Ashburton Courier: July 09, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, July 9, 2020
7
Local faces promote helpline
Local faces will soon be on
postersencouragingMid
Canterbury people who feel
liketalking, to call or text1737
for help.
Thenational 1737 number is
afreeservice for anyone
wanting to speak to atrained
counsellor andMid Canterbury
LivesWorth LivingcoordinatorsPup
Chamberlain
and Connie Quigleywantto
raise awareness of the lifeline.
They arecreatingposters
featuringlocal people to put up
around town andhelp spread
theword, or thenumber1737.
Theservice allowspeople to
obtain sound advice anda
listeningear at any time, 24
hours aday and 365 days ayear.
People canphone or textfree.
ThePakekeLions Club gave
$1500 recently to help printing
costs.
President Noel Lowe said the
club was pleased to be
supportingthe project.
LivesWorth Livingstarted10
months ago andConnie and
Pup workasateam in the field
of suicideprevention. Connie
has aprofessional mental
health background and
specialises in post­vention
while Pup has abackground in
policing and education and
focuses on prevention.
Post­vention work means
identifying and working with
peopletouched by suicide. This
includes suchworkas
navigation to appropriate
assistance and running
President Noel Lowe from the Pakeke Lions Club presents acheque to Connie Quigley and Pup
Chamberlain, of the Lives Worth Living project.
specialised help such as the
WAVESgrief programme.
Pup said the well­researched
programmeswere designedfor
helping peoplewho have been
impacted through loss.
‘‘An importantpart of this is
based around understanding
grief,relationships, support
and trust.
‘‘Prevention work means
focusing on the positive and
assisting peopletorecognise
their own moods andfeelings.
In doing this theycan then use
actionsand tools to help
themselves andothers.’’
Like post­vention,prevention
also helps navigateindividuals
to appropriate services.
‘‘Preventionisalso about
awareness andempowerment,
givingthe peopleskills on how
to recognisepeople that may
need supportand how to
give this support.’’
Connie and Pupcan be
contacted at Lives Worth
Living,Safer Mid
Canterbury ­connie.
quigley@safermidcanterbury.org.nz
or phone 027
450 0742;paul.
chamberlain@safermidcanterbury.org.nz
or phone 027
382 6501
Voters asked to check their details
Around 22,200 Ashburton
district voters should receive
their voting packs this week
and the Electoral Commission
is asking them to check their
details so they can vote in the
general election in September.
The district has about 26,500
eligible voters and with the
biggest groups the 70 plus and
those aged 18­24 years. Only 69
per cent of the younger group
was enrolled at the end of June.
Nationally, personalised
enrolment update packs will be
sent to more than three million
enrolled voters to check their
enrolment details are correct.
Chief electoral officer Alicia
Wright said two referendums
would accompany the general
election on September 19.
“We’ve got some big decisions
to make and it’s important to be
enrolled before you vote and
have your voice heard,” she
said.
The Electoral Commission’s
enrolment update campaign is
under way with advertising
featuring Orange Guy and his
new dog Pup.
People need to open the pack
and check their details are up
to date. There have been some
changes to the Rangitata
electorate boundaries, with
voters in the Rakaia area now
part the electorate (they were
previously in the Selwyn
electorate).
The pack will include
information on the two
referendums that will be held
alongside the election. People
can vote on whether the End of
Life Choice Act 2019 should
come into force, giving people
with aterminal illness the
option of requesting assisted
dying. They can also vote on
whether the recreational use of
cannabis should become
legal.
“This year, more than
ever, it’s important to enrol
early so you get information
about the election and
referendums in the mail
along with an EasyVote card
which will make voting
faster,’’ Ms Wright said.
People can enrol online at
vote.nz using aNew Zealand
driver licence, New Zealand
passport or RealMe verified
identity.
People can also enrol or
update their details by
filling in an enrolment form.
Forms are available at vote.
nz, by calling Freephone
0800367656 or texting their
name and address to 3676.
IN BRIEF
DAFFODIL DAY
Daffodil Daymarks 30 yearsthis
yearand the Cancer Society and
volunteers are alreadypreparing for
the big eventonAugust 28.
Many New Zealanders have
facedcancer over those30years
and manyNew Zealanders have
supported friends or whanauwith
cancer. In 1990 there were 11,942
people diagnosed with cancer.By
the endof2020it’s estimated more
than 26,000 New Zealanders will be
diagnosed with cancereachyear.
With demand for services
increasing, the Cancer Society’s
support is more vital than ever.
ANZ Bankwillagain be the main
Daffodil Day sponsor.
DOMAIN PLAN
Ashburton District Council staff are
collating over 150 submissions to its
domain development plan,put out
for consultation earlier this year.
The plan proposesahostof
changes,withthe proposed
relocation of the Ashburton Bowling
Clubdrawing mostcomment. The
submissions are likely to be heard
and debatedbycouncillors in
August.
CONSERVATIVES
New Conservativeleader Leighton
Baker will be in townonSunday to
speak about what thepartyis
offeringvoters ahead of the general
election. The meetingwill be in
Tinwald School’s hall, startingat
2pm.The party hasalocal
candidate, Lachie Ashton.
CITIZENSMEETING
The Ashburton Citizens Association
will holdits annualgeneral meeting
on July 30. The meeting will be at
the AshburtonClub and MSA,
beginning at 7.30pm.Therewill be a
guest speaker and asupper
provided.
SKYDIVE CHALLENGE
AnnaTuffley has signed up to
support JumpToThe Rescue
SPCA, anational skydive
fundraising event. The18-year-old
has experiencedanxietyand
depressioninthe pastand is taking
on the jumpchallenge, in Ashburton
nextmonth,asaway to help
animals andpushherself outside
her comfort zone. ‘‘I’m inspiredby
the loveIhavefor animals and
wantingtohelp out as muchasI
can,’’ shesays,onthe fundraising
site.She wants to support the SPCA
by raisingasmuch money as
possible to help their work.
The page canbefoundathttps:/
/jumptotherescue2020.
everydayhero.com/nz/anna
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