Wharekaka news

The oak trees have begun to lose their leaves…. which signals a change in the seasons.  We have had an unseasonal autumn, which our residents have enjoyed.

We were sad to farewell Ian who passed away this month.  Ian had been an active member of Martinborough community all his life and was always so helpful on any of our outings.

 We would like to welcome two new residents to Wharekaka, Dorothy and Jean.

Thanks to the Red Cross for a wonderful afternoon tea which was held to celebrate Thelma Feist’s   work in the community over many years.  Thelma was presented with a Certificate of Service.  The residents enjoyed the occasion and delicious selection of savories and cakes on offer.

We had fun on the Trishaw bike on loan from Greytown Lions, who are looking at the purchase of one.  A Trishaw is a large pedal bike which can take up to two passengers.  The passengers sit in the front on a large bench seat and the person pedaling behind them.

Thank you to the team at Green Jerseys for their generous offer of tricycles for our residents to enjoy a circuit around town.   It’s always good to get the residents out as much as possible, even if this is just a push in the wheelchair.  … Continue Reading

Westpac Rescue Helicopter named New Zealand’s Most Trusted Charity – 2018

Westpac Rescue Helicopter is New Zealand’s Most Trusted Charity of 2018 according to the annual Reader’s Digest public poll.

Westpac Rescue Helicopters service the four main New Zealand centres: Wellington, Auckland, Waikato and Christchurch; and from these bases cover the majority of New Zealand. These services are operated by the Life Flight Trust, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Phillips Search and Rescue Trust and Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust/GCH Aviation.

Wellington-based Life Flight Trust Helicopter Pilot Harry Stevenson says, “There is a huge team effort required to ensure we can respond every time our emergency phones ring, and that includes the other excellent emergency services that we work alongside and the community and sponsors who help fund us. It is fantastic that this is being recognised.”

Life Flight Chief Executive Ian Pirie adds, “We are absolutely thrilled the community has named Westpac Rescue Helicopter as their most trusted charity, because their support is what keeps us flying. Life Flight has been saving lives for more than 40 years, and we are grateful to have had Westpac as a major sponsor of our rescue helicopter since 1981.”

Westpac Rescue Helicopters are available 24/7, when speed to hospital is critical or when the location is remote or challenging. Life Flight’s Westpac Chopper serves the lower North and upper South Island. … Continue Reading

Wrestling team for Championships

Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club would like to congratulate the following tamariki who have been selected for the tournament team that will be attending the New Zealand Club Championships, North Island Championships and New Zealand National Championships.

Mali and Dion Liumaihetau,  Seb Hopkins, Angus and Tommy Read, Carlo Isaac, Spencer Telford, Nate and Zoe George  Nathanial Scott, Te Marie, Lucas, Macy, Wairangi and Jackson Sargent.

The club has members from  around the South Wairarapa, if you would like to find out more about our club you are invited to come to one of our club training nights. These are held on Wednesday nights at the Gym : 52 Fitzherbert Street Featherston (Long driveway behind basket shop). 

Beginners – 5.30pm to 6.15pm Experienced – 6.15pm to 7.30pm

For further information contact :  Dannii Sargent 0279206751 or Kelly Sargent

War Memories from Holland

by Toni Pyl

Part 4

The War became grim now, we didn’t talk to the Germans anymore and teased the Dutch Nazi children who had joined the ‘Hitler Jugend’ (Hitler Youth). They wore beautiful uniforms and we were secretly jealous of them!

In a war anything can happen. One morning we found a yellow card in the letter box saying ‘This area has to be evacuated in 24 hours”. These Germans were always in a hurry but there must have been a lot of complaints because next we were given three days to look for another house. The City Council had given us a list of addresses so my mother, sister and I went house hunting in a village on the other side of Den Haag called Wassenaar.

To make room for us seaside dwellers, the old folks who lived alone were ordered to go and live with families that had spare rooms in the East of Holland.

We picked a nice house and asked the person who lived there if we could have a look inside. She was understandably very grumpy and declared she didn’t have time. However, she became friendlier when she learnt we had received a notice just like she had. Eventually we were shown around (she didn’t own the house) and as it was to our liking, we shifted a few days later.

Our grandparents came to live with us and they took the ground floor, which had two big rooms and the kitchen. We lived in the bedrooms upstairs and the bathroom was transformed into a kitchen. … Continue Reading