Ashburton Courier: March 05, 2020

Page 26, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday March 5, 2020
Book tells Timaru
organ company story
ASouth Canterbury business that has
been doingspecialty work looking after
six pipe organs in the Ashburton
district hasproducedabooktomark 50
years of dedicated work.
Timaru­based South Island Organ
Company hasmadeaname foritself in
thehighly­specialisedand skilled world
of pipe organ building and restoration.
They have been involved inhundreds
of projectsonsome of the largest, most
historic and valuable pipe organs in
New Zealand and Australia.
The business commissioned journalist
Jill Worrall to write More than a
Pipe Dream and the book was
launched in early February.
The book tells the tale of its
beginning in adraughty cold shed in
Timaru toacompany with 12 permanent
and over 14 casual staff with a
reputation for excellence.
South Island Organ Company
(SIOC) services six pipe organs in the
Ashburton district churches and the
instruments of a few private organ
enthusiasts in the area.
Directors John and Val Hargraves
have hands­on roles inthe operation.
More than aPipe Dream proved to
be alengthy project for Jill but the
result is a 300­plus­page, beautifully
produced, extensively illustrated, full
colour book that covers not only the
company’s history, but the art oforgan
restoration and most importantly the
immenselyskilled people who carry out
the work.
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Author Jill Worrall and managing
director of South Island Organ
Company John Hargraves with
the book marking 50 years of
highly-specialised business.
Many Canterbury instruments feature
inthe book and there’s aspecial
section dedicated to the SIOC personnel
who lost their lives during the
February 22, 2011 earthquake.
“Over the years it’stakenmetowrite
the bookI’vebecome totally fascinated
with the whole process of organ
restoration. In other words, I’ve
become abit of apipe organ geek.
Most of all though, I’ve treasured
getting toknow this unique group of
people, of whom I’ve become
immensely fond.”
Arundel
Orari Bridge
Geraldine
Staveley
Mount Somers
Alford Forest
Valetta
Mayfield
77
Ruapuna
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ContactJann Thompson 03 308 7664 jann.thompson@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Ealing
Ashburton
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Moranan Maronan
Hinds
Lowcliffe
Methven
Winchmore
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Ashburton
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Wakanui
Chertsey
Rakaia
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz
School attendance drops
Attendance data for Term 22019 shows adrop inthe
number of students going to school regularly.
Absences were worse on Mondays and Fridays, and
22%ofstudents weren’t at schoolonthe last dayofterm.
The attendance data captures all non­attendance –
justified and unjustified.
It shows thatmostabsencesare justified, but there are
some increases in unjustified.
Figures for Ashburton District provided to Rangitata
MP AndrewFalloon showthe levelofstudents attending
school ‘‘regularly’’was 55.8% inTerm 22019. For the
same period in2018 the level was 67.6% and in 2017 it
was 70.4%.
The national average for Term 22019 was 57.7%.
Students attending regularly are defined as having
attended more than 90% of all school time inTerm 2,
where time is measured in half­days.
Data shows attendance is betteratprimary schooland
deteriorates at secondary school. Non­attendance rates
are higher for females.
Attendance declines asterm two progresses and is
lowest onFridays and Mondays.
More information at the website educationcounts.
govt.nz.
Farmers could be affected by
new biodiversity proposal
Dairy farmers with indigenous vegetation,
native bird, insect habitats,
or wetlands on their farms could be
affected by proposals in a new
biodiversity proposal, currently
under consultation.
They are being urged to make a
submission and share their views on
the proposed National Policy Statement
for Indigenous Biodiversity,
which is being sought by The
Ministry for the Environment, until
March 14.
DairyNZ environment manager
Aslan Wright­Stow said dairy farmers
have carried out awide range
of work in recent years to protect
and improve biodiversity on their
farms
“This includes planting, pest control,
retiring or covenanting land,
and fencing off native vegetation,
which benefits water quality and
ecosystems.
