Did you know

AN APPRECIATION of Ineke’s life and involvement in the community will be in the next issue of the Star.

 THE AMERICAN  gun lobby (the NRA) paid its PR firm Ackerman-McQueen forty million (US) dollars in 2018. The firm has been contracted to the NRA for two decades of promoting the lobby’s high powered messages. 

‘WHAT GOOD is the warmth of summer with out the cold of winter to give it sweetness?’ – John Steinbeck

KIWI RAIL is adding a third more log wagons to it’s Wairarapa line operation. This will have rail carrying the equivalent of 6,000 road logging trucks a year through the tunnel rather than over the hill by road.  

BY INPRISONING 220 people per hundred thousand of population New Zealand has the dubious distinction of joining the high jailing countries USA, Turkey, Chile and Israel. Japan by contrast has only 45 people per hundred thousand in prison and Germany only 78. 

‘IF YOU want to win friends and influence people , be prompt’ – Dale Carnegie 

ALTHOUGH THE USE of cheques is declining New Zealanders still signed  eighteen million last year. Persian banks  issued traveller’s cheques as far back as the third century. The first printed cheques were issued  by the Bank of England in 1717.  … Continue Reading

Cooking corner

Morrocan Pumpkin soup

Ingredients

     1/2 medium pumpkin, peeled, seeded and diced

     1/4 cup oil 

2.  onions, diced
3. 4 cloves garlic, crushed
4. 1 tbsp ground cumin
5. 1 tbsp paprika
6. 5 cups vegetable or chicken stock
7. 3 tbsp lemon juice

Method

1. Heat oven to 225°C.
2. Toss pumpkin with half of the oil and place in a roasting dish, roast in oven until browned and cooked through. Once cooked remove from oven.
3. Meanwhile place remaining oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onion over low heat until translucent.
4. Add garlic and spices and continue to cook for a further minute or two.
5. Add stock, lemon juice and roasted pumpkin to the saucepan and cook slowly for 30 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and blend until smooth.

Maths can be fun

If you’re like me, the word “maths” might conjure up an image of a big blackboard covered in scary looking numbers and symbols.   But I am hoping my attitude is going to change on Sunday May the 26^th.  That’s because there’s an amazing event coming to Martinborough that day and it’s designed to make maths fun and fascinating for everybody, young and old.  The keynote speaker, Eugenia Cheng, who’s a musician and mathematician says it is her mission to rid the world of “maths phobia”.

“How’s that going to happen?“ you might be asking.  Well, the organisers of Mathscraft know that maths is everywhere in daily life but most of us just don’t recognise we are using it.   They decided to get crafty. Literally.  They are providing hands-on, practical activities to demonstrate mathematical ideas.  

Think origami, knots, or French knitting.    It’s a chance to get playful and creative.  “This is what a genuine maths experience is like” says Dr Phil Wilson, one of the organisers.  “Even if you don’t understand the maths behind the activity you will still be able to do it.”  That’s reassuring as I am sure I wouldn’t recognise a hyperbolic plane, a fractal sculpture, a Möbius strip or a dodecahedron if it hit me between the eyes.  I hope that will all change after the event. … Continue Reading

Round the Vines raises $40,000

Round the vines continues  going from strength to strength.  Now over 24 years on and the whole experience is still being thoroughly enjoyed  by everyone involved.

This year 1,500  competitors took part which will give a profit in excess of $40,000. This is an amazing amount of money which is tagged to go towards the school’s multi purpose turf which will be able to be started sooner than had been anticipated.

Behind every event there is an amazing band of organisers and support crew. Without the commitment and organisation of Keri Titherington, Ngahuia Barrs, Viv Malneek, Rachel Griffiths, Ange Sweeney and Hayley Brandon the event certainly would have struggled to be anywhere near as successful

The school certainly appreciated the time and energy which goes into the  organisation Alongside the main organisers there is a band of helpers too numerous to mention individually: set up crews, registration desk, track organisers, drinks  crews, marshals and photographers who are all integral to the running of the event. 

The we have the generous businesses that donate so much to the event – the prizes are amazing. The use of the vineyards make this such a unique fundraiser – we are certainly the envy of many a school community.

2020 will be the 25^th anniversary of the event and we look forward to another hugely successful day. 

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive:  ‘It’s always so well organised and the support crew  are funny and friendly. It’s a pleasure to do this event’ 

‘Really fantastic event. I’ll definitely be back. Loved the entertainment and the fact that the school’s kids were involved’

‘It’s the sense of community – that the teachers are serving at  the drinks stands and  thanking everyone for their contribution to the school. You really feel part of something’.