Ashburton Courier: August 13, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, August 13, 2020
21
$4m water reform
The Ashburton District Councilcan access $4
millionaspart of aGovernment plan on water
reform that will see $761 million invested
aroundthe country to upgrade three waters
infrastructure.
The funding is made available to councils
agreeingtoparticipate in thefirstphase of the
three waters services reform programme.
Council will decide whether to participate in
the first phase of the reformprogramme before
the August 31 deadline.
Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown said
while participation was non­binding,
committing to the first phase of work to better
understand the process may prove beneficial.
Cadets at the recent Ex Top Squad event held at Staveley Camp.
PHOTO SUPPLIED.
Local cadets win top squad
Army, airand sea cadets from around
Canterbury and furtherafieldhave
enjoyed anumber of competitive
challenges at the annual Ex Top
Squad event.
Held at Staveley Camp, this year’s
event was attended by eight units,
with seven single unit teams of eight
andthree mixed teams.
The Ashburtoncontingent
performedwelland wonthe overall
title, finishing ahead of theTSGodley
Sea Cadetteam .Itisthe first local
victorysince 2017.
Activity challenges on day one
includedasimulated car crash with
three injured patients, the recovery
of aunimog from the mudusing
ropes, block and tackles,survivor
stylepuzzle activity,agrenade range
withtennis balls and plastic bottles
as targets,and agiant Jenga.
On day two there was ateamcrosscountry
challenge, cannonrun,
observationscavenger hunt, and
relay where teams worked out how to
make an old schoolbed pack.
This years’s competition was close,
with justseven points the difference
between the seventhplace team and
the two teams tied forthird equal,
said Ashburton Cadet Unitmajor
Cezarne Rodgers.
Ex Top Squad provided an
opportunity for sergeantsand
corporalstolead asection for longer
thanjustafew leadership activities
on aparadenightand was funfor
cadets, said Major Rodgers.
The VIP guests at the event
included the commandantofCadet
ForceLTCDR Andrew Law, whotook
the opportunity to present six
members of AshburtonCadet Unit
with silvercoins for their second
placinginthe Ffennell
Commonwealth Shooting
Competitionlastyear.
Ashburton
September
17, 18, 21, 22 &23
2303923
We’re at the
heartof Care
in Ashburton.
Lorraine, Princes Court Lifecare
(Specialised Dementia Care)
If you or aloved one
are looking for Rest
Home Care, Lorraine
is here to help.
Gregory O’Brien’sacrylic on canvas work Poem in the Matukituki ValleyI,2018.
From felt, to wading birds
Two new exhibitionshave
openedatAshburton Art
Gallery, one featuring the
creativetalents ofmembers
of the Ashburton Creative
Fibre Groupand theother
showcasing worksby
prominentNew Zealand
artist GregoryO’Brien.
Thecreativefibre groupis
celebrating its golden
anniversary and the
exhibition is called
Celebrating Fibrecrafts.
The 50­membergroup was
formerly known as
AshburtonSpinners and
Weavers and members are
skilled in arange of fibrerelated
techniqueslike
spinning, dyeing, weaving,
needlecraft and felting.
Thegroupactively
encouragesthe use of
traditional skillsand the
exhibition features anumber
of impressive handcrafted
garments andotheritems
made fromnatural fibre.
It offers an insight into
processesand fibre
preparation, as well as
various fibrecraft
techniques.
Highlights includeahandknitted
and crocheted bridal
gown in silk and freshwater
pearls, areplica
Christchurch Cathedraland
MidCanterbury diorama
made byall members of the
group.
GregoryO’Brien’s showis
calledThe Wading Birds of
Drybread.
In2018 the Wellingtonbased
artistand writer,and
his wife, poetJenny
Bornholdt, livedand worked
in HendersonHouse,
Alexandra as artist­inresidence.
Havingspent much of his
life untilthen near the coast
and usually within sight of
the sea,the move to Central
Otagoopened up anew
territory for the artist,
including the neighbouring
CluthaRiver.
Theworksinthe first part
of theexhibition are an
account of how the year in
the region was spent. O’Brien
and his wife sawthemselves
as displaced‘‘wading birds’’.
Thesecond part of this
exhibition extends beyond
the South Island to revisit
RaoulIslandand the
Kermadec waters.
Celebrating Fibrecrafts
runs until September27and
The Wading Birds of
Drybread untilOctober 9.
Lorraine joined Princes
Court Lifecare in June
2019. Shewas previously
aNeedsAssessor at
AshburtonHospital andhas
abackground in dementia
care and mental health.
“My father had dementia,
so Iunderstanditfromboth
sides...both as aprofessional
and adaughter.”
She really empathises with
familieswho have reached
thatmoment whenthey hit
the wall and needtomake
decisionsnow.
Princes Court offers Dementia and Respite Care.
Princes Court Lifecare
“I havestrongrelationships
withthe NASCco-ordination
teamand psychogeriatricians,
so I’m able to makesure
the process is as smooth
as possible.”
Call us on (03) 308 0302
58 Princes Street, Netherby, Ashburton
heritagelifecare.co.nz
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