Pegasus Post: May 08, 2018

4 Tuesday May 8 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
News
PEGASUS POST
McMaster & Heap
Veterinary practice
OUR “EYE’ VET…..
Its not often I write about my husband,
Steve Heap, but I must say I’m often
very proud of the work he does at our
Practice, and how he is always looking
ahead to grow, improve and provide the
best workplace for our staff. Steve has a
keen interest in all things involving “eyes”
but he’s also very competent at dental
surgery too. Patients come far and wide
to see Steve for his expert advice on eyes
and compassionate, friendly service. He
sees a myriad of animals,
ranging from very expensive
thoroughbreds and alpacas,
to lions and kiwis at Orana
park and then all domestic
animals inbetween.
Steve decided to study
Ophthalmology while
we were in the UK in our
20’s on a working/holiday
and it is one of the best
specialities Steve could
have chosen. Not only does
Steve really enjoy eyes, but
it has helped to grow our
business and stand it apart from others.
There are currently only 3 or 4 vets seeing
ophthalmology referrals in NZL.
Most days Steve has 3-6 Ophthalmology
surgeries. He actually gets excited at the
prospect of returning an eye to normal
function and pain free.
A few days ago was one of those “jubilant”
moments. In waltzed a very friendly 8
year old Labrador called “Arnie”. Arnie was
referred to Steve with a persistent infected
discharge coming from his Left eye that
he had for 8 months. Eight months ago he
had an ulcer in the same eye which initially
cleared up, but quickly became constantly
infected, weepy, red and sore. He had been
on every eye ointment possible with no
real results. The owners claimed they were
cleaning the eye out 5 times a day. The
purulent discharge seemed to be coming
from the lower
tear ducts.
Steve suspected
a foreign
body so he
recommended
anaesthetizing
Arnie and
taking a closer
look.
Sure enough
Steve removed
a large barley
grass awn from
the left tear
duct by cutting
down into the duct. It had probably been
sitting there for the past 8 months causing a
chronic persistent eye infection. Steve is sure
Arnie will make a full recovery with no need
for eye drops. As a surgeon moments like
these are hugely rewarding because straight
away Steve has made a big difference to
Open 7 days
Cnr Hoon Hay & Coppell place
phone 338 2534, Fax 339 8624
e. mcmasterandheap@yahoo.co.nz
www.mcmasterheap.co.nz
Arnies quality of life….and his
owners.
Clients and vets alike speak
highly of Steve. His sole
purpose is to solve problems
quickly and professionally,
with skill and expertise and he
is great at explaining things
clearly and simply, so clients
really “get” what his plan is for
their pet. Clients apparently
love his scribbley little eye
diagrams they leave with, diagrammatically
describing the surgical procedure. I recently
attended a veterinary meeting and felt
very proud at all the accolades my fellow
colleagues spoke about my husband. Steve
is one of the very few vets around who
freely, 24/7 gives ophthalmology advice to
any vet in the country free of charge. He just
enjoys sharing his knowledge to benefit all
animals in need.
We are currently in the throes of building
a large, modern addition to adjoin our
current premises in Hoon Hay. We are very
excited about what this will mean for us
and our patients in the future. We hope
to be seen as a referral centre, with more
specialists vets coming on board, as well
as a first opinion clinic. We have very loyal,
committed clients who often recommend
us to others. We want to improve our level
of knowledge and expertise and provide
better care by creating
separate dog and cat
treatment , consult and
waiting areas. We are
constantly looking ahead
to the future and trying
to set ourselves up to
stand alone, offering
outstanding care, service
and communication in an
ever increasing corporate
veterinary world, one
in which we will never
become part of.
Steve and I are living
the dream. What could
be better than surrounding ourselves with
animals all day, solving problems using our
skill and expertise, making people smile
again and saving animals lives. It just doesn’t
get much better than that.
Dr Michele McMaster
McMaster & Heap
WORK IT: City councillor Glenn Livingstone testing out new fitness equipment
at Burwood Park.
New fitness centre
opens in Burwood
• By Georgia O’Connor-
Harding
AFTER SEVERAL delays,
Burwood Park’s new
$44,000 outdoor gym has
opened.
The new facility, next
to the children’s playground
on Cresswell Ave,
took four weeks to be
completed by contractors
City Care and opened on
Brighton fridge feeds
80-100 families a day
•From page 1
“We also have a lot of
homeless people who come
in just to enjoy the company,”
said Ms Burrows.
The organisation is currently
fixing up
a large space of
land in The Old
School to help
with producing
fruit and vegetables
for the
fridge.
Feeding many
individuals and
families for
almost a year
hasn’t come
without difficulties.
Mr Burrows said some
people who come to the
fridge are often dangerous
to deal with.
“Sometimes they can be
Trudy Burrows
Friday.
The park features
equipment including a
cross trainer, a cycle and
shoulder wheel, parallel
and chin-up bars.
It received funding form
the Dallington Cottage
Community Trust and the
Coastal-Burwood Community
Board.
City councillor Glenn
Livingstone said the
volatile, off their medications,
or have mental
health problems.”
“There are also greedy
people who take food
impetuously, thinking
‘well it’s free food
– why can’t we?’
And there are a
few demanding
people who often
aim to intimidate
the volunteers,”
she said.
Ms Burrows
says in spite of
this, there have
been some “really
amazing stories.”
“That’s what makes you
think it’s worth it to keep
going,” she said.
People have told the
volunteers that they’re
“not stealing as much” and
outdoor gym is “brilliant”
and will cater for all ages.
“Kids will love it, anyone
of all ages would. I think it
is a goodie,” he said.
Cr Livingstone said the
new facility is good for
including elderly people
and will keep their hips
and knees moving,
along with building up
muscles around the
knees.
“staying on medication
more”.
They also say their spirits
have been higher due to
the initiative being in New
Brighton.
As well as feeding those
in need, the community
fridge and its volunteers
work with Comcare, which
offers social support and
mental health services to
people in need, and Work
and Income.
•If you would like
to donate food to the
community fridge and
pantry, come along
and visit the volunteers
at 46 Hawke St. Or, if
you would like to offer
your time to help, call
Ms Burrows on 027 319
4471