639 3 June 2015 Week 1.indd
Transcription
639 3 June 2015 Week 1.indd
The Mercury Bay Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Phone 07 866 2090 PORTING P U S S L A LOC LOCALS The highlight of a firefighter’s career Circulation 6,000 UFB Please complete the online surveys see page 14. Celebrating a Gold Star for 25 years of service with Roly Chaney of the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade By Stephan Bosman According to the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand, “The presentation of a Gold Star to honour 25 years of service to their brigade and community is possibly the highlight of a firefighter’s career.” And last Saturday evening in the Whitianga Town Hall, the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrated with guests from around the North Island the Gold Star of Roly Chaney, their Deputy Chief Fire Officer and born and bred Whitianga local. Roly joined the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1989 when he was 19 years old. During the course of Saturday evening it became clear that he is enjoying an exceptional career as a volunteer firefighter. He almost immediately became involved in hose running (also known as waterway) challenges. Initially he was part of the Whitianga Brigade’s B-team, “Until the B-team started to beat the A-team,” Roly quipped when he had the opportunity to say a few things on Saturday evening. He won his first trophy as a member of a waterway team at the Central North Island Competition of 1993. A few years later his team won their first National Certificate (a top six team in an event at a national competition) and a few years after that they were triumphant at the Auckland Provincial Competition. “That was a very special achievement as we won the competition in the centenary year Roly and Shelley Chaney with their son Aaron during Roly’s Gold Star celebration last Saturday evening. of the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigades Association,” Roly said. “A special medal was created for the event and we got it.” In 2003 Roly joined the Whitianga Brigade’s road crash rescue team, working himself up to become team leader in 2010. The team won the Auckland Provincial Road Crash Rescue Challenge three times - in 2007 and 2013 and as recently as last month - and Roly has competed no less than 12 times in the Australasian Road Crash Rescue Challenge. This year will be number 13, with the Whitianga team selffunding themselves to the competition in Alice Springs. Roly stopped participating in hose running challenges in 2007 and became a waterway referee (the judge with overall responsibility) at sub association level and a judge at provincial and national level. He has also served on the Goldfields Fire Brigades Sub Association board and was president in 2005. He was made a life honorary member of the sub association in 2013. “It was a big honour,” he said. He was appointed Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade in 2010. In between Roly attended every course a firefighter can go on, (Continued on page 2) Open 7am - 9pm Phone 867 1900 NEW WORLD Birthday Now on NEW WORLD WHITIANGA POP FOR PRIZES Details in Store Cnr Joan Gaskell Drive & Cook Drive Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz A Gold Star for Roly Chaney (Continued from page 1) from driving and pump operation to hazardous chemicals, and was involved in some of Whitianga’s more memorable fires and storms - including the Whitianga Hotel and PlaceMakers buildings and the remnants of Cyclone Fergus at the end of 1996. As Roly spends a significant amount of his time in Matamata for purposes of his work, he has also joined the Matamata Volunteer Fire Brigade approximately a year ago. “Roly brought a lot of experience with him and is a great asset to our Brigade,” said Kevin Curtiss, Chief Fire Officer of the Matamata Brigade on Saturday evening, who attended the event with many of his brigade members. Jokingly he said to Merv George, Chief Fire Officer of the Whitianga Brigade, that Roly calls him “Sir” and he wonders what he calls Merv. When Merv spoke, he made a point of highlighting a statistic that places Roly’s commitment to the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade beyond any doubt. In his time with the brigade, Roly attended 1,146 of the Brigade’s musters (brigade meetings or training sessions - excluding competitions and callouts where assistance was required). That’s an attendance rate of 99 per cent. “To put it in perspective - in 25 years, Roly has only missed 12 brigade meetings or training sessions,” Merv said. There were a few stand-out moments during the course of Saturday evening. The first was when bag piper Phil Nielsen piped Roly, wife Shelley and 8-year-old son Aaron in through a guard of honour formed by all the firefighters who attended the evening. The second was a tribute to Shelley and the acknowledgement of her sacrifices as the wife of a dedicated firefighter - the regular absences and from time to time having to deal with a husband who may have experienced a less than pleasant incident. The third was Merv taking Roly’s service medal and pinning it to Aaron’s jacket before pinning Roly’s new Gold Start to the jacket of his formal fireman’s uniform. And the fourth was master of ceremonies Derek Collier, Senior Station Officer of the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade, calling all the past and present members of the Whitianga Brigade and their partners to the front and declaring Roly an honorary life member of the brigade. There was a lot of laughter during the evening as incidents were recalled and The Mercury Bay Informer is published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula. Readers’ contributions of articles and letters are welcome. Publication of contributions are entirely at the discretion of the editor. Contributions