A Project Lyttelton initiative in association with The Akaroa Mail
To contact the Lyttelton News team - Telephone (03) 328 9260 or email [email protected]
Whakarauika o Whakaraupo
Check out our upgraded website! www.lyttelton.net.nz
Issue 40 - Friday February 22 2008
Music features
strongly at Sunday’s
street party
“It’s that time of year again”
says event organiser Wendy
Everingham about this Sunday’s Summer Street Party in
Lyttelton.
“It is about to explode on to
the streets.”
The successful festival gets
better each year, Wendy says
happily.
The main focus this year is
local musicians.
On the LPC Main Stage the
show begins with ‘stars of the
future’ at 10am. Local primary
school children open the festival with songs from their
Cultural Schools Festival.
This is followed by LPC
“Lyttelton Idol”.
The feature bands on the
main stage are Lava at 1pm 2pm and Carmel Courtney
5pm to 6pm.
There will also be many of
Lyttelton’s favourite acts who
have performed at earlier festivals.
“Watch out for first time
performances from The Eastern, Highly Strung and a band
Danny Wilson has put together
especially for the event” says
Wendy.
This year the festival boasts
a new music venue at Holy
Trinity Church in Winchester
Street.
“If you like a more relaxed
venue where you can spread
your picnic blanket on the
church lawns you’ll be treated
to a mix of acoustic music.
“Hear a three piece ensemble, The Sunshine Band, and
many of our favourites from
the Farmers Market.”
That music begins at12am.
Devonshire tea will be served.
To add to the already great
line up “The Soundgarden”
returns to the Rose Garden in
Lyttelton briefs
Festival of Lights Brain Storm
Time to start thinking about the Winter Festival of Lights
again! The brainstorm is hosted by the festival committee.
We’d love to know any new ideas you have for the festival.
Come along for a discussion Tuesday March 11th. 7.30 sharp
to 8.30pm.
Meet at the Project Port Lyttelton building behind the
swimming pool.
More information call Wendy 328 8359. Everyone welcome.
Film Evening
The next free film evening in PPL’s sustainability series is
“The End of Suburbia”. Showing Wednesday 27th February
at 7.30pm. Please RSVP to Sue-Ellen Sandilands by Tuesday February 26th. Ph 328 9243 or email
[email protected].
Sponsored by Project Port Lyttelton and the Christchurch
City Council. Venue to be chosen based on numbers. A
discussion will follow.
Community Garden
The Lyttelton Community Garden is one of the town’s
hidden treasures. Located behind the swimming pool the
garden is available for all Lyttelton residents.
Groups meet on Wednesday’s from 10am and Sunday
from 1pm. Give Sue-Ellen a call if you’d like to come along.
328 9243.
Signage
Lyttelton Harbour lacks a lot of basic signage. For example when you travel to Diamond Harbour by ferry how do
you get to the village centre?
How do you know there is no petrol on the harbour? Seems
that there is a significant amount of money allocated for this
in council budgets but it remains unspent. What extra signage
would you like for the harbour? Email ideas to
[email protected]
Oxford St.
Hear poetry from Catalyst
poets between 11 and 1pm and
then the afternoon returns to
the familiar sound of electro
pop beats until 6pm. Helen
Greenfield
and
John
McCallum have done a great
job putting this all together.
Mean while the Empire
Buskers stage will hum with a
great variety of acts from
11am. Get ready for the Rubber Band Boy, Brucie, Chris
Devious and many of your
regular favourites.
“You are really spoilt for
choice this year” Wendy said.
“When you’ve heard the
music and seen the Buskers
don’t forget the art exhibition
at the gallery in Oxford Styour chance to vote for your
favourite painting, a visit to
the Timeball Station, craft and
food stalls open all day in
London Street, great children’s activities at Lyttelton
Main School in including puppet shows, music, an animal
farm, face painting and rides.
“To cool off in between the
pool party starts at 1pm. To
add to the attractions the
cruise ship Statendam is in
port for the day.
“As you visit all the events
don’t forget your Lyttelton
Passport”, says Wendy.
Fliers become passports.
These are available at the
Lyttelton Visitor Centre, cafes or they can be downloaded
from the web site. Spot prizes
are at passport destinations.
Complete all activities on the
passport and be in the grand
prize draw.
To mark the event this year
organisers have had festival
tee shirts designed. Orders will
be taken on the day from the
festival information desk near
the library.
Visitors are encouraged to
catch the bus to the event.
Extra services will run on
routes 28 and 35. Parking is
limited, follow the signs.
Wendy reminds us that is a
community event. A small organising committee ensure
enough funds are raised to host
the yearly party. Show your
appreciation with a gold coin
donation.
“Come along have fun and
enjoy a great community inspired day in Lyttelton”.
The Festival proceeds rain,
hail or shine.
Visiting students from the US
Kia Ora Lyttelton!
Our names are Monica
Black and Anna Putnam, 20year-olds from the United
States.
Monica
is
from
Bloomington, Indiana, Anna
is from East Lansing, Michigan, and we both attend university at Earlham College in
Indiana, a Quaker institution.
Anna is a psychology major, education minor, and enjoys running, knitting, eating
chocolate, and salsa dancing.
Monica, an African and African American Studies major
and Women’s Studies minor,
loves singing, dancing, writing, and meeting new people.
This semester we are involved in a study abroad program through our university.
We will spend a total of four
months in this country from
January to May.
Our first month was spent
on the North Island in
Wanganui.
Christchurch will be our
home for the next three months
as we explore this beautiful
country.
The focus of the program is
environmental
science,
sustainability, and learning
about New Zealand history
and culture.
Part of this experience is
doing a service learning
project.
Service learning is volunteering in a community organization and bringing the things
we learn from that experience
into the classroom.
Project Lyttelton, where we
are doing our service, is a
fabulous opportunity to learn
about grassroots community
organizations.
Some of the projects we will
be involved in include working at the community garden,
helping with the worm farm,
conducting interviews around
town, contributing to the
Lyttelton newspaper, assisting
with the plastic bag free campaign, and any other projects
that need attention.
We are really excited to be
a part of this small yet vibrant
community and look forward
to forming lasting relationships.
Both of us are enthusiastic
about supporting, engaging,
and helping make a difference
in this community.
We are in Lyttelton on most
Tuesdays and Thursdays and
look forward to meeting you
all.
Feel free to bring us projects
and creative ideas, as we are
open, flexible, and always on
the look-out for new adventures.
Thank you for embracing
and welcoming us, and for
providing such a wonderful
opportunity to learn.
Love and light,
Anna and Monica
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.
2 - Lyttelton News - Friday February 22 2008
There has to be
another way
by Margaret Jefferies
F
or the last five years
or so Jules Lee has
combined bringing up
her two boys with related volunteer work – Plunket, toy library, children’s playground
and Project Lyttelton.
Then it became necessary
to get back into paid work.
Jules thought it would be
cool if she could have paid
work which allowed her still
to be at home for her children.
