Martinborough Community Board

Strategic Grants
One of our most enjoyable roles is providing grant funding to local community organisations. Grants are considered twice yearly against our criteria which can be found at www.swdc.govt.nz/MCB. These criteria have recently been updated in line with our three year plan, with the next round of funding applications closing on 30th April for consideration at our meeting on the 29th May 2017.
Over the last triennium we have supported communities across the Martinborough Ward including a defibrillator for Tora, maintenance of the flag pole at Lake Ferry and a contribution to replacing the septic tank and lines at Pirinoa Hall.
We have provided funding to sporting organisations for uniform purchases, court resurfacing, equipment purchases and transport to away games. Pirinoa Primary, Martinborough Rugby Club, Martinborough Small Bore Rifle Club, Martinborough Hockey Club and the Southern Junior Netball Club all benefitted from grants during the last triennium. … Continue Reading

News from First Church

Stepping out with hope and holding fast to all that is good

This is the time of year we are all feeling a little worn out – there is just so much “going on”. Spring definitely came and we have had some beautiful warm days to enjoy all the beautiful gardens in our region – the roses this year especially seem to have really flourished with the good rain. Now as we go into December we are experiencing wild bouts of rain and wind, along with the aftershocks following the November earthquakes – all causing some doubt and dismay.
Reporting on the First Church Kirk Fair at the end of October, we want to acknowledge everyone who contributed to its success – the convenors Graham and Sheryl Howie who coordinated and set everything up, sourcing the great site in Jellicoe Street, and who led the team of hardworking stall holders; everyone who contributed to the stalls, and last but by no means least all the customers who made this fundraiser so worthwhile. Thank you to everyone … Continue Reading

500 years ago…

• The Great Plague hit various parts of Tudor England between 1509-1510.
• In 1512 Copernicus writes Commentariolus, and proclaims the sun the centre of the solar system.
• The Protestant Reformation begins in 1517 when the German Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses in Saxony.
• Leonardo da Vinci dies of natural causes on May 2, 1519.
• King Henry VIII, famous for beheading three of his six wives, sat on the English throne between 1509-1547.
• In 1487 Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama
was the first to sail down the west coast of Africa and round the Cape of Good Hope in search of a new route to India avoiding the Mediterranean.
• In 1492 the Italian Christopher Columbus was the first to sail due west across the Atlantic from Lisbon, believing it would take him to China. He found the Caribbean islands, which he called the West Indies.
• 1476 William Caxton sets up a printing press in England.