North Canterbury News: December 14, 2023

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NEWS
16 North Canterbury News, December 14, 2023
Areal-life situation
The Keeping Up with Culverden
series looks behind the scenes at
the setting up of the Culverden
Civil Defence Community
Emergency Response Team
(CERT) in Hurunui District.
October’s wind event provided the first
taste of areal­lifesituation, and was a
test for Culverden’s preparedness.
There has been ahiatus in the full
team meeting —like all CERTs, the team
comprises volunteers withtheir own
work and home commitments.
However, work on the ground has
continuedwith bringing together
members of the community who have
been shoulder­tappedfor community
Civil Defence contact network roles.
These community members will report
valuable information on what is
happening in their patch to an activated
Emergency Operations Centre during
major events.
The work couldn’t have been more on
point.
CulverdenCivil Defence co­ordinator
and retired farmer Gregor McKenzie
and Hurunui District Council’s
emergency management officer Allan
Grigg lead the team through afull
debrief of the responsetoOctober’s
wind event, both at district and regional
level.
‘‘Debriefs help us to appraise what
worked well and what didn’t work so
well, so that we can do further work to
prepare us for the next event,’’ says Mr
Grigg.
‘‘For many in the team, this was their
first event.’’
During the event, members contacted
potentially vulnerable people in the
community to see if they needed help,
and were also involved in gathering
information and reporting it to the
council response team.
Over 60 homes were contacted across
Hurunui, and Culverden was part of
that, says Mr Grigg.
‘‘After the debrief, the team works
together to extend the wind scenario to a
workshop, looking at what they would
have done if the situation had escalated.
Local events can easily escalate up to a
disaster needing aregion­wide
response,’’ he says.
The meeting ended with asurprise
announcement that Mr McKenzie is
relocating away from Culverden to
another part of the district.
The team and Mr Grigg were vocal in
thanking Mr McKenzie for his
contribution, commitment and service to
the Culverden community emergency
response team.
Hayley Clark was welcomed in as the
new Culverden Civil Defence co
ordinator.
‘‘With astrong background in
community service in Hurunui, she is a
familiar face in the community as
someone always keen to put up her hand
to volunteer. Latest statistics show that
more people volunteer in our rural areas
compared to the national average, and
Hurunui is no exception,’’ says Mr Grigg.
Civil Defence preparedness and
response training is carried out across
Hurunui Districts nine Civil Defence
sectors of Cheviot; Hawarden­Waikari;
Culverden; Hanmer Springs; Waiau;
Waipara; Motunau Beach­Scargill­Greta
Valley; Amberley and Mt Lyford.
Christmas wonderland
The Oxford CommunityTrust is
hoping its annual Christmas
Wonderland event, which begins this
weekend,will bring joy to the town.
‘‘We want to bring an event to the
community for people to enjoy and get
into the Christmasspirit,’’ says the
trust’smanager Jo Ealam.
‘‘The last few years have been
difficult for everyone,and with the
pressure on finances right now, it is
our hope that the Wonderland
brightens up the Christmas periodfor
everyone who visits.’’
The GP Hall at Oxford Area School,
will be transformedwith Christmas
displays,with Oxford businesses
joining in the celebrations with festive
displays.
Last year’sevent attracted more
than 1500 visitors and Santa’s
conveyor belt wrapping presents was a
Showcase craft exhibition
By SHELLEY TOPP
The annual Showcase exhibition is
being held at the Handzon craftwork
shop in Rangiora this weekend.
It will showcase the creativity and
craftsmanship seen every day in the
craftwork classes held at Handzon
from Waimakariri, Hurunui and
Christchurchcrafters.
‘‘It is away forustosay abig thank
youtoall our customers, teachers and
sponsors, for making the joy of
creating areality for people every
day,’’ Handzon owner, Riana Auret
says.
Nick Harrall, acrafter and
supporter of the exhibition, says it is a
celebration of talent and learning, but
also of thelocal community and the
support and friendships that so often
huge hit.
The event begins this Saturday and
runs until Christmas Eve, with
opening hours from 10am­8pm during
weekends, and 2­8pm during
weekdays at the GP Hall, Showgate
Drive in Oxford.
Santa will be visiting this Saturday
from 2­3pm and 7­8pm. He will also be
visiting on Monday December 18 and
Friday December 22 from 7­8pm, and
Saturday December 23 from 2­3pm
and 7­8pm.
Organiser Sandy Smith says it is
exciting to have the support of local
businesses and acommunity group
who are creating displays.
‘‘This collaboration is what makes
the event asuccess for the community.
There are lots of new and exciting
displays this year, and it will be amust
see to get into the festive spirit.’’
grow from agroup of like­minded
people gathering together doing
something they love.
Challenges are set during the
classes, encouragement and support
given, and learning is shared.
‘‘Sharing my stitching with agroup
of creative people is the highlight of
my week. What better way to celebrate
friendship, skill and talent than to see
it all together under one roof in an
exhibition at the end of the year,’’ Nick
says.
The two­day Showcase exhibition is
open this Saturday, December 16, from
10am to 4pm, and Sunday, December
17, from 10am to 3pm, at the Handzon
shop at 1Albert Street.
It is free to attend and visitorswill
be encouraged to vote for their
favourite exhibit.