How well do we know people in our community

Bill and Mavis Jones

65th Wedding Anniversary.

Bill and Mavis married on the 16^{th of} August 1958. They met in the mid-1950s. Bill was an apprentice painter and decorator by day, and a Teddy Boy by night. Mavis worked in a bank and loved to dance They jived their way to their wedding two days after Mavis’s 21^st birthday.

After honeymooning in London, they returned to live with Bill’s mother in the family home in Milton, Staffordshire.

In June 1959 Karen, their daughter, was born.  Not long after they moved to a house “around the corner” with the luxury of an indoor toilet and bathroom.

Bill continued his painting and decorating career, starting his own business in the mid-1960s. Mavis returned to banking, making it to the managerial level. 

Football was Bill’s early passion. He played for Macclesfield Town as a semi-professional. His moment of fame came when the celebrated Stanley Mathews, one of the best footballers of his time, was unable to play. Bill replaced him for the game. Golf replaced football in the late 1960s and Mavis joined him.

After Karen and Derek married in 1979 they decided there was a lot more opportunity in Australia. They emigrated to Perth. Bill and Mavis were in the process of building their dream home opposite the golf club. They celebrated their 25^th anniversary there before deciding to emigrate to Perth to join Karen and Derek in 1985. … Continue Reading

Not yet going to the dogs?

The South’s three towns each has a dog park of fenced-off open land where owners can take their mutts for exercise. Other than that, dogs must be on leads or in vehicles outside their properties.

But suddenly the South Wairarapa District Council is carrying out a review of its dog controls, the first in a decade. The review, according to the council, is partly after it heard from the community that its ban on dogs in Ngawi, Ngawi Surf Breaks, North Tora, South Tora and Te Awaiti should be reviewed.

So, some minor wording in the policy has been changed “to increase the clarity of the policy,” and three options for dogs in coastal camping areas have been put out for public consultation/feedback _ even if you haven’t heard _ with September 3 the deadline.

The three:

– continue prohibiting dogs in coastal camping areas;

– allow some “off-peak” dog access from, say, April to October _ camp use off-peak times;

– allow dogs in, say, two of the areas for all of the year _ with those two sites designated as being ‘dog friendly.’

 Under the current policy, the dog controls state:

Areas where dogs are prohibited (except in a vehicle) 

i) Any public building or public place, including any library building, swimming pool, recreation centre, under the control or management of the council.

ii) Any area developed or marked out as a sports field (not including any spectator area) during sporting events, or any outdoor court, skateboard park or cycle park.

iii) On any area that is developed or marked out as a playground or contains children’s play equipment.

iv) Any cemetery.

v) The following coastal camping areas: North Tora, South Tora, Ngawi,Ngawi Surf Breaks, Te Awaiti. … Continue Reading

Dog box wins “Super Idea” award

Yes, it’s the council’s brand new dog pound, located in Featherston. At $114,00 a kennel, it cost $456,000 to build and it’s not even gold-plated.

 In other parts of the country, that level of dog box sees “quotes (to built them that) are in the millions.”

So perhaps little wonder the council’s dog crates won the “Super Idea” category award and was a runner-up for the Supreme award at the local government conference last month.

The council noted: “housing up to four dogs, the pound uses solar energy as its main power source, collects rainwater to fill the water tanks, and (is) designed to fit within the environs. This ensures a small carbon footprint and an off-the-grid, sustainable structure.”

Councillor Rebecca Gray who attended the conference said it was wonderful to see how well thought of this initiative was. 

“The competition was pretty massive and to win our category as well as come second overall in the Supreme Award, was unbelievable. A very proud moment for Council staff.”

As a territorial authority, the council is by law required to operate a dog pound that provides proper custody and care of impounded dogs. It needs to be economically and animal health-wise sound, and functionally as well as aesthetically pleasing. 

The brain behind the dog pound’s kennel design was Environmental Services Manager Rick Mead, who said the council “can now fulfil our responsibility to meet and exceed the standards for animal welfare.”

The dog pound is at Soldiers’ Settlement Road North in Featherston.

Is Esther Street your street?

By Angela Brown – Community Board

The folks in Esther Street have developed a great neighbourhood tradition that brings them together as well as contributing to the wider community. Maybe it will inspire you to do something similar on your street?

It started in the winter of 2013 when the hospitality business was very quiet in town. Some enterprising Esther Street residents decided to book a dinner out, to help the local economy and also give weekenders and permanent residents a chance to meet. 

That year the food was prepared by Pinocchio’s, they had just opened for business and as it didn’t have a liquor licence food was ferried across the road and served in Cool Change who happily supplied the drinks – a great collaboration.

At first there were Secret Santa presents but soon it was decided to put that money towards worthy local causes instead. This fundraising is boosted by a raffle and donations in kind.

Beneficiaries have included the Museum, the Toy Library, The Breakfast Club, the Food Bank and last year the Pump Track. 

This year the money raised will go towards supporting the Martinborough Christmas celebrations, guests were also invited to supply (wrapped) lollies for distribution at the parade. … Continue Reading