Selwyn Times: March 07, 2017

8 Tuesday March 7 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
SELWYN TIMES
Leslie Greenslade
Our People
Rugby fan too slow to duck
Lincoln resident Leslie
Greenslade has been
involved with rugby
administration for more
than 20 years. She
spoke to Tom Doudney
about how her children
got her involved, the
state of women’s rugby
and her favourite game
You’ve been pretty heavily
involved in rugby with
Ellesmere, Canterbury Country,
the Lincoln Rugby Club,
Lincoln High School and
the South Island. What sort of
roles have you filled with all of
those?
With the Lincoln Rugby Club I
was JAB (junior advisory board)
secretary for a long time and club
secretary for three or four years
as well; for Ellesmere JAB I was
secretary of that for four or five
years; with Canterbury I have
been the secretary and president
and I am now secretary for the
second time; I am also a board
member on the Ellesmere Sub
Union management committee;
and for the South Island JAB I
have been president and am currently
the secretary.
TIRELESS: Leslie Greenslade has made a big behind the scenes contribution with South Island
Ellesmere, Canterbury Country, Lincoln and Lincoln High School rugby over a period of more
than 20 years.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
I take it that’s all volunteer
work?
Pretty much.
Do you have a day job as well?
No, at the high school I am the
rugby administrator so I do get
paid for that. We have a dairy
farm, not that I do much active
dairy farming any more – I don’t
have much time.
Where is your farm?
We are right next to Lincoln,
the township is coming out fast
to meet us. We are right on the
boundary of the Ngai Tahu development,
so when it’s finished
the township will be right next
to us.
How long have you lived
there?
I have lived in Lincoln since
1984 and in this particular house
since 1989, so it’s a long time.
Did the township seem a fair
way away to begin with?
It did! There were quite a few
hectares between us and the
township and now there is not.
How do you feel about that?
I would really rather it wasn’t
creeping closer but things change
and you just have to adapt.
How do you find the time for
all that involvement with rugby?
Sometimes it’s very busy and
pretty stressful. It would be
extremely difficult if you had a
full-time job because it does take
up a lot of hours but it’s rewarding
at the same time.
In what way do you find it
rewarding?
For instance with the high
school, seeing boys develop into
better players. We have seen some
go through to being Super Rugby
payers like Tom Sanders and
Mitchell Dunshea.
How did your involvement
with rugby start?
Pretty much when my boys
started playing, I started getting
involved in the Lincoln JAB. I
went along and you know, some
people are suckers and can’t say
no, too slow to duck or something.
People kept asking you to do
more?
That’s right, I would be a delegate
for something or something
needed to be done and I would
just do it because it was easier
than finding somebody else.
THREE DECADES & STILL GOING STRONG
• WOF Safety inspections
• Full mechanical repairs
• Servicing and warranty servicing
• Tyres
• Full diagnostic equipment
• Cars, 4WDs, light commercial,
all cars including European vehicles
• Loan cars available (conditions apply)
The team at Marks Automotive
Photograph by
Lily Nicholas
Mark’s Automotive Ltd
Hours: Mon - Fri 7.30am - 5.30pm
PHONE 349 3344 | 559 Springs Rd, Prebbleton
Email marksautomotive@xtra.co.nz
It has been 32 years since Mark Nicholas completed his apprenticeship and
almost 13 years since he and wife Leona opened Mark’s Automotive on
Springs Rd in Prebbleton. So you could say that experience and knowledge
are in ample supply at this busy garage.
There are four fully qualified vehicle technicians, two apprentices including
four warrant inspectors with a wealth of skills and abilities. There are also
three girls in the office to keep things ticking along and of course Rosie the
dog who oversees the whole business.
The benefits of having such a large team means there is a wide variety of
specialty within the employees. All customers who bring their vehicles into
the garage can be assured that when they leave they will be travelling in a
vehicle that has not only been fixed or serviced but is safe to drive on the
road.
Leona says it is important now with yearly warrants that owners ensure
they are having their vehicles regularly serviced. This can pick up problems
before they become bigger and more costly as well as ensure vehicles are able
to deal with different conditions on the road.
“One of the big things we are picking up now with warrants is that brake
pads and discs are a lot more worn out than when people had their cars
serviced six monthly,” she says.
“It is really important heading into winter that brakes are working at their
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Mark’s Automotive is also a supplier of tyres and batteries with a 3-year
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Bookings are essential so either phone or come in and meet the team at
Mark’s Automotive where client service and satisfaction are the top priority
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