Penguins cross Moana Road at night time particularly in the area of the steps up to Motuhara Road.” Please be aware and take care.

Festival of the elements 2011 Porirua Community Arts Council is accepting applications now from groups and individuals who are interested in being part of the Waitangi Day 2011 festival. Margaret Armour explains, “We are looking for groups and individual performers, sculptors to be part of an ice sculpting competition and volunteers to be involved on the day.”

The festival takes place in Porirua on Sunday 6 February from 12 noon to 7.30pm. Call Margaret on 027 224 5670 armour@xtra.co.nz

Riding for the Disabled needs a new home … can you help? Donna Kennedy from RDA says, “We have a large number of willing volunteers and a big waiting list but we have no lease. We have been in the old Porirua Hospital grounds since 1985 but now must move on. Riding helps our clients with many disabilities to build confidence, co-ordination and muscle strength. We are looking for an area with good flat land for an arena, clubrooms and grazing … about six to eight hectares (15-20 acres).”

If you, or anyone you know, can help these people who do such an amazing job, please contact Donna 027 235 8702

Kids’ Christmas letter box Santa will be delivering his special red Christmas letter box to Scene@Plimmerton on 1 December. Santa will reply to all the children who write and we will ask him if we can put the lovely letters on our web site so everyone can enjoy them!

Adopt-a-spot tagger alert Register today to join the tag alert team. All you have to do is report tags when you see them in your area. It’s easy … phone PCC call centre and log in as a volunteer. Tell them which street or area you wish to adopt. And that’s it, just call 237 5089 to enrol and to report tags. Plimmerton is competing for a mosaic artwork specially produced by local artist Kerry Scott, so we need lots of eyes on the job. (see the PCC flier).

Mana Arts successful Labour Weekend exhibition Congratulations to Mana Arts for their excellent exhibition which resulted in 16 works sold and several commissions. Well done to the painters and the club! And they thank the community for its great support.

Internet café-type access business idea? Lisa from the library says that people have been popping in looking for internet access and she has not been able to direct them to anywhere local. Business idea? she asks.

Topor Bistro and Bar wins top hospitality award Hot news! Congratulations to Stefan and the team at Topor, winners of the top Hospitality sector award in this year’s Porirua Chamber of Commerce Awards.

Quick on the draw … sketching group back on the job Fridays at 10am the sketching group meets in an outdoor location if the weather is kind. Stuart Nicol says, “We welcome new artists. No charge, just a gold coin for coffee.” Call Stuart 233 6626 stunicol@paradise.net.nz

Bowl in to make new friends and enjoy the game Rachel Wyborne Curtin tells us, “Our open day was very successful as was our garage sale which boosted funds. Twilight bowls for brand new bowlers (with help) starts 2 November at 6.15pm. Club champs are well under way and weekends are busy with organised events. Facilities are available for hire with kitchen and bar … ideal for Christmas functions.” Plimmerton Bowling Club on www.plimmerton.org.nz

Sorry pooch! Summer beach dog exclusion hours start this week Starting 1 November until March 31, dogs are not allowed on Plimmerton beach or Karehana beach between 9 am and 7pm. Check out www.pcc.govt.nz for alternative dog exercising areas. Dogs need at least one walk a day, and time off the lead to play to stay happy and healthy.

Crokey dokey the Summer (?) programme is under way After opening the summer season at its Ulric Street lawns in September, and a successful Have-a-Go Day for thirty adventurous souls during October, the club’s ongoing programme is now in full swing. Ken Rae 233 9614 invites us all along to see the club in action. “Visitors, spectators and prospective members are cordially invited to any of our sessions.”

Lots more info about Plimmerton Croquet Club on www.plimmerton.org.nz

Pet feeding Book now to ensure your furbabies are well looked after when you take a break. Pet Feeding Solutions do pet feeding, pet visits, dog walking and horse checking. Justine is a vet nurse and will ensure the best of care for your precious pets.

Call Justine 234 6068 petfeedingsolutions@xtra.co.nz

St Andrews re-opening! Saturday 27 Nov 7.30-9pm party (Parish Centre, 9pm - 8am Prayer Vigil in St

Andrew's

Sunday 28 Nov 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP); 9.30 am Celebration Eucharist

Tuesday 30 Nov (St Andrew's Day) 7.30 am Bishop Tom foyer dedication and breakfast.