She was looking for part time
work in this community which
would link in with her volunteer work.
She was advised by some
that you can’t have everything
the way you want. Jules didn’t
believe this, she was looking
for a way that she could be
and do things the way she desired – and being a mother,
there for her boys was at the
top of that priority list. “There
has to be another way,” she
thought, “to do things, doing
what you want.” So she started
to ask around.
About four years ago I, the
writer, introduced Jules to
Time Banking.
At that stage Jules saw Time
Banking as a sort of child
minding club and a way to get
gardening done.
She did enrol though and
for a time delivered the Akaroa
Mail when it included the
Lyttelton News. She gained
about 30 hour credits. Then
she did nothing. I had also
encouraged her to read the
book No More Throw Away
People – but she didn’t take
that up – “not for me,” she
thought.
Back to the present… Jules
looking for paid community
type work within this community that would allow her still
to be there for her boys.
The Lyttelton Time Bank
was growing and needed a
people’s co-ordinator. No
More Throw Away People was
required reading to get the
position.
So Jules started to read the
book.
Now she realised as she
started to read that a Time
Bank was not Green Dollars,
it was not just a child minding
club, it was “so much more. It
has so much potential for the
community. It’s so obvious
and so simple really!”
She hasn’t finished reading
the book yet, but is finding it
inspirational. It’s the first book
in years that Jules finds herself re-reading passages,
studying, marking with a pencil.
It has got her excited, fired
up, passionate.
She believes that though
written and developed within
the US, it is so easily applied
and relevant to a New Zealand situation.
Jules talks about an example in the book involving seniors in nursing homes. The
usual scenario – insufficient
funding to provide full and
proper services – and Time
Banks were set up within nursing homes – residents began
to help one another providing
a rich and meaningful life for
all in those communities.
Jules likes the concept of
co-production introduced in
the book.
One pivotal sentence for
Jules is “We have what we
need if we use what we have”.
Here was what she was searching for – a different way of
doing things that allowed her
to do and be what she wanted
in her life.
So Jules Lee took on the 10
hours per week paid role under Project Lyttelton (funded
by the Tindall Foundation) to
be the people’s co-ordinator
for the Time Bank.
This role includes getting
the message across to people
– “there are a lot of sceptics
out there” – and she admits
she was one. But now she has
a glimpse of what a Time Bank
can mean to a community.
Amongst other things it
records all the work done that
builds a strong community.
And have you noticed that
when things are counted they
begin to take on recognised
value!
The beginning of redefining and actually acknowledging what constitutes work.
Jules’ role also is to encourage and facilitate trading between members – both individuals and groups.
A local example of how a
Time Bank works that Jules
has facilitated…
Megan Jamieson and her
young family were moving
into Lyttelton. A stressful
time. Through the Time Bank
she got legal advice, her home
furnished, some pieces enlivened up with a coat of paint,
and the shift arranged.
Megan has started to do her
side with cooking - but there
is no hurry – time for that when
she and her family are settled.
Megan is amazed at how
friendly this community is.
Tiri Pharazyn who had the
people’s co-ordinator role before Jules still retains the coordinating of working bees as
part of what she has to offer.
Tiri has moved from part
time work with the Time Bank
to her full time business working out of Himalaya in London Street giving ‘to die for’
massages.
Vilma Loader was on the
receiving end of one of Tiri’s
Time Bank working bees.
Jules Lee.
A team came in and tidied
up Vilma’s property working
in with Henry Couch who did
the heavy stuff.
Throw away book
discussion group
N
o More Throw Away
People written by the
founder of Time
Banking, Edgar S Cahn,
sparks the imagination in readers.
It gets the reader thinking
about possibilities for this
community.
No More Throw Away People is an easy enough book to
read, but it takes time as the
reader constantly pauses to
think how a particular point
could look in a Lyttelton situation.
So a reading group for this
book is planned.
This will meet for six
months from March to August
meeting monthly over a shared
meal.
About three chapters will be
covered at each meeting.
The book can be purchased
through Project Lyttelton. It
costs $25.
Six books are available, but
if more are needed these could
be ordered.
Since the reading of this
book is important work for this
community, the Lyttelton
Time Bank will give each
member of this reading group
two hour credits each month
for reading, plus another
hour’s credit for attending the
gatherings for discussion.
To register and to purchase
a copy of the book contact
Margaret Jefferies 328 9260.
All the workers enjoyed
being together and tasting
Vilma’s fresh baked muffins
at the end.
Jules is right. There has to
be another way of doing
things. And she has discovered it. It’s Time Banking!
Letter to the editor
Welfare officer wanted
Hi! Please be advised that
we are seriously looking for a
person to Manage our
Lyttelton Welfare Centre.
We’ve talked before about
Civil Defence in the Lyttelton
Basin - but I have to say it’s
never been more important for
Lyttleton to have a good community based CDEM Welfare
organisation.
Bird Flu, Tsunami, Earthquake, Water contamination
Etc. are but a few possible scenarios to affect the Lyttelton
basin.
The Lyttelton people are a
bit oblivious to their plight
and whilst the Council does
an excellent job with its Util-
ity management - caring for
people will somehow always
rest with the Community.
Running a Welfare Centre
is a bit like running a household - we get up in the morning and put on clothes and eat
breakfast.- ( accommodationcatering and clothing )
Its really as easy as that - on
a sliding scale.
Surely we havent lost our
community spirit that we cant
find someone to take it on.!
Come on Lyttelton - wake
up!! ( and smell the coffee)
regards
Ian Kington
CDEM advisor
( Banks Paninsula.
the south side, but may also
be of interest to Lyttelton people who look across to the bays
and cliffs.
crossing the harbour to go to
Lyttelton shops and restaurants.
Step One is to find out what
locals have in mind by talking
with reps from key interest
groups. The Community
Board will certainly be there.
We must be optimistic that the
Port Company, Environment
Canterbury and City Council
can work constructively with
the community to find a solution which meets most peoples’ needs. Fingers crossed!
Paula Smith
Lyttelton/ Mt Herbert
Community Board Chair
Flat to the Board - with Paula Smith
Things have cranked up to
top gear for Lyttelton/Mount
Herbert Community Board
with meetings here and meetings there. As well as traipsing into the big city to learn
about city-wide matters such
as dog bylaws and libraries,
board members attend the
meetings of many local organisations.
This provides links between
our many diverse communities and the Community
Board, through which information and opinions can be
exchanged.
For example Anne Jolliffe
and Doug Couch have recently
attended the three-yearly election meetings of reserve management committees in
Lyttelton and Allandale
(which now officially come
under the umbrella of the
Community Board itself).
