Nor'West News: February 22, 2024

Community day `awesome’
By SHELLEY TOPP
Loburn School hosted an open day last
Friday to thank the community and
emergency crews who fought the nearby
January 19.
Those who attended said it was an
‘‘awesome idea.’’
School principal Stuart Priddy said the
school had been closed on the day of the
fire because of the school holidays. It had
not been damaged, but the neighbouring
pre­school had to be evacuated.
‘‘We wanted to show our support for our
surrounding community and the people
who helped us on that day, by inviting
them to the school to give our thanks and
let people know we are here to help,’’ he
said.
Some emergency crew members. many
of them volunteers, were unable to attend
due to fire fighting commitments on
Christchurch’s Port Hills. However
representatives from the police, Fire and
Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), the
Waimakariri District Council civil defence
emergency team, plus Waimakariri
District Mayor Dan Gordon, along with
many members of the Loburn community
and children from the pre­school next
door, did attend.
They were treated to aperformance of
songs by the Loburn School children led by
te reo/Maori language teachers, Norman
Paul and his daughter Bonnie Paul. Gift
baskets were presented and ‘‘thank you’’
artwork, by the children, was presented to
the emergency crews’ representatives.
Morning tea followed, along with the
chance to meet the emergency crews’
representatives to thank them personally.
Mr Gordon said the community day was
areal sign of how much this community
cares about each other.
He also said the council would provide
Giving thanks ... Guests, emergency service and Loburn School personal gathered at the
school.
PHOTO: SHELLEY TOPP
whatever support it could to help the
Loburn community recover from the fire.
Rangiora Constable Brad Moore, who
was commander of the police response
team on the day of the fire, said the
school’s community day was an awesome
event, and he was pleased to be able to
attend.
Three members of the Sefton Rural Fire
Brigade, Clive Goddard, Estelle Harmse
and Joseph Donoghue also attended along
with Dean Eades the council’s emergency
management adviser.
‘‘The fire roared through the small
community ‘‘like aspeeding, unstoppable
freight train’’ one local, Bill White said,
incinerating homes, buildings and
gardens.
But as devastating as the inferno was,
some locals consider the clean­up is even
worse because of the lingering smoketainted
air, the soot, the dust, the noise of
chainsaws felling fire­damaged trees, and
the rubberneckers who seem to think it is
okay to go on to private property to take
photographs without permission.
Sharon Gooderham and her husband
Paul lost arow of 50, 30­year­old pine trees
and ahigh­wall fence along the road
frontage of their property.
Paul is working with Rangiora
silviculturist John Woods on the the
cleanup, chopping down the charred trees
and cutting them up for firewood.
The loss of their fence and the
subsequent invasion of privacy by
rubberneckers has made her feel ‘‘very
vulnerable’’. However the community
support they received since the fire had
been ‘‘incredible.
NEWS
North Canterbury News, February 22, 2024
3
Cure Boat
Club mural
Kaiapoi will soon have anew waterside
visual attraction.
Walkers crossing the William Street
bridge or wandering along the Kaiapoi
River banks will soon be able to view a
mural championing the Cure Boating Club
and Kaiapoi.
Work should start by the end of the month
on the new mural, which is acollaboration
with acclaimed artist, Mel Eaton and the
Waimakariri Public Arts Trust.
Cure Club vice president Peter Midgley
says they hope it will help to promote their
side of the river and the township.
‘‘We’re on amission to adorn our
40­metre long river front building with a
spectacular wrap­around mural that will
become an icon for Kaiapoi,’’ he says.
The club hopes that at high tide visitors
will see the town’s name reflected in the
river and use it as abackdrop for
shareowner visitor photos.
Mr Midgley says the club has set up a
donations page to invite residents and
visitors to donate towards this vision and
help them bring it to life.
‘‘It's hoped that the mural will excite and
engage with the community as part of a
larger project,’’ he says.
The mural will be completed first, with
any additional funding going towards the
completion of the rebuild (postearthquake)
which has been along and
ongoing project for the small club.
‘‘We’ve been on the river for 154 years
and we think this stunning mural will help
lift the profile of our townand help us to
finish the work started 13 years ago on the
rebuild.’’
Depending on the weather and funding,
work on the mural is plannedtobegin on
March 1. It will be completed in around 7­10
days.
Supplying Growers Since 1981
HARFORD DOMESTIC HOME GARDENER RANGE
SALE CONTINUES
LEATHER SHOES FROM $29
Cleo
$29
Donka
$39
Sizes–3.4m Wide Range –
4m long /6mlong /8m long /
10m long /12m long
• Galvanised Steel Frame
• Treated Timber Base
• Single Skin Covers
• Head Height 2.4m
Options –Kitset ONLY or
Constructed byHarford Greenhouses
Options -Pickup /Delivered to Site
Sizes–2.6m Wide Range–
4m long /6mlong/8m long
CALL US ON 03 385 5150 OR
0508 HARFORDS (0508 427 367)
2566341a
Nova
$19
SANDALS FROM $19
Norah
$19
HURRY IN, DON’T MISS THESE SUPER SPECIALS
Kaiapoi Mill, Ranfurly Street, Kaiapoi
Monday to Friday: 9am –5pm, Saturday: 10am –1pm
Closed Public Holidays &Long Weekends
Ph 03 327 0576
2647601