Nor'West News: April 14, 2022

6
Thursday April 14 2022
Painted wooden godwits for you to find
• By Emily Moorhouse
TAKING A walk through
Southshore will reveal 57
wooden godwits, painted by the
community.
What started off as a small
community painting day has
spiralled into a great godwit hunt
as locals scout out the brightly
painted godwits scattered
throughout the area.
Southshore Residents
Association member Maria
Smolar helped organise the
initiative, alongside fellow
members Liz Yuki and Annette
Bolton.
Smolar said the project
stemmed from the association
wanting to put together
something exciting after events
had been cancelled because of
Covid.
Avon-Heathcote Estuary
Ihutai Trust manager Tanya
Jenkins suggested giving the
association some wooden
godwits, made with the help of
Linwood Menz Shed volunteers.
The idea was to give the
godwits to members of the
community to paint themselves,
which soon turned into painting
sessions held at Common
Ground.
The sessions attracted roughly
20 people, including Coastal
Ward councillor Celeste
Donovan and Coastal-Burwood
Community Board member Jo
Zervos.
Once people had painted their
godwits they put them around
the estuary edge and Rocking
Horse Rd for others to see.
Soon after, Smolar was
approached by a local mother
who suggested the idea of a
godwit hunt. She had created a
map for people to mark off when
they spotted the birds.
“We love it,” Smolar said.
“I didn’t expect it to become
this big thing, which has been really
awesome.”
Jenkins said the trust has done
similar activities to this in the
past but the Southshore Residents
Association had gone all
out and made it even better than
she could have hoped for.
“It is a roaring success,” she
said.
“We had to extend it and reprint
more maps because our
residents were having so much
fun.”
Smolar said some godwits
SUCCESS: (From left) –
Nick, Ripley, Rome and
Liz Yuki with their godwit.
Above right – Leo and Max
Boxall spot a godwit while
on a bike ride.
were still waiting to be found
and described the hunt as
“intergenerational” as it’s not
only kids who are participating,
but families and adults too.
“It’s just been really wonderful
to see people being involved and
being connected,” Smolar said.
“It’s really a community effort
and it’s been so much fun.”
Win fuels Hollie’s passion for sport
The Mighty 11s winning team.
• From page 1
Hollie earned her place
on the team through a serious
of regional and national
competitions and her fellow
teammate from Mainland
North Region BMX, Riley
Smart, was also selected for
the boys’ Mighty 11s team.
The race was held at
the Sleeman BMX facility
during
the Oceania
Championships. Hollie says
the achievement has only
fuelled her passion for the
sport.
“I’m going to keep BMXing
forever.”
PHOTO: MAK SHOTS
Our Rabbits
NEED a New Home
EASTER IDEAS
IN STORE NOW
Need A Ladder?
The Amazing, Portable, Easy to Use Ladder System
Margann. | “Best Ladder on the Market”
Simply the best ladder I’ve ever used, it’s everything it’s cracked up to be and the
little extras such as the work platforms, leg adjusters and wall standoff make it
incredible value.
Ph: 03 359 8207 E: bishopdalepostshop@gmail.com
Bishopdale Village Mall Plenty of free parking!
• Certified Safety Rating up
to 180kg
• Use it on Stairs Safely
• Create your own
Scaffolding System
• Versatile, Compact and
Telescopic
Free
Free
Free
Free
Gifts *
Worth
$660.00
*Ts & Cs Apply
*1 x Wall Standoff + 2 x Work Platforms + 2 x Leg Levellers
Limited Time Offer! Call Now! 0800 665 665