Dawn Kottier goes regularly
to the meetings of Project
Lyttelton, Jeremy Agar attends
the Lyttelton Community Association, and Claudia Reid
and I recently attended a meeting of more than 50 Charteris
and Church Bay residents
shocked by the scale of
changes taking place at Black
Point. Here are just a couple
of other issues on our books at
the moment:
Stoddart Point
Community consultation
has begun on a new improved
management plan for Stoddart
Point and the other coastal reserves on the south side of
Lyttelton Harbour. The area
covered runs along the coast
from Ripapa Island to Hays
Bay and includes Purau foreshore, Diamond Harbour
Beach, Morgan’s Gully, Sam’s
Gully, Church Bay Beach,
coastal reserve on Black Point
as well as all the community
facilities and playing fields on
Stoddart Point.
Reserve planners are gathering local knowledge, ideas,
and opinions to feed into the
draft management plan as it is
written. If you would like to
discuss the issues they will be
available in Diamond Harbour
on 23 February and 16 March
to listen and explain things.
Now is the time for anyone
interested to influence how the
reserves will be developed and
managed in the future. No
doubt this opportunity will be
of interest to many living on
Ferry Link
Our other hot topic also
links Lyttelton with the south
side bays. Now the concrete
steps up to the overbridge from
B jetty have been demolished
a team of technical guys (engineers and planners) are gearing up to produce a range of
options for improving the set
up for ferry users; not only
commuters but also the increasing number of people
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.
Lyttelton News - Friday February 22 2008 - 3
Irish people do it,
Chinese do it,
Even educated Aussies do it,
Let’s do it,
Let’s make Lyttelton
plastic bag free…
W
ell, Cole Porter
may not quite
have had this in
mind, but it does seem that
environmentalism is becoming awfully fashionable these
days.
Not without good reason.
Just like falling in love, looking after the Earth is one of
the most incontrovertible ways
of ensuring our long-term survival as a species.
While plastic bag usage and
pollution may not be the most
ominous environmental problem that we face, it is symbolic of a throw-away society.
Tackling it is one of the first
steps towards responsible resource usage and waste minimisation.
With oil prices topping
US$100 a barrel the last thing
we should be doing is squandering resources.
Now seems to be the time
to act and many have already
taken to the stage.
The Irish have reduced plastic bag usage by 94%; China
and Australia are introducing
measures to minimize use; in
total 21 countries have either
banned the bag or introduced
some kind of levy.
In NZ voluntary reduction
measures are still the order of
the day, but their effectiveness
is questionable.
New Zealanders still use 1
billion plastic bags per year
and 35% of them end up in
landfills.
The call for some kind of
levy or government regulation
does seem to be growing.
Locals in Lyttelton are
launching a project to achieve
results sooner rather than later.
“Let’s make Lyttelton plastic bag free” is a joint initiative by Project Lyttelton and
local Green Party members.
The group hopes to replace
plastic bags with ones made
locally and from sustainable
materials.
They have already produced
some very fine cloth bags (as
pictured) which are available
through the Time Bank.
The group is currently polling Lyttelton residents on their
views on the plastic bag issue
and respondents can enter the
draw to win one of those cloth
bags.
The questionnaire can be
completed online at http://
www.lyttelton.net.nz/documents/noplasticbags.pdf or at
the Lyttelton Summer Street
Party, 24th February.
With enough local support
Lyttelton can be plastic bag
free.
So come on, let’s do it.
No more hang-ups
like this!
New Lyttelton
Harbour Arts
Trail organised
‘Life’s Traces’ - A photographic Exhibition by
Mary Jo Bedford
Lyttelton Art Gallery,
20 Oxford St, Lyttelton
Phone 3287668
A
ward-winning photographer Mary Jo
Bedford (Professional Photographers of British Colombia 2000 Annual
Print Salon- Finalist; Photographer of the Year) is exhibiting her latest works in a show
that purposely alludes to less
detail in photography.
Mary Jo states that in these
works, sharply defined and
heavily detailed images restrict expression of the atmos-
phere of the moment.
To force details on a viewer
hinders the communication of
more ethereal information.
Her intention is to initiate a
period of adjustment in the
viewer so that the may begin
to see the image in another
way.
A human figure devoid of
distinct detail can convey
more emotional attitude, circumstantial feeling, intent and
history, just as an image of
nature can allow the actual
forces of the elements and
time, to stand as a stronger
characteristic than what you
can simply see.
Once the details fade away,
the unseen becomes visible.
This is her first-ever exhibition in New Zealand.
Mary Jo is a well published
and multi award winning Photographer from British Colombia, she is now a New Zealand
resident.
She has a B.S. in Design
and has also received qualifications in Photography and
has a Diploma in Journalism
and Photojournalism.
Mary Jo’s clients include
Cason pictures, Professional
Photographers of Canada,
Yes! Magazine and Baja Life
-magazine.
Her recent projects include
100 views of Otamahua (Quail
Island) and Queen Mary Hospital series.
She specifically likes to use
Lensbaby (selective Focus
SLR lenses) with out digital
manipulation.
Life’s Traces runs from the
5 March 2008 - 23 March
2008.
The opening for the show
will be on 5 th March at 5.30pm
where the artist will be available to meet the public. All
are welcome.
A
day spent nosing
around your local
community need no
longer be confined to visiting open homes.
At the end of last year the
first Lyttelton Harbour Arts
Trail was launched by the
Lyttelton Harbour Arts Council.
The guide, which can be
picked up from either the
Lyttelton Art Gallery or from
Anchor Fine Arts, gives you
access to the studios or exhibition spaces of twenty-two
artists all working from the
Harbour Basin area.
The guide is also being distributed throughout Canterbury at Information Centres,
Art Societies, Art Galleries
and accommodation providers.
Most of us are aware that
we have a number of artists
of international standing in
our area, and there are many
others whose work is diverse,
creative and with a high degree of integrity.
Even twenty-two is a mere
representation of working artists in the area, and the next
brochure will probably include more still.
So why not pick up a brochure, plan your trip, pack a
lunch and spend some time
viewing everything from
painting to puppetry, from ceramics to woolcraft.
Some destinations will
even allow you to try your
hand, if you want.
The Arts Trail has been
supported by Banks Peninsula Tourism, Lyttelton
Plumbers, Lyttelton Harbour
Arts Council and the
Lyttelton Harbour Business
Association.
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.
4 - Lyttelton News - Friday February 22 2008
Back to school
- first impressions
Lyttelton children write
I’m back at school but a new
school and I’m settling in OK.
It was fun. We did fun stuff
like art and other stuff.
We had to see what class I
was in.
My teacher was Mr.
Craighead and I was in Room
5. Lucy and Tara showed me
around the school.
On the second day of school
we did a spelling test and we
went to the library and did
times tables. This week we are
doing maths and other cool
stuff.
By Tia McFall – Yr 6
It’s the last few days of the
holidays and I wasn’t to sure
about school and starting in a
new class.
A day before school started
I fell though our glass coffee
table at home and had to have
10 stitches in my ankle.
I was able to walk the next
day, just as well because I had
to walk to school.
In the first 10 minutes I new
that our teacher, Mr.
Craighead, was a very nice
person.
We do lots of sport and art.
