Announcing: “The Social Crust” hits town

Pam and Gary Wells, owners of 45 Princess Street, new premises of The Social Crust food bank, receive a gift in recognition of their generosity that made the centre’s relocation possible.

Martinborough’s Food Bank has moved to 45 Princess Street, adopted a Greytown friend, expanded its activities and taken a new name: “The Social Crust.” 

After three years sharing rent-free premises with the Masonic Lodge, the Food Bank had outgrown the space available to it and, as it seems Food Banks are here to stay for the forseeable future, it was time to look for a space of its own.

“A huge ‘thank you’ to Pam and Gary Wells, the owners of 45 Princess St, who have generously made the move affordable for the Food Bank,” said head May Croft.. 

“We love the building. We think it is perfect for us and are excited about the opportunities it presents for development.”

After a premises blessing on August 16, the facilities opened for business – with a whole raft of changes.

The first: selling furniture and household goods.

“For some time now we have talked about the need to develop an income stream to ensure our own sustainability,” May Croft noted. “Almost every week we are being offered good household goods and furniture but have had no capacity for storage.”

The new premises at 45 Princess Street comes with container storage space and provides enough space within the building to enable development of a household goods and furniture outlet which will be up and running by next month..

The local operation was already providing food boxes into Greytown and with more room available this has become a formal arrangement with Greytown Food Bank coming under the group’s unbrella. 

“It makes a lot of sense (as far as cost and efficiency goes) to be working together. We’re enjoying each other’s company,” she added.

A new name that will encompass both Food Banks and all of the facets that support their operation into the future seemed logical.

“One of our Directors suggested we call ourselves ‘The Social Crust.’ We think it fits well and The Social Crust will become our overarching name,” she said.

“This year we estimate it will cost around $100,000 to run both Food Banks. Amazingly,  most of that – in cash and kind – will come out of our extraordinarily generous communities. We so appreciate the support,” May Croft noted.

Contact details for “The Social Crust:” martinboroughfoodbank@gmail.com mob: 021- 2228161 Food Bank Account No: ANZ Masterton 06-0541-0892873-00

Public Access Emergency Defibrillator

Martinborough Mens Shed are working with Wellington Free Ambulance and seeking community support for the funding of a public access Automatic Emergency Defibrillator (known as an AED) to be installed at the Mens Shed in Cork Street.

Public Access AEDs are different. They are not locked inside private premises, but are accessible to the public should they be needed, 24 x 7. 

A call to Emergency 111 will get you the code to open the enclosure and access the device when its needed.

Currently there are no Public Access AEDs at that end of town. This will be a valuable asset to the community, being closer to both residential areas and public facilities.

Please join us in getting this important investment in our community under way.

For further information, please email the shed’s secretary at:

martinboroughshed@gmail.com

SWDC hits the brake on “Amalgamation”

By Councillor Aidan Ellims

On Wednesday, 23 August the Wairarapa Times Age ran the front page headline “Calls for Amalgamation” and discussed how there was a working group of councillor’s from Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa looking at possible amalgamation.

This working group was set up soon after the October local body elections and our Deputy Mayor, councillor Sadler-Futter and councillor Bosley were the South Wairarapa representatives along with the deputy mayors from Carterton and Masterton and a councillor from each town.

The issues the working group were to look at were: 

A. Representation and Engagement;

B. Managing Growth and Adapting to change; and 

C. Driving efficiency in service delivery.

Over the last ten months, the working group has met a number of times and the focus has moved more towards merger/amalgamation, as opposed to the three topics above.

During August, the working group wanted elected members from the three Wairarapa councils to give support/direction to a statement of “commit to planning to merge” all three councils!

The SWDC councillor’s met at the end of August to discuss this requested commitment “to plan to merge” and there was no support for this. Councillors wanted to have more information available, such as: what would the benefits be for ratepayers if a merger occurred, what are the risks to ratepayers in a merger among many other questions. … Continue Reading

Gumboot Glamour Creativity Wins

The 2023 “Glamour & Gumboots” competition has been adjudged another huge success, with the winners only recently revealed. 

The quirky competition that brings some fun to winter drew lots of support, with local businesses donating prizes, as well as from the participants.

Judge Nicole Halliday, from “The Fire Inside” photography commented:

“I absolutely loved the creativity that went into this year’s entries. One thing I have to say is, don’t let creativity take away from the theme, which is ‘Glamour and Gumboots’, i.e. you need to include the glamour!” Organisers said it was “really, really tough choosing our winners this year and a massive thanks goes out to all of you who participated and helped us to raise just over $500 for each of the four Wairarapa Foodbanks.” 

Our winners for 2023 are:

WOMEN
First: Nadia White wins The Fire Inside Photography – Jayne package
Second: Adrienne Staples – Toast Martinborough double pass
Third: Maree McManaway – Claire Mcintosh Massage Therapy 90 min massage
Highly Commended: Crystal Hart with her shot of Nadine Bali – a Mudita back, neck, shoulder massage.
MEN
First: Our one and only Richard (Dimbleby – Ed?) wins a Copthorne Solway Bed and Breakfast voucher.
GROUP
First: Tunicliffe Builders win a Martinborough Brewery voucher
Second: Judy, Poppy & Jay – the Ventana $50 voucher and Schoc Chocolate Shoe
Highly Commended: The Tea Ladies, Michelle Thomas, Katie Laporte, Jane Burns, Mary Sykes Wheeler and Nicola Yee – a Brac & Bow $50 dinner voucher
CHILDREN
First: Margot Mills wins the Three Peas Tee Pea Party Package
Second: Ted & Chester the dog – a Go Zone 2x kids entry
Highly Commended: Harrison and Alexandria – a Chicken & Frog $25 voucher
SPIRIT AWARD
The Thrive Girls captured by Debbie Hunt win a Case of Matahiwi bubbles
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
First: with 207 votes was Thrive Ladies captured by Debbie Hunt who wins a Claire McIntosh Massage Therapy 60 min massage
Second: with 91 votes was Tunnicliffe Builders – Claire McIntosh Massage Therapy 30 min massage.

This was a fun way to spend a month in winter – with the main aim of the game being to support the  hard work of the region’s food banks. Thanks again, from Charlotte Harding & Nicole Halliday.