Ashburton Courier: December 12, 2019

Page 50, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday 12 December 2019
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz
Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon comments
Politicians, the conventional wisdom
goes, aren’t meant to regard our friends
in the media very highly. The relationship
can be fractious, with ministers,
MPs, mayors and councillors often
feeling they’re not given afair run by
journalists.
My view has always been different.
Even with the rise of social media, which
allows for politicians to speak more
directly to the public, media still provide
an invaluable service as your eyes and
ears. Holding the powerful to account
for their promises, their statements, and
their mistakes.
It’s true that some media personalities
are more aggressive than others,
particularly as the environment has
become more challenging. Now so many
journalists are required to file stories
throughout the day for their outlet’s
website, rather than just for the traditional
morning paper. With so many
people now able to read their news
online, many are forgoing the traditional
newspaper subscription.
Advertising has become more competitive,
with so many places businesses
can now choose to invest their time and
money. That competition coupled with
dropping circulation has meant less
money available to hire the very journalists
we count on for our daily news.
Here in Ashburton we’ve been comparatively
blessed. Igrew up in the days
when the Ashburton Courier was run by
the late great Frank Veale. Frank was a
titan of local media, and even today a
major New Zealand media prize, the
Frank Veale Memorial Award for
Community Newspaper of the Year, still
bears his name.
I vividly recall a conversation with
Frank 14 years ago at my mother’s 50th
birthday (apologies, Mum). I was
expressing an early interest in politics
and he was quick to advise against it,
instead suggesting Ilook to acareer in
journalism. For years after that conversation
Idid. I’ve always loved to write,
but ultimately could never think of
myself as up to the standard required.
Iinstead went for politics, and over
the past two years have had the pleasure
of working with Frank’s successor at the
Courier, John Keast.
Regular readers of the Courier will
know that John is your classic media
man. Keen to hear both sides and write
up a fair yarn as he sees it, always
recognising that the reader is his only
constituency.
He’s done aterrific job at the Courier,
covering news in Mid Canterbury without
fear or favour, the most you can
hope from anyone in an editor’s position,
often covering stories in our
community ignored by larger media
outlets.
Festive traditions shared
Christmas is about enjoying time
with family and friends, taking time
to remember lost lovedones and to
enjoy festivities of food and sharing
presents.
They were the common theme’s
of Christmas traditions enjoyed by
many of the Hinds School pupils
learning the ‘reason for the season’
and sharing what Christmas meant
to their family during a morning
event hosted by parishioners of St
Lukes Church.
Theco­operatingparish in Hinds
opened its doors to the pupils to
help spread the festive message.
The pupils took part in a craft
sharing session, played ateam work
game with hula hoops,sungsongsin
the church and watched aChristmas
themed video before having a
fruit and milk morning tea.
Parishioner Fiona Ward said it
was achance for the pupils tovisit
the church and share their family’s
festive traditions, while at the same
time learning of the message behind
the Christmas Day holiday.
The pupils, able to enjoy the
pleasant acoustics of the church,
learned popular Christmas carol
Sharing their family Christmas traditions in cloud balloons on
paper are (facing the camera from left, Charlie Pickford, 11, Leon
Johansen, 11, and Alex Blackler, 10.
‘Silent Night (Hangu te Po) in Te
Reo Maori. And also shared their
family traditions on paper incloud
balloons before learning of afellow
pupils family traditions.
Mrs Ward said the online video
‘AnUnexpected Christmas’ is available
publicly for anyone to view
through YouTube and tells the
story of Christmas from a child’s
point of view; it’s just over five
minutes long.
Methven board funds bouncy castle
Methven Community Board
(MCB) will use its discretionary
funds to provide abouncy castle at
acommunity Christmas party event
on December 22 at Chalmers Park.
MCB was asked for a contribution
to the popular community
event, but told organisers that it
would need to fund aspecific item.
Last year MCB paid for sausages
that were then cooked and distributed
by Methven Lions.
The board agreed on Monday to
pay $634 for the bouncy castle hire,
saying the event was successful and
popular with families with younger
children.
The party starts at 2pm.