I like sport and art but mostly
I had to sit out of the sport
because of my ankle.
Art is fun with Mr
Craighead! We made face silhouettes and we had to guess
the other people.
Mr Craighead has made
birthday balloons and I’m in
September, on the 3 rd. Mr
Craighead is very good at
making maths fun!
We are studying mini beasts.
In our class we have 2 swan
plants and one chrysalis and
two caterpillars (one of them
is very fat). We all have lots
of fun in Mr. Craighead’s
class. I sit at a table with Tia,
albi, Hamish and Drew C.
By Lucy Rossie – Yr 5
The summer holidays were
great going to Akaroa from
Christmas having cousins over
with them for QE2.
But now the school holidays
are coming to an end. It’s week
one. I desperately want to stay
at home but only a few more
hours ‘til school.
I was terribly nervous!
When I got to school I said to
Lyn, “Do you know what class
I am in”. So she told me I was
in Room 5.
I thought Mr Craighead
would be nice and he was! So
I felt much better, I decided to
sit next to Lucy and Tara. We
went to the hall and we found
out the classes even thought I
knew mine.
The first week we did English, maths, swimming,
DEAR (Drop everything and
read),art and Craighead Kick
Ball.
On the second week we did
art, topic (bugs), maths, Eng-
lish and other subjects.
I think we will have a great
year!
By Candice Milner – Yr 5
My name is Hayley and I
am 9 years old. I love the holidays because my mum, dad
and I went to Hanmer Springs
for a week.
It was really fun. But I
couldn’t wait to go back to
school.
At school in Room 5 we
have been studying mini
beasts – meaning insects and
we have a caterpillar in the
class.
Swimming is fun and soon
is the swimming sports day.
It’s going to be so cool!
On week two back at school
Tom did Current Events and
we did maths.
Then writing and them we
went out to break. When the
bell rang we went swimming.
Then it was lunch time and
after lunch we did DEAR/D
meaning read of draw. Then
we did art. That was fun. After that we went home.
By Hayley Guthrie – Yr 5
The summer holidays have
been so much fun. I’m going
to miss everything like Lake
Tekapo, not having to wake
up at 8am and staying at the
pool for more than 5 or 6
hours.
Although I am looking forward to starting a new school
and making new fiends.
A few days later it was the
first day of school. I was so
nervous. Once I put my bag
on the hook and went into
class.
After we all sat down it was
fine.
The first thing we did was
we went into the hall. Then
we went to the library.
As the week went on we did
all kinds of things, maths,
timetables, division, spelling
tests, sports, swimming, birthday balloons, prizes and the
topic we are all doing is mini
beasts.
This week for swimming we
had instructors to help us swim
better. Also we have been
learning heaps more about
mini beasts.
The thing I want to learn
about mini beasts is – what is
the biggest bee sting and I
want to learn all about spiders. We’ve even got to make
our own mini beast.
I’m looking forward t my
first year at Lyttelton Main.
By Aiden Hughs - Yr 5
The holidays were great I
went to Nelson it took six
hours but at least we had a
holiday.
It was great we saw Mr.
Craighead’s sister Sally at the
Nelson markets. We went out
for tea.
It was the second to last
night we were there so we
went to a bar. I had nachos so
did my sister.
My sister saw her friend
there. Next day we went to
the beach and we got soaked
then we went to the park we
had a takeaway we had
McDonalds because Alesha
didn’t want KFC.
The next Day we prepared
to go home it was a long trip
home so I had to watch a boring movie on my PSP.
It took six hours but were
back.(This is Eden’s part)
Edens cousins and Trent went
over to play cricket the ball
went over the fence a few
times but it was still fun.
They went back in side and
had spaghetti Bolinas. They
were goanna have nachos
though but it didn’t work out.
The cat ate Christen’s dinner he got upset and threw a
tantrum. Trent left.
That night Eden turned up
the music really loud because
he couldn’t sleep.
Well it’s our first day back
at school and we got to choose
our own seats to sit in.
Damian chose one next to
Albi Anderson and Drew
Corbin while Eden chose to
sit next to Tom Collins and
Henry Barker.
We didn’t do any work. All
we did was swim and play.
I played with Johnnie and
Jack. Johnnie had a portable
wrestling ring.
It has all the characters steal
chairs barricades hard core
bins and ladders they can even
stand on the barricade and
jump off.
My favourites move is the
Swanton bomb a half flip with
your arms out straight.
Ok back to school so... Our
subject for the term is mini
beasts. I like bugs and insects
they’re cool.
(Did you know spiders shed
there skins to blend in with
their environment.)
It’s our second week at
school and were starting to get
used to it we’ve started our
work and were starting homework tomorrow.
Eden and I feel like an iceberg. I’ve just got back from
the cold cold pool we go
swimming every Monday
Wednesday and Thursday.
(Ouch our hands hurt writing
this).
Plus it’s been a weird week.
I’ve not really remembered
everything but at least I’m prepared my hands still hurt writing this but I like writing. Its
fun.
Eden and I think this year’s
goanna be the best year yet
because all of our friends are
here like for example some of
Damian’s best friends are here
like Johnnie, Tom, Jack and
Eden.
This year’s goanna be great.
Kindy
Kids!
Nikolai.
by Monica
and Anna
After visiting the Kidsfirst
Kindergarten in Lyttelton, we
met some interesting and
unique children.
These are their stories...
Hallie
Hallie, is a four-year-old
kindy kid. She has two sisters, who are 14 and 10 years
of age, and a seven-year-old
brother. Other members of
her family include her cat,
Spotty, and her dog, Jennifer.
Hallie, her father, and older
brother enjoy playing Dragon
Ball Z on the X Box, and other
fun fames on the family’s
Playstation. Her family also
enjoys games of cricket and
rugby.
Some of Hallie’s favourites
include the colours red and
pink, the movies Harry Potter
and Jungle Jack, and playing
with dolls.
She enjoys eating bananas,
carrots, chocolate, kiwi fruit,
apples, and her favourite meal
is fish n’ chips. Hallie says
that she likes “going out for
dinner because I get a strawberry drink.”
Her favourite thing about
school is playing hide and
seek, but she doesn’t like fighting with others. Playing outside isn’t her favourite because
all the toys are indoors.
She likes to read the book
High Five, and enjoys counting as well. Her favourite
project to work on at school is
building robots and using
boxes as telescopes, as seen
in her picture. Hallie thinks
she may want to be a doctor
when she gets older, so that
she can drive a “doctor’s car.”
Hallie.
Nikolai
Nikolai has a one-year-old
sister named Holly, whom he
loves, even though she cries
at night when their mom is
putting her to sleep. Sometimes, Holly will fall asleep in
Nikolai’s bed, but he doesn’t
mind. At home, like at school,
he enjoys colouring and drawing with his pens and paper,
and is very creative.
As a left-hander, Nikolai
was very aware that he had to
use the green scissors for cutting, and not the orange ones
for right-handed people.
