Pegasus Post: September 24, 2019

10
Tuesday September 24 2019
News
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
PEGASUS POST
Volunteer picks up skills
AFRICA SEEMED a world away
to Fil Jansons.
That was until he spent seven
months volunteering as a tradie
on board the world’s largest
civilian hospital ship earlier this
year.
The New Brighton resident
travelled to Guinea, West Africa,
to join the Mercy Ships technical
crew.
Mr Jansons believes tradies
are often hidden heroes, and on
the Mercy Ship they fill essential
roles that do not often come
to mind when people think of
hospital ships.
His work as an electronics
technician is vital to the Mercy
Ship functioning as a floating
first-world hospital in the developing
nations the charity serves.
Being on the ship benefited Mr
Jansons greatly.
“My days were never the same.
I had the opportunity to work
on variety of systems, machines
and equipment, ranging from
auto fire detection systems, fuel
purifiers, cranes, main distribution
switchboards, medical
air monitoring systems, many
marine electronics, and much
more. As a technician at home I
would need to work for several
different industries to gain that
sort of experience,” he said.
BENEFICIAL: Fil Jansons spent seven months volunteering as
a tradie for Mercy Ships on board the world’s largest civilian
hospital ship. ​
Mr Jansons was personally
impacted by the faith-based
charity’s mission to deliver free
essential surgery to West Africa
poor, as well as being challenged
professionally.
“The broad range of people
that I met on board was inspiring.
On the technical side, I
found more confidence in dealing
with machines and systems
I’d never handled before, and
was able to pass on what I knew
to other people.”
St Bede’s gets
its chapel back
A SEVEN-YEAR, $20 million
rebuild and refurbishment of
the St Bede’s College chapel is
complete.
Devastated by the 2011
earthquake, the chapel was
demolished. For seven years
a temporary chapel was used,
while funding was secured to
enable the rebuild. The campus
master plan was re-designed to
place the chapel at the forefront
of the school.
Rector Justin Boyle said the
chapel is the college’s most important
building.
“The return of the chapel is
a clear statement of who we
are and what we stand for, a
Catholic, Marist College, and we
welcome its return,” said Rector
Boyle.
“The chapel is the soul of our
school, connecting with our
newly-refurbished performing
arts centre and in keeping with
the historic buildings that dot
our grounds.
“These two wonderful new
buildings reflect our holistic
approach to education, supporting
boys to develop into wellrounded
men,” he said.
Wilkie & Bruce Architects
designed the new chapel in a collegiate
Gothic style to integrate
with the original 1920s buildings
of the campus.
“As well as looking like it’s
always been there, the new
building references the original
by incorporating restored
stained-glass windows, pews,
crucifix and the ornate carved
oak reredos from the old chapel.
“Each of the 12 stained-glass
windows tell their own story,
with the centrepiece being the
Matthew Paul Daly Memorial
Window, which reflects the
school’s origins and values in a
depiction of Mary and the teenage
Christ,” said architect and
certified heritage professional
Alec Bruce.
The chapel build was financed
by more than 400 donors, all
of whom were invited to the
chapel’s opening last week.
A total of $3.5 million was
required for the build, with community
donations coming from
the Society of Mary, the college’s
Board of Proprietors and the
College Foundation.
The Chapel of St Bede was
officially opened last week with a
mass by Bishop Paul Martin.
Seven retirement villages
in Canterbury
Christchurch
Heritage
Festival
Encounter
our stories
• Halswell • • Rangiora •
• Mairehau •
• Beckenham • • Riccarton • • Papanui • • Hornby •
Over 80 special events! Discover heritage tours,
walks, talks, workshops, music, food and more
with the Christchurch Heritage Festival.
7–28 October 2019
ccc.govt.nz/heritagefestival
www.rymanhealthcare.co.nz • 0800 000 290