Ashburton Courier: August 05, 2021

CLUB NEWS
30 Ashburton Courier, August 5, 2021
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
MidCanterburyProvincial
RWNZ
Last NovemberRural Women
NZ passedtwo remits creating
theNational Project ‘O is for…’
Thecharities we are
supporting forthisproject are
Cure Our OvarianCancer,
supporting localovariancancer
advocacyand awareness,and
globalresearch on ahard to
treatovarian cancer; K9MD,to
improve thehealth of all New
Zealanders by using specially
trained dogs working in a
controlled clinical
environment to assistinthe
earlydetectionofcancer; and
Talk Peach, which informs New
Zealanders on gynaecological
disease and connects and
supports those whoare
diagnosed.
At theRegion 2regional
conference held recentlyin
Ashburton,TashCrosby spoke
on her journey of being
diagnosedwith ovariancancer.
What abrave young woman, to
be able to standupand speak so
emotionally of how she coped
with what she went through, not
only to get diagnosed,but also
her treatment and its effects.
Connect, followand share
Talk Peach, Cure Our Ovarian
Cancer andK9MDon
Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter. Donate to thesecauses
if you can.
Talk to yoursisters, mothers,
aunts, daughters, friends and
women about you,ofthis
awareness programme and
maybe it may inspire them to
learnmore aboutthese silent
killingdiseases.Awomandies
every 48 hours in NZ from
ovarian cancer, as 85% of
women are diagnosed in the
later stages, when treatment
optionsare limited.
The next meeting of Mid
Canterbury ProvincialRWNZ is
the AGM on August 13 at the
Senior Centre, 206Cameron
Street, Ashburton, starting at
1.30pm,sharp.
Ashburton Writers’ Group
PresidentJulie Fechney
welcomed members to theJuly
meeting, also anew member.
The quotation was–“If you
seek peace be still, If you seek
wisdom be silent, If youseek
love be yourself.”
The short story competition
report was read out. 79 entries
received, plus one that wastoo
late to be considered. A
successfulprizegiving
ceremony was held at the
Museummeeting room.
The assignment for the
meeting was ‘In This
Neighbourhood’. Members
wrote of tiredand worn down
folk, Beatrix andthe Try­Hards,
lockdown, at end of drive,
leaves on lawn, expanding
family, looking in windows,
busy body, newjob,slammed
door, wicked witch, childhood
neighbourhood.
The instant exercise was
broken street lights. Some of
the subjects writtenabout were
walkingbriskly,Council phone
call, noise outside window, ball
games,cricket ball, alleyway
footsteps, broken glass, curtain
twitches, walk of shame,
glistening water,school
holidays,being followed.
The meeting concluded at
8.45pm.
The Augustassignmentis
Mischievous Trickster.
Ashburton County Lions
PresidentSue welcomed
Pupils from Allenton School’s Class of 1950 (pictured) enjoyed arecent catch up and lunch in
Ashburton. Eighteen former classmates came together Speight’s Ale House. Some in the group have
known each other since kindergarten days in 1948. Reunions have been held since 2000 and are
usually every five years, but more regular catch­ups were planned in the future.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
members, two visitors who have
recently moved to Ashburton,
andLions District Governor
Christine (whoisamemberof
County Lions).
Members enjoyedameal and
fellowship, this meetingbeing
an opportunity for members to
participateingroup discussion
regarding upcoming club
meetings, fundraising, and
socialactivities. Our president
had attended the Lionsdistrict
president’s function in Oamaru
beinganopportunity to meet
andshare ideas withother club
presidents. Several members
had attended the Westpac
Rescue Helicopter visit to
Ashburton andfound it most
interesting to hear about the
work theRescueteam do in our
area. Jill Stephenwas this
month’s member to share a
littlebit abouther life.
President Sue presentedLion
Maureenwith her 25 year
membership andPast
President Carolyn (1917/18 )
was presented with a
certificatefromLions
International.
“GrowingYourClub in the
Lions Centennial Year”.
2017/2018. The club is
presenting the show “Stars in
YourEyes”onOctober 16 and
the annual Toot for Tucker will
be held on Monday 29
November. Memberswill also
be involved with gate keeping
duties at the rugbygrounds,
The Camp Quality raffle and
the sale of lily bulbs. Aroster
was compiledfor daycare
driving which the club
undertakes each Friday.
Severalmembers hadattended
the monthly informal luncheon
at Taste Cafe and also wenttoa
Movie night. Tail twisting
brought themeeting to aclose.
