Nor'West News: June 18, 2019

6 Tuesday June 18 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
News
New zones to
inspire at show
AS THE WAY we live changes, so
too does The Star Home and Living
Show – it is keeping up to date with
the latest design and technology.
Events manager Lisa Lynch says
she is excited
about two new
zones which
have been
created for the
event to inspire
and hopefully
get people
motivated about
the way they live.
“The Innovative Living Zone
switches thinking – not just planning
your space, but planning how
you wish to feel in your space,” she
said. This zone will include an
interactive, innovative living
design area, where you can sit, have
a coffee and be inspired.
The Eco Zone will showcase
everything you need to know
about sustainable living. Here you
will find a range of ideas you can
introduce into your home to make
it more environmentally friendly.
One lucky attendee will also be
driving away in a free EV car worth
$44,000. The Star Home and Living
Show will be held from 10am to
5pm at the Horncastle Arena from
Friday, June 28, to Sunday, June 30.
•Turn to page 12 for a free entry
voucher for you and a friend.
Retired ‘musketeers’ still helping
• By Jess Gibson
A TRIO of retired friends –
dubbed “the three musketeers”
– were recognised for their
services to Ronald McDonald
House on Monday.
Gus Gale, of Belfast, David
Chappie (Avonhead) and Neil
Fleming (Ilam), all former
teachers, received an award
from Volunteering Canterbury
for their work over the past five
years.
They meet every Wednesday
morning to help with a range
of tasks at Ronald McDonald
House on Cashel St, such as
keeping the grounds tidy,
fixing toys, washing waste bins,
plumbing and electrical repairs.
Said Mr Chappie: “I was
surprised because we certainly
don’t come here to look for any
accolade, we come here because
it’s a worthwhile organisation
that we have heard about that we
could help at ground level.”
“The people here are so
accommodating and making
everyone feel so welcome. The
families are going through a
tough patch in their lives but
there’s a joy all the way from
the staff to the mums and dads
and the kids being picked up
and cuddled. There’s a quality
here I don’t think you would
find in many other institutions.
It’s a quality based on love
and concern for one’s human
beings.”
Ronald McDonald
House offers support and
accommodation to families with
children in hospital.
The three musketeers’ shared
background in education adds
up to a total of more than 120
years at primary, secondary and
university level.
NOR’WEST NEWS
VOLUNTEERS: Friends
and former teachers David
Chappie, Neil Fleming
and Gus Gale meet every
Wednesday to undertake
odd jobs at Ronald
McDonald House.
Said Mr Fleming: “In those
years we have accumulated
some useful skills that Ronald
McDonald House finds helpful.”
Mr Fleming started
volunteering to use up his excess
energy.
Mr Chappie and Mr Gale
agreed to help “on one
condition” – after each
morning’s work they go out for
lunch and a beer.
“We decided to set a pseudochallenge
by limiting our choice
of lunch place to new or recently
changed venues. We range
widely with a requirement that
the selected venue has to serve
beer and it has to be new to us,”
Mr Fleming said.
He said each lunch is spiced
with recollections from their
friendship, which has lasted at
least 10 years.
“Some (stories) stray from
the truth but have greater
entertainment value,” he said.