North Canterbury News: December 23, 2020

NEWS
North Canterbury News, December 23, 2020
21
Young parents recognised
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The achievement of young mums
and dads attending Kaiapoi’s
Karanga Mai YoungParents’
College has been recognised at
the educationcentre’s annual
prize­giving.
The awards ceremony was held
recentlyatthe collegeinthe
Kaiapoi High School grounds.
College director Ruth
Robertson told thoseatthe
ceremony that she was proud of
the students.
‘‘Whatthey have achieved this
year is quite remarkable, in both
their academic achievementand
personal growth,” she said.
The aim of the college is to
empower youngparents by
providingsecondary school
qualifications in an inclusive and
caringschool environment.
“We encourage lifelong
learning thatinspiresyoung
parents, who willthen inspire
their own children,” she said.
She said she feltprivileged to
see the young parents flourish
and achievefulfilled and
independent lives.
The collegeoffers NCEA levels
one, two and three and also
provides studentswith on­site
child care during schoolhours at
the Karanga Mai Early Learning
Centre—afullylicensed, free
service run by the Community
Wellbeing North Canterbury
Trust.
In addition to NCEA study,
students are alsotaughtarange
of otherlife skillsencompassing
parenting, careers, budgeting
and healthyrelationships.
The wrap­around support
given to the young parents
extends to transportingthem and
their children to and from college
if needed, antenatal and
parentingeducation, access to
Plunket and Stop Smoking
Canterbury,anonsitesupport
Award winner ... Karanga Mai Young Parents College student
Maureen Callaghan receives the Dan Gordon Award for contribution to
art and culture, for the second year in arow, during the Kaiapoi college’s
recent annual prize­giving ceremony.
PHOTO:RENEE LEE PHOTOGRAPHY
worker, careerplanning, and
driver training.
WaimakaririDistrict Mayor
Dan Gordon was aguest at the
prizegiving. He presented the
Dan Gordon Awardfor
contributiontoart and culture,
whichwas won for thesecond
year running by Maureen
Callaghan, aged20, for her
contributiontothe cultureof
Karanga Mai.
Maureen,who will begin
studying at the Ara Institute of
Canterbury next year, attributed
her learning experience at
Karanga Mai forturning her life
around aftershe accidentally
became pregnant at 17. She had
thought it was the end of her
hopesand dreams.
‘‘Tenmonths after my son
Lincoln was born,myyouth
coachsuggested Ienrolat
Karanga Mai to continue my
education,’’ Maureen said.
‘‘I reallyresisted. Ihated
school and didn’twant to go back,
but Karanga Mai is probably the
best experience Ihave everhad.
Ifeel like Ihave possibilities
now,for me and my son. Ican get
ajob, save up, buy ahouse for us.
‘‘There is areal sense of
community here and the support
we get is amazing. Ihave done
courses in financial literacy, and
Ihave got my first­aid certificate
and my restricted driver’s
licence.”
MILLTON MEMORIAL
PARK DEVELOPMENT
School achievers
... From left,
Bradley White,
Annie Leen, Lana
Bonnett, Georgie
Lindsay, Henry
Woelders, Renae
Fitzgibbon, Sarah
Frizzell, Sophie
Rutherford and
Hurunui Mayor
Marie Black.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
We’re looking to further develop Millton
Memorial Park and we’d like your
feedback on adra Master Plan.
The proposed features include:
• Adog agility area
• AnArboretum containing exotic and native
specimentrees
• Anarea forthe NorthCanterburyModel Railway
Club to lease and build anew clubroom
• Path networks to link everything together
Let us know what you think before
Friday 8January 2021.
Find out more at waimakariri.govt.nz/letstalk
Grants awarded for tertiary study
The academic achievements of
eight secondary schoolstudents
havebeen recognisedbythe
HurunuiDistrict Council.
Eachreceived an award to
assist them in furtherstudies
fromthe council’s Secondary
School Achievers Fund.
Theywere presented at a
recent awards ceremony at Greta
Valley by Mayor MarieBlack.
The fund was established in
2000tohelp students with studyat
atertiary level. To date,119 young
people have received grants.
Recipients were:
AnnieLeen, from Leithfield,to
assist with studies towardsa
Bachelor of Arts and aBachelor
of Science.
Bradley White, from Waikari,
who plans to work towards a
career as ayouth worker.
Georgie Lindsay, from
Amberley, who will study health
sciencesfor ayear, as partof
studyingtoward adegreeinthe
health sector.
HenryWoelders, from
Hawarden, to help with study
toward aBachelor of Land and
Property Management and
Valuation.
Lana Bonnett,from Amberley,
who will study towardaBachelor
of Architecture.
RenaeFitzgibbon from
Cheviot, to assist with studying for
aBachelorofSports Coaching.
SarahFrizzell, from Hanmer
Springs, to helpwith study toward
aMasters in Architecture.
Sophie Rutherford, from
Culverden, to helpwork towards a
Bachelor of VeterinaryScience.
The Hurunui District Council
grants $10,000 annuallytothe
fund.This year’s fundingpool was
boosted by a$1500 grant from the
council’s law firm, Buddle
Findlay. It is the thirdyear the
firm has made agrant.
The assessmentpanel included
Mrs Black, councillors Pauline
Whiteand Ross Barnes, Anna
Wishart, from Buddle Findlay,
Hurunui Youth Council
representative John Fairbrother
and three independent members
—Judy Meikle, from Waiau,
Gwyn Williams,from Amberley,
and Bruce Nichols, from
Cheviot.
Mrs Black said the council’s
support of youth training and
employmentrecognised the
tremendous wealth of energy,
skills and perspectivesthat the
district’s young people offered.