Western News: September 14, 2023

Thursday September 14 2023 3
Schools collaborate
to restore sculpture
• By Briar Allen
SIX SCHOOLS rallied together
to breathe life back into an art
sculpture in Hornby.
South Hornby School, Hornby
Primary School, Yaldhurst
Model School, Templeton
School, Gilberthorpe School and
Wigram Primary School were all
invited to paint river rocks to go
in the sculpture.
The sculpture, located in
Denton Park, was originally
created by Judith Streat in 2004
and drew inspiration for her
design from timelines, family
trees and the geography of the
area.
South Hornby School deputy
principal Kristen Harris-Tatana
said the original rocks were more
like pebbles and people kept
taking them out, so those in the
updated sculpture are more like
river rocks.
“The children have been busy
painting the stones to put into
the sculpture over a few weeks.
Some have pictures representing
their home countries, reflecting
on how we are a multi-cultural
society and some are pictures of
the school post-earthquake, but
all reflect the story of the area,”
she said.
ROCKS: Pupils from some of the schools involved in the
project, along with helpers, celebrate the unveiling of the
rejuvenated sculpture.
Harris-Tatana said they were
approached by city council
ranger Holly Whitaker who
asked if they wanted to be
involved with the project.
“This project has helped
the children gain more of an
understanding of people in the
community and has let them
create artwork that has brought
them together and hopefully will
bring the community together
too.”
Whitaker said it was amazing
to have the kids involved in this
project and that the sculpture
will not go unnoticed anymore.
“This park will benefit from
the extra care and it will give the
community a bit of ownership
and pride,” she said.
Greater Hornby Residents
Association chair Kim Moss
said it was lovely to see how the
children have been able to work
together.
“It is fantastic to have the
artwork displayed. It gives us and
the children a sense of pride for
the area,” she said.
Cycleway work
detours in place
• From page 1
“Traffic will travel one-way in
a northbound direction along
Ilam Rd with southbound traffic
detoured. There is no access
to Ilam Rd from the Clyde Rd
roundabout,” said Ellis.
“The detour routes are signposted.
Please use Clyde Rd
to the east, and Waimairi Rd/
Greers Rd to the west.”
The traffic lights at Ilam/
Memorial and Ilam/Maidstone
will be temporarily turned off
for about eight weeks during the
upgrade.
The Nor’ West Arc will
provide an important link
connecting Cashmere to the
Northern Line Cycleway, near
St James Park in Papanui.
Sections of the cycleway
between Cashmere Rd and
Annex Rd and Blenheim Rd to
the Canterbury University on
Ilam Rd are already complete.
A notice of motion on the
process to adopt a different
design for the Aorangi Rd
section between Ilam Rd and
Brookside Tce was approved
by the city council last week. It
does not impact this section of
the project.
•Find out more about
the project and sign up to
receive project updates at
ccc.govt.nz/norwestarc
New look Valentines open now
Hornby restaurant offers more choices and familiar favourites
Thousands of Christchurch families will
have fond memories of enjoying the tasty
food and friendly vibe of Valentines buffet
restaurant, which was located for many
years in the central city.
A New Zealand-wide franchise
operation, the business went through many
changes over the years, then with new
owners taking over the company six years
ago, it gained a new momentum.
A third franchise was set up in Auckland,
its Rotorua restaurant reopened, and in July
2019, Valentines Christchurch opened at a
new location – Chalmers Street, Hornby.
As company director Ron Lal explains,
Valentines has a rich history in Kiwi culture
and they wanted to retain that feeling of
nostalgia, but with some new concepts
added to the mix.
“We wanted to offer our customers a new
experience that’s up with the times, and
with a modern twist on hospitality.
“Customers have a lot more choice of
food now,” he says, “for example you can
choose your own meat, which will be
cooked individually for you. We offer a big
selection of dishes, seafood and desserts,
and of course there are the familiar
favourites that the children love, like the
chocolate fountain and an endless supply of
ice-cream.
“We want to wow the customers and
at the same time we want to create that
nostalgic Valentines feel.”
The Valentines tradition of a free meal
for a customer on their birthday has been
upgraded to a celebratory birthday treat
and, of course, with the famous birthday
song being sung by staff, too. Families are
also invited to take advantage of the school
holiday special from time to time. During
the holidays, one child under the age of
eight gets a free lunch if accompanied by a
full paying adult. (T’s & C’s apply.)
Valentines has always been seen as a
100 per cent family restaurant, a tradition
that the new Valentines team is keen to
continue, but Valentines is also a restaurant
for everyone, from families to couples,
to friends getting together to celebrate a
special occasion.
Situated in the heart of the Hornby
shopping precinct, not only is Valentines
the ideal place for people from the Hornby
community to enjoy tasty food and a warm,
friendly vibe, it also employs local staff,
who are treated well and therefore enjoy
working there and giving their customers
the best possible service.
Valentines is open seven days a week,
from 10am till late. Outside the buffet
times they also do the popular Valentines
Shareboxes, which offer a range of
amazing dishes.
7/11 Chalmers Street, Hornby, Christchurch
0800 VAL BUFFET valentines.co.nz