Ashburton Courier: August 27, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, August 27, 2020
19
Gary and Mandy Casey erect agiant daffodil on West Street, to mark Daffodil Day.
Giant daffodils catch rays
The daffodils on the West
Streetgreen have been
standing outmore than usual
this week after20giant yellow
bloomswere planted by the
AshburtonCancerSociety’s
Mandy Casey and her husband
Gary.
The metre­tall blooms have
been raising awareness of the
society’s Daffodil Day
fundraisers this week.
Bunches of freshdaffodils
were delivered to businesses
on Monday; these are usually
delivered by members of the
AshburtonVintage Car Club
butcovid restrictions have
stopped that this year.
Thesame restrictions meant
theANZ bankmovedits
annual quiz to an online
format, andorganisers were
encouraging teamstoeat out
that night to support local
restaurantsand take part in
thequizbywifi.
Mandy said schools and
other groupshad community
fundraisers planned and the
society was grateful fortheir
support.
It is the 30thanniversary of
Daffodil Day.
The giant daffodils on West
Street are made of donated
goods: Placemakers provided
yellow and green paint and
woodenstakes, Mitre 10 and
Property Brokers gavethe
specialwaterproofcardboard
that waspaintedyellow for
the petals. Theinnercup is a
yellow plastic bucket.
Mandy said the Ashburton
District Council had given
permissionfor the bloomsto
be on the grass reserve.
Agri-firm takes
one day at atime
Ashburtonagribusiness
Ruralco is taking nothing for
granted as experts point to
farming and food exports to
hold up the district’s economy
as it recovers fromcovid.
CEORobert Sharkiesaid
Ruralco was fortunate to be in
agriculture,where food supply
remained essential forthe New
Zealandeconomy. Other
businesses had not been so
lucky.
He saidthe co­operative had
an interdependent relationship
with its farmer members, with
both first to feel the pain and
the gain of cycles in
agriculture.
‘‘Allfarmersare facing
challenges to acertain degree
due to Covid­19, however most
still need to keep operating and
we supply the products and
services they needtokeep their
farmsgoing.’’
He saidsupply of someitems
from overseas could be an issue
the longer covid disruption
continued, butRuralco was
working withsupplierswhere
alternatives might be needed.
‘‘Thereisadefinite shift
towardsbuying localand thatis
greatnewsand something we
havealways encouragedwhere
possible.
‘‘We justneed to takeitday by
day, as noneofusknowwhat
the futurewill bring.’’
Mr Sharkie said Ruralco
appreciated its positionand
would keep supporting its
communities.
Ashburton’s agri­sector was a
highlight in Infometrics’
quarterly economic report for
the Ashburton District Council.
Infometricspredicted astrong
dairy pay­outwould bring and
additional $145 milliontothe
districtand that foodexports
would be apillar of strengthin
the yearstocome.
The district’s economy
contracted slightly in the year
to the endofJune,with GDP
declining 0.7 per cent,
compared to Canterbury’s ­2.3
percent and the national­2.1
percent.
Although most economic
indicators weredownfor Mid
Canterbury,non­residential
consentswere up 15.3 per cent,
house priceswere up 7.5 per
centand house saleswere up
0.2 percent in the year to June.
Consumer spendingfell 4.3
percent in the yeartoJune,
compared to a2.8 per cent fall
nationally.
The economic data is
available on council’s website.