North Canterbury News: January 25, 2024

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2 The NEWS North Canterbury News, January 25, 2024 Stretch limo ride for centenarian By SHELLEY TOPP If youwould like to reachmore customers and growyour profits, we canhelp. Contactustoday to findout more. Managing Editor Robyn Bristow 027 312 1581 robyn.bristow@ncnews.co.nz Sales Manager DaynaBurton 027 312 0089 dayna.burton@ncnews.co.nz Reporters ShelleyTopp 027 404 6137 John Cosgrove 021 195 0284 Advertising Amanda Keys 027 536 6224 amanda.keys@ncnews.co.nz Jo Padgett 027 482 0733 jo.padgett@ncnews.co.nz Get in touch Phone:03313 2840 or 03 3148335 14 Ashley Street, Rangiora www.starnews.co.nz Editorial: info@ncnews.co.nz Advertising: sales@ncnews.co.nz Distribution:deliveries@alliedpress.co.nz Rangiora's newest centenarianhas celebrated her special birthday in style with abig party, and her first ride in astretch limousine. Ruby Smith, who turned 100 on January 17, says the limousine ride from her home to her birthday party at Rossburn Receptions on Saturday, January 13, was one of the highlights of her life. She was overwhelmed by the number of people who attended her party, and the number of cards she received for her birthday, including one from Waimakariri District Mayor Dan Gordon, ‘‘who took the time to write aspecial message in his card,’’ which Rubyappreciated. Rubyhad hoped to receive acard from Queen Elizabeth II for her 100th birthday, rather than her son King Charles III and Queen Camilla. But Rubyoutlived her favourite monarch, who died on September 8, 2022. Ruby was born and raised at Waikuku on afarm called Slim Ridge. She was one of 13 children, and later had five children herself, four sons and adaughter, with her husband Geoffrey Smith, afarmer and a builder, who she met in Woodend. They were married in Christchurch on April 11, 1945. Geoffrey died in December 2004, but Rubysays marrying him and becoming amother, grandmother and great grandmother have been other big highlights in her life. She has been keen on horses all her life and as children Ruby and her siblings used the family’s pet draught horse to deliver milk on acart to the Waikuku Beach camping ground New centenarian ... Ruby Smith, of Rangiora, who turned 100 on Wednesday last week. PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP during the Christmas and New Year school holidays. She has always enjoyed walking, and says back in her day most children walked to school. Gardening is another love. She still keeps an immaculate garden at her home and says lilies, particularly white ones, are her favourite flowers. Ruby has also enjoyed sewing as a hobby, particularly making soft toys for her family members, and many others. One of her sons, Kevin, who lives in Palmerston North, says Ruby has made hundreds of stuffed toys over the yearsfor family and friends. ‘‘She made areally good job of them, and people were always asking her to make one for them,’’ he says. ‘‘She is also avery good mother,who always makes time for her family.’’ NC students bucknationalNCEA trend ByDAVID HILL, Local Democracy Reporter North Canterbury schools are bucking the national trend with ‘‘solid’’ NCEA results. Last week the New Zealand Qualifications Authority released provisional results indicating NCEA pass rates had droppedfor the third year in arow. Butprincipals in North Canterbury say they are pleased with their students’ results. National pass rates were 60 percent for level 1(down from 64.9% in 2022), 72.2% for level 2(74.9%) and 66.2% for level 3(68.2%). The declining pass rates were blamed on the ongoingimpacts of Covid19. Rangiora New Life School principal Stephen Walters says his school’s pass rates were78% at level 1, 72% at level 2 and 71.7% for level 3. ‘‘I am very proud of the work our staff has done and our students,and even with the impact of Covid, we have done really well acrossthe board. ‘‘It is going to be an interesting year to see how things pan out. ‘‘The new Government will be looking at the national picture and seeing what needs to be done to improve the results.’’ Mr Walters said his school benefitted from aMinistry of Education trial, where tutoring was offered to year 11 students who needed extra support. Kaikōura High School presiding member John Wyatt says while he had yet to analyse the results in detail, the school was pleased with the achievements of its students. ‘‘Our feeling was we were going to be in good shape because of the resilience of our students,havinglived through the (2016, 7.8 magnitude)earthquake. ‘‘It is acredit to our young people. They have come through it reasonably well. They take it in their stride.’’ But he hoped there would be no new disruptions in 2024. Oxford Area School principal Mike Hart says his school’s results were similar to 2022. ‘‘We were above the national averages across many of the measures. ‘‘We are pleased with the efforts of our students.’’ Pass rates at Kaiapoi and Rangiora High School were also understood to be well above the national average. AKaiapoi High School staff member said the school had apolicy of ‘‘ensuring no student was left behind’’. Hurunui College, Cheviot Area School and Amuri Area School were also contacted. LDR is local body journalism cofunded by RNZ and NZ On Air. ARTHUR BURKEMAZDA NORTHCANTERBURY’S DEDICATED MAZDA DEALER Visit usfor all your Mazda needs including • New &Used Vehicle Sales • Finance &Insurance • Servicing, Repairs &WoFs • Parts &Accessory Sales 2Markham St, Amberley | 03314 0127
