Pegasus Post: May 28, 2020

6 Thursday May 28 2020
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
PEGASUS POST
News
GIVING BACK: Catherine O’Neill (left), Peggy Kelly of Canterbury Community Gardens
Association and Orion’s Steve Hix at New Brighton Community Garden.
Gloves for gardeners
HUNDREDS OF gardening
gloves have been donated to
community volunteers in
Christchurch as they eagerly
return to their gardens.
Energy company Orion
made the donation of 300
gloves to the Canterbury
Community Gardens
Association, which supports
35 gardens in the city.
New Brighton community
garden manager and CCGA
chairwoman Catherine O’Neill
said Covid-19 presented even
greater hygiene challenges to the
activity.
“In the past when new volunteers
came along to help and
haven’t brought their own gloves,
they were directed to the store of
shared gloves,” she said.
“To make sure we’re not passing
anything on, now we’ll be
able to give people their own pair
of new gloves.
“It’s such a peaceful, friendly
way to spend a couple of hours
with other people, and now everyone
can join in without having
to worry.”
Ms O’Neill said they would
be clearing out spent summer
crops, planting garlic, beans,
snow peas and much more, replenishing
the soil with compost
and mulch.
“Whether you’re eight or 80, a
community garden is a place you
can wander into and find a place
that makes you feel at home,” she
said.
Orion Connections manager
Steve Hix, who has arranged
power connections for a number
of community gardens over the
years organised the glove donation
by Orion with the support
of Mitre 10 Ferrymead.
“We have a staff community
fund, and I thought this would
be a great initiative to support, in
a practical way,” said Mr Hix.
“It is great to see people
investing their time in a
community activity that
builds sustainability, gets
everyone together, and
produces organically grown
fresh food.”
New online book
initiative for seniors
A NEW online book
programme has been set up
with older Cantabrians in mind,
aiming to maintain social
interaction with others while
physically distanced.
Campfire - Stories Read Aloud
for Adults was created by the
city council’s libraries staff,
featuring a fresh chapter read
by librarians from a book every
Wednesday and Friday.
City council head of libraries
and information Carolyn
Robertson said library staff
produced the programme with
“our older adult community in
mind and in collaboration with
Age Concern.”
“It is a story time for seniors
as we help ensure that our older
library users remain engaged
during the lockdown,” she said.
“We believe Campfire can
boost well-being for older adults
and bring a fresh face – and
voice – to their day. They can
watch and listen to our librarians
as they read aloud.
Ms Robertson said for many
older people who have enjoyed
books, listening to another voice
can bring comfort in connection.
“Some may have also lost the
ability to read because of poor
eyesight or physical impairments.
We want to hold on to
that social interaction and love
of books.”
Age Concern Canterbury
chief executive Simon Templeton
has welcomed the story time
programme, describing Campfire
as “a great initiative.”
“Older people are often avid
readers, so any programme that
enables people to stay connected
with their library, with others
and with reading is great,” Mr
Templeton said.
“Some specific groups will
benefit, including those with
vision impairment, dexterity
issues, or the housebound. I
think this type of programme
will grow in popularity as the
population ages.
“I see it as a daily part of
residential care therapy for rest
home residents, and the means
to have a ‘book club’ for those
who can’t read.
“While many older people do
not use the internet, there is a
large number who do – and this
is growing,” he said.
Anyone can access Campfire
via the libraries’ website.
!
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MONDAY TO SATURDAY
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SUNDAY
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AvonheadShoppingCentre
www.avonhead.co.nz
Cnr Withells Rd & Merrin St
Avonhead