Please advise the parish office if you wish to attend … everyone is welcome at all events, 233 9721 pauanglican@xtra.co.nz www.pauanglican.org.nz

800 people celebrate Plimmerton railway station restoration Project managers, and PRA committee members, Allan Dodson and Dave Anderson report on the brilliant opening ceremony which concluded a fantastic community project.

“Over the last 12 months community members have put 2019 hours of labour into this project culminating in the reopening of the Plimmerton Railway Station on the 10th of the 10th, 2010.

An estimated 800 people, many in theme costumes, gathered to welcome the Hornby Steam Train. 180 passengers travelled from Wellington to take part in the grand opening. There were brief speeches from the three project partners, Plimmerton Community, Porirua City Council and Kiwirail. A ribbon was cut jointly by the oldest and youngest project volunteers before a representative of the local tangata whenua blessed the station.

This project has succeeded thanks to the efforts of more than 140 Plimmerton residents who generously gave their time and resources. We thank those volunteers who shared the challenges and the fun of this project.”

Library news from Lisa Library hours Wednesday 1-4pm, Saturday 10.30-12.30pm Pavilion supper room

• Story time … next session 11am Saturday 7 November • Lisa says, “It's hard to justify pulling popular kid’s series books from the main

library but I don't want our older kids to miss out. So here's a deal - if you keep coming in and taking out books, I'll risk getting the hairy eyeball from librarians and keep getting them in for you.”

• Calling local book clubs: Porirua Library is launching a user-friendly, interactive library resource called Sorcer. Brian Anderson (library manager) has offered to explain its features - it allows you to build lists and post reviews. Contact Lisa at Plimmerton library, or email lgooch@pcc.govt.nz

Plimmerton Railway Station reopening is the STAR turn Listen to Spectrum on National Radio at midday, Sunday 14 November

Calendar of November events it’s all there www.plimmerton.org.nz

Four flat whites … fantastic offer! Mana Little Theatre will stage this Roger Hall play from 1-4 and 8-11 December.

Here’s a great idea … make up a group, meet at 7pm in the Big Salami - where Dave is offering a special price of $20 for two flat whites and a standard pizza for theatre goers - then trot across the road to the theatre (which is behind the pavilion) where the play starts at 8 pm!

Tickets just $15. To book call 233 8498

Nigel Kennedy’s Hilarious Hypnosis Show Plimmerton School Hall, Saturday 27 November, 7pm Adults $15 Children/students/pensioners $10

Fundraiser for four boys from Western Suburbs to travel to Japan with the Shane Rufer School of Football under-12 team.

Tickets from Tony 233 1010

Brickbats We have so many people in this community who work so hard to make this a fantastic place to live. However there are some stinkers in our midst and newsletter readers have told us this month about these charmers:

• elderly exhibitionist … residents and retailers were horrified on Saturday night October 9 when a café patron waddled out on to café corner, exposed himself and urinated copiously all over the paving. This was a tall, older man with a grey beard and Police are interested in talking to him and his six companions. As well as being disgusting and disrespectful, his behaviour was illegal on three counts.

• pavement pooers … dog owners who exercise their dogs early morning in Steyne Ave and do not remove the doings. We’ve made it easy, there are free doggy doo doo bags and a bin in Queens Ave Park. Pick up your dog poo!

• lazy lardy arse … a chap eating fish and chips on the waterfront three metres from a bin screwed up the paper and shoved it under the seat, before heaving his sorry carcass back into his car.

• I don’t live here, I don’t care! ... rental agents who let properties to rowdy yobbo youths in the middle of areas with families and young children.

• pea brained idiots … taggers who despoiled every surface in the domain the night before the station re opening (a very big thankyou to the people who spent hours painting over the mess before the event).

• low life thief … the creep who stole the Orca Research Trust collection box from a local shop on Labour day.

Orca attack in Plimmerton While most 11 year old boys dream of being sports stars, Harry Ireland-Spicer, a Plimmerton school student, dreams of working with Orca. He has already studied with world famous Orca researcher Dr Ingrid Visser and plans to follow in her footsteps. Harry offered to help raise money for the Orca Research Trust. He placed a donation box in a local shop. Harry’s mother Dawn says, “On Labour day when he went to collect donations he and shop staff discovered that the box had been stolen. It’s disgusting.”

We agree. Anyone with information about the theft should contact the Porirua Police.

PS. There is now a very secure new box in Scene@Plimmerton which will enable us all to donate to this worthwhile cause. Keep up the good work Harry.

Shell be right! We need cockle counters … Pauatahanui Inlet, 3pm, Sunday 21 November* Stout Cottage, Pauatahanui Wildlife Sanctuary (entrance between the cinema and the petrol station).

