Ashburton Courier: November 30, 2023

WHĀRANGI 2|NGĀ PŪKŌRERO OTEWIKI KI RAUKĀPUKA |TAITE, 30 WHIRINGA-Ā-RANGI 2023
EDITORIAL
Haveyou seen the resource centre’s Light
UpGeraldineentrybyShirleyLindroos?
Get decorating Geraldine;entries close
8December; voting begins the next day.
In the weeksleading up to Christmas, we
will spend time shopping for presents,
decorating trees, and preparingtotravel
or host friends and family. Inthe hustle
and bustle, the holidayscan sometimes
slip away from us. Beforeweknow it,the
season is over, and we are back atthe
beginning of another working year.
In the Christian church, focusing on
Advent -the period beginningfourSundays
before Christmas -can help us to slow
down and appreciatethis partofthe year.
It is aholy time marked byasense of
waiting and prayerful reflection onthe
four themes of the season: hope, love,joy,
and peace.
I, forone, haverealisedinthe lastfew
weeks that Iamgetting older and have
to slow down. At the beginning of this
year,Ihad alist as long as my armofall
the things Iwanted to make happen in
Geraldine for Christmas. As it turns out,
at this end of the year, Ihaven’t been
totally disappointed that some of them
haven’t worked out as planned: for
example, the NativityPlay hadlogistical
issues, and the Christmas Tree Tour didn’t
exciteenough people to put their homes
on the trail. Iguess I’m not the only one
who is tired.
On the flip side, entries for Light Up
Geraldine are starting to come in, the
Remembrance Tree will soon be up at
St Mary’s church, and the Community
Christmas Choir has been going
gangbusters and is looking forward to
going carolling in the community.
Ihope youget time over the next few
weeks torelax and collect your energy
forthe busyseason ahead -just25sleeps
to go. xoxo FI
Thetime to
relaxiswhen
youdon’t have
time forit.
SYDNEYJHARRIS, AMERICAN JOURNALIST
Lorina Harding joins the cast forthe end-of-yearFinding OurVoices end-of-year-show’sfinal number. PHOTO:Hugh McCafferty
Finding Our Voices show “pure joy”
“Pure joy” was how local mum Chelley Leov
described thelatestproductionofthe Finding
Our Voices troupe. The productions ofthis
differently abledgroupofperformersare regular
featuresonthe Geraldinecalendarofevents.
Tuesday oflast week saw over 40family
membersand supportersofthe groupgathered
atthe LodgeTheatre forthe FindingOur Voices
end-of-year show, ADay at theZoo.Based on
ideas from thecast, thestory included ascary
Lion (CarlSullivan) whoturnedintoapussycat
atthe handsofKat Lady (LorraineButton).
All sorts of shenanigans were the occasion
(orexcuse) forthe singing anddancing numbers.
Local musician Lorina Harding directed the
team from the front row and joined them on
stage forthe finalnumber, “Dancing Queen”.
Lorina says,“Iwas hesitant to take this on,
but Iamnow going todoituntil Ican’t do it
any more. ... Iamgrateful to Sharon Bradley
Traineduphillather namesake golf course,local
greyhoundGrandeVue Ace(GVAtoracetrack
commentators) aced thefield recently when she
won the $30,000 Group 1Rose and Thistle
StayersCup,partofthe NewZealand Cupheld
at AddingtonRaceway.Her delightedtrainerowners
areBob Pringleand Raewyn Wallis.
Makingthe winextra sweet, theStayers Cup
was the first event inthe prestigious Group 1
category for GVA and for her hobby trainers,
whoalsobredher.Itadds to thethree-year-old
long-distancerunner’srecordof59startswith
10wins, 14 second,and 11 thirdplacings.
Greyhound Racing New Zealand Chief
Operating Officer LizWhelansays, “New Zealand
Cup night isthe biggest night ofthe year for
greyhoundracing. It wasgreat to seeBob’semotion.
Greyhound racing is like abig family in New
Zealand,soeverybodywas happy forhim.”
She says, “Group 1is the most elite race;
getting aGroup 1winnerishard. Andthe stayers
are quitespecial;theymustbetrained specially
for theirraces.For Bobtohavebredher as well
fordoing soundand BruceAllen forthe lights
otherwise, it wouldbe‘setand forget’, notnearly
so good.”
At theshow’send,manycastmembers voiced
theirappreciation of theaudience, fellowcast
members and director Lorina Harding.
As Chelley, mother of cast member Jack and
no stranger to thetheatre herself, putit: “They
really have foundtheir voices.” HUGH MCCAFFERTY
Grande Vue Ace wins $30k in prestigious race
is really special.”
Bob says the race’s financial reward is
“irrelevant to me. The big buzz isseeing my
canine athlete, which we bred, reared, and
trained, excel inthe way she did.” Headmits,
though, that the funds will help with travel to
race meets.
From GVA’sbirth,Raewyn says,“She looked
like she’d beagood distance dog. Alot of it’s
abouthow youtrain them from puppies.” Bob
says thereisrichnessinthattraining.
It is arichnessthatis reflected andhonoured
in GVA’sname. Grande Vue’sundulatingcourse
givesher regularhillworkchasing amotorised
lure,which Bobsays“acceleratesfromzero to 60
kilometres perhourinamatterofseconds.”
He says, “It takes avillage toraise achild.
Well, the village of Geraldine has helped raise
GVA. This victory’stheirs, too.” JAN FINLAYSON
Grande Vue Ace with Bob Pringle and
Raewyn Wallis. PHOTO: Jan Finlayson
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