“Farmers recognise the important
role indigenous plants and trees and
nativespeciesplay in our ecosystems.
The consultation under way is an
opportunity for farmers and the
community to consider practical
options to preserve and enhance
biodiversity, and to highlight the
work they have already done to
protect biodiversity.” The proposals
would require all councils to identify
and map Significant Natural Areas
(SNAs) of indigenous biodiversity in
consultation with qualified ecologists.
Some councils have already
undertaken this work, while others
have not.
“Farmers with land classed as
having an SNA may have restrictions
placed on new activities they can
carry out in and around that area,”
says Mr Wright­Stow.
“Many dairy farmers are already
taking action on farm to protect
indigenous biodiversity. We encourage
farmers to make submissions
sharing their views on the proposals
and their practical experience of
what works well on farm and what
does not,” he adds.
Some dairy farmers who don’t
have SNAs on their farms could also
be affected by the proposals ­for
example if the farm borders an area
of indigenous vegetation on aneighbouring
farm or aNational Park.
Information on how the proposals
may affect dairy farmers is available
online at dairynz.co.nz/biodiversity.
DairyNZ isplanning to make a
submission on the proposal on
behalf of farmers.
Overdue foothills reunion
planned at Staveley Hall
Anyone who went to the former Springburn
School or lived in the Springburn/
Staveley area in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s
is invited to an informalgathering at the
Staveley Hall on March 14.
The reunion is being organised by
former resident Barry Burgess.
Mr Burgess, who lives in Christchurch,
said the reunion had been in his
mind for anumber of years, and now a
date was locked in.
He would supply tea and coffee and
people could bring aplate to share if
they wished.
They were also invited to bring along
any old photos or memories of their
school days orcommunity events.
Mr Burgess said there had been no
reunion of Springburn School pupils
since 1976, and it was overdue.
‘‘We realise it is the same day as the
Mayfield A&P show, however we are
hoping this will help encourage people
to travel to our event later in the day.
He said only ‘‘the big picture’’ for the
reunion had been organised, and details
would happen on the day.
AFacebook page called Solid Gold
Springburn/Staveley of the 60’s, 70’s and
80’s has been set up.
The reunion will run between 2pm
and 8pm.
Contact Barry Burgess on 027 322
1953 for more information.
Good Boss campaign
The agricultural sector have teamed up
in anew initiative toget farmers talking
about what it takes to be agood boss,
and how they can be even better bosses.
The Good Boss campaign is asectorwide
initiative by Federated Farmers,
DairyNZ, Dairy Women’s Network and
NZ Young Farmers.
It was launched last week at a
Federated Farmers event in Wellington.
DairyNZ people team leader Jane
Muir says ‘‘the Good Boss campaign has
asimple objective ­tocelebrate dairy
farmers who are good bosses and think
about ways to be better bosses,’’ she
says.
‘‘It aims to ensure that dairy farming
employers know what a good boss is,
what is expected of them, and that they
are implementing the changes needed to
enhance their workplaces where it’s
needed.
‘‘In dairy we have around 11,500 dairy
farming businesses and most employ
someone to help run the farm. So the
Good Boss campaign is about getting
the conversation going ­what makes a
good boss? How and why is agood boss,
agood boss?
‘‘We want a dairy sector of good
bosses. For some, it’s about assessing
their performance against good employment
practice, which includes health and
safety, wellbeing and tenancy arrangements.
And for others, it can be about
reinforcing a good work­lifestyle balance
through flexible roster options or
team building activities.’’
Farmers are being encouraged to
join the Good Boss campaign and share
what being agood boss means to them.
‘‘We want to find out from people on
farm what a'good boss' means to them,
so we can share this with other farmers
and help them make small improvements,’’
Chris said.
The Good Boss competition is under
way now ­farm teams are encouraged to
tell us what they value in agood boss by
sending in a15­20 secondvideo explaining
what a‘good boss' means to them.
Find out more at www.dairynz.co.nz/
goodboss