will only be considered for publication when accompanied by the author’s name and surname, telephone number and residential address. Opinions expressed (especially in letters) are not necessarily those of the owner or publisher. Owner - Mercury Bay Media Limited Publisher - Petra Roodt Editor - Stephan Bosman Contributing Editors - Len Salt, Alison Smith, Meghan Hawkes and Jack Biddle Deliveries - 14 Monk St, Whitianga 3510 Mail - PO Box 426, Whitianga 3542 Tel - (07) 866 2090, Fax - (07) 866 2092 Editorial - email [email protected], tel (07) 866 2090 Advertising - email [email protected], tel (07) 866 2094 ISSN 2422-9083 (Print) ISSN 2422-9091 (Online) © 2015 Mercury Bay Media Limited Please contact us if you live in the wider Mercury Bay area and would like to have a copy of The Mercury Bay Informer delivered to your lettterbox. ONLINE POLL FOR APRIL 2015 Does Whitianga have need for a property development with retail shops and offices just outside the CBD? Have your say - at www.theinformer.co.nz. Want to view a PDF copy of every week’s Informer online? Just visit www.theinformer.co.nz. Page 2 Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. tales were told. There was also a moment when Roly realised he actually calls Merv “Chief,” but “Sir Chief” was probably more appropriate. Roly was the 17th member of the Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade to receive a Gold Star and no expense was spared to make his celebration as memorable as the previous 16. A team of brigade members, aptly led by Derek, completely immersed themselves in putting on a top class event. The pomp and ceremony was impressive, the food was outstanding and the entertainment even better. “I expected nothing less,” Merv told The Informer afterwards when people started to let their hair down. “I’m very pleased, 25 years of service is a big thing. Roly deserved the very best. I’m glad we could give him a celebration I’m sure he and Shelley and Aaron will remember for the rest of their lives.” Whitianga’s Walter and Margot Russell at Roly Chaney’s Gold Star celebration. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary the day before. High & Low Tides for Mercury Bay and Hot Water Beach DAY/ DATE HIGH AM LOW AM HIGH PM LOW PM Wed 3 7:23 1:04 7:55 1:24 Thu 4 8:10 1:49 8:40 2:08 Fri 5 8:57 2:35 9:26 2:54 Sat 6 9:45 3:22 10:13 3:40 Sun 7 10:34 4:11 11:02 4:28 Mon 8 11:25 5:02 11:53 5:19 5:54 12:18 6:13 Tue 9 Tide data sponsored by nzwindows.co.nz 4 Dakota Drive Whitianga Tel 07 869 5990 What’s that Number? Emergency (Ambulance, Fire, Police)........................................................................... 111 Police (Whitianga) .............................................................................................. 866 4000 Police (Tairua) .................................................................................................... 864 8888 Fight crime anonymously - Call Crime Stoppers .................. ....... ............. 0800 555 111 Dog and Noise Control .......................................................................................868 0200 Poison Centre ..............................................................................................0800 764 766 Dental Emergency (Mercury Bay) ...................................................................... 869 5500 Civil Defence ..................................................................................................... 868 0200 Medical Centre (Mercury Bay) ........................................................................... 866 5911 Doctors Surgery (Mercury Bay) ......................................................................... 866 4621 Medical Centre (Tairua) ....................................................................................... 864 8737 Harbour Master (Whitianga) ........................................................................ 027 493 1379 Harbour Master (Tairua) ............................................................................... 027 476 2651 Coastguard Radio Operators ............................................................................ 866 2883 Social Services Whitianga ..................................................................................866 4476 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 QSM for Kuaotunu resident Kuaotunu’s Vivienne (Viv) McLean has been honoured with a Queen’s Service medal in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to conservation. Vivienne has contributed to conservation for more than 15 years. She is a founding trustee and has served two terms as chairperson of the Kauri 2000 Charitable Trust, established in 1999. She played an integral part in the planning and planting of 40,000 kauri trees at more than 35 sites on the Coromandel Peninsula, most of them recovering from the impacts of historic logging, gold mining or failed farm development. This work has involved organising site preparation and hundreds of planters each year, including the participation of four Coromandel schools. Vivienne’s more recent achievements include initiating discussions with the national Kauri Dieback Programme that have resulted in Kauri 2000 playing an active role in raising public awareness of kauri dieback. This involvement has led to the formation of the Coromandel Kauri Dieback Forum, an independent community-based organisation working with the Dieback Programme, the Department of Conservation, Thames Coromandel District Council, Waikato Regional Council and local groups to protect kauri around the Peninsula and prevent the spread of the kauri dieback disease. She is at the moment chairperson of the Dieback Forum's management group. Pictured is Vivienne addressing a Dieback Forum meeting in Whitianga last year. Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Lypo-SphericTM Vitamin C The Vitamin C that the ‘World’ is talking about Special offer $48 for a box of 30 sachets Mercury Bay Pharmacy Loyalty Club The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Spend $120 and receive a $10 voucher Page 3 Winners all ‘round for Money or the Bag Last Saturday night’s “It’s in the Bag” show at the Mercury Bay Club seems to have been a winner for all concerned. Charlie Cunningham hadn’t even had time to remove the lipstick and get out of his dress before the word was out that the night had been a big success for the club’s welfare fundraising efforts and a big hit with the audience. Charlie’s appearance in a hot red dress and scarlet wig was kept as a surprise until he pranced onto the stage to David Rose’s infamous “The Stripper” music. It was all in good taste and Charlie kept to his character all the way through, adding lighter touches to the show and attracting plenty of laughs. Earlier on “Pommie” Dave Wallace entered and introduced the compere for the night, Bob Forrest in the Selwyn Toogood role. Bob came down the aisle to the sounds of Scotland the Brave, dressed in a kilt complete with painted on sporran and a tartan patterned fur lined tam o shanter. Both Dave and Bob had painted their beards red and Bob could have passed for a Braveheart character after a couple of pints. The club was packed to the gills, with restaurant bookings at maximum capacity and a generous buffet laid on. The night was dependent to a large degree on the team efforts required to make it happen. Trish Cunningham, Lynn Forrest and many others pitched to do the behind the scenes work, as well as Trevor and Linda Fraser doing the set decorations. Impressive prizes donated by New World, East Coast Automotive, Guthrie Bowron and other local businesses helped to create a fun atmosphere. Twenty bags were up for grabs and all eligible ticket holders had their numbers put into a concrete mixer and churned up ready for a random dip. Dave was in charge of the mixer and his operation of this vital task gradually became “less focused” as the night progressed, drawing a few laughs and the occasional ticking off from the compere and his ravishing assistant urging Dave to keep it moving. The concrete mixer eventually seemed to take on a life of its own trundling across the dance floor until it reached the end of its power lead and came to a sudden stop. But it was all in good fun and Dave managed to give away some Civic Video DVD vouchers to ease the pain of his tardiness. The break in between the bags was filled with Len and Svargo doing a few songs on guitar and getting people on the dance floor to loosen up the limbs, before the team came back to haggle away the rest of the bags. Old School meals Stuffed lamb’s heart & creamy mash Steak & kidney casserole Lambs fry & bacon Tripe and onions Eat in or take away. All $15 Phone orders welcome 866 4647 Wishing Tree 5-7pm Super 15 Rugby live Canes v Highlanders 7:30pm Friday 5 June - Wild food Banquet 5 courses for $49 th Book your table to avoid disappointment Open 7 Days From 5pm Dine In • Takeaway • Delivery 13 / 1 Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga Opening Hours: DV D Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm Page 4 Competitors had to answer qualifying questions before they could play for the bag and despite his best attempts “Selwyn” (Bob) couldn’t stop the audience pitching in and calling out with the answers to ensure that competitors got through and the bag would be opened. That was Charlie’s job and whilst most competitors went away with a nice prize, there were a couple of booby prizes - including a Knit Your Own Moustache kit. Owen Spooner closed out the night with a few songs on guitar and everybody went home happy after a great night’s entertainment. The Money or Bag team. From left to right - Charlie Cunningham, Trish Cunningham, Dave Wallace, Lynn Forrest and Bob Forrest. Super 15 Rugby Live Blues v Crusaders 7:30pm FREE POOL Happy Hour 4-6:30pm Shanks & kumara mash $15 QUIZ NIGHT 7:30pm Full Menu at Try our new Sunday Roast Free Taxi Service www.govino.co.nz breakfast pizza from 6pm. from the Ferry for Ph. 867 1215 Available $5 discount off Booked Diners for bookings. Sat/Sun your meal if any night Closed Tuesday & 9am - 2pm booked before 2pm Dine In FREE on your Birthday One main, rice & naan. Minimum 2-person party. Wednesday Authentic North Indian Cuisine Wide selection of seafood, vegetarian & gluten-free. Children’s menu available. Sushi Japanese Cuisine Dine in or Take away 69 Albert Street, Whitianga Ph 07 866 5858 TOP MOVIES What’s New REVIEW Fortitude S1 (TBC) (Out Now) This Arctic-set psychological thriller centres on the small town of Fortitude, brutally disrupted after a shocking murder. Tucci stars as a forensic detective who explores the eerie setting where higher-than-usual temperatures cause the ice to melt, exposing dark secrets that have long been frozen under the ground. This is a wonderfully engrossing show, grippingly atmospheric with a superb cast. It is a well written show and is one of the must see shows of the year. Reviewed By Cara. