Ashburton Courier: April 30, 2020

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Page 4, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday April 30, 2020 Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Morethan aname on aheadstone Twentysixyearold Thomas Joseph Goldsmith was farming at Lauriston, near Ashburton, when he enlisted to fight for his new home country. Born at Braddan, in the Isle of Man on December 18, 1889, Thomas had made his way to New Zealand and settled in Mid Canterbury. At 6foot tall, with aframe of around 80kg (176lbs), Thomas, who had passed the Fourth Educational Standard or equivalent at the time of enlisting, had brown hair, grey eyes and aslight stammer in his speech. He was single and with no dependants when stirred to duty by joining the infantry of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on June 28, 1916. His next of kin when he enlisted was his friend, C. Goodwin, of Clovelly Farm at Lauriston, New Zealand. Private TJGoldsmith, 29162 was assigned to the 2nd Canterbury Infantry Battalion. The Canterbury Infantry Regiment was one of four regional infantry groups (the others were Auckland, Wellington and Otago) and served on the Western Front from 1916 until 1918. This was where Thomas was headed when he embarked with other 18th Reinforcements, and 12th and 9th New Zealand Rifle Brigade, on the Tofua from Wellington on October 11, 1916. Two and ahalf months later, having spent Christmas Day on board the troopship with thousands of other soldiers, he disembarked at The tale of Anzac Private Thomas Goldsmith Ashburton RSA vice-president Allan Johnstone lays awreath for Anzac Day 2020. Plymouth, in the south west of England, on December 29 and marched into Sling Camp for training on the same day. It was two days before New Year’s Eve. He was there for just over a month before moving on to France and the first battle of his life. Thomas arrived at camp in Staples, France and amonth later was led into the field of battle; it was March 3, 1917. Soldiers on the Western Front fought the war living in trenches which were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground. The trenches were muddy and smelly with food scraps, overflowing toilets and the bodies of deceased soldiers which attracted rats. There was also lice, brought in on frogs when the trenches flooded, attaching to clothing and causing the men to itch and suffer from trench fever (which lice spread). Threeandahalf months after first arriving in the trenches, Thomassuffered from about of diarrhoea so severe he had to be treated twice by fieldambulance. He went on to do Western European service throughout 1917 and 1918, was woundedmultiple times in action, including an accidental injury in July 1917 and was also disciplined at leasttwice; oncefor being missinginactionfor 45 minutesonNew Year’s Day 1918. Thomas served his country for three yearsand 159 days,which included two years and 345 days posted overseas. He was eventually discharged The recently-cleaned headstone of Private Thomas Goldsmith, in the Ashburton Cemetery. from service on December 3, 1919 as no longer being physically fit becauseofwounds received in action. He was awardedthe British War Medal on November 21, 1921, and the Victory Medal on May 16, 1922. It is not known what Thomas’ life was like returning to New Zealand after the war, but he died at Burnham, on November 19, 1950. He is buried alongside other Anzac soldiers at Ashburton Cemetery. Lockdown bubbles shower Carlyn with love Despite the tough financial times many people are finding themselves in due to the Covid 19 situation, an Ashburton family rallying to reach an $87,000 target for unfunded cancer drugs is reeling by the outpouring of love and support it is receiving. Family of Ashburton woman 25yearold Carlyn Reed began a Givealittle fundraising page on Anzac Day (April 25) to help raise funds for immune therapy treatment she needs to help save her life. Since the age of 14, the former Ashburton College pupil has courageously been fighting Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Over the years, despite numerous chemotherapy treatments, radiation and astem cell transplant, the cancer keeps returning. With no public treatment options left, Carlyn’s only hope for acure rests with aNew Zealand Governmentapproved, Carlyn Reed and her family are fundraising for unfunded cancer drugs. but unfunded drug, called Pembrozlizumab. Family member Julia Dohmen said aquote from St George’s Hospital in Christchurch for Carlyn’s immune therapy treatment and care costs was received on April 24 and the family set to work to create a fundraising page to support Carlyn’s cause. “Within the first 12 hours, $30,050 had been raised which just blew everyone away. “Carlyn, her mum and siblings were in their respective house bubbles staying in touch virtually watching the donations flow in and reading the many messages of support. “There were lots of tears, happy tears. It just shows the power of the people in times like these,” she said. Mrs Dohmen said that by the end of day two, the fundraising total had reached $41,000 –just shy of the halfway mark. It had reached $50,000 yesterday. “We still have awee way to go, but are heartened by the outpouring of love and generosity from people in their bubbles both here in New Zealand, and even from across the ditch in Australia. It gives us ahuge amount of hope that this target is totally possible,” she said. People can read more about Carlyn’s story and donate to her cause via the Givealittle website –Help Carlyn kick cancer to the curb, at https://givealittle.co.nz/ cause/helpcarlynkickcancertothecurbdollar87000 www.auricelectrical.co.nz • Domestic electrical services • New house wiring • House rewiring &maintenance SUPPLIERS AND INSTALLERS OF LEADING BRANDS • TV &Datawiring • Solar installation • HeatPumps Call todayfor an obligation free quote 0800287 423 2269129 Be crime savvy Police are reminding people to keep their property and valuables secure, even if they are at home. With more people returning to work, it is timely for areminder about keeping property safe because burglars are still active. Doors and windowsleft open provide aperfect opportunity for thieves to snatch items without being detected and valuables should be out of sight from passersby. People workinginthe garden or away from the front door, should makesure doors are locked. Remember to lock your car, even in the driveway.
