Selwyn Times: February 14, 2017

SELWYN TIMES Tuesday February 14 2017 11
ews
Mentor gets top award
A ROLLESTON
ashion
man has been
named New Zealand Defence
Force Volunteer of the Year
for his charitable work in
Canterbury and Vanuatu.
Recently retired army Major
Chris Allan and wife Pam
founded the Joshua Foundation
in 2005. The Christian-based
organisation aims to help young
people around Canterbury address
self-destructive behaviour
Gardening
and negative attitudes, build
self esteem and achieve their
dreams.
Last year, Mr Allan mentored
several young people to achieve
gold, silver and bronze Duke of
Edinburgh Awards including
working with the Youth Offenders
Unit at Paparua Prison.
Over the last four years, the
otoring
Allan family has travelled Vanuatu
to work with villagers. Mr
Allan was recently in Vanuatu
setting up donated computers,
painting local schools and developing
a library for one of the
local villages.
After having his award
presented at a ceremony at Burn-
asty Bites
ham Military Camp last week,
Mr Allan said it was humbling
to be recognised.
“I look around me within
the Defence Force and observe
my fellow officers and soldiers
GIVING BACK: Retired Major Chris Allan has been named
New Zealand Defence Force Volunteer of the Year ​
serving their communities in
roles such as community sports
coaches, volunteer fireman and
ambulance officers, youth group
leaders,” he said.
“I would like to also recognise
their skill sets and commitment
within the community”.
Defence director of public
affairs Trudy Warrender said
many Defence Force personnel
joined out of a strong sense of
service and social responsibility
and the award recognised the
community work they undertook
in their own time.
Alexander slams Govt
Easter trading policy
• By Tom Doudney
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Mark Alexander has slammed
the Government for throwing
local authorities a “hospital pass”
when it allowed them to come
up with their own Easter trading
policy.
The Government opted not to
make any national changes to
Easter trading laws, instead opting
to give councils the power to
make their own policies with its
Shop Trading Hours Amendment
Act 2016.
Cr Alexander (right)
said the Government
had set councils up to
fail because whatever
policy was put
forward was bound
to be appealed which
would cost “a lot of money.”
On Wednesday, the district
council voted unanimously to approve
consulting the community
on whether to allow trading on
Easter Sunday, and if so in which
locations. The views of people
and businesses will inform a
report setting out options for the
district council to consider in
September.
Cr Alexander said his informal
discussions with businesses and
members of the public in his
Selwyn Central ward had indicated
that both groups were split
about 50/50 between those who
wanted the rules around Easter
trading relaxed and those who
didn’t.
He compared it to when the
Government had tasked councils
with drawing up their own Local
Alcohol policies. In that case,
he said, the district council had
produced a policy which reflected
calls for more restrictions on
trading hours and locations but it
had been appealed by businesses
selling alcohol.
“All I can guarantee out of this
is we are going to annoy about
half the community with whatever
decision we make and therefore
I think we are on a hiding to
nothing,” Cr Alexander said.
“Thanks government, you’ve
given us a hospital pass again,
we are going to get a hammering
whichever way we go, it will be
appealed, it’s going to cost us a lot
of money.”
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