Book review

Tom Scott Drawn Out

By Mike Beckett

Recently Tom Scott announced that after seventy years of writing and drawing cartoons he was retiring from print journalism and the Dominion Post ran his final cartoon. With this retirement looming he had already written this memoir which is rightly described as ‘a seriously funny memoir’. For that is what it is, at times hilariously funny, however at others serious and heart breaking. 

His introduction to journalism was with the Victoria University student  newspaper in the 1970s. From there he was employed as a Listener political commentator and illustrator where he worked for over a decade before joining the Evening Post and later it’s successor The Dom Post. … Continue Reading

From the Mayor

The editor of the Star has invited me to write regular columns for him.  I am pleased to accept that offer.  

Let me start by acknowledging the success of Councillors Pip Maynard, Kaye McAulay and Aidan Ellims.  I extend my thanks, and sympathy, to Ed Martin and Jeena Matchet who were excellent candidates. Democracy can be tough.  I hope you will both continue to take a strong interest in our local democracy. Congratulations to Mel Maynard, Angela Brown, Storm Robertson, Karen Krogh who have become our elected Community Board members.  Thank you to the retiring Mayor Alex Beijen and Councillors Brian Jepson and Pam Colenso for your service to our community. … Continue Reading

MAREE’S MUSINGS

HATS OFF!

By Maree Roy

You may think that chat about hats is a strange topic for my column, but headgear has featured in the news of late. For one thing, there was the tragic death of Tehran woman Mahsa Amini after being beaten for allegedly breaking hijab rules. On a happier note, the coronation of King Charles. Closer to home, there’s been the local body elections, with hats being thrown in the ring, and later, in the air. 

The significance of the latter was a mystery. So to save head-scratching, I checked it out. It’s a tradition started in the US Naval Academy back in 1912; when sailors, after spending two years in training wearing their midshipmen hats almost constantly, celebrated by chucking them away.  … Continue Reading

FIRE BRIGADE REPORT 

By Chris Hooson

Station Officer – EMT

Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade

Another busy month for the Brigade and especially our Medical Responders, we are a few calls short of 200 for the year so far, and the team welcomes Dylan Ross transferring from Lake Ferry into a Recruit Firefighter slot and Henry Carr joins as a Medical First Responder.

You might have seen us featuring in the Times Age feature that has been running, featuring the Wairarapa Brigades. … Continue Reading