Ashburton Courier: May 21, 2020

Page 16, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday May 21, 2020
Hospice supports clients
with remote counselling
Hospice Mid Canterbury is
continuing remote counselling
with its clients under Alert Level
2.
No other therapies are
recommencing at this stage,
though some volunteer services
where remote contact is not
possible, like biography writing
and sitting, can happen if physical
distancing and sanitising
requirements are met.
The hospice shop is open
again.
Hospice Awareness Week also
hasn’t quite turned out as
planned, though acouple of
activities are keeping the
organisation in the headlines in
Mid Canterbury. Hospice Mid
Canterbury ambassador Tony
Todd biked 73km on his 73rd
birthday yesterday to raise
donations and sponsorship, and
others have been baking up a
storm in an online cake
decorating contest. It was for
under 15s and adults; the adult
winner Maria Rossetti for her
race­themed birthday cake and
the under 15 winner was Ruby
Bartlett, aged 10, for her Easter
Eggstravaganza.
Both winners received $50
New World vouchers, sponsored
by Winsford Family Trust.
Barbara Redmond is one of
the volunteers on the hospice
fundraising sub­committee and
was been instrumental getting the
retail shop up and running. She
has been married to Barry for 46
years and worked in the family
One of the winning cakes in
the online cake decorating
contest, and, right, Barbara
Redmond.
business at The China Shop for
26 years before retiring four years
ago; her experience was put to
good use after being encouraged
to join the fundraising group by
Rodger Bradford.
Her favourite fundraiser was
the Christmas Experience last
December, which raised $20,000.
Seven local homes, dressed
especially for the festive season,
were opened up to ticket­holders
for an exclusive event. She said
the fundraising committee was an
energetic and positive group, and
its members had different
strengths.
‘‘Most people will be touched
by hospice in some way during
their lives whether it be through
friends or family. Iampleased to
be able to help. I'm always
thinking of new ideas for
fundraising and am probably
more creative than practical
sometimes, but enjoy the
challenge it presents and love
seeing ideas followed through.’’
The organisation has had a
positive impact on her life in
return.
‘‘You're never too old to meet
new people and form friendships
along the way. Being involved has
been one of most satisfying things
Ihave done, lots of hard work
sometimes, lots of fun but most
rewarding.’’
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz
Boost for MAR trial
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing
$950,000 towards completing feasibility
and pilot work on amanaged aquifer
recharge to help protect andimprove
groundwater quality and supply in Mid
Canterbury.
“Work on the Hekeao Hinds
Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)
Pilot has been progressing for anumber
of years. Provincial Growth Fund
funding will enable the project to
complete its feasibility investigations
and finalise the business case,” regional
economic development minister Shane
Jones said.
There are plans to develop anetwork
of water points or ponds that allow
surface water to filter down into
groundwater. The system has been
developed to meet the needs of the local
community.
The HekeaoHinds Water
Enhancement Trust that runs the pilot is
pleased with the funding. Trustees also
wanted torecognise the community
support thatinitiated the trial and
enabled the partnership with PGF.
The MARtrial is New Zealand’s
largest groundwater rehabilitation
project. Acommunity­ledproject, it
operates alongside strict planning rules
regarding nutrient leaching from land
use activities. The MAR trialtargets
nutrientsalready in the slow­moving
groundwater system from historical land
use activities, while the planning rules
target improvements in on­farm
practices. Together they provide amultipronged
approach to drive improved
environmental outcomes.
Mr Jonessaid Ashburton was one of
the most productive agricultural regions
in New Zealand, with awide variety of
land uses and alarge number of people
employed inthe agriculture sector.
‘‘A managed aquifer recharge will
protectthis existing economic activity
and complement improvements on
farms to significantly reducenutrient
losses to groundwater,” he said.
“Thepilot is evaluating the use of
MAR to enhance groundwater quality
for ecosystem health and safe drinking
water, improving flows tospring­fed
streams and rivers and replenishing
declining groundwaterlevels.’’
MARhas been proven to be an
effective watermanagement tool.
Image Credit: thespinoff.co.nz ,@SIOUXSIEW, @XTOTL
Source: WHO, CDC -CC-BY-SA
For thelatest info:
who.int, health.govt.nz
Some illegal rubbish collected by volunteers last week. (Photo supplied)
Volunteers on litter trail
Volunteer litter collectors are back out
inAshburton and there’s plenty of
rubbish to pick up.
Volunteers from community group
Litter Free Ashburton have been
bagging and recycling other people’s
rubbish fromtthe North Park reserve on
the northern end of Ashburton.
Volunteer Bev Skates said there was a
lot of fast food packaging,which had
clearly beentossed out of car windows,
beer bottles and general household
rubbish.
‘‘There is just no need to dump it in
public places. All people have to do is
use council rubbish bags and go to the
recycling centre and put things in the
appropriatebins.’’
Stay fit &earn $$$
at the same time
My officesare nowreopen.
Under COVID alert level 2myoffice atthe Allenton Shops is
able to open by appointment only. Ifyou require assistance,
please contact me at the details below.
Andrew Falloon MP for Rangitata
81 Harrison Street, Ashburton
03 308 7510
rangitatamp@parliament.govt.nz
Spend a couple of hours
every Thursday delivering the
Ashburton Courier and Realty in
the Ashburton urban area.
Enjoy the fresh air, stay fit and
reap the health benefits!
andrewfalloonforrangitata Phone Jann todayon308 7664
to get startedoremail
jann.thompson@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Authorised by Andrew Falloon MP, 139 Stafford Street, Timaru.
2264292