Page 14, <strong>Ashburton</strong>'s The <strong>Courier</strong>, Thursday <strong>April</strong> <strong>16</strong>, <strong>2020</strong> Local news at www.starnews.co.nz
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz <strong>Ashburton</strong>'s The <strong>Courier</strong>, Thursday <strong>April</strong> <strong>16</strong>, <strong>2020</strong>, Page 15 Funds given to support driving coordinator role Members of Celtic’s women’s rugby team after atrainingsession before the lockdown. Spirits, fitness kept up By Linda Clarke Celtic’s women’s rugby team is training upastorm on social media, to keep spirits and fitnesslevels up ahead of what coach Nick McKain hopes will be acracker season. With two imports from the town of Kendal, in Cumbria in the United Kingdom,the women’s side was showing promise and had been training hard ahead of aplanned season start in <strong>April</strong>. Covid19 means the start of their season, like all sports, is on hold. Nick says players were training in their own bubbles and itching toget back to contact and group sessions once restrictions were eased. He says the players had been keeping connected through social media; the posts were fun and fitnessoriented. The team had managed afew full trainings before the alert level 4restrictions kicked in. The English players were flatting separately with other members of the rugby community, he said. They Free online classes offered had been working and adjustingtoKiwi life prior to the lockdown and planned to stay two years. Nick says it was still possible to salvage arugby competition if restrictions were lifted. The Celtic side will play in aChristchurch league, with some home games, and local coaches said the side had agood spread of talent and ability. While last year was alearning curve, this year the squad had good numbers and contained athletes who had played rugby as well as those new to the sport. The team had created afamily atmosphere, where players’ children were welcomed and looked after, removing any barriers to training and gametime. ‘‘I am alittle bit excited this year. The girls are alot better than people were thinking,’’ he said. ‘‘We have the opportunity to be areally good squad this year.’’ The women’s team is well supported by the Celtic club, which had arugby connection with Kendal for a decade. Nick says the rugby community was hoping Covid19 had created only apause for the sport this season. <strong>Ashburton</strong> District Council will use the balance of a special fund to assist in funding a youth driver licence coordinator. The Access Trust special fund has been sitting with council for anumber of years and has abalance of $39,376. The fund relates to the former Taskforce Green transport project and council passed aresolution recently to be able to use it. Council economic development manager Bevan Rickerby said the lack of adriver’s licence had been identified as aroadblock to local youth employment. A project coordinator would help ensure young people did not slip through gaps, were ‘‘road safe’’ and that funding to drive ‘‘got to the right places’’. The role was not an immediate appointment and would run for six to eight months, before schools and other organisations took it over, he said. Mayor Neil Brown said supporting young drivers locally was ‘‘an opportunity do something for our children’’ and for older students at Mount Hutt and <strong>Ashburton</strong> colleges. There was no rate payer subsidy involved and employers wanted school leavers who had licences. He said council would facilitate and support the scheme, which involved several agencies already helping new drivers get their licences. Trust’s virtual meeting to discuss support options The Community Trust of Mid &South Canterbury board met virtually for the first time in its history on<strong>April</strong> 6after a scheduled meeting on March 30 was postponed as aresult ofthe Covid19 lockdown. Trust chairman David Forman said trustees discussed the best way they could support the region in response to the current lockdown because “the pandemic will bring significant and unprecedented challenges throughoutour communities.’’ ‘‘We want to assure grantees and the wider community that we are well placed to meet whatever needs arisethrough this period of heightened risk and uncertainty. ‘‘First and foremost, the annual funding available tonotforprofit organisations will be maintained for the upcoming <strong>2020</strong>/21 funding year. The application rounds advertisedonthe trust website will also remain the same." He said although trust investments have taken ahit due to the significant drop in investment markets, its portfolio was structured to weather this type of event. ‘‘We have agood level of cash reserves and dividend paying investments to be able to fully support the Mid &South Canterbury regions in the coming year and beyond.” Looking forward the trust will be assessing where the greatest needs lie and where to best focus its resources. Organisations are invited to make contact to discuss any needs they have. They can call community relations manager Lorel Hallinan on 021 819 0606 or email to crm@comtrust.org.nz. Mid Canterbury TimeBank is helping the community to connect and learn during lockdown. It is offeringfree onlineclasses that are open to everyone. Teaching Tuesdayswill run from 7pm until 8pmand will focus on a range of different subject eachweek, including learning more about KiwiSaver,meditation and Te Reo Maori. ‘Crafternoons’ willrun on Fridays, from 2pm until 3pm, and will feature advice on areas such as sewing, knitting and scrapbookingathome. Gardening questions will be answered by experiencedgardeners at online sessions on Sundays, from 4pm until 5pm. Other sessionsare also being lined up. Go to the link form.jotform.com/ 200928222381046 to ask for an invitation to the events. Stay fit &earn $$$ at the same time Image Credit: thespinoff.co.nz,@SIOUXSIEW,@XTOTL Source: WHO,CDC -CC-BY-SA For thelatest info: who.int, health.govt.nz Spend a couple of hours every Thursday delivering the <strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong> and Realty in the <strong>Ashburton</strong> urban area. Enjoy the fresh air, stay fit and reap the health benefits! Phone Leonie todayon308 7664 to get startedoremail leonie.marsden@ashburtoncourier.co.nz My officesin<strong>Ashburton</strong>and Timaru are closed underCOVID alert4measures. For any assistance you can still contact me by ringing 03 308 7510 or email me directly at: andrew.falloon@parliament.govt.nz Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should phone their doctor or Healthline on 0800 3585453 Authorised by Andrew Falloon MP, 139Stafford Street,Timaru. Andrew Falloon, MP forRangitata 2264292
Change language