Ashburton Courier: March 31, 2022

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, March 31, 2022
3
Topps reveal breast cancer journey
The ToppTwins ‘‘feelsoloved’’
following an outpouring of
support afterthey revealed they
are both battling breast cancer.
AGivealittle page hasbeen set
up byalong­term friend of wellknown
Kiwi entertainers Jools
and Lynda Topp to help with
non­publicly fundedtreatments
such as acupunctureand
vitamins, transport and general
living costs so they canfocus on
their treatment without
financialstress.
‘‘Wowweboth feel so loved.
Thank you allfor your
messages,’’the Topp Twins
posted on their Facebook page
while sharing thelink to the
Givealittle page.
Friend Mary Massara setup
the Givealittlepageand wrote it
was an opportunity forfriends
andfanstoshowtheir support in
apractical way. More than
$75,000has beenraisedsince the
page wasset up fourdays ago.
‘‘This is adevastating double
blow made more challenging on
thebackoftwo years of
cancelled gigs duetoCovid­19.
Like all artists, the Topp Twins'
career disappeared overnight
andthissudden loss of income is
nowcoupled with aserious
cancer diagnosisfor both of
them,’’ Massara said.
The 63­year­olds had planned
to take anew national show on
theroadtocelebrate 40 years of
theToppTwinsthisyear, but
dueto their diagnoses, the shows
arenow on hold indefinitely.
Joolswas firsttobediagnosed
with breast cancerin 2006 at the
ageof48and after
chemotherapy her left breast
was removed.
However,last year shebegan
to feelunwellagain andshortly
after, sister Lynda foundout she
also had breast cancer.
And whilethey are known for
their performances as aduo, the
twinsshared thatthisbattle is
one they arebeing forced to do
apart in ordertoprotecteach
other.
‘‘So, allofasudden,boom. In
covid, Ican'tbewith Jools.I
came out ofthe office at St
George'sHospital and Isat in the
car. Ijust burst into tears,’’
Lynda said.
‘‘I don't know what's harder ­
having cancer or not having
Joolshere,’’ sheadded.
~NZHerald
Lynda, left, and Jools Topp.
Council build
consent
authority
in spotlight
Ashburton District Council has 10 general
non­compliances to clearbefore its
Building Consent Authority (BCA)
accreditationwill be renewed by
International Accreditation NewZealand
(IANZ).
Councilhad its two­yearly accreditation
assessmentaudited fromFebruary 14 to
February17.
There were no serious non­compliances
identified and allnon­complianceswere
administrative rather than technical.
Seven recommendations were madeby
IANZ.
Four of the non­compliances havesince
beencleared and the remaining include
areas likereceiving applications with
incorrect or incomplete information, not
enoughdetail on compliance schedule
documentation,not meeting the 20 working
day timeframe to issueabuilding consent
and missingadelegationfor section 91 of
the Building Act 2004.
In council’s previous IANZassessment
there were20general non­compliances,
two recommendations and two advisory
notes issued.
Councilhas until May 27 toanswer the
non­compliances satisfactorily or it could
lose its accreditation.
Regulations requireBCA’s to have
appropriate policies andproceduresin
writing thatrecordhow effectivesystems
are implemented.
They also require eachBCA to record the
key decisions it makes,the reasons for
them,and the outcomes and actions of
those decisions.
Trust donates
to causes
The Braided RiversCommunity Trust has
given money to anumberofcommunity
causesinits February fundinground.
Mid Canterbury Netballwill be
supported with $3000 for U18rep team
costs andHakatereMulti­Cultural Council
with$1000 for small events.
Both donations come fromthe trust’s
quick response grants.
Thereare three recipientsofannual/
multi­year grants: Ashburton Youth Café
Charitable Trust receives $2000 towards
operating costs, Connecting Mid
Canterbury gets $5000 for 3years also for
operational expenses andAshburton
Methodist Parish gets $5000 for audio
visual equipment.
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