Fun, educational, family outing (two-three hours) with BBQ to follow for cockle counters.

You will be counting and measuring the cockles on the mudflats to help us assess the Inlet’s ecological health. You don’t need any knowledge or previous experience, we will show you what to do and provide all equipment needed!

*Rainy day alternative: Sun 5 December Wear gumboots, old clothes and weatherproof gear

Seating progress Over the next two weeks more of our new seats will be installed including the winning Matau design along Beach Road and picnic tables and benches under the trees and in grassed areas. Two of the seats installed in Karehana Bay will have adjustments made to the angle of their backs this week. We thank Len Woodman and the team from Askew’s contracting who are doing such a great job for us.

Hot date You are nearly too late for the Fire fighters ball 6 November. Tickets everywhere!

Carols by the beach family fun night Saturday 4 December from 4pm Plimmerton School FREE and all welcome! Singers, local bands, Christmas carols, entertainment for kids, refreshments for sale … it will all be happening so make sure you are there to enjoy the fun. mattwood278@paradise.net.nz

Plimmerton School Gala 20 November You’ve been cleaning out your cupboards and now it’s time to get stuck into the shed and that murky place under the stairs. Take all the treasures you unearth to Plimmerton School during the week starting 13 November. Don’t miss this HUGE Plimmerton event with every entertainment attraction ever devised. And you can eat international cuisine, buy Christmas presents, find bargains, have a laugh, win prizes … while supporting our local school.

Speeding drivers … as the sap rises unfortunately so do the saps Hoons invigorated by warm weather are again racing round our streets. Police ask us to report them http:/www.police.govt.nz/service/roadwatch.html or call *555

Wanted to rent … … clean, bright rental property in Plimmerton, or house sit, from 17 November. Quiet, professional, non smoker, employed and reliable tenant. Pip 027 554 3438

Let us help you do the business! Are you on our web site yet? It’s only $50 for six months and we make your page up for you and we’ll even take the photos! Get onto the site now and promote your Christmas specials like these happy business owners below who are all Plimmerton web siters. It’s easy, just call Lyndon and he will arrange a five minute visit to chat to you, 233 8005

Computer fix-it man says thanks! Warren Pieck thanks us for letting you know that he is here to help with all your computer needs and he thanks those of you who have called him after hearing from us about his helpful service. Still not clear? You need to talk to him then! Call Warren 233 1356 022 680 5001 warren@spiderbyte.co.nz

Stress free Christmas shopping at Scene@Plimmerton Christmas shopping nights will be repeated this year on Wednesdays 10 November and Wednesday 8 December with bubbles flowing. The special shopping night for men is Wednesday 24 December. The idea is to pick out what you want, tell Cherie, then send your man in to buy your ‘surprise’. Obedient menfolk will be given a beer and a snack and there’s a 10% discount on all items bought on these nights.

PS Order your own message in Christmas lights before 22 November.

Sofa promo packs a punch Living HQ in Plimmerton launched a unique promotion by declaring war on uncomfortable sofas. They have searched the area and last Saturday the most deplorable sofa was blown up in a controlled detonation in an old fertiliser silo. The competition winner gets to pick out a new couch from the store. Manager Jeff Elias says that as well as promoting his business he wanted to make people aware that, “sitting on a dodgy couch can have a negative affect on health and posture.” More at www.plimmerton.org.nz

Fairy portraits for Christmas gifts Photographer Dianna Hood reminds us, “There’s only 8 weeks until Christmas. So book now with Dream Time Photography to get photos of your poppets processed in time for Christmas. These make the perfect gift for friends and family. Our magical fairy portraits artfully combine digital photography with fantasy scenes to create images straight from the pages of a fairytale.” Call Dianna 233 9905 www.dreamtimephotos.co.nz”

Baby vintage Christmas shopping deals Just say the secret words "plimmy resident" at the checkout in store during November and receive a 10 %discount on your purchase.

Did you know that Baby Vintage has an online store? www.babyvintage.co.nz. You can join their newsletter or become a Facebook fan to receive daily updates.

Revolve You - Wardrobe Makeovers Next time you are stuck for ideas on what to wear or purchase consider this refreshing, money saving experience. Remember to go in the draw to win a makeover at Plimmerton, Pauatahanui and Paremata School fairs … all happening soon. Contact Lee lee@revolvefashion.co.nz

www.plimmerton.org.nz

Support your community – it’s the best!