AshburtonToastmasters
The Toastmaster, Phil, asked
us to consider what future
vehicles maylooklikeand
function. Adi's word of the
evening was‘‘imminent’’ which
gave the meeting asense of
urgency.
Hugh delivered avery
personaland heartfeltspeech
which evokedastanding
ovationfrom those in
attendance. Jamie's table topics
required everyone to become
salespeople andconvince
retirees of why they should
adoptcutting­edge technology.
Ashburton U3A
Professor Natalie Baird, University of
Canterbury, spoke on research on refugee law
and refugeere­settlement in New Zealand.
The definition of arefugee, from the
International Refugee Convention 1951, is
backedupbyour Immigration Act 2009. A
refugee has awell­founded fear of persecution
for reasons of race, religion, nationality,
membershipofpolitical or social opinion,and
is unable, or owingtosuch fear,isunwilling to
avail himself of protection of thatcountry.
Challengesinvolvepersecution, with
serious harm and failure of state protection,
and sustained or systematicviolation of
human rights. It is not fleeing from organised
crime,general civil unrest,ornatural/manmade
disasters. This is unlikely to change.
Climate Change refugees willneverfit this
definition.
Figures fromthe Human Rights Commission
www.unhcr.org/1951­refugee­convention.html
show that in 202 82.4 million people have been
forcibly displaced. 48 million are internally
displaced–still in their own country but
cannotmove freely.Other countries in low
millions include Palestine and Venezuela. 1%
of the world’spopulation is displaced: 42% of
these are children.
Countries involvedare mainly in the Middle
East and Africa.The average age in refugee
camps is 18. There were 34,400 re­settlements
to new countries in 2020, including 31 to New
Zealand. Refugee flowshave changed, from
mainlyEuropean in 1870­1890, to more Middle
East and Africa now.
Our currentfocus is Asia Pacific,working
with asylumseekers, ‘Convention Refugees’,
and RefugeeFamily Support(600 places
annually). Community organisations
sponsorships (CORS) pilotedin2018, have
currently 50 places annually for three years.
NormalImmigration channels still apply.
There will be three sessionsongeology on
the August 24, August 31 and September 7.
Lions ClubofAshburton Pakeke
Our Julytea meeting was held at Hotel
AshburtononJuly 26.
Past president Jim Martinwelcomed
everyone and asked for aminutes silence for
fellowLion Owen Everest who sadly passed
away on Sunday, July 25.
Jim presented new president Robert
Spencer with his president pin and president
name badge.
President Robertcongratulated Bill Doak,
Ron Paterson and Joe Butchard in receiving
theirMelvin JonesFellowship Award at last
month’s changeover.
Graeme Neal and George Cartney also
receivedpresident’s appreciation pins for
theirongoing contributions to our club.
Our guest speakerfor the evening was Colin
Morgan from Ashburton Lions, who later ran a
quiz for us.
Fred and Elisabeth Smits fromAshburton
Vintage Car Club travelledthe world in a1957
MercedesBenz with atent trailer for six years
clockingup182,000 kms.
They will do apresentation of theirtrip for
us on Thursday, September16at7:30pm at
HotelAshburton.
Lion Les Briggs thankedmembersfor their
support with the recent Meals on Wheels.
Our vice presidents,Jim Young and
Malcolm McCormick, outlined their plans for
the coming year.
Trevor and GlendaAndrews did the tail
twistingwith good humour, extracting fines
from members.
Meeting closed at 9.20pm
Ashburton Ladies Friendship Club
President Gillian welcomed members to the
Julymeeting and 10 apologies were received.
The Nationalanthem was sung.
Our mini speaker was Evelynonher many
and varied lifeexperiences. She was
encouraged by her parents with her education
fromkindy through to university which was
not usual in the 40'sand 50's. Then she
progressed on to training college, manyyears
of teaching which was interspersed withair
hostess training and work but she returned to
teaching. During this time she was also very
involved with many musical roles ,married
and raised three her threesons. Her very
interestingstory will be continued.
Our main speaker was BernardEgan who
spoke of his privilege of being acelebrant for
13 years ­sharingmany happy and sad
memories with families. On average two thirds
of funerals are now not religious with similar
for burials and cremations.
He then went on to speak about being a
contributor to The Guardian for 20 years on
motoring, mainly on his own topics.During
lockdown, on request, he began ‘Tales From
The BackSeat’ with talescoming to him from
manypeople. Bernard is aman of many
stories.
He was thanked by Gillian.
Our next meeting on August 25 commences
at the RegentCinema at 11am with lunch to
follow at Speight’s.