While at school, he was in
the process of making a crown
for his mother, and colouring
it with both their favourite colours.
Nikolai said that this crown
was going to be a surprise for
his mom when she came to
get him after kindy. He also
made a crown for himself and
his finger, seen in the picture.
Although colouring and
drawing are some of his favourite things to do, Nikolai
also loves to play in the
school’s sand box and dig for
buried treasure.
Once, he and his friend
found a dinosaur underneath
the sand!
He also enjoys the movie
Cars, particularly the character Lightning McQueen.
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.
Lyttelton News - Friday February 22 2008 - 5
Lyttelton West School
Top Town Survival Day
For 2008 our school theme
is survival. On Wednesday 13th
February we had a survival
day which involved house cooperation to complete a
number of exciting activities.
For all the activities to be
completed, everyone had to
work together which was a
good chance to get to know
everyone.
To complete the “waka”
challenge you needed to have
six house members on two
wooden planks which rolled
along on plastic pipes.
The pipes would roll out the
back and your house members
would have to carry them to
the front in order to keep it
moving.
For the Bridge Build your
house had four polystyrene
cubes and four wooden planks.
You had to build your
Bridge long enough to reach
the other side of the court.
To do this all your house
members had to stand on the
bridge at the same time.
For the skis you had six
members on the wooden skis
with their feet in the straps.
You all had to move at the
same time in order to get to
the other side.
For the water carry you had
to carry a small bucket of wa-
ter on a stick with a platform
on top to the larger bucket of
water.
The first house with a full
bucket won.
At the end of the day Mr
Barker brought in a water slide
for the kids and some adults
(Mr Orczy and Mr Barker).
The whole day was a success and everyone had loads
of fun. It was great to get to
know the new students better
and to develop our cooperation skills.
By Courtney Te Moana
Bamford
and Daniel Herman
Contact
Improvisational Classes
Saturday morning
10.30 – 12 noon
Lyttelton Rec Centre. $15 per class
Phone Lisa Ellen Mills 388 8404.
Wasteline Refuse
Local gym club
needs help
Recycling Services
Wheelie Bin Service
NOW AVAILABLE
by Hamish Rossie
Lyttelton Gym Club is an
organisation that provides after school fun and helps kids
enjoy staying fit while learning loads of awesome skills.
I have fond memories of
days full of tumble, jump, balance, acrobatics and roll with
the wonderful tutor, Di Stead.
I was bitterly disappointed
when I turned 10 and was too
old to keep going. I made loads
of friends and had a wonderful time.
But now, with costs increasing and falling membership,
this community non-profit
making club is facing closure.
I feel so sorry for the remaining 20 kids that enjoy
going to gym, but may not be
able to come back. Everyone
really wants the club to saved
and refuse to give up hope.
The club has sponsorship to
cover the increased hall
charges for term 1, it is now
looking for new members and
other sponsors to keep costs
down, so if you are interested
in joining or sponsoring for
2008 please contact the club
secretary, Anne Carne on 328
8396 as soon as possible.
In your area
Every Saturday
10am – 1pm
Lyttelton Main
School, Oxford Street
www.lyttelton.net.nz
Supported by the
Lyttelton Harbour Business
Association
INTRODUCTORY OFFER
Limited Time Only
WHEELIE BIN 240 litre
Greenwaste $9.00+gst
WHEELIE BIN 240 litre
Refuse Only $14+gst
Phone 328 8400 or 027 238 1400
COLLECTION COVERS
Purau through to Lyttelton, Little River,
Motukarara & Heathcote
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.
6 - Lyttelton News - Friday February 22 2008
The story
behind
Lyttelton’s
street names
Research by Liza Rossie,
for Lyttelton Information Centre.
Lyttelton in 1911.
Jackson’s Road
business with stable was on
Norwich Quay.
His daughters Miss Louisa
Kenner and Mrs Ellen
Bromley lived alongside
Kenner’s Lane at 3 Coleridge
Terrace until they died in 1941
and 1945.
Louisa
Kenner
was
Lyttelton’s librarian for over
30 years from1896-1930;
Ellen was the local piano
teacher.
The family grave is well
marked by a headstone in the
Wesleyan part of the cemetery
on Reserve Terrace.
Is named after Rev Thomas
Jackson, original Bishop-designate for the proposed diocese of Lyttelton, and who did
not stay long in Lyttelton as
he had not realised how much
still needed doing to set up the
church.
He returned to England to
‘raise funds’ but he did not
return.
This road was taken over
by the Council in 1897.
There was originally Upper
Jacksons Rd, Lower Jacksons
Rd and Jacksons Terrace (the
latter becoming a part of Norton Close
Hawkhurst Rd after the conWas named after J.T. Norton
struction of the 1964 road tun- who owned the bakery on Oxnel).
ford Street below the Excelsior
Hall (Norton’s inscription is
Joyce Street
still on the building).
Originally called Monkey
J.T. Norton invented
Town.
Norton’s famous egg preThen named after John server.
Joyce, who started a deep sea
fishing company in Lyttelton, Pages Road
became Lyttelton Councillor,
Another private road that
Lyttelton representative on the was taken over as a public
Board of Education, Chairman street by the Borough Council
of the first school Committee in 1897, named after its West
of Lyttelton West school 1887, Lyttelton resident family.
Superintendent of the
Best known were the Page
Lyttelton Sunday School and brothers: ‘Curly’ Laurie Page
M.P. 1887-99.
1903 – 1987, All Black and
New Zealand cricketer and
Keebles Lane
Professor Fred. Page - comThe old house (47 Dublin poser and musician.
Street), which the lane runs
alongside, was the home of Randolph Terrace
Captain Keeble.
Originally Upper Reserve
Terrace,
renamed in 1912 afKenners Lane
ter one of the First Four Ships.
Was originally known as
Goat Alley, a pedestrian right Reserve Terrace
of way that connects Coleridge
Named after the land set
Tce and Jacksons Rd.
aside in this area as the Town
Originally it was a pathway Reserve by the Canterbury
across land belonging to and Association’s planners.
between No. 3 and 2 Coleridge
Tce, then in 1897 Lyttelton Ross Terrace
Borough Council took over reOriginally Selwyn Terrace,
sponsibility for it as a public renamed after Mr Ross the
right of way.
schoolteacher who taught at
This is when it became Lyttelton Borough High
Kenners Lane, after early School (Lyttelton Main) 1876
Lyttelton councillor (1871- - 1898.
1876) John Kenner who lived
at 3, Coleridge Terrace along- Seaview Terrace
side Goat Alley.
This is off Cressy Terrace
John Kenner (1819-1892) (with pedestrian access only).
was a carter and coal merchant
Malcolm Miller built this
who owned several properties terrace of houses when he purin this area he let the house chased old church land that
and stables to the Police as a had been intended for a cemPolice house in the 1860’s.
etery but was instead sold to
His coal yard and carting
raise funds for the building of
St Saviour’s vicarage in 1896.
