Selwyn_Times: October 18, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday October 18 2023
16
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
College grounds receive
blessing to start work
NEW LIFE: Ellesmere Lions installed former Springston
Community Garden beds at Springston School.
Raised beds for
Springston School
SPRINGSTON SCHOOL
has become the beneficiary of
community gardens, thanks to
the Ellesmere Lions.
The gardens, built by the Lions,
were installed to replace the ones
at the Springston Community
Gardens after the gardens closed.
The group removed the raised
gardens from their previous site
and rebuilt them on the school
grounds, replacing some timber
and filling them with a mixture
of soil and compost.
The Lions also decided to
donate a new garden shed with
the support of Leeston Buildlink
and Ellesmere Transport.
“This Duratuf shed was a
challenge to build, but after many
hours of head scratching, finger
hitting, and an odd bit of blood,
we presented the school with a
wonderful new lockup garden
shed,” Lions spokesperson Glenn
Smith said.
“The Ellesmere Lions would
like to thank all those who
helped complete this project,
and hope the children at the
school enjoy learning more about
growing their own veges and
understand they don’t just turn
up on the supermarket shelves.”
WORK ON Rolleston College’s
second campus can now get
underway after the site was
cleansed by iwi.
Last week a Karakia
Whakawātea was held on the
new senior campus site on the
corner of Selwyn and Springston
Rolleston roads.
Led by local iwi Ngāi Te
Ruahikihiki the site was blessed
with the first official sod
turned by the board chair
Louise Milne and Mayor Sam
Broughton.
Milne said there had been an
incredible amount of hard work
put in to get to this stage.
“There has been almost
two years of consultations,
design meetings, back and
forth, thousands of emails and
hundreds of phone calls to get
to the point where we’re finally
turning ground.
“This is beyond exciting not
just for our school whanau, but
the local community and the
wider education sector. We’ve
all seen the rapid growth of
Rolleston and Selwyn and the
new senior campus will be of
huge benefit to everyone in our
district,” Milne said.
Also in attendance were
Ministry of Education director
Coralanne Child, National
MP Nicola Grigg and Labour’s
Selwyn Candidate Luke Jones.
The senior campus will be
constructed by Southbase
Construction and completed in
three stages with the first stage to
feature a science and technology
block, gymnasium and modular
DIGGING:
The first
sod at
Rolleston
College’s
second
campus
was turned
last week,
attended
by (from
left) board
chair Louise
Milne,
Mayor Sam
Broughton,
and
principal
Rachel
Skelton.
provisioning allowing for
curriculum delivery during the
construction of stages two and
three.
The first stage was due to
be completed by the start of
2025, but processing delays
from the Ministry of Education
have pushed the scheduled
completion date out to mid-2025.
Selwyn Diwali 2023
The Festival of Lights
Here’s a date for your diary –
the exciting, family-friendly Selwyn
Diwali event is taking place on
Saturday 11th November,
4pm–9pm, at Lincoln Domain,
in Lincoln.
Everyone is warmly invited. As
the Festival is outdoors this year,
thousands of people are expected
to attend the bustling, sensory and
colourful cultural event. The fireworks
at 9pm will be a massive drawcard and
fitting closing celebration.
Diwali symbolises the spiritual “victory
of light over darkness, good over evil,
and knowledge over ignorance”.
Selwyn Diwali is designed to celebrate
our community’s cultural diversity
through a myriad of cultural artforms
including various arts, crafts,
interactive cultural activities, music,
and talented performances across the
performing arts – songs, instrumental
and dance.
The live performances will include
traditional, folk, and Bollywood
dances and music, taking you to the
heart of India. Enjoy the talented
performers and fantastic stage
production!
Browse the fascinating range of
exhibitor stalls and workshops,
featuring everything from ethnic
costumes, jewellery and beauty, to
business products and information.
And of course, the food stalls will be
highly popular, offering up a variety
of Indian cuisines. Sample your way
through the tantalising Indian street
food, curries, desserts and sweets.
This Festival became an annual fixture
in Selwyn in 2015. It is designed to
celebrate Diverse India in Diverse
New Zealand. It is proudly brought
to you by Canterbury Indian Women
Group and Bhartiya Samaj Canterbury,
with the generous support of many
sponsors.
For more information, contact
Archna Tandon (021 032 0915) or
Surinder Tandon (021 295 1089), or
through selwyndiwali@gmail.com
When:
Saturday 11th November 2023,
4pm–9pm
Where:
Lincoln Domain (outdoors),
15 Meijer Drive, Lincoln
Key info:
Alcohol-free / Family friendly /
Rain or shine / Free entry for all