North Canterbury News: August 20, 2020

Deans Ave
Rolleston Ave
NEWS
10 North Canterbury News, August 20, 2020
Tales of Pegasus Town
Restoration work recognised ... Afunction at the Balmoral
Fire Lookout, held before Covid­19 restrictions, marked the
restoration of the historic lookout.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Help appreciated
The Hawarden Waikari
Lions, pivotal in getting the
Balmoralfirelookout
renovatedand restored, will
be recognised for its
contribution.
Unfortunately, plans to
present acertificate of
recognition to club
representative DaveHislop
during ConservationWeek
have been cancelled because
of Covid­19. However, he will
receive it during October’s
officialopening.
It is not the only historic
building to benefit from
community support.
Dr SharonEnglish and
Robert Birks, working
through the New Zealand
ConservationFund, were
central to ensuring the Casey
Hut in Arthurs Pass National
Park,whichburnt down in
2015,was rebuilt thanksto
theirgenerous sponsorship.
Following the cancellation
of the officialCasey Hut
opening on August 22, a
virtual opening should be
readytoview on the
Department of Conservation
website this Saturday.
Without such support,
some hutswouldnot be
replaced. It is asimilarstory
with the Waiau Hut in the St
JamesConservation Area.
Thanks to support from
Robert, the new Waiau Hut
was opened in February
2018.Both Robert and
Sharon have alifelong
interestinNew Zealand’s
back country and are
committed to encouraging
others to get outdoors.
More on Conservation
Week,page 12
By DAVID HILL
Just north of Christchurch and
up from Woodend,
Throw ahard right at the
circular bend,
On through the gateway six
totems defend,
And you’ll come upon Pegasus
Town.
And so it begins, anew book by
proud ‘‘Pegasusian’’ Bob Nimmo,
Songs of the Pegasus Possums:
Tales, Taunts and Titillations
from Pegasus Town and the
Waimakariri District.
The book is filled with local
distractions, regional hot —and
not so hot —spots, seasonal
changes and silly tales from
Pegasus and beyond.
Many of the titillating tales
involve experiences
‘‘accidentally or intentionally
shared’’, though names have
been altered to ‘‘protect the
guilty’’, Bob says.
‘‘But should readers recognise
themselves within these pages,
they can rejoice in the belief that
they are clearly very astute.
‘‘Like dozens of little enclaves
up and down the country,
Pegasus has its own weird,
whimsical and wonderful
personalities who weave their
own particular fabric while
getting on with the living.’’
In his own whimsical way, Bob
introduces readers to Trev, ‘‘who
incarcerated himself in the local
toilet’’, Pete ‘‘the disillusioned
speedster’’, and Merv and May
and the tale of the ‘‘troublesome
jacuzzi’’.
Even politics is not spared, as
the proposed Woodend bypass
and Covid­19 get the full
treatment in wit and song.
Bob describes himself as a
‘‘writer and observer of ‘hapless
humanity’,’’ who lives in the
heart of Pegasus and is ‘‘a loyal
follower of the local fashion —
whatever that is’’.
And just remember:
If you meet aPegasusian
Or p’raps aPegasite,
Don’t just gape and gawp and
gasp
Or run away in fright ...
For acopy of Bob Nimmo’s
Songs of the Pegasus Possums:
Tales, Taunts and Titillations
from Pegasus Town and the
Waimakariri District,contact
bigtreemarketingnz@gmail.com,
move4bob@gmail.com, or phone
(021) 231 3017.
Kaikoura'swinter festival postponed
Kaikoura’sfirst everwinterfestival has been
postponed.
The decision was madetopostpone theevent
planned for thisweekend, because of the
Covid­19 alertlevel 2status, which bans
gatherings of more 100 people.
It willnow become aSpring Festival, with
October 2to4set as the date.
But Taranaki storytellers Erika&CoCo
Flash will still be in towntopresent their
children’s RainbowStorytime in the Kaikoura
Library on Fridayat11am.
Rainbow Storytimeisaimedatchildren from
toddlers to intermediate age,readingbooks
about acceptance, diversity, inclusionand
being kind.
Heading to
Christchurch
Hospital?
DEANS
AVE
CAR PARK
HOSPITAL
SHUTTLE
Deans Ave
CAR PARK
Plan your trip
From August 24 2020, Canterbury
DHB’s free Hospital Shuttle will run
from the new Deans Ave Car Park.
With 200 dedicated patient parks, asealed surface and
covered stop, the new car park on Deans Ave is available
for patients and visitors seven days aweek.
Riccarton Rd
Shuttle routeto
Christchuch Hospital
and Christchurch
Outpatients
HagleyOval
Christchurch
BotanicGardens
Ōtākaro/Avon River
Riccarton Ave
to
Shuttles run from 7.15am –8.30pm Monday toFriday,
11am –8pm weekends. They leave the car park every 15
minutes and stop atboth the main hospital reception and
at Outpatients before returning tothe Deans Ave Car Park.
DEANSAVE
CARPARK
South HagleyPark
Hagley Ave
St Asaph St
Antigua Street
Journey time isaround 15minutes and is free of charge.
Selwyn St
Metro
Sports
Facility
Learn more atcdhb.health.nz/parking for full details or call 0800 555 300.
Blenheim
Rd
Moorhouse Ave