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz • • • • • The Gambler American Sniper Ask Me Anything Comet Starry Eyes Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Happy Hour 3 - 7pm! Ribs ’n’ Chips Happy Hour 3-7pm!! $100 Bar Tab Chase the Ace Only $15!! Draw @ 6pm Win $250 cash Happy Hour $10 Burger & Fries Meat raffles Hurricanes v Steak Night 3-7pm Highlanders 7:35pm $16 Scotch Fillet Pool Comp 8pm 8 BALL 7:15pm SNOOKER 1:30pm BISTRO Lunch 12pm Tai Chi 9am Jameoke 9pm D.J. Mighty 9pm Play Bar Trivia from 4-6pm Members Draw Raffles 5:30pm Body Balance 9am Tai Chi 9am Meat/Seafood 7 days a week April, May, June Restaurant, Open 11am every day, Brewery kitchen until & Bar 8pm $10 Burger & Fries Drink Specials Saturday Morning Raffles 11am Lunch 12-2pm Dinner 5:30pm Sunday Roast 3 Courses $20 Pokies TAB Pool www.alcaminos.co.nz Closed Sunday and Monday from 15 June Dinner from 5.30pm Lunch 11.30am-2pm $12 Lunch Special Lunch 11.30am-2pm $12 Lunch Special Seafood Broth Dinner from 5.30pm Sesame Tarakihi Salad Dinner from 5.30 2 meals & drinks* $50!! Lunch Fri / Sat / Sun from 12 noon Dinner 6 Days Tues - Sun from 5pm Closed Monday Buy One Main and enter into the draw to win Dinner for Two! SIRLOIN, Egg ‘n’ Chips OPEN STEAK SANDWICH SCOTCH, Tavern Made ONION RINGS w. Salad Locals days on their way! All Day Sunday Roast Lunch & Dinner Try our new vegetable lasagne spinach & pumpkin. Lunch 11.30am-2pm $12 Lunch Special 1kg Mussel Pots FREE POOL All day. LIVE BAND ONE ONE ONE 9pm 11A Coghill Str, Whitianga Tel: 07 866 2200 Tue - Thur 4:30pm - 9:30pm Fri - Sat 4:30pm - 10pm Sunday 4:30pm - 9pm Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Blues v Crusaders 7:35pm Reds v Chiefs 9:40pm FREE DELIVERY for orders $25 and over. Sat & Sun open for dinner from 5.30pm $10 Curry Night!! Steak Night $16 Happy Hour Scotch fillet, salad & fries!! 3-7pm Happy Hour 3-7pm Mon-Fri Indoor Bowls 7:15pm Bistro closed RAFFLES 5:30pm Tai Chi 9am Body Balance 10:15am Tai Chi 9am Darts 7:30pm 4 New Medals Hot Water in the Australian Brewery International Beer 07 866 3830 Awards MONDAY CLOSED Lunch 11.30am-2pm $12 Lunch Special Seafood Chowder Dinner from 5.30pm Out catering available MEMBERS DRAW We are now FULLY LICENCED Lunch 11.30am-2pm $12 Lunch Special Salt and Pepper Squid Dinner from 5.30pm BYO wine ($5.00 Corkage fee) Cooking Classes have restarted by popular demand. Email [email protected] to sign up Delicious and Affordable Indian Food Enjoy restaurant quality food in the comfort of your own home. Food made with freshly ground spices. Enjoy real curry pies. Open for dinner only Open for dinner only Ph 07 866 2666 DARTS NIGHT HAPPY HOUR + RAFFLE NIGHT 5pm - 7pm 7:30pm Newbees Welcome! Superugby Best night of the week Hurricanes v Highlanders New soups to warm you up This week’s soup - prawn and chicken laksa 7:35pm SUPERUGBY BLUES V CRUSADERS 7.35pm WIN A CHIEFS JERSEY! Whitianga Pig Hunters Take a Kid Hunting! 3pm weigh in LET US DO THE COOKING! Phone for your $1.00 from EVERY cake, TAKEAWAYS muffin or slice sold here gets donated to 07 - 866 3809 COROGLEN SCHOOL In house Come and try Crispy pork belly on kumara ginger hot smoked our winter mash with salmon bok choy menu available now 07 866 0456 www.thelostspring.co.nz The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Locals days Tue & Wed. With every main meal get 50% off pool pass Page 5 “It’s the beer that’s doing the trick...” Dave Kurth, resident brewer at Hot Water Brewing Company at Whenuakite, is happy to talk about his latest achievements. Four of the brewery’s beers received awards at the recent Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA). “The AIBA is the largest competition of its kind in the world, judging both draught and packaged beer,” says Dave. “This year more than 1,700 beers from 344 breweries across 35 countries entered. Our Kauri Falls Pale Ale and Barley Wine each received a silver medal, while our About Time IPA [a hoppy beer within the broader category of pale ale] and Golden Steamer Ale received bronze medals.” Dave says the AIBA is open to any brewery who wants to enter. “We entered for two reasons. The first is any awards help you in the marketing of your beer. Consumers know they are purchasing quality. But the second, and almost more important, reason is that your beer is being judged by experts from around the world. You get very good feedback, which can only help you to become better at what you do.” Another accolade for Hot Water Brewing Company is that they have been invited to brew a beer specifically for the Great Australian Beer Spectapular [no typing error] (GABS) which took place in Melbourne from 22 to 24 May. “Only about 120 breweries get invited to brew a beer for the GABS. Of those very few, 10 to 15, are from outside Australia,” says Dave. “I brewed a big and bold IPA, called Partywave. The beer has a real hoppy character and combines the New Zealand hops we use in our Kauri Falls Pale Ale with the American Hops that features in our About Time IPA. The GABS organisers assigned the beer a ‘moderately challenging’ complexity, meaning on a scale from one to three where one is easy drinking - the beer sat at a two. Feedback from the GABS was that the beer was really popular.” Next up for Dave is the West Coast IPA challenge at the Malthouse in Wellington in mid-July. “12 New Zealand breweries are invited to brew an IPA for the challenge. The beers will all go on tap at the Malthouse on the same day. I will be entering the biggest IPA I have yet brewed. Both the public and a panel of judges will judge the beers on offer. It’s abeer we will be selling that beer at the Hot Water Brewing Co restaurant and also around the North Island.” Dave joined Hot Water Brewing Co as its first brewer approximately 18 months ago. “It’s a great job,” he says. “It’s great to see how things are progressing. At first we just focused on distributing our beers around the Coromandel Peninsula, now Hot Water Brewing Co’s Dave Kurth doing what he does best, brewing beer. we are shipping to quite a few places around the North Island and hope in due course to go further afield.” Also part of the Hot Water Brewing Co team is Tim Holman, who took over the management of the restaurant adjacent to the brewery towards the end of last year. “Tim didn’t hesitate to incorporate some of our beers in his dishes,” says Dave. “You can now order things from him like Kauri Falls infused duck liver paté, About Time IPA marinated T-Bone steak and chicken with Golden Steamer Ale satay sauce. The restaurant is quite busy. I have no doubt that it’s the beer that’s doing the