Bay Harbour: August 09, 2017

Wednesday August 9 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
BAY HARBOUR
PAGE 5
News
Woody gets life membership
• By Gordon Findlater
WHEN SUMNER win they
sing.
For more than 20 years
Johnny Wood has been the
man leading the Wave’s victory
anthem and on Saturday he was
made a life member at the rugby
club.
Wood, 41, has been involved
with the club since the mid-90s
while he was at Shirley Boys’
High School.
“We went down after school
and I’ve never looked back,” said
Wood.
“It’s very family-orientated, a
nice small community and I just
love that.”
The diehard Wave supporter
has been part of management
for the clubs’ teams over the
years and has recently started
helping with the coaching of a
junior side. However, the recognition
for his life membership
came from his dedication to
embodying the Sumner culture.
“I’m just going down to have
a drink with my mates. To be
recognised for something like
that is incredible. They say I
respect the culture and maybe I
do,” said Wood.
Former team manager Tim
Cronin was on hand to give a
speech at the awards evening
HONOURED: Johnny Wood, has been made a life member of
the Sumner Rugby Club.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
and reflected on Wood’s dedication
to the club over the years.
“He does everything from getting
gear to the ground, turning
up to training early to help the
kickers practice
and running water
on a Saturday,” said
Cronin.
“He’s really
become a players’
confidant and he’s a really good
personality around the club.”
The new life member was
bought to tears by the occasion
‘When we win we sing,
and when we lose we
booze.’ – Johnny Wood
on Friday night which was kept
a surprise.
“I absolutely had no idea.
There were so many of my
friends there and I should have
clicked,” said
Wood.
“My sister
came down
from Wellington
and
my mum was there as well, that
meant the world to me.”
In his early days the Sumner
premier team played in division
two and at one stage were
relegated to division three.
“It was never about the rugby
back in the day. We weren’t that
good and we just liked having a
good time with our mates,” said
Wood.
One of Wood’s favourite
memories over the years is when
Sumner were promoted from division
two into the division one
competition at the end of 2009.
“Going up to division one and
proving everyone wrong was
great. I still like the fact that we
do that now. There are still clubs
out there that don’t think we
should be up there,” said Wood.
He has played for Sumner
but may hold the record for the
club’s shortest playing career.
Wood came on as a substitute
at halfback for the division two
side in the mid-90s and played
the final 5min against Marist
Albion. He plans to keep leading
the division one side in song for
seasons to come, giving the boys
an extra reason to achieve victory
every Saturday.
“When we win we sing, and
when we lose we booze,” said
Wood.
“I love getting into the changing
room to lead that song, the
boys get into it and it’s always a
great feeling.”
•Award-winners list, p21
Council
takes
ownership
of 17
properties
SEVENTEEN properties along
the Sumner-Lyttelton corridor,
acquired by the Crown as part of
the residential red zone recovery,
have now been transferred to city
council ownership.
“The transfer marks another
milestone in the repair and regeneration
of the Port Hills area,”
Minister supporting Greater
Christchurch Regeneration Nicky
Wagner said.
The properties, on Wakefield
Ave, Nayland St, Clifton Tce,
Main Rd and Balmoral Lane,
were red-zoned following the
February 22, 2011, earthquakes.
Extensive rock fall mitigation
has been done to them, including
the installation of bunds and barriers
to protect the roads below,
and nearby properties.
One property, at 8A Balmoral
Lane, incorporated Moa Bone
Cave – an archaeological site.
The city council will be responsible
for future use and maintenance
of the land.
RC/005/SC
It’s all about
the connections
you make through
the journey.
KATHRYN JACKSON
Find out how we’re helping communities
connect at redcross.org.nz