Bay Harbour: October 28, 2020

PAGE 4 Wednesday October 28 2020
BAY HARBOUR
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Couple first met on a bus
• From page 1
Jill said she remembers a funny
thing about her pink cardigan
she wore that day.
“It was a bit difficult getting
into the dress, maybe because
I ate too much,” said Jill as she
blushed.
However, the couple’s story,
started 15 years ago when they
first met on a bus. They didn’t
communicate much but just
looked at each other.
“We automatically married, at
first sight, that’s what happened
basically,” said James.
A few years later, both of them
moved in together along with a
flatmate and started living independently,
until they got engaged
and later married.
“We gradually fell in love,
which was quite nice.”
Before the couple met, Jill
used to live with her late mother
Margaret Jefferies who was
well-known in the Lyttelton community
for her internationallyrecognised
initiatives.
Margaret took Jill into her care
after her parents divorced and
taught her skills for independent
living.
“I can cook and can bake. I can
swim and do the breaststroke
and do the butterfly, and dance.”
James said that Jill had won
TALENT: James and Jill Dobinson busking near the
farmers’ market in Lyttelton.
several medals at regional swimming
competitions.
On the other hand, James lived
in the “independence house” in
Christchurch which helped him
learn how to flat, catch a bus,
cook, and so forth. He lived with
one of his two brothers after their
parents passed away.
“I remember, my mum taught
me piano lessons.”
He said he started playing the
piano when he was 15 and then
gradually started busking as a
hobby.
Jill and James can be seen
busking in the streets of
Lyttelton, near the farmers’
market.
While James plays a 60-key
Casio synthesiser, playing The
Beatles music, Jill can be seen
energetically dancing in a multicoloured
outfit.
The couple have plans for a special
dinner on the Saturday night
of their anniversary.
And that means they won’t
miss their weeknight viewing slot
of Shortland Street.
Pontoon idea to
improve wharf access
A FLOATING pontoon may be
added to the Diamond Harbour
wharf to improve access to
passenger ferries and other boats
that call into the harbour.
Accessibility issues with the existing
wharf meant it can often be
difficult for passengers embarking
or disembarking from vessels.
“The steps are often underwater
or slippery. It is difficult to manoeuvre
bikes or pushchairs and
it is simply not suitable for wheelchairs,”
said city council regional
parks manager Kay Holder.
“To make access easier and
safer for everyone, we are proposing
to add a floating pontoon to
the south side of wharf, where
there is the most protection from
the wind and the tides.”
The decommissioned crane that
currently sits on the wharf will
need to be relocated in order to accommodate
the new pontoon.
“As well as adding a floating
pontoon, we’re proposing to
upgrade the existing decking,
handrails and seating on the
main wharf and to improve the
bike shed storage,” said Holder.
“We’re also looking at how we
can provide some shade on the
wharf and improve the lighting.”
If the city council decides
to proceed with its plans for
SAFETY: The city council
has proposed to install
a pontoon at Diamond
Harbour Wharf to improve
access to boats and other
vessels at the harbour.
PHOTO: NEWSLINE ​
upgrading the wharf, it will need
to apply to Environment Canterbury
for resource consent.
“Before we move to the next
phase of the project, we want to
get the public’s feedback on our
plans. People can share their
views via Have Your Say until
November 11,” she said.
“Council staff will also be
running a drop-in session at
the Diamond Harbour wharf
on November 7 between 8.30
and 10.30am where people can
find out more about what is
proposed.”
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