MWFC: no wins yet _ but table points mounting up

The training ground report: injuries, clean sheet, new recruits, players returning, loans, and is MWFC heading towards child exploitation?

There is a mixture of good and very good news from Martinborough Women’s Football team.

As the season crossed the halfway line a degree of hope and optimism was settling in. Whilst this newly-formed team haven’t yet won a game they have been scoring goals, goals galore and have had a clean sheet. Three proud points on the table.

Martinborough’s Maradonna

For perspective and reality England got to the knockout stages of Euro 24 without winning a game, and most of those games were like watching the Slug and Lettuce walking football club.

This local achievement is all the more impressive as the rigours of a full season of Wairarapa football is taking its toll. Marty’s Mary Earps between the sticks flew through the sky all the way to the stratosphere to save a certain goal from Carterton. Every sinew was stretched and the one in her left leg went ‘ping’. That saw the keeper out for a while.

It’s a sad story despite the changing room having that overwhelming smell of liniment, radium B and deep heat. Preparation was good.  Marty were on the attack. The little whippet on the wing whipped across a chest high ball to the back of the penalty box. Having just watched England’s game against Slovakia there were great ‘Jude Bellingham’ aspirations. Facing away from goal, she tried a Jude Bellingham bicycle kick. Spectacular as it was, the outcome was twofold. The ball missed the goal and on landing no meaningful continuation of the game could continue. Another injury.

Then there was Milly Clegg, who was the whippet on the wing. Off she went to pull up more suddenly that a Boeing 737 with bird strike at takeoff. Initial diagnosis was either a ‘hammie’, (aka hamstring), but possibly a ruptured achilles. … Continue Reading

100 days of Janet Frame poems

One hundred poems by Janet Frame will be broadcast over 100 days by Access Radio Wairarapa, Arrow 92.7fm, starting on the author’s birthdate, 28 August.

“100 Days of Janet Frame” celebrates the centenary of Frame’s birth on 28 August 1924, with the  100 poems selected from The Pocket Mirror (1967) and The Goose Bath (2006). The 100-day event is registered with 2024 Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day. 

“Access Radio Wairarapa is delighted to be part of this substantial and worthwhile literary feat which showcases many excellent Wairarapa poetry performers, as well as a few national dignitaries and experts,” said Arrow FM Station Manager Michael Wilson. 

The 59 readers include many Wairarapa locals. Poets include Kate Camp, Rhondda Greig, Bill Manhire, Mary McCallum, Madeleine Slavick and Poet Laureate Chris Tse. There is a reading in te reo Māori by Te Whakapono Waikere, and a 2002 recording by Janet Frame herself. … Continue Reading

All hands for Daffodil Picking Day

Daffodil Day helpers are being asked for their help, rain or shine, on Sunday 25 August, officially  Daffodil Picking Day at Whangaimoana.

Jaqui and Alastair Sutherland are asking for help. All proceeds are earmarked go to the Wairarapa Cancer Society.

So, bring a friend and/or the family.

Last year 40 – 60 people turned up to help. 18,000 flowers were picked and $50,000 was raised. 

The picking process is simple. a snap and a twist is all it takes.

The daffodils are picked on Sunday and checked for quality control. Aramex, our local courier, will voluntarily transport the flowers to Masterton. Local Wairarapa businesses have already put in their orders.

Sunday is Picking Day, Monday is for bunching the flowers to meet the preorder requests, and Tuesday is delivery day. 

So come along and help. No equipment is needed. Bring your coffee and/or tea.

The day: Sunday 25 August

Time:  from 10:00 a.m.

Where: 559 Whangaimoana Road. 

Caption: Daffodil Picking Day adds thousands to Cancer Society funding each year.

All local water treatment plants compliant

By Aidan Ellims

For this column, I will start with some good news. 

All of SWDC’s water treatment plants are now compliant with water regulator Taumata Arowai’s regulations. 

This has occurred because councillors have increased investment in water treatment plants over the years with the result that our water treatment plants have a higher level of protection than Queenstown had at the end of 2023 _ when months of “boil water” notices impacted those communities.

Recently you may have heard that Council is carrying out a Representation Review as required every six years. The results of this Review will affect the 2026 and 2029 Local Body elections.

Earlier this year there was a short initial consultation, but from 5 August the main consultation period will occur, closing on 8 September.

It is important that you read the information and then provide your feedback so councillor’s can consider your views when deliberating. … Continue Reading