Ashburton Courier: October 24, 2019

Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Ashburton’s The Courier, Thursday 24 October 2019, Page 33
Labour MP Jo Luxton comments
Time to recognise older
people in our society
October 1marked avery
special day; International
Day of Older Persons. A
time to recognise the
importanceofolder people
in our society, and the
valuable contribution that
you make every day. It is a
chance for everyone to
celebrate the amazing
older people in our lives
and to say thank you.
Throughout Mid Canterbury,
and all over New
Zealand, there are many
older people doing incredible
things. Like the 2018
New Zealander of the
Year,Kirstine Bartlett who
changed the lives of thousands
of New Zealand
women and lower­paid
workers by successfully
securing equal pay legislation
for caregivers in the
aged­care sector. And Dr
Bill Glass, ‘‘godfather’’ of
occupational health whose
60 years of experience and
work has resulted in better
healthcare for countless
workers, the 2019 Senior
New Zealander of the
Year.
Older people make a
hugely positive contribution
to our economy. In
the future we will need to
increasingly rely on that
contribution if New Zealand
istogrow.
Currently there are
around 725,000 people
agedover 65. By 2028 there
will be 1 million people,
nearly a quarter of the
population.
Our ageingpopulation is
one of our greatest achievements.
Agrowing number
of older people are healthier,
more educated, more
skilled and are living
longer. These are all things
to celebrate.
In order to keep our
people healthier, and care
for them better when they
are unwell, we need a
modern, efficient health
system.
Budget 2019 made significant
investments infixing
up more ofour ailing
hospitals, and empowering
our DHBs to deliver more
affordable healthcare in
our communities, with better
health outcomes for all.
We are also committed
to better cancer care. We
all deserve world­class support
from prevention and
early diagnosis to treatment
and palliative care.
That’s why we recently
announced the Cancer
Action Plan ­soeveryone
battling cancer in NZ can
get the best possibly care,
no matter where they live.
It shouldn’t matter if you
live here in Ashburton,
Auckland or Invercargill,
we all deserve the absolute
bestcare in order to giveus
the best chance ofsurvival.
Seniors are not immune
to suffering from mental
health issues. Weall know
someone with a mental
health story, and our
record $1.9b investment
will have big benefits for
seniors.
Iamsopleased Three
Rivers Health Ashburton
will receive funding as they
continue to provide crucial
mental health and addiction
support. They work
incredibly hard inour neck
of the woods.
NZ house prices up to record high
Median house prices
across New Zealand
increased by 6.6% in
September to arecord
high of $597,000, up
from $560,000 in
September 2018.
Median price
increases excluding
Club news
Mid Canterbury Ladies
Friendship Club
President Avis Kingsland
welcomed members to the
October meeting of the
Mid Canterbury Ladies
Friendship Club. The
National Anthem was sung,
birthdays and anniversaries
were celebrated. New
member Judith Grigg was
welcomed and inducted by
the President and advised
that the Club was for
Friendship, Fellowship and
Fun. Almoner Ann McKay
told member of the forthcoming
Christmas bus trip
to Sheffield in December.
Also Senior members
(89+) are to meet for
afternoon tea on 29
November. Alunch is planned
for 30 October, it is
hoped that these will be
held on months which have
five Wednesdays. Cleaning
products for Ronald
Auckland increased
by 6.8% tonew record
high of $500,000,up
from $468,000in
September last year.
Ashburton
District’s median
price in September
was $336,500, down
McDonald House were collected
at this meeting. The
mini speaker was Karen
McIntyre who spoke of one
of her hobbies, which is
icing cakes. She started in
1956 by icing the golden
anniversary cake for her
grandparents. Photosof her
many creationswere shown,
one wedding cake took 35
hours to complete. Her
second love is dressmaking,
making many bridal gowns,
330 pearls were sown on
one gown.
After morning tea Derek
and Emma from Kiwibank
told of four common scams
which members should be
aware of. These included
phishing, computer­hacking
scams, computer “service”
calls and emergency scams.
They are usually trying to
steal money, so members
were advised to keep their
wits about them. Members
from $345,000 the
previous month and
slightly up on the
price ayear ago
($333,000). Some48
houses sold herein
September.
Timaru District’s
median price in
were also told that from 28
February 2020 Kiwibank
would not be issuing or
dealing with cheques. Other
options were suggested. If
in doubt about this to call in
and talk to the bank staff.
Ashburton Dahlia Circle
Another month has
flown by and the dahlia
circle are now preparing for
their Annual Tuber and
Plant Stall at the Farmers
Market on West St this
Saturday, 26 October.
Members have been busy
lifting and dividing their
dahlia tubers for the sales
table. Iknow there isgoing
to be agreat collection to
choose from with most
having pictures available to
get ideas of what to plant.
Labour Weekend is the
perfect time for planting
and members will be on
hand to answer question
and offer advice. Other
September was
$346,500, while the
Canterbury median was
$450,000.
In Canterbury, the
days to sell of 40 days is
higher than the 10­year
average for September
which is 34 days.
plants will be also for sale.
The last meeting held on
the 15 October was well
attended and discussion
took place re the Rose
show in November inconjunction
with our group
Christmas meal. My how
the yearhas flown when we
are talking Christmas
already.
The highlight of the night
was the fun in choosing a
dahlia to take home and
add to the members collection.
In fact two dahlias
each, something for everyone.
We look forward to
meeting members of the
public at the Tuber Stall, on
Saturday.
Love to have new members,
so just talk to Alison
Donald (our Secretary)
who will be on site. She is a
breath of fresh air and can
help make your choices.