Did you know

CONGRATULATIONS to Ineke and David on becoming grandparents for the fourth time. Marijke has presented them with a granddaughter, Frieda.

THE FIRSTAnzac Service was a united service held in the Martiborough Town Hall on Tuesday April 25th 1916

A WORLD War One Display is now on at the Martinborough Museum Open Weekends & Public Holidays 1-30 to 3-30

LIFE FLIGHT rescue helicopter crew man Dave Greenberg has recently retired after twenty five years service during which time having carried out almost 4,000 rescue missions.

A WELLINGTON library borrower owes the library over $4,000 for the ninety three books he borrowed and never returned. Have to wonder why they kept issuing more – can’t see the Martinborough Librarians doing this.

AROUND THREE THOUSAND New Zealander’s celebrate their birthday on 29th February. … Continue Reading

The Drunken Nanny Wins Cheese Awards Success

Walking over the dry paddocks of her farm with Amanda Goodman and watching her recognise and name each goat as she pets them under the chin or scratches their heads, it is obvious how much the Goodmans’ recent venture into producing goats’ cheese means to her. From start to finish, this is a hands-on business. “Every goat has a name, and they are all hand reared”, Amanda says.

Amanda and her husband Lindsey have only been in the business for three months, following a lengthy period of research, study and learning, but already they have been recognised by their peers. At the recent 2016 NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, The Drunken Nanny brand won four awards; three silvers and a bronze for their feta, camembert and washed rind cheeses. Those are highly impressive results for a fledgling business and encouraging for next season’s expansion plans. “It was our big thrill for this first season”, Amanda says with her infectious laugh. … Continue Reading

From the Library

Library time again.  If there is anyone out there that I haven’t recommended to read Dana Stabenow then you are quite unique!  So if you are hooked on Kate Shugak, as I am, and have been waiting for Book 9 (Hunter’s moon) then see me immediately.  Other new books – bit thin on the ground as it’s a quiet time at the moment, post-Christmas. 

However, if you do see something in the Warehouse that looks good, then do let me know.  On the DVD front, we now have over 700 DVDs and are again running out of space for them. 

Mind you we are running out of space for everything.  We almost have all the stack room books back in the library.  These are primarily the early NZ history and biography books which are proving very popular in the library. 
We have made a little shelving area specially for early NZ biographies – they won’t all fit in however, so the more you take out the more we can fit in – remember they are free.  … Continue Reading

From the Mayor

People have short memories and things are quickly forgotten if not kept to the forefront of our memories.
This is most evident when you visit the exhibition currently showing at the ANZAC Hall in Featherston.  Farewell Zealandia, Forgotten Kiwi Songs of WWI takes visitors on a journey through the war as told by the music of 19 composers. 

All now forgotten, their music has been sourced from the music archives. The stories of the songs and their composers make compelling reading whilst the actual music can be heard through individual listening posts. They range from patriotic to haunting.

The interesting thought is that in days gone by all this music was probably commonplace.  The songs would have been sung in the home, the tunes whistled while people worked.  Without the modern recording industry though, there was no way of keeping them alive so as the memories of war faded then so did the songs.

If you’re interested in music then its worth a trip to the ANZAC Hall.  Farewell Zealandia runs until 25 April, 7 days from 10am until 3pm and entry is free.  There are also two associated concerts on the 10 and 24 April at 2pm.  Tickets are $20 each and available from the I Stites in Martinborugh and Masterton.
Adrienne Staples