Ashburton Courier: March 11, 2021

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, March 11, 2021
25
Trish selling well at market
Trish McLaren has made $34,000
for Ronald McDonald House
throughjam, chutneyand biscuits
sales over thelast five years.
She sells at the Ashburton
DistrictFarmers’ Marketevery
Saturday andthis seasonhas been
one of her best ever.
She has already rackedupprofits
of $8000 and has plenty more stock
to sell before the marketwraps up
next month.
Trish will achieve anew season
record andhopes it will be close to
the $10,000 mark.
Sales proceeds have also
supported another worthycause,
the St John Health Shuttle, andshe
has handed over cheques of $1000
and $900.
‘‘When Ifirststarted selling my
products Ididn’twantall the fuss,
but as sales have grown andword
has spread, I’m happy to shout
about it becauseitmeans more
money for thecauses Isupport.’’
The selling wasn’t about her, but
about Ashburton people showing
their support forRonald McDonald
House andStJohn.
‘‘I couldn’tmakethe moneyI
make if people didn’t buy things.’’
The 83­year­old said shewas
grateful to buyers, to those who
gave her surplusfruit and
vegetables,tootherswho helped
sterilise jars andtothe farmers’
market community whosupported
her on Saturdays.
Trish McLaren at home with abatch of lemon and orange marmalade on the boil and preparing
to make another batch of biscuits.
Encouragingneighbours to connect
Anumber of local events aimed at
inspiring neighbours to reach out, connect
and grow stronger together have been
organised for Neighbours Day.
The theme this year is around plants
and gardening and events will take place
later this month.
Neighbours are encouraged to share
flowers, plants, cuttings, vegetables or
fruit from their gardens, invite their
neighbour for acup of tea, share favourite
recipes or just pop over to say hello.
AMid Canterbury Neighbours Day
committee, made up of representatives
from Hakatere Multicultural Council,
Newcomers Network, Neighbourhood
Support, Volunteering Mid &South
Canterbury and Mid Canterbury and
TimeBank, has come up with a
programme of events that will run
between March 20­30.
The Great Plant &Produce Swap is an
opportunity for anyone to share their
excess garden produce or plants, seeds,
flowers and cuttings with others.
Items can be donated and put on the
shelves of the food pantry outside of
Community House Mid Canterbury (44
Cass Street) and people are invited to help
themselves.
The Rakaia Sharing Shed, opposite the
Four Square at Rakaia, is another venue
where the community is welcome to drop
goods off and or take donated items.
On March 27 the swap will move
temporarily to Trott’s Garden, where
celebrations will feature an open day with
stalls, workshops, entertainment and
beautiful gardens to enjoy.
The event runs from 10am until 2pm and
there is agold coin donation on entry. The
gardens will also be sharing their vision
for the future.
To help people get ready for The Great
Plant &Produce Swap, Eco Educate is
hosting aworkshop on March 12 at 9.30am
at the Resource Recovery Park to make
envelopes for seeds.
Hospice Mid Canterbury is also
encouraging people to connect while
helping tidy the gardens at its rooms on
the corner of Sealy, Winter and Havelock
streets.
The spruce up day on March 20 runs
from 9am to 11am and people are asked to
bring garden tools if they have them.
From March 20­30 the ‘Little Library’ at
community house will have books related
to the gardening theme and the public is
welcome to take and share books with
others.
For more information on the local
initiatives contact Dellwyn Moylan
(coordinatormc@vmsc.org.nz, or 308 1237
ext 240), or Kate White
(Kate@connectingmc.org).
OUT ANDABOUT
MARCH 13
Mayfield A&P Showatthe Mayfield
A&P showgrounds andpublic
domain in Mayfield from 9am-5pm.
Tickets available on the day at the
gate.Adult entry is $15 and school
age children are free.
MARCH 13­14
Ashburton Pakeke Lionscharity
market garage sale at the
Ashburton Racecourse, from 9am-
1pm.
MARCH 20
Methven A&P Show at theMethven
A&P showgrounds on Barker Street
in Methven, from8am-5pm. Tickets
available at the gate. Adult entryis
$15 and school age childrenare
free
MARCH 24­26
South IslandAgricultural Field Days
at Kirwee
MARCH 27
The Great Plant&Produce Swap
will set up at Trott’s Garden, where
celebrations willfeature an open
day with stalls, workshops,
entertainment and beautiful
gardenstoenjoy. Theevent runs
from 10amuntil 2pmand there is a
gold coin donation on entry.
MARCH 27
Master hypnotistBrian Geewill
perform afundraisingshowfor the
Ashburton Aviation Museum at the
Ashburton TrustEventCentre at
7.30pm.
APRIL6
The Poppy Flight national campaign
to raiseawareness and funds for the
RSA,The Starship Foundation and
the NewZealand Warbirds
Association arrives at Ashburton
Airport at1pm.
MAY 1
WheelsWeek swap meetkicks off
two weeks of wheels-related
activities.The swap meetwill be
held at the AshburtonVintage Car
Clubgrounds, startingearly.
MAY 7­8
AshburtonCollege is havinga
reunionfor students andstaff who
attended from1965-75.
Specialeventcoming up?
Letusknow
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