trick...” Open all day from 12 noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday ________________ Open from 5:00pm Wednesday and Thursday ________________ Closed Monday and Tuesday Page 6 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 “Poivre & Sel” is French for “Pepper & Salt” Sam and Severine Goslin and their two children, Morgane and Mathis, arrived in Whitianga in February 2014. They moved to New Zealand from France in 2011, where Sam and Severine used to own a restaurant in the mountains inland from the French Riviera. Sam, a chef, was responsible for the kitchen and Severine for front-of-house. “New Zealand appealed to us,” says Sam. “It’s a big, beautiful country with only four million people. We’ve taken our time to settle in and to get used to the Kiwi way of doing things. I worked as a chef at a few places in the central North Island and in Whitianga and a while ago Severine and I agreed the time has come for us to have our own restaurant again.” The Goslin family from Poivre & Sel - Sam and Severine at the back and Morgane (left) and Mathis in the front. Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 With Motu Kitchen, one of Whitianga’s best-known fine dining restaurants on the market, it made good sense for the couple to make an offer. With all the paperwork signed, a new name agreed, a logo designed and a menu worked out, Poivre & Sel now Whitianga’s newest fine dining restaurant - opened its doors for business on Thursday last week. Severine says their lives are suddenly again like it was before they came to New Zealand. “Our own business and Sam and I again doing what we used to do in France. It’s more exciting this time around, though, because we can involve the children more. Morgane is now 12 and Mathis 10. They can now help with things like folding napkins and giving Sam a hand in the kitchen. It’s a real little family business.” Poivre et Sel means “pepper and salt” in French and Sam and Severine have put a lot of thought into the name. “Obviously we had to choose a French name,” explains Sam. “Pepper and Salt ticks all the boxes. We come from a very cosmopolitan background in France, good seasoning is the basis of good food and, let’s face it, we’re not getting any younger. I can’t grow a beard without speckles of grey popping through. We want P & S to be a place where people from all over the world can appreciate what we have on the menu.” “It was also important that we have a name we could build an identity around,” adds Severine. “We like the idea of people The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz referring to our restaurant as P & S.” The menu Sam has designed for winter is proof that he and Severine want everyone to enjoy their P & S experience. “Only one starter, hot goats cheese gratin with candied walnuts, and one main course, duck confit with truffle scented parsnip puree, are truly French,” says Sam. “The other dishes like twice cooked pork belly, macadamia crusted lamb rack and Angus eye fillet will be familiar to most people. “All our dishes will be prepared with a bit of French flair and will be prepared with as many ingredients as we can source on the Coromandel.” “No garden snails on the menu yet,” laughs Severine. Sam also plans to have weekly specials in addition to what’s on the menu. “That’s one thing that was different in France,” he says. “You could go to the market every day and your menu changed every day according to the produce that was available. In Whitianga you have to order in advance, but whenever something good becomes available, I’ll make a plan. We may well see a wild deer stew on the menu in the next few weeks.” Complimenting the P & S menu will be an extensive wine list, featuring offerings from both New Zealand and French wineries. “Of course some French wines,” says Sam. “Fine dining with a hint of France, that’s what we are.” Page 7 Royal Family dance crew coming this way Thumbs Up To the lady who took the dog “Jock” on her own initiative to the vets in Whitianga when he was run over in Simpsons Beach last week. VOLUNTEER PLANTING DAY Saturday 20 June will see the Town Hall in Whitianga jumping on its foundations when the Palace Dance Studio arrives as part of their “Empire Strikes Back” North Island tour. They will bring with them six of the top dance groups in the country, a total of 60 dancers (from school students to adults), plus parents and support crews. The tour doubles as a fundraiser to get the dance crews to San Diego in August for the World Hip-Hop Championships. Leanne Rolls is junior crew manager for the tour and her daughter Courtney (13) is a member of the Bubblegum troupe. The family are Whitianga locals and moved to Auckland a couple of years ago so that Courtney could work on her dancing. “We still have our house here in Mercury Bay,” Leanne told the Informer. “We are here often as we can be.” All of the teams included in the tour, including The Royal Family crew, have won either first or second places in the 2015 National Hip-Hop Championships. The Royal Family is normally led by the talented Parris Goebel. Parris was named Young New Zealander of the Year in 2014 and The Royal Family won the World Hip-Hop Dance Championships three times under her leadership. In 2014 the 23-year-old Parris won Best Female Choreographer at the World of Dance Industry awards in Los Angeles, as well as top choreographer for both male and female dance in 2015. She has also landed a role in the multimillion dollar Hollywood dance movie franchise Step Up. The in-demand Parris has been called up to choreograph some big dance groups in Korea, but the official word is that if she can get back to New Zealand in time for the Whitianga event, she will be a part of the tour. The Empire Strikes Back will perform two shows at the Whitianga Town Hall on 20 June, starting at 