Selwyn Times: December 04, 2019

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SELWYN TIMES [Edition datE]
Wednesday December 4 2019 39
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Your Local Views
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Amy Adams
Selwyn MP
Volunteers vital in
New digital skills
help Wanda
return to work
our communities
OVER THE past few
weeks I have attended a
number of events around
Selwyn which have made
me reflect once again
on the important role
volunteers play within our
communities.
One of these events was
the annual Courtenay A&P
Show which was held in
Kirwee on November 23.
A&P shows are somewhat
of an institution in New
Zealand and have been
an opportunity for our
rural communities to get
together to showcase the
results of their efforts in
horticulture, agriculture
and a range of other related
endeavours. These shows
have been running for over
140 years in most parts
of our district and their
continued existence relies
on the extensive work of a
team of volunteers.
During November I also
attended the St John Youth
Division’s prizegiving and
a Lincoln Volunteer Fire
Brigade function. Both of
these organisations play integral
roles in enhancing the
health and wellbeing of our
communities and responding
to local emergencies.
According to statistics
from Fire and Emergency
New Zealand, there are
around 1700 career firefighters
in New Zealand
and approximately 11,000
volunteer firefighters,
which gives you an indication
of the importance of
volunteers in this field.
Over one million New
Zealanders participate in
some sort of volunteering.
According to a 2014 study,
we are one of the most
generous countries in the
OECD at giving our time,
with New Zealanders
spending on average 13
minutes per day engaged
in volunteering activities,
compared to an average
of four minutes per day in
other OECD countries.
Serving your community
is an extremely rewarding
experience which boosts
personal development and
also enables volunteers to
acquire a range of practical
and transferable skills.
December 5 is International
Volunteer Day so
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank all
of the volunteers here in
Selwyn who give their time
freely to make our communities
the wonderful
places they are.
While on the theme of
serving our communities, I
would like to acknowledge
the work done by Stan
Hansen and the RSA to
ensure the restoration of
the plaques honouring our
war veterans at Springston
Cemetery following the
theft of these plaques earlier
this year.
As this will be my last
column before Christmas,
I would also like to wish
everyone in Selwyn a joyful
Christmas and a happy
and safe new year. My
electorate office will close
for the holiday break on
December 20 and will reopen
again on January 20.
Native planting begins
at community pit
NATIVE PLANTS have
gone in at the Springfield
Community Pit marking
a milestone for the
restoration project.
More than 220 native
shrubs and trees were
planted at the pit on the
corner of Tramway Rd and
Tawera Lane.
It is the first stage of
the project, driven by the
Springfield Township committee,
that aims to turn
the land into recreation
space.
Committee member
Emma Stead said It was a
milestone for the project
that has been in the works
for many years.
“Thanks to a generous
grant from the Te Ara
Kakariki Trust, 1500 additional
natives will continue
to be planted in the coming
year.
“The trust along with
their army of eco-volunteers
will join forces with
local Springfield School
UNITE: Residents have planted more than 220 native
shrubs and trees at the Springfield Pit as part of a
project to turn it into recreation space. ​
students to carry out the
planting bringing a haven
to local bees and native
birds in the area,” she said.
Planning is also well underway
for the multi-purpose
perimeter walkway to
be installed early next year,
Ms Stead said.
It will include six fitness
stations that have been
designed by Rejuvenate
You Fitness.
“It’s an exciting time
for Springfield and great
example of what can be
achieved when a passionate
township committee, local
council and enthusiastic
locals work together,” she
said.
*For more updates
or to lend a hand at the
next planting, visit the
Springfield Community
Pit Project Facebook page
- https://www.facebook.
com/SpringfieldPitProject.
Keen to re-enter the workforce after raising
a family, Wanda Price realised she needed to
brush up on her computer skills first.
“I had large gaps in my computer knowledge,
so I knew that I needed to fix this before I
could confidently apply for jobs,” she says.
And fix it she is. Wanda’s currently studying
the New Zealand Certificate in Computing at
her local Ara Connect. Run by Ara Institute
of Canterbury, Ara Connect offers free
computing courses for anyone wanting to gain
skills and confidence using digital technology.
“I chose Ara Connect
because it had the course
I wanted, it was free and it
was easy to get to. And the
‘pick and mix’ timetable
really suits me with a
family. The course is selfpaced,
so you’re only
focusing on what you’re
doing.”
Wanda says she’s
enjoying the course, and
likes her tutor’s teaching
style. “She has the ability
to point you in the right
direction so you can
then solve the problem
yourself. And approaching a tutor at any time
is never a problem – they’re only too happy to
help.”
Wanda encourages others to become a
digital upskiller like her. “Definitely give it a
go! You’ll be amazed at all that you learn and
you’ll enjoy doing it.”
When she completes her certificate, she’s
going to weigh up whether to apply for jobs or
do further study.
Learn more about Ara Connect courses at
ara.ac.nz or by calling 0800 24 24 76.