Mr Miller had ships that
transported wood from Australia that was used as dunnage. When he had surplus
timber he built houses with it,
this row of houses, now numbered 2-7 Seaview Terrace,
were built by him and also at
40-44 Brittan Terrace above
‘Sandy Bay’ were the ‘Miller’s houses’ which his employees lived in, overlooking
his boat yard.
Selwyn Road
Parade and Lane.
Named after Bishop
Augustus Selwyn who arrived
in Lyttelton in 1851 on his new
mission schooner (90 tons)
Border Maid.
Shackleton Terrace
Baden Norris, the curator of
Lyttelton Museum, proposed
to the council that this be
named after Sir Ernest
Shackleton, Antarctic explorer
and commander of the Nimrod expedition 1907 – 8 (junior officer to R F Scott in Discovery 1901 – 4).
Shackelton used Lyttelton
stevedoring firm J. J. Kinsey
as his official agent 1907 –
1909.
Simeon Quay
Named after Charles
Simeon, who arrived in 1851
and succeeded J.R. Godley as
resident Magistrate for
Lyttelton and Christchurch.
In 1853 he was Commissioner of Police for Lyttelton
and Sheriff of the Province;
later he became Speaker for
the Provincial Council.
Simeon Quay is a very old
area of Lyttelton; originally
called Dampiers Bay Road
(named after lawyer and Provincial Council member C.E.
Dampier who occupied neighbouring sections 239-245 in
1850 when he arrived with the
documents of the Canterbury
Association.)
Simeon Quay was East of
Dampiers Bay which was an
old Maori bathing place before the bay was filled in with
reclamation material (1870s).
West of the beach was
‘Monkeytown’ (see Joyce
Street) consisting of many tiny
cottages. At the Western end
of Simeon Quay were many
orchards.
Somes Road
Named after the director of
the Canterbury association.
Maria Somes originally
owned rural section 1, north
of Lyttelton town.
Stevenson’s Steep
Is an original steep pathway
linking St David Street to Reserve Terrace that ran past the
Stevenson’s cottage.
It became a Council road in
the 20th century - locals always knew it as Stevenson’s
Hill, but a technicality stated
that a right of way couldn’t be
named as a hill.
The Stevensons were well
known to Lytteltonians - Mr
Stevenson (a caretaker of
Lyttelton Main School) and
Mrs Stevenson who provided
a loving home for many foster
children and did much good
work for the school.
Sumner Road
This was intended to be the
original route, via Sumner, for
the early settlers to
Christchurch, but the expense
and time involved in its construction meant that the Bridle Path was completed first
and Sumner Rd was not completed until 1857.
A satirical rhyme by
Crosbie Ward was written
about its construction: “The
Sumner Rd, the Sumner Rd!
Which burly Thomas first began. Where Dobson all his
skill bestowed, Fitzgerald
drove and Ronnage ran; eternal talking still goes on, but
nothing, save the work is
done.”
Sutton Quay
Named after Mr Frederick
E. Sutton, as an office boy
from 1901 – 13, Fred carried
messages to the British Polar
ships Discovery - Terra Nova.
He became Chairman of the
Lyttelton Harbour Board and
was Lyttelton’s Mayor 1925 –
29, 1931-33 and 1935-44.
Ticehurst Rd
Was a private street, taken
over by the Borough Council
in 1897.
Named from connections of
the early landowner Rev.
Benjamin Woolley Dudley,
who was curate of the Parish
of Ticehurst in Sussex, England.
Upham Terrace
Was named in 1937 in honour of Dr C. H. Upham,
Lyttelton’s much loved doctor who lived on the corner of
Winchester and Canterbury
streets, where he had his practice.
His dog Georgie followed
him everywhere as he walked
Lyttelton streets to visit his
patients.
He was a skilled water
colourist, his many portraits
of Lyttelton citizens are to be
found in Lyttelton museum.
Dr Upham died in 1950 and
his memorial the Upham
Clock was erected in the Rose
gardens above Oxford Street
looking down Winchester
Street to his house, which still
stands here.
Borough Extension Act of
1911 and poll of 1913.)
This initially had 76 quarter-acre allotments, eight of
these for a reservoir, recreation ground and a quarry.
It is unclear if the road is
named after Mr L.C. Walker
or the Walker family who were
residents with long association to Lyttelton. Dorothy
Walker taught at adjoining
Lyttelton West School 1910 –
1912.
Walker’s Lane
Was also known as Nappy
Alley due to the many young
families that lived along here
when the houses were built
with government assisted
loans post WW2.
Watsons Lane
On 14th November 1881, Mr
Alexander Watson, shipwright, who lived at 29
Sumner Rd sold an 18 foot
long strip of land to the Borough Council for £100 so steps
could be built to connect
Voelas Road
Sumner Rd with Reserve TerNamed after Charlotte race as a pedestrian right of
Godley’s Welsh home. She way.
was J.R. Godley’s wife.
Voelas Rd was an early pri- Webb Lane
vate road that commenced at
Named after the Webb famGodley Quay, it originally was ily. Originally 3 brothers who
a winding path and all the arrived in Lyttelton in 1859
early houses front doors faced and set up successful family
south onto the original zigzag businesses, market gardens
path.
then grocers and greengrocers
The Borough Council took in Lyttelton.
it over in 1897; the convict
They had a large old house
labour gang, who levelled and land at 2 Webb Lane, part
Lyttelton West Playgrounds of these grounds became 33
and built its terrace walls, also Voelas Rd.
built the wider public road.
The Webb brothers served
Once the new road was four terms as Mayors of
built, the new houses that were Lyttelton.
built faced onto it, so those
They were also Sunday
with even numbers face west school superintendents for the
and odd numbers face east.
Wesleyan Church on WinchesThis gives a good indica- ter Street for over 60 years.
tion of which were the earliest
In 1902 William Webb,
homes built here.
John’s son, was the first New
Zealander to win the World
Walkers Road
Sculling Championships at
In 1920 this new street was Sydney.
Samuel’s son, Eric Webb
taken over by the Council.
In 1913 Mr L.C Walker be- M.C., D.S.O was a pupil
came the Lyttelton Borough teacher at Lyttelton District
Council town planner respon- High School (Main School)
sible for the organisation of and went on to become an Antexplorer
and
the town - planning scheme arctic
for a 349-acre estate: a suburb magnetician then going on to
at Diamond Harbour (made become the world-renowned
possible after the Lyttelton engineer.
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.
Lyttelton News - Friday February 22 2008 - 7
Old Man’s Beard threatens
to smother Lyttelton
T
hat creeper showing
up
all
around
Lyttelton with the
clusters of yellow/white flowers is the tree killer Old Mans
Beard (Clematis vitalba).
Old Mans Beard is a pest
according to Environment
Canterbury’s Regional Pest
Management Strategy and
ALL landowners are required
to control it on their land and
adjoining roadsides.
The rules require all areas
that are less than 100 square
metres to be cleared and it
must also be kept 20 metres
from property boundaries if
the neighbouring property is
clear or undertakes control.
