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6 Tuesday <strong>May</strong> 2 <strong>2017</strong><br />
Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi<br />
Our People<br />
SOUTHERN VIEW<br />
Julie Tobbell<br />
Nurse uses her passion for helping<br />
Your Local Views<br />
Julie Tobbell has received awards for her service to<br />
the community as chairwoman of the re-established<br />
Somerfield Residents Association among other roles.<br />
Noah Graham spoke to her about why she continues<br />
to dedicate her free time to the community and the<br />
issues affecting Somerfield<br />
ews<br />
I felt that there was a need to<br />
Why did you decide to restart<br />
the association?<br />
provide better communication<br />
and links between our own community<br />
and other communities.<br />
I felt that there was a need four<br />
years ago for the association and,<br />
with my family becoming more<br />
established and independent, I<br />
felt there was greater opportunity<br />
to help pull the community<br />
ashion<br />
together by communication,<br />
newsletters and meetings.<br />
As far as Somerfield goes, there<br />
were not as many significant<br />
concerns compared to other<br />
areas of Christchurch but I felt<br />
we still needed to be represented<br />
better in case of something<br />
occurring.<br />
So what are some of the<br />
Gardening<br />
concerns the Somerfield area<br />
now?<br />
I think the most challenging<br />
one has been the zoning<br />
changing for L1 and L2 zone<br />
BEN SELBY<br />
otoring<br />
An artistic slice of New Zealand<br />
culture is being served up in the<br />
town of Little River. From <strong>May</strong> 6,<br />
Little River Gallery will be exhibiting<br />
works by artists Robin Slow and<br />
Brian Flintoff.<br />
Titled ‘Whare Huruhuru Manu,’<br />
the exhibition of Slow’s lyrical<br />
paintings show the cultural stories<br />
of Maori past and present with<br />
luscious depth using symbols and<br />
asty Bites<br />
motifs in precious oxides. Flintoff’s<br />
delicately carved instruments in<br />
bone and native timbers add to<br />
breadth of the exhibition.<br />
There is a further dimension to the<br />
exhibition, music composed and<br />
played by Bob Bickerton, inspired<br />
by Robin’s paintings and using<br />
Brian’s instruments. CD’s and<br />
DVD’s featuring all three artists<br />
work are available.<br />
oney<br />
Little River Gallery is located in<br />
Little River on State Highway 75<br />
between Christchurch and Akaroa.<br />
Visit www.littlerivergallery.com or<br />
call 03 325 1944.<br />
areas changing to high density<br />
transitioning. I think that is<br />
to date our most challenging<br />
concern since we restarted the<br />
association four years ago.<br />
There was also a lack of<br />
signage so getting the area<br />
recognised was a concern. That<br />
was the first significant concern<br />
to get the association going in<br />
the first place. There are no road<br />
signs that indicate where Somerfield<br />
is, so to visitors it’s very<br />
hard to know where Somerfield<br />
is – that was one of my first concerns,<br />
actually. It just showed to<br />
me that Somerfield needed better<br />
representation.<br />
You were given the pride of<br />
workmanship award recently<br />
and a community services<br />
award in 2015, what was it like<br />
receiving them?<br />
It was such an honour to<br />
receive the awards. I understand<br />
the pride of workmanship award<br />
is not given out very often and<br />
requires a certain standard, so I<br />
am truly honoured to receive it.<br />
I don’t expect any accolades for<br />
the work I do, I just do it because<br />
I enjoy it.<br />
What are the best parts of<br />
your role?<br />
I guess advocacy. For people<br />
to be able to feel that if there is<br />
some concern, I have a position<br />
people can come to if they want<br />
to be heard or I might know<br />
what steps to take or where best<br />
for those people to go to. Just to<br />
feel that I can assist the community<br />
and local residents in some<br />
way and help their concerns be<br />
heard.<br />
I guess people see me as a<br />
recognisable person in the community.<br />
I provide many people<br />
with someone to go to if needed.<br />
With council staff changing so<br />
regularly, it can be confusing for<br />
the local community to know<br />
where the best place to go or the<br />
best person to approach is when<br />
they have an issue. In that sense,<br />
I provide a central point where<br />
people may approach me when<br />
WELL-DESERVED:<br />
Julie Tobbell<br />
received a<br />
community<br />
services award<br />
from the<br />
Spreydon-<br />
Heathcote<br />
Community<br />
Board in 2015<br />
and was recently<br />
awarded the Pride<br />
of Workmanship<br />
plaque from the<br />
Garden City Rotary<br />
Club.<br />
PHOTO:<br />
MARTIN HUNTER<br />
needed.<br />
How busy is your role?<br />
It can be a bit busy. Fortunately,<br />
we don’t have many issues<br />
compared to other areas. Some<br />
areas are far more affected and<br />
have far greater concerns. I feel<br />
our area is fairly well-established<br />
and it’s a well-settled community<br />
with families. We don’t have the<br />
same concerns as some areas<br />
may have. But, if necessary, I<br />
have developed the best contacts<br />
and appropriate contacts we can<br />
approach if need be.<br />
6 <strong>May</strong> - 7 June <strong>2017</strong><br />
Whare<br />
Huruhuru<br />
Manu<br />
Robin Slow | Brian Flintoff<br />
music by Bob Bickerton<br />
Main Rd, Little River | 03 325 1944 | art@littlerivergallery.com
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