Ashburton Courier: August 27, 2020

NEWS
Ashburton Courier, August 27, 2020
Cadets get hands on ExTop Squadtrophy
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Eight members of the Ashburton Cadet Unit teamed up to show their skills, versatility and
organisational prowess at the recent Ex Top Squad event held at Staveley. The contingent
beat nine other teams of army, air and sea cadets at the challenge and activity weekend.
Pictured (from left) with the Ex Top Squad trophy are LCPL Markus White, LCPL Elizabeth
Hastie, CDT Dylan Smith, VDT Ethan Lewis, LCPL May Penjueli, LCPL Brodyn Gabites (team
leader), CDT Sebastian Van Rooyen and LCPL Eli Orena.
PHOTO SUPPLIED.
Range of ideas raised
at start­up workshops
Amobile pizzaoven
business, bespokehealth
and safety planning and
developing Ashburton’s
historic grain store building
into alocal entrepreneurial
hub were some of the ideas
raisedatAra Institute of
Canterbury start­up
workshops.
Ara, in partnership with
the Ashburton District
Council, Te Ohakaand the
Ministry of Awesome held a
seriesofstart­up workshops
earlier this month for Mid
Cantabrians.
The day­longevent in
Ashburton saw arange of
visionary individuals
discuss theirbusiness ideas
with Ministry of Awesome’s
resident entrepreneurial
expertJacob Varghese,
Chamber of Commerce’s
Jason MacRae, Ara Timaru’s
Charlie Auty and Ashburton
District Council staff for the
first of the AugustSouthern
Start­up Workshops @Ara
series. Afollow­up event in
Timaru will be held at a
laterdate.
During event two
financial consultants,who
explored their ideaof
developing the town’s
historic grain store building
into alocal entrepreneurial
hub, received advice to
develop one­to­one events,
talksand meet­upstogauge
interestand develop the
community even before
looking intoaphysical
location.
“Thesetwo were capable
financial professionals who
wanted to give back to their
town and region. In coming
here,they were looking for a
bit of validation, some
confirmation that they were
on to something.This is
what Irefer to as ‘getting
over the chasmwhere ideas
come to die’ ­sometimes all
people need is alittle bit of
direction,and then they’re
enabled to go on to the next
stage” Mr Varghese said.
ATemuka farmer, able to
attend the Ashburton
session, alsosoughtadvice
on developing abusiness to
helpfarmers with effective
modern stock management.
Especially as there was a
range of technology and
software solutions available
to customise informationfor
users.
Mr Varghesewas
enthusiastic aboutthe value
of the workshopevents.
“In the uncertain
economic climate that many
employees existintoday,
and duringatimeof
definitivegovernment
support for technological
and business­process
innovation, now is abetter
timethan ever for
entrepreneurial individuals
to explore theirideas and
bring them to life.”
EA Networks ticks off good year
Community­owned cooperative
EA Networks has
had another successful year,
recording anet profitafter
tax of $8.995m, on revenue of
$58.068m.
The electricity lines
company hadassets valued
at $302m at the end of the
March 2020, up from $284m
on the previous year,and net
assets of $200.931m, up
$7.534m.
Some $2.9mwas given in
consumer discounts,
equating to around$50 per
household.
Maximum network
demandwas 177MW and
607GWh oftotal energy was
consumed.
EA Networks has 19,672
consumer connections and
the total Capex spendinthe
year was $19.6m.
EA Networks will hold its
annual general meeting at
TheGallery,Hotel
Ashburtonat5.30pm on
September 23.