Rob McCaw, Biosecurity
Team Leader, from Environment Canterbury says that it
is very disheartening to see so
much Old Mans Beard around
Lyttelton this year.
About four years ago Environment Canterbury made a
concerted effort on this pest
in Lyttelton and a number of
legal notices were issued to
people who chose not to undertake control.
Afterwards a number of
people commented on how
much better Lyttelton was
looking, however people have
not stayed on top of the problem and it appears that it is
now back to the bad old days!
He said that it was frustrating that educating people did
not seem to be the answer and
that some only responded
when the council took legal
action. Consequently Environment Canterbury staff will be
issuing formal requests to residents to clear Old Mans Beard
over the next few weeks.
Some might ask why worry
about it.
However it is a real threat
to surrounding native bush
especially to restoration
projects like Reserve 68 that
the local community has put a
lot of effort into.
It is also frustrating when it
comes over from a neighbour’s property and affects
your trees and shrubs.
Often people say that they
cannot kill it but in fact if it is
done properly and followed
up it is easy to kill.
If plants have climbed up
trees, shrubs etc then trace
ALL the vines back to ground
and cut as close to the ground
as possible and immediately
paint herbicide on to the cut
stump.
If vines have suckered then
they must be dug up or cut
and stump treated on each side
of where the vine has formed
roots.
If the Old Mans Beard is
scrambling over the ground it
can be sprayed by thoroughly
wetting all of the leaves and
vines with a 1% mix of
Glyphosate herbicide.
Control only becomes difficult when Old Mans Beard has
scrambled over the ground and
over plants that you want to
keep.
In that case you will need to
dig out all the Old Mans Beard
and make sure that you have
no vines left touching the
ground or they will sucker
again.
Note you MUST use herbicide on cut stumps or else they
will re grow. If you do not
want to use herbicide you will
have to dig out the stumps,
which can be a rather difficult
job on large plants.
There are a few contractors
who specialise in Old Mans
Beard control and it is recommended that you use one of
them rather than a general gardening contractor. Contact
Rob McCaw at Environment
Canterbury
372
7262
[email protected] for
their details.
Obituary
Dorothy Saunders
1940 – 2007
Dorothy Saunders, a valued
member of the Lyttelton community since the 1980s died
suddenly in December.
Dorothy was born in Millom
in the Lake District in England near the beginning of
WWII. Her family emigrated
to New Zealand in the ‘50s
for a better life. Dorothy attended Linwood High School
and started her law degree at
the University of Canterbury.
While studying she worked in
the Lands and Deeds Office
where she met Lin Saunders
who was to become her husband for 38 years until his
death.
After starting a family
Dorothy completed her law
degree.
30 years ago she joined the
legal firm Young Hunter, later
becoming the senior partner.
Dorothy was a member, and
for a time Deputy Chair, of
the District Disciplinary Tribunal for Canterbury from
1996 to her death.
People in this community
remember Dorothy’s generosity in helping many groups
with legal matters, volunteering at the museum and enjoying the various ‘watering
holes’ in Lyttelton.
Dorothy was a petite
woman, always immaculately
and fashionably dressed, a
woman with grace and elegance. She spoke quietly.
She was much respected and
loved. Dorothy was astute,
perceptive and principled. She
was unflappable. Dorothy was
trusted by all who knew her.
In her field her knowledge was
‘second to none’. Dorothy had
an amazing memory and was
a prolific reader and a lover of
music.
Thank you Dorothy for your
contribution to this community.
Lyttelton Festival of Lights
Mask Making project
This is the third year that
we are mobilising ourselves
to light up the Lyttelton Festival (in particular the street
party) with a masquerade parade and performance.
Last year we processed with
adult masked characters, about
150 children in mask, giant
puppets and a samba band - a
highlight of the festival. This
was followed by a brief stage
performance by some of the
adults.
This year we are developing the idea further.
From the end of March, our
core group of mask-makers
and performers is offering a
series of two-hour evening
workshops in mask making,
and there will be further sessions in animating masks for
the festival.
One or two in-depth workshops may be offered. Workshops will be open to anyone
from anywhere, but places will
be limited.
To register your interest please phone Juliet Neill - 328
8558
or
email
[email protected]
This mask project is sponsored by Creative Communities.
Warming up Lyttelton
Lyttelton houses are going
to be warmer this winter – well
those that take advantage of
the Project Lyttelton Warm
Lyttelton project will be.
Already homes are being
measured up for the natural
wool ceiling and underfloor
insulation.
Interest free loans are being
approved for a three year period.
Home owners and landlords
are linking in with the bulk
deal that Project Lyttelton negotiated with Terra Lana.
There is an obvious need to
make our homes warmer,
healthier and more energy efficient – lowering our power
bills.
Because of the considerable
interest shown Terra Lana has
agreed to extend the offer until the end of February.
A few days yet for readers
to make enquiries.
Call the Project Lyttelton
office to register your interest. 328 9243.
Future-proofing
your postural health
and well-being
A
new class called
Walk-Ezy is begin
ning in Lyttelton
soon.
Walk-Ezy is an educational
class grows your observation
skills to pin point and eliminate tension patterns that cause
symptoms and discomfort.
Many bad backs, Jarred
necks, shoulders, headaches,
pinched spines, sore feet and
joint issues are caused by or
worsened by the way we walk,
sit and stand.
The Class is taught by local
Alexander Technique Teacher
Belinda Walker and is an introduction to practice of this
self-care discipline, which is
based on a scientific investigation of the influence of habit
upon functioning by a man
named F.M Alexander over
100 years ago, and now taught
in 100 countries.
Alexander observed that
over time we develop subtle
habits of tension and collapse
repeated in every act of sitting, standing and walking.
The accumulated effects of
these tensions over a life time
brings about a decline in health
that we have come to associate with the aging process
rather than our habits.
Gradually, these tensions
become postural fixes affecting every part of our being
from our digestion, circulation, breathing, energy and
movement to postural and
emotional poise, our performance and wellbeing.
How it works
As you develop the skill to
think about how you are moving outside of habit you will
Belinda Walker.
have a very different experience of the aging process and
yourself.
It is gentle, non intrusive
and educational more than
therapeutic, although health
benefits are often remarkable.
Class Begins March 4th for
4 Tuesdays 7.30 – 9pm at the
Recreation Center and is limited to 6 participants to allow
for individual attention and
needs.
By enrollment only - call
Belinda on 328 8968. Individual lessons are also available.
Robert Tobias, Dugall Wilson (secretary), Ann Jolliffe, John King(treasurer), Ian
Hankin and John Skilton discuss plans for Reserve 68 and Whaka Raupo at the
Triennennial General Meeting of the Lyttelton Reserves Committee last week. This
group is a sub committee of the Community Board. The committee organises working
bees to plant native trees on the reserves and it manages weed control and supports
regeneration of native plants. Its vision is to create a remarkable indigenous forest and
grassland backdrop to Lyttelton and its harbour. The two Reserves are recreation
areas, 113 hectares in total.
