Western News: June 04, 2019

10 Tuesday June 4 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
News
AA calls for
right-turn
light at
congested
intersection
• By Jess Gibson
THE NEW Zealand
Automobile Association has
called for a right-turn traffic
light arrow at the Greers Rd and
Memorial Ave intersection.
The AA made the request in
a letter sent to the Fendalton-
Waimairi-Harewood
Community Board.
Southern regional
administrator Carla Pereira said
the idea had been raised with
the city council in the past “to
no effect.”
The AA conveyed its
disappointment an arrow
was not included in the
city council’s review of the
intersection in March, which
proposed a shared left-turn
traffic lane, combined with a
cycle lane. The proposal, which
was voted down by the board,
was meant to ease traffic at the
intersection, which is heavily
congested during peak times
due to its close proximity to
Burnside High and Christ the
King schools.
• By Jess Gibson
SYLVESTER THE cat enjoyed
a hearty salmon dish at the
Canterbury Charity Hospital in
Bishopdale to celebrate turning
21 last week.
The shorthaired tomcat has two
children’s books published about
him, which are sold to fundraise
money for the hospital, which
does not receive any Government
funding and relies on donations
and grants.
The hospital provides free
elective day surgery, medical
outpatient clinics, dentistry and
counselling for people who can
not access the public or private
healthcare systems.
Sylvester - The Charity Hospital
Cat, published in 2014, and
Sylvester and the Intruder,
published in 2017, were written
by poet Julie Hutton and feature
illustrations by Garrick Tremain.
Sylvester and the Intruder was
written about a period of time
when Sylvester would trigger the
alarms at 2am and have security
called to the hospital.
Fundraising co-ordinator
Rosemary Graham was unsure
how much money the books
had raised, but they had been
popular.
Ms Graham said Sylvester is
“very affectionate” and “loves
attention”. He is ironically a “bit
grumpy” around children.
She said Sylvester is in good
health as he is always well looked
after by hospital staff. He likes
to have the heater on and his fur
is groomed with a special brush
every morning.
Sylvester has not lived at the
hospital since birth – in fact, he
is older than the hospital itself,
which was established in 2007.
Sylvester belonged to the
neighbours before they sold their
property to the hospital in 2016.
Ms Graham said the staff were
asked if they would like to keep
him, as he would “visit all the
time anyway.”
•If you wish to buy one of
the books about Sylvester,
visit: http://charityhospital.
org.nz/introducingsylvester/
Local
News
Now
Sylvester spends his 21st in hospital
BIRTHDAY BOY: Canterbury
Charity Hospital receptionist
Denise May cuddling
Sylvester the cat.
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