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday April 30, 2020, Page 5 Student armyready to roll By Linda Clarke Canterbury University student Alyce Lysaght is helping the Student Volunteer Army set up a delivery service for older people in her home town, Ashburton. Alyce, 20, is in her third year of aBachelor of Engineering degree, specialising in natural resources and global humanitarian, and has been among student volunteers grocery shopping and delivering prescriptions for over 65s and medicallyvulnerable people in Christchurch. Now the SVA has teamed up with New World Ashburton and Alyce said the army has students on the ground here ready to roll. “It has been awesome to see many familiar names from Ashburton in the volunteering pool already. However, we are always in need of more, so I encourage anyone who has acar to sign up. You don’t have to be a student.” Alyce spent her last summer holidays working with the Ashburton District Council on projects that included communicating with retailers about the CBD beautification work. She returned to Christchurch at the start of the year to continue the third of four years engineering study. She is also studying Te Reo Maori at Te Wananga oAotearoa. “It’s definitely busy, yet exciting times. I’ve been at my flat over lockdown, which has been alot of fun.” In Christchurch, the SVA launched its nationwide volunteering response on March 19 and since then thousands of volunteers, including interviewers Ashburton’s Alyce Lysaght is helping from the Student Volunteer Army’s delivery service to the town. and organisers had been working hard to enable those who should be staying at home, to stay at home. The army constructed an online grocery store that can be used with any New World in the country. Volunteers collect the groceries and deliver them to customers within 48 hours, though it’s often the next morning. Payments are done online, with a$6delivery fee. The SVA also operates a pharmaceutical delivery service. Alyce said it was more than a delivery service with volunteers sharing smiles and muchneeded conversation. “We’ve had alot of stories from people who have been on lockdown by themselves so to see avolunteer walk up their driveway, and drop their groceries at the door with agreat big smile has totally made their day.” One volunteer in Dunedin knew it was their customer’s 80th birthday so they made an effort to deliver her acard along with her favourite chocolates, sussed out by the call centre operator. “Another customer made afelt love heart with the letters SVA embroidered to give to the volunteer on their next delivery.” Alyce, who has been on the SVA executive since 2018, said it was important to genuinely do good in these uncertain times. “This volunteering response is so much more than just adelivery service. It’s about having that connection and providing help for those who need it. It really was a nobrainer to give what Icould during this time as SVA gives volunteers all the tools needed to help in acommunity.” Customers can safely place an order by visiting www.sva.org.nz (or calling 0800 005 902), and order their shopping, paying via credit card. As well at the support of New World, Hyundai has provided some vehicles and ZEnergy is providing free petrol. Dentists face backlog, PPE battle By Linda Clarke Dentists have had to cancel hundreds of appointments and are warning their costs might rise when they are eventually able to get back to work, because of the huge demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). Sourcing special gowns, face shields, masks and hydrogen peroxidebased mouthwash has been abig challenge for Ashburton practice Dentistry on Parkside and principal dentist Arun Velusamy said the cost had increased 1020 times, with upfront payments on ordering. The New Zealand Dental Association agrees there is ahuge supply and demand issue and patients could pay $80 more for PPE before treatment even starts. The equipment is in demand globally by health organisations fighting Covid19. Dental practices were closed in Alert Level 4, except for emergencies, and remain closed in Alert Level 3. Dr Velusamy said Parkside dentists had been doing phone consultations and prescriptions at no cost to help patients and seeing dental emergencies, which included patients with pain, swelling and ACC injuries. ‘‘We have been working with skeleton staff and following all the protocols as advised by the Ministry of Health and dental council.’’ Emergency patients cover all age groups, from people in rest Dentistry on Parkside principal dentist Arun Velusamy (right) and dental assistant Samantha Collins have been on deck for emergency patients during lockdown. homes to children, the medically compromised and essential workers. The practice had to cancel several hundred appointments before lockdown began on March 26. Patients were contacted by email and will have to be rebooked when the country moves to alert level 2. ‘‘We are keeping an active track of our patients who have been moved due to lockdown and we will contact them by phone or email to organise their appointments. We had people contacting us and they were quite understanding.’’ Dentists have not yet seen guidelines for operating at Alert Level 2. ‘‘But it is highly likely that we will be able to do more procedures than what we are doing right now in level 3and 4.’’ He said his team was like a second family and it was sad not seeing them at work. The impact of Covid19 had been severe and would take months or years to recover, he said. ‘‘We have applied for the wage subsidy for all our staff and remained open for dental emergencies throughout level 4 and 3. Being locally owned, we have remained available at this difficult time for our local community.’’ The national dental association says dentists had been shut out of providing important oral health care, unlike doctors and pharmacists who were still able to work and receive some income during the lockdown. Chief executive Dr David Crum said dentistry had been largely ignored by government, who provided almost no funding for adult dental care. “Last year the New Zealand government spent over $18 billion on health care, $3745 for every man, woman and child in New Zealand. But less than one half of one per cent was spent by the Government on oral health,” he said. “The reality is that if you are an adult New Zealander, you will be expected to pay for your own dental care and the PPE to provide this safely with limited exceptions.’’ Health services Mid Canterbury medical practices are continuing to operate mostly virtually in Alert Level 3and they still want to hear from peoplewho are ill, for any reason. SpokespersonDrEmma Andrew said GPs and health services were essentially operatingasthey did in lockdown, though therewere afew changes. Physiotherapists will do most of their work virtually but are still able to see acute conditions in person. Dentists are available only for urgent care. Pharmaciescontinue to issue medication on amonthly basis.This does not necessarily mean you need monthlyrenewal of scripts from your local doctor–please check with your pharmacist first. She said many people were wonderingif they needed to have aCovid19swab done, before they returned to work. Thisisonly the case if you haveany symptoms of a respiratorytract infection ie any of: runny nose,sore throat,sneezing, cough, lossof sense of smell, shortness of breath, fever. ‘‘If you do have any of these symptoms please contactyour local GP or Healthline.’’ Schools quiet Mid Canterbury schools have seen justa trickle of students returntothe classroom underthe new Alert Level 3restrictions. Hampstead School principal Peter Melrose said he had 13 students back onsite. The way schoolswere required to operate at the moment ‘‘was not particularly appealing’’ and the situationwas far from normal in the classroom. His schoolhad beenbusy staying connectedonline, and pupils were very active on class dojos. Like otherschools,Hampstead is required to manage school bubbles of no more than 10 students. Off limitsare schoolplaygrounds and sports equipment,while there are shorter breaks, strictdistancingrules and registers to maintain. Schools spoken to by Ashburton Courier show returning studentnumbers of 20 at AshburtonIntermediate,10atNetherby, 10 at Rakaia, zero at Longbeach, 25 at Borough School, 9atMount Hutt College,20at Allenton School and 13 at Ashburton ChristianSchool. Hampstead School pupil Adam Overend received ahome learning pack last week. Crash inquiries The police serious crashunit is investigatingtwo crashesinMid Canterbury last Sunday night, 24 hours before the country moved to AlertLevel 3. Emergency services were called to a singlevehicle crash on the ArundelRakaia GorgeRoad, Mayfield, about 11.15pmone personwas reported to have beenseriously injured.The seriouscrash unit examined the sceneand inquiriesinto the circumstances of the crash are ongoing. Therewas also acrash involving atanker and anothervehicle about11.20pm on the Rakaia Highway(SH1) near Coplands Road.One person was reported to have been seriously injured. The serious crash unit attended and examined the scene, and inquiriesare ongoing.
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Ashburton Courier: April 30, 2020

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