If you want to be become involved contact Gary Broker 328 8986
[email protected]
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.
8 - Lyttelton News - Friday February 22 2008
Lyttelton Youth Centre
activities spread upstairs
W
ith the unemployment rate being so
low, Work Peninsula closed its doors in July
2007.
(Work Peninsula was based
upstairs from the Lyttelton
Youth Centre).
What this means for the
youth centre is that we have
had the opportunity to double
the size of the youth drop-in
centre which in turn will enable us to increase the services we can offer young people in the community.
The youth centre now runs
on two floors.
The first floor is reasonable
unchanged with the area comprising of a pool table, TV
and PlayStation 2, kitchen and
chill out area.
Our second floor comprises
of our homework and multimedia room which currently
has two computers with
broadband connected.
On our second floor you will
also find the youth workers
office, movie room and arts
area.
On Saturday 5 th April we
will be taking approximately
20 young people on a camp to
Hanmer Springs.
This camp will provide adventure and increase self confidence in the participants.
Activities will include: a
half day tramp, rock/tree
climbing, mountain biking and
of course - who can go to
Hanmer Springs without visiting the Thermal Pools.
We are still working one on
one with young people who
want to get their learner licences.
If there are any young people who would like support
with this process and would
like us to pay for half of it...
That’s right, with the kind
sponsorship of Safer Banks
Peninsula, you will only have
to pay $40 instead of $80.
Please contact us.
Junior girls
Junior Girls Group is back.
This terms programme is as
outlined below:
Up To The Eyeballs In
Fudge (21st February, 7-9pm,
cost of $5);
Painting (6th
March, 7-9pm, cost of $5);
Beach and BBQ (13th March,
7-9pm, cost of $5); You Cook
It (Part 1) (20th March, 7-9pm,
cost of $5);
You Cook It
(Part 2) (3rd April, 7-9pm, cost
of $5); Card Making (10th
April, 7-9pm, cost of $10)
Girls Group is for young
females from the Lyttelton
Harbour Basin Area who are
aged 10-13 years.
The aim of this group is to
increase the peer base and selfesteem of the participants.
Enough stuff
by Margaret Jefferies
W
hen you buy a bargain have you ever
thought
who
might be paying the full price
for you?
Take for example you might
buy a hand calculator for a
couple of dollars – it may be
in a bin as a loss leader to
draw you into the shop to buy
lots of other stuff.
The likelihood is that the
material to make it comes from
various parts of the world –
oil from the Middle East, plastics made in China, assembled
say in Mexico.
Then there are shipping
costs hither and thither as the
product is brought together,
then its portion of overhead
costs in the store you purchase
from.
A couple of dollars doesn’t
pay for all that.
Then who does?
A good explanation, in palatable cartoon form, can be
found
at
www.storyofstuff.com with
Annie Leonard.
This short film will soon be
available as a DVD from CCC
(Tony Moore) and groups can
borrow to view and use it as a
discussion starter.
The film shows who pays in
this rush of product from point
of extraction through production, distribution, consumption
to disposal.
It’s the planet, multitudes
of species, indigenous peoples, people’s health…
In the US 99% of goods
through this chain called the
materials economy are
dumped within 6 months!
At this rate we would need
the equivalent of five worlds
to continue to provide us with
the resources to make all this
stuff.
We are devouring far too
much for our finite planet.
Our system is in crisis.
Remember at the time of
the 9/11 disaster President
Bush implored his nation to
go out and shop!
This is because our present
world wide way of doing
things is having economic
growth at any cost.
He didn’t want the US
economy to slow down because of a nation in mourning
remains still. This system values people when they are buyers! They contribute to the
GDP.
But it is not working. We
need to invent different ways
of being on this planet – ways
that sustain, nurture, ensure
that our children’s children
have a future.
It is no good saying “I can’t
make a difference”.
That’s what nearly 6 billion
people are saying right now.
And you know the Henry
Ford comment, “Whether you
think you can or not you are
right.”
It’s simply a matter of what
you believe is possible.
So let’s shift our thinking
and make a difference in our
patch.
Then the idea spreads – and
links with all the other places
that are making a difference
as well.
We need to reduce our consumption, reuse and recycle.
Maybe we need to slow
down, get off the frenetic
treadmill that takes us nowhere.
Maybe we need to be still,
reconnect with why we are
here.
Rediscover the effective in-
terconnected sustainable ways
nature works and start mimicking her.
Some people in the Harbour
Basin are this earth’s champions.
Those creating zero waste.
To do this they compost and
recycle and watch what they
buy making sure that at its
life’s end it too is compostable
or recyclable.
For instance they don’t buy
food packaged in plastic containers that are non recyclable.
They take into consideration the distance the product
has travelled to get to them.
They buy things that are
made to last and are not influenced by the latest version
which is merely an encouragement to throw away the old
model.
They take reusable bags
when they go shopping.
They have developed systems within their households
so that they are plastic bag
free.
Schools in the area are becoming more environmentally
aware.
The Lyttelton Kindergarten
is an enviro kindy. It has been
for some time. It is spawning
care-takers of our planet.
Walk with a kindy kid and
you’ll be picking up rubbish
along the way, you’ll be challenged if you waste water,
dump batteries inappropriately, dump things rather than
mend them, say that
composting is too difficult.
Schools in the area are at
various stages in moving towards environmental awareness.
The children are setting a
good example, are the adults?
Liam Chick who already has quite a lot of unit standards, starts the new LAMP
literacy and mathematics course in Lyttelton. When he completes the course, options
will be open to him for courses, perhaps at Polytech, which could then lead on to
employment.
Glaze
your way
into an
efficient
home
Max Dorfliger arrived in
Lyttelton in the 1990s with a
creative new way of keeping
homes warmer and healthier.
After growing up in Switzerland, Max came to New
Zealand in the 1970s with the
skills and knowledge of how
to double glaze windows.
The treatment can be done
on windows of all shapes and
sizes while still maintaining a
natural look.
This sustainable form of insulation helps reduce noise,
and keeps cold and moisture
out.
For more information
phone Max on 329 9118.
Alternatively look at the
website on his work at
www.amazingglazing.co.nz.
Learn new skills
in 2008!
LAMP
A Free Adult Literacy
and Mathematics Programme
Offers
·
Foundation Skills for Adults
·
Friendly, relaxed environment
·
Learning at your pace, setting your own goals
Includes
·
Introductory computing
·
Everyday maths
·
Help with reading and writing
·
Help with Learner Licence
Can include units for NCES and NCEA
·
Supportive group environment
·
Recreation and personal growth
·
Family literacy
Held at Union Church
40 Winchester Street Lyttelton
Runs: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday 10am – 1pm
Drop in and take a look!
Find out more: Telephone 021 115421 or
9820100 x 821 or email
[email protected]
Lyttelton - portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community, creating a living future.