NEWS North Canterbury News, January 25, 2024 Fire ravaged Loburn reflects The Loburn community is still reeling from the devastation wrought by last Friday’s fire that moved swiftly through many properties on the Loburn Whiterock Road, fanned by abrisk nor’west wind, leaving acharred landscape in its wake. Three homes were destroyed, along with sheds, machinery and fences. Offers of help have poured in. The Waimakariri District Council has opened the Mayoral Relief Fund for people to make donations which will go directly to residents who lost their homes, and had their properties damaged. John Cosgrove reports. (More photos after sport). 3 TheWidest MusicVariety The first George Gooderham of Loburn, knew something wasn't quite right last Friday afternoon, was when he smelt smoke while painting his son’s bedroom. Aquick look outside startled him. There was dense, black smoke all around his family home, and roaring streaks of fire. ‘‘I saw one tree on fire, then it quickly moved to the others lining the property. It moved so quickly.’’ Shelter belts and hedges around the property went up in flames, the grass on their front lawn was ablaze and there was smoke everywhere. Luckily acouple of mates appeared and helped him to quell the grass fires which were spreading, but they couldn’t do anything about the old pine shelter belt. George’s wife Olivia arrived home, just before the roads through Loburn were officially closed by police as firefighters tackled multiple blazes erupting along the Loburn Whiterock Road. The fires eventually engulfed 12 hectares with fire brigades from throughout North Canterburyand beyond, fighting it on several fronts for hours. Many members kept vigil over night and the following days. ‘‘Everything was ablaze. All we had were buckets and sprinklers,’’ says Olivia. The arrival overhead of helicopters with fire buckets started to turn the tide in their favour. The helicopters were diverted from a large fire at Amberley, happening at the same time. ‘‘They were great. They flew in through the dense smoke, dipped their buckets in our pond and dumped the water on top of the burning trees, putting them out,’’ she says. Olivia says it was very scary dealing with the fires, and watching their neighbours houses burn. ‘‘Compared to several of our neighbours we were very lucky. ‘‘I feel for them from the bottom of my heart as they have lost everything. It was absolutely gutting watching them burn.’’ All through Friday night, the couple tackled many small fires on their property caused by falling embers. They later praised their community for helping everyone survive the ordeal. Many acts of kindness went unnoticed during Friday’s ordeal, as three homes including achurch converted into ahome, and anumber of sheds and out buildings were destroyed in multiple blazes. Horses from one property were moved to neighbouring yards as flames threatened the owners house. Other farmers rushed in to help move stock and community members ran up to an elderly neighbour’s SUMMER LAWNMASTER SPECIALS $100 of any Lawnmaster Alloy Mower* Metro 450 NOW$579 Check out thesefeatures • Free10hrservice • BallBearing wheels • Ready startengines (no priming) • Qualityalloy chassiswith LIFETIME warranty • 5Year warranty • Oiled and fullyassembled 2628041 360 FlaxtonRoad,Rangiora Ph 03 313 5563 www.kingsmowersheating.co.nz Fire damage ... Olivia and George Gooderham walk through their charred property at Loburn following Friday’s fire. PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE house to help them move their valuables and eventually save their house. Fire and Emergency NZ officials later praised George and Olivia for adopting a number of landscaping strategies which helped save their home. George says when they took over the property from his parents four years ago they removed an empty grass paddock in front of the house. They replaced it with agolf course covered in low cut grass. They also included low flammability plantings in their landscaping plan, and made sure the entranceway was wide enough to accommodate fire engines. Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon, Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith and senior FENZ staff visited the site of the fire, and the Gooderham’s property on Saturday afternoon. Many residents who were in the line of the fire, express huge appreciation for all the help they received. Cheese manufacturers, Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, expressed ‘‘sincere gratitude’’ to all the fire brigades who helped save the house and factory. ‘‘We are so, so very lucky, it was so close,’’ says manager Diana Hawkins. ‘‘Also we thank, and are grateful for, all the support from the local and wider community –and all the offers of help and support. ‘‘Thanks too, to Mainpower for getting the power back on, on Saturday afternoon. ‘‘It was fantastic that once they made everything safe again, that they got power on to those who could safely be connected.’’ Steve Wallace is grateful for all the work that was done on their property. ‘‘Special thanks to FENZ, Police, Civil Defence, helicopter crews, the Mayor, council staff, MainPower and all other people involved,’’ he says. Mayor Dan Gordon has met with residents, Fire and Emergency NZ, fire firefighters, including members of volunteer brigades, and Civil Defence welfare volunteers, since the fires took place. ‘‘Over the weekend I’ve been meeting with families who lost their homes, and Loburn locals who had their properties damaged. The extent is severe. Recovering from something this tragic will take time, support, and resources,’’ he says. Since the event, community members have rallied and there’s areal desire to pitch in and help. The council in response has opened up the Mayoral Relief Fund so anyone can donate funds that will go directly to those who are the most affected. The Mayoral Relief Fund provides emergency financial support in response to major disasters that cause significant damage and disruption. Donations can be made via internet banking to account 010877012922200. Please include ‘Loburn Fire’ in your reference details. The Loburn community is working to identify and coordinate aresponse to specific needs, with inkind support and offers of help. Visit facebook.com/ groups/725675139530381, or search Loburn Fire Recovery on Facebook to find out more about their needs. Tune in nowtolisten on 104.9 forNorth Canterbury 103.7 forHanmerSprings andKaikoura Caring for North Canterbury Dr John Dehn Full Mole Checks using Dermoscopy Surgical Management andAftercare Comprehensive,Affordable, Convenient Ph 03 9204060 52 Pegasus Main Street,Pegasus 7612 www.pegasusmedicalcentre.co.nz Southern Cross Affiliated Provider For selected services SHOE SALE SUMMER CLEARANCE Monday –Friday 9am–5pm Saturday 10am–1pm Closed Public Holidays&Long Weekends KaiapoiMill, Ranfurly Street, Kaiapoi Ph 03 327 0576 1890742
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North Canterbury News: January 25, 2024

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