Selwyn Times: February 21, 2018

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8 Wednesday February 21 2018 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi SELWYN TIMES Your Local Views Group helping people in need Readers respond to the Selwyn Times’ article on a major redevelopment of Darfield’s Four Square Ellesmere Community Care chairwoman June McLachlan writes about the work a group of volunteers in Leeston do to help assist people in need Like every community, Ellesmere has unique needs. The most obvious being isolation and an ageing population. Without a public bus service, and often without friends or family available to assist, many of our older persons would struggle to attend medical appointments, jeopardising their health. This is where Ellesmere Community Care comes into its own. Established nearly 25 years ago, ECC is a group of volunteers based in Leeston, which primarily exists to help people in need in Ellesmere. Invariably that need is for transport to medical-related appointments in and around Christchurch, but increasingly, they find themselves using the skills and resources the NEIGHBOURLY: Ellesmere Community Care chairwoman June McLachlan (left) and vice-chairwoman Heather Cochrane with the Ellesmere community vehicle. volunteers bring to the group, to meet other needs. Besides driving, ECC volunteers are involved with home share, buddying at Ellesmere College, family assistance, mentoring, driver training, the occasional working bee and connecting individuals with the specialist agencies that work closely with ECC. The Ellesmere Community Vehicle Trust provides a vehicle for ECC to use (ECC pays mileage), and other generous supporters of ECC are Ellesmere Lions, Rata Foundation, COGS and individual donors (clients are encouraged to contribute towards the cost of each drive). In recent years Community Energy Action buddied with ECC to promote and install subsidised insulation for lower income families. Currently ECC are working with other Selwyn care groups and the district council to produce and maintain the new “Everything Selwyn” website which promotes the many smaller communities and all the attractions, events and services that make Selwyn such a great place to live in and visit. The new Abbeyfield complex in Leeston also helps meet the needs of our ageing population, with 14 residents now enjoying companionship, affordable living, healthy eating, a warm home and their independence. ECC is already enjoying the convenience of working with numerous clients at the one address. The ECC committee is heavily reliant on the voluntary services of retired people, with 15 regular drivers/volunteers. The services ECC can offer the community, are only limited by the skills, time and energy of its volunteers. So it is hoped that some younger persons may consider connecting with the team and sharing their skills or resources with the community. •If you are interested in using ECC services, or considering volunteering, please phone ECC 324 4080 and speak with the duty volunteer. Bill Smith – What a pleasant surprise to read about this new development, but it is not before time, unfortunately West Melton beat Darfield to it. I sincerely hope that Kelvin and Delwyn think about future-proofing the establishment and I would like to think that Roger Davidson will have this covered in the planning stage – it is noted the inclusion of generator plugs which are being installed. I just hope that all avenues are covered and no overspend or time delay will affect the completion of this new establishment. I look forward to the grand opening. Linda Creed – Please put the car park behind the building. Prioritise access for pedestrians and cyclists, and have an attractive frontage over vehicles please, most of us don’t need to drive to the door. Add some shade trees and well-tended landscaping to blend with the streetscape (so often neglected after the initial build excitement is over). Darfield is already looking ad hoc and un-coordinated from the main road. The parking and pedestrian routes on the main road are confusing. The cherry trees and banners add some continuity. Please work with that. IT’S EXTREME! LAwyERS WeedonS Road, West Melton Adults $20 Pensioners $15 with gold card Family $40 (2 adults & 4 children under 15) Accompanied children under 15 years $10. Infants under 5 FREE. (Sorry, no EFTPOS) Info line Ph 021 070 3140 www.mooreparkspeedway.co.nz 55 Faringdon Boulevard, Rolleston Ph. 03 260 0866 284-286 Lincoln Road, Addington Ph. 03 335 0095 Open 7 days - 9am till Late Bookings recommended www.thepedalpusher.co.nz We have over 40 years’ experience to assist you with… • Buying and Selling Houses and Commercial Property • Wills, Trusts and Estate matters • All issues facing you and your business; • Employment Law matters; • Traffic matters; • Advice regarding Retirement Villages • General Legal Advice on all matters Call John, Brendan or Andrew today 03 366 8996 Email. lawyers@mclegal.co.nz Airport Business Park 92 Russley Road, Christchurch 8042
SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Wednesday February 21 2018 9 Complex enhances quality of life Readers respond to the Selwyn Times’ article on Lincoln Primary School adjusting its automatic door closing mechanism after a former pupil’s finger was caught between one of its classroom’s doors Saphire Burbery – This absolutely disgusting. And I hope the wee girl gets compensated. Just terrible. Hamish Middleton – How long have they been commenting how dangerous the door is before the incident? Selwyn MP Amy Adams writes about the opening of the Abbeyfield housing complex in Ellesmere RECENTLY I was asked to officially open Abbeyfield Ellesmere in Leeston. This is the first Abbeyfield residence to have been built in Selwyn and I hope that it will be followed by others. For those readers who are not familiar with the concept of an Abbeyfield House, it is a model of shared accommodation specifically for people over the age of 65. Abbeyfield New Zealand is a charity which aims to enhance the quality of life for older people by providing secure and affordable housing. Abbeyfield homes are already well-established around New Zealand in both the North and South Islands, and there is one in Hornby. Abbeyfield houses are designed to accommodate nine to 14 residents, living in a flatting type situation. Residents have their own rooms and share communal living areas, giving them the opportunity for companionship but also the ability to maintain their independence and dignity. Amy Adams Selwyn MP OPEN: One of several units available to residents living at Abbeyfield. We know from surveys and anecdotal evidence that many seniors struggle with loneliness and find managing a large property on their own a burden. The residents of Abbeyfield Ellesmere that I chatted to mentioned that they valued the opportunity to socialise with others while still maintaining their ability to come and go independently. Under the Abbeyfield model, meals are prepared by a housekeeper. A number of residents also indicated that having a fixed weekly cost to cover all household expenses without the chore of buying groceries and cooking meals or the worry of unexpected maintenance or power bills was a great relief to them. I believe that as we live longer and healthier lives, this model of shared accommodation will become more and more popular for those in their later years. Research into this area has shown that older New Zealanders living in shared accommodation such as Abbeyfield houses have far better health outcomes than those living on their own. It is really important that our older folk have the option to remain in their own communities near friends and family rather than having to move to bigger centres for suitable accommodation in their later years. Abbeyfield Ellesmere is a fantastic example of how the community and voluntary groups can develop and implement housing solutions that suit specific groups of society. Having purpose-built housing solutions for our older citizens not only helps to address issues such as social isolation but it also allows us to free up larger family homes for younger families in need of accommodation – a winwin situation. •Our People, p12 NEW RELEASE New Benchmark for Recreational Jetboating Hamilton 470 20 Lunns Rd, Christchurch Ph: 03 962 0505 Email: john.connelly@hamjet.co.nz www.hamiltonjetnz.co.nz
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Selwyn Times: February 21, 2018

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