Western News: June 18, 2019

WESTERN NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday June 18 2019 9
News
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.
David Chappie, of Avonhead,
Neil Fleming (Ilam) and Gus
Gale (Belfast), 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.
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.
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DIG IN: Fendalton-Waimairi-
Harewood Community Board
member Aaron Campbell with
his wife Kazumi.
Quarry planting
project on way
to 10,000 goal
THE GOAL to plant 10,000
natives at Halswell Quarry Park
this year is under way.
More than 2000 plants have
been placed in the ground by
60 people. One of several city
council-organised plantings on
June 5 coincided with Arbor Day
and World Environment Day.
Two more planting projects are
planned this month.
Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Community Board member
Aaron Campbell said the next
planting day at the park will be
on Saturday to mark National
Volunteer Week.
“It’s expected there will be a
big turnout for this, starting at
10am,” he said.
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