4:00pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are available from Blackjack Surf Shop, 35 Albert Street or from Leanne at [email protected]. Pictured are the Bubblegum crew at the 2015 National Hip-Hop Championships with Courtney Rolls in the middle. It’s that time of year again - perfect weather for planting kauri! You’re invited to help plant at Matarangi Reserve on Saturday 6 June. Bring a friend! WHERE - Mynderman’s Hill site, same as last year. DATE - Saturday 6 June (bad weather back up day Saturday 13 June). TIME - 8.30am assemble, plant through to about 1.30 - 2pm (depending on weather, energy etc). BBQ - There’ll be a sausage sizzle on site afterwards so we can relax together - Kauri 2000 will provide the sausages etc. and cold drinks. If you are able to come, could you please RSVP to Barbara Ritchie at 07 866 0468 or email [email protected] with your details so we can send you some notes And if you would prefer to plant mid-week because of other commitments just let us know. Cherry Ladd will be planting at Chelmsford (near Tairua) mid June for ‘Matariki.’ If you can join her, please let us know and we will get details to you. As you can imagine, with dieback being detected on the Coromandel we’ll be taking even more care to make sure we’ve all got spotlessly clean boots and spades. Page 8 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 9 SeniorNet CEO visit topical and relevant For many people in the senior age bracket, the world of modern technology can appear intimidating and full of potential pitfalls. Much of it wasn’t invented even a few years ago. And in some ways they are right to be cautious, because there are traps which should be avoided, almost all of them man-made computer nasties created by anonymous villains who either want your money or your identity or to simply cause damage to your computer. The SeniorNet Learning Centres across New Zealand were created specifically to help people in the 50 plus age bracket to learn about technology in a peer based community training environment and to help avoid some of the traps. The Whitianga SeniorNet Learning Centre will host Grant Sidaway on Thursday 18 June. Grant is one of the people who helped set up the first SeniorNet Learning Centre in Wellington in 1992 and is the current Chief Executive Officer of the National Federation of SeniorNet Learning Centres. Grant will do a presentation on new and emerging technologies. It’s a vitally topical subject and as much as the technologies can be challenging, trying to live your day to day lives without them is becoming increasingly difficult. Some companies are even charging customers who want paper statements and invoices sent by traditional mail, preferring them to do everything online. Grant is in high demand as an expert Fagans speaker on telecommunications and technology subjects. His background as a telecommunications engineer puts him in touch with the way technology is changing in the modern world. He has a punishing travel schedule in his SeniorNet role, with 96 presentations in the last year. “Some of us tend to approach technology with an inbuilt fear of breaking it,” he says. “We think, ‘If it does go wrong, can I recover it?’ You’ll hear people say that kids are naturally better than adults when it comes to technology and I think that is true for two reasons. First, they have no fear of it and that’s connected to the second reason, which is that they didn’t pay for it. People on a limited income don’t want to see their brand new laptop crashed because of a virus or malware that they didn’t see coming.” Grant says that in today’s world, everything is connected, therefore everything is vulnerable. “The need for robust password protection is vital these days and that’s something I’ll be focusing on in my presentation in Whitianga. It can be tough to manage lots of different passwords and keep track of them, especially if you don’t use them frequently and the advice is not to write them down. But there are ways of doing that which make life a lot easier and I’ll go over that specifically in my presentation.” While internet security is important to everybody, the television scenario of a spotty teenage hacker happily meandering through your bank accounts is a Hollywood myth. Today’s bank and major company passwords can’t be hacked without having access to a supercomputer and running it for a thousand years nonstop. It’s your own password that makes you vulnerable. If you’ve used a combination of your birthday and your pet’s name and ended up with some key logger malware on your computer after you clicked a link on a fake email from what you thought was your bank or IRD asking you to update your account information, then you can be in trouble. “Keeping yourself safe online is the same process as what you have done all your life in other everyday things,” says Grant. “It’s just about learning to carry that through into the world of technology.” Grant will be speaking at Crossroad Encounter Fellowship on the corner of Joan Gaskell Drive and Cook Drive on 18 June. The presentation is open to SeniorNet members and a friend 50 plus if they wish. Entry is free and there will be light finger-food refreshments at 12:30pm, with a door prize for SeniorNet members provided by Vodafone. Members wishing to attend should ring Lorna Russell on 866 4215. Grant Sidaway, SeniorNet CEO. WHITIANGA PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC Robert Lindsay Dip Phty(Otago) ADP(OMT), Dip.MT. FLOORING DRAPERY & BLINDS Co-author of ‘Treat Your Own Shoulder’ and Associates Crystal Vause BHScPhysiotherapy Free curtain making Now is the perfect time to snuggle up for winter, as Fagan’s are offering “Free curtain making” on both Single and Pencil pleat drapery, from our extensive range of fabrics, throughout June & July. Manipulation / Back and Neck Pain / Work Injuries Sports Injuries / Post Surgery