Following Mate Higginson’s article on long time Star Editor Fred Michell we have been contacted by the grandson of the founder, Neil Closey. The founder was James Henry Claridge. This remarkable person had spent his working life establishing newspapers, thirteen in all, which once established he sold and moved on …
Maureen Thurlow was presented with the Red Cross Twenty Years Service Medal by Branch President Brian Love at the branch’s volunteer Christmas morning tea. Geoff Cave of Carterton received an Award for ten years service. Brian thanked members for volunteering for Red Cross and welcomed a very special guest speaker …
The South Wairarapa’s night sky is being monitored round the clock in Spain and contributing to a world-wide dark sky database, thanks to a European research team. The move follows Chairman of the Martinborough Dark Sky Society, Lee Mauger, making a connection via Twitter with fellow Dark Sky enthusiast Carlos …
“ Gardens are not made by singing” oh, how beautiful’ and sitting in the shade”- Rudyard Kipling Well here we are HOT; still going, and a little over 12 months since our first produce was harvested. Like everyone , at the moment the garden is suffering from intense heat, and …
Alison Holst’s Christmas Cake
Ingrediants
432g can crushed pineapple in juice
1.5kg Fruitcake Mix
3 cups high grade flour
1 tsp each cinnamon and mixed spice
½ tsp ground cloves
225g butter
1 cup sugar
½ tsp each vanilla, almond and lemon essences
6 large eggs
50g Blanched Almonds, to decorate (optional). … Continue Reading
Gosh here we are again writing for the December issue of the Star – who can believe that a whole year, has vanished into thin air….
I had great pleasure in representing Mayor Viv Napier and the whole South Wairarapa District at the Martinborough Fire Brigade Gold Star presentation to Peter Fisher for his 25 years with the Fire Service. On behalf of Council I presented a certificate recognising 25 years’ service to the Community. Pete is an absolute inspiration to everyone both in his achievements with the Fire Service and in his personal life. It was a heart-warming moment when unexpectedly, Pete’s father, who is also in the Fire Service, was asked to present the Gold Star medal, for 25 years’ service, to Pete.
Pete, we wish you well for the future and look forward to hearing of your achievements over the next 25 years!!
Waste Minimalization is a topic dear to my heart and I have been fortunate to be able to attend a recent forum in Kapiti, along with Councillor Margaret Craig. It is exceedingly interesting to learn of the initiatives people and businesses are taking to minimize the amount of waste going to our landfills. We were able to visit Second Life Plastics in Levin and see huge amounts of plastic waste that is being recycled into very useable products that are in great demand in the business sector. … Continue Reading
The South Wairarapa’s night sky has been given the prestigious cover of the 2019 calendar from the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) which is published worldwide, thanks to local astrophotographer Glen Butler.
This calendar showcases the best astrophotography in the world each year.
“We’re delighted to see the Wairarapa receive the international recognition it deserves for having clear, dark skies – and also recognition for talented local astrophotographers like Glen,” said Lee Mauger, Chairman, Martinborough Dark Sky Society.
This photo features the Milky Way and the anchor from the steel barque ‘Ben Avon,’ which marks its sinking on 11 November 1903 off the coast of Cape Palliser. … Continue Reading
“AS A CHILD I didn’t believe in Father Christmas, but I pretended to because I thought my parents did” – Peter Ustinov
COOK STRAIT inter island Ferries carry 1.2 million passengers and seven million tonnes of freight between the islands each year
LAST YEAR Russia supplied 52 countries globally with US$45 billion worth of arms, making it the world’s second-biggest arms supplier – behind the US.
NZers DISCARD 526 million plastic water bottles a year.
‘IT’S NOT the Irish Border, it’s the British Border in Ireland. The Irish Border is the beach’ Andrew Maxwell
CURRENTLY there are over 20,000 sheep being milked in NZ with the number growing quickly especially in the Waikato and Southland. The milk is processed to powder for export of into cheese while the Southland factory also produces sheep milk baby formula. … Continue Reading