and Fracture Rehab Acupuncture / Hand Therapy / Women’s Health Clinic Physiotherapists with the qualifications to provide excellence in physical health care Dr Adam’s and Hemmes’s Surgery - Ph 866 4621 A free measure and quote service is available across the Peninsula, so come in and see the team at Fagan’s Flooring and Tile Warehouse in Whitianga 68 Albert St Whitianga Ph 07 866 2836 Open 6 days Exclusive to Bedpost 50% off on all True Comfort Beds Now in store at Bedpost Whitianga Whitianga’s Bedding Specialist Lee Street, Whitianga 07 866 2448 True Comfort made by Seally Page 10 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 To the Editor See page 2 for our requirements with regard to letters and contributions Dear Editor - Ultra Fast Broadband Congratulations on your article regarding Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB) in last week’s Informer. It is interesting that the list of proposed UFB extensions includes Whitianga, so at least we are in the frame. Also worthy of note is that Mercury Bay Area School is already connected, so Whitianga is already connected. It is great to have UFB available to our young people, so that they can experience what high speed internet is like. At the same time, it must be very frustrating for those youngsters to know that when they get home they will be back to the internet speed that the rest of us enjoy. From what I know personally, many people in the Mercury Bay area suffer badly with their internet speed. They pay the same rate as someone who receives normal and faster speed. At times of the day when high usage takes place, the speed reduces to a crawl. We also have a situation rearing its head of high use due to the uptake of online video, movies, and gaming offerings. This will get worse in a very short time according to media reports. A lot of people will know that I have a long association with SeniorNet Whitianga. SeniorNet has its own naked broadband connection and has struggled for some time when trying to teach older people the use of the internet and all that it offers. Our connection speed, at times, is abysmal and that is during the day when use is normally low. How do others manage? What about the Whitianga CBD? Don’t talk to people at Cook’s Beach, Hahei and rural users or you will really get a message! What can we do about this situation? Go back and read The Informer article again and take on board what others are doing and the benefits UFB will provide, then go to the TCDC website and fill out their survey. Numbers count! Peter Bethell Whitianga Dear Editor - Altruism Does overpopulation cause a lot of altruism? There are many people hidden in our population who are doing good works not noticed by the rest of us. Altruism means doing good for good’s sake. Volunteers catering to provide those less fortunate with a Christmas dinner and walkers on the coast who pick up litter are just two examples. Donating to worthy causes is another, eg to Greenpeace, the Angel Fund and Forest and Bird. Generosity without thought of reward or reciprocal favours seems to be natural in the young, but often disappears with exposure to adults and maturity. Those who amass wealth seem loath to use it without gaining a return. Instead they spend their time manipulating their wealth to increase it. Most families with $1 million in the bank would live comfortably. So why is there a rich list where thousands of millions are in private hands? Rather than improving community life, the wealthy build enormous houses (this in a society desperately needing affordable homes for larger families) and acquire large pleasure boats and vehicles that are expensive fossil fuel guzzlers. All for status? It seems that altruism has to be taught. That is if altruism is a worthwhile trait to have. Somewhere I read about a camel and the eye of a needle. Maybe altruism was lost on the altar of self-esteem. We have authorities that believe the only way to motivate the population is through greed or paying money to achieve good works. Fortunately there are still many volunteers around, showing altruism is alive, doing good without reward. Peter Wood Whitianga Dear Editor - Scheduled aerial 1080 drops on the Coromandel And it keeps on going. The Department of Conservation is planning a 25,500ha aerial drop of 1080 on the Coromandel Peninsula between August and October 2015. Areas include Kauaeranga, Waiomu, Waiwawa, Kapowai, Whenuakite and Mataora. DOC says they are doing the southern block for possums. I have trapped the Waiwawa. The numbers in the deeper bush are not there. This block has had no 1080 and minimal pest control and yet it has a more diverse bird life than the Papakai Block to the north which has been aerial 1080 poisoned for the last 20 years. On thing the northern blocks have are rats and heaps of them. Rats are in the Waiwawa Block also, but in small numbers. As for the Whenuakite Block, this is the fourth time it has been aerial 1080 poisoned and for rats again. I would think that if you aerial poisoned in 2006, 2009 and 2011 you would think there would not be anything alive in there. 1080 does not control rats. DOC says the intense management at the Whenuakite Block by them and the Whenuakite community has resulted in the recovery of many native bird species such as pigeon and kiwi. Pigeon have always been in that valley. Both pigeon and kiwi are not susceptible to 1080 as such. As for the other birds, I would like someone to show me where they are. As for the Mataora Block, pests can be controlled by other means. 1080 is destroying our bird life. If you are against aerial poisoning or would like to have a view on it that is not dictated by those in power, go the Facebook page “Stop Poisoning Coromandel Peninsula” and have your say. John Allan Whitianga TLS SUPER SOAKER CARD! COASTAL SANCTUARY HA AIR, SKIN AND BODY THERAPY Phone 866 2679 for appointments 14 Victoria Street Whitianga *Conditions apply TREAT A FRIEND En njoy a treatment in June and we will giive you and a friend a voucher for A HALF PRICE FACIAL* to be used in July or August THE LOST SPRING SUPER SOAKER CARD! Available to all residents of the Coromandel. $60 for the month of June. Purchase a card and visit every day! Card is valid from 3rd June 2015 -30th June 2015 Card offers a 90 min soak per day. One person per card. Proof of address is required when purchasing. Purchase from the Lost Spring, Cook Drive. Photo ID to be shown each visit. Terms and conditions apply. Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 11 Of mice and men... and lightning strikes By Len Salt The weather for May was a fairly typical mix ranging from stunning days, warm sun and calm conditions right through to wind and torrential rain on the last day of the month. The temperature chart tells the story. Overnight on Saturday 30 May was a chilly 3 degrees, following the pattern of a couple of days earlier in the month when we were scraping ice off the windscreens first thing in the morning. Then on Sunday night 31 May the temperature jumped to 13 degrees as the cloud cover came in. The fire that was merrily blazing away to keep us warm suddenly became redundant as doors and windows were opened to cool things down a bit. With the average temperatures cooling down and the wet weather closing in, we have suddenly developed a mouse problem with the little critters getting up the gaps between the pipes to see what there is to eat in the pantry. The mousetrap has been set on a hairtrigger six times now with a variety of baits - peanut butter, bread, cheese and other tasty treats. Every last morsel and crumb has been eaten and the hair-trigger mouse trap did nothing more than give me a nasty bruise on my guitar finger when I went to pick it up, convinced that I have been sold a two dollar pack of dud mousetraps. Turns out there was nothing wrong with the mousetraps, so I think we can put it down to operator incompetence and mouse dexterity. How they learn this stuff is beyond me, because you only have to get it wrong once and you die. There is zero margin for error. We are not hunter killers in our household and even blitzing a mouse is something we are not that comfortable with. But we don’t want them in the house. Field mice belong in the field, not in our cupboards. So we’ve blocked up the holes and chased a couple out the door. You would think that with two dogs in the house they would sort it out, but it’s not happening. Nothing gets in the way of the sleeping. Maybe it’s time to trade in the dogs and get a cat. Many years ago I lived on the 14th floor of an apartment building next door to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. The apartment was on the same level as the planes approaching to land. You could see the faces of passengers as the planes went past. The mid-west of the USA is famous for electrical storms and occasionally you would see a plane take a direct hit as it came in to land. It’s a spectacular sight and more common than most people realise. Modern planes are well able to cope with lightning strikes and in the year to 1 November 2014, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau recorded 75 incidents of lightning strikes on aircraft. A few days earlier on 29 October 2014, Auckland was hit by a severe thunderstorm with more than 22,000 lighting strikes recorded in one day. Deaths and injuries from lighting in New Zealand are rare. However in the USA over the 10 year period from 1998 to 2008, their National Weather Service recorded a total of 449 deaths from lightning strikes. According to the service, lightning causes an average of 62 deaths and 300 injuries in the United States each year. The advice given to stay safe in a thunderstorm is to avoid, trees, telephone booths and open spaces like reserves, golf courses and rugby fields. The safest place to be is in a building, preferably one with a lightning rod. The rod offers protection by intercepting lightning - an electrical charge - and transmitting its current into the ground. The other safe place is a car with the windows rolled up, as long as you don't touch any of the metal parts. If lightning strikes, the car's metal body will conduct the charge down to the ground - contrary to popular belief, the rubber of the wheels offers no protection. It’s also recommended that you avoid using a fixed line telephone as the surge can come down the wires if the house is struck. The MERCURY BAY HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP Welcomes to you our meeting THURSDAY 4 June - 1.25pm Guest Speaker Brett Howes - Optician Venue - Social Services Building, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga Door $2.00 Phone Mary-Anne on 869 5952 Page 12 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Mercury Bay Boating Club prize-giving At the Mercury Bay Boating Club’s annual prize-giving last Saturday evening, many club members were recognised for their achievements during the past 12 month. As is customary, everyone patiently waited for the highlight - announcement of the winner of the Boats Gnome - which happened at the very end. The prize winners were Centre Board Hamilton Cup (Overall Line) - Chris Johnston Multihull Cup (Multihull Handicap) Chris Johnston Multihull Shield (Multihull Line) Chris Johnston Keeler Line Honours - MBBC Trailer Sailor Line Honours finishing with exactly 11 line honours wins - Tim Johnston/Paul Dimmock Multihull Line Honours - Ian Hogg Monohull Division Line Honours Tim Johnston/Paul Dimmock Polar Bear Series 3rd Place (33pts) - John Jackman 2nd Place (28pts) - Belinda Wallace 1st Place (25pts) - Mike Phear Winning the Polar Bear Trophy Mike Phear Spring Series 3rd Place (14pts) - Tim Johnston 2nd Place (8pts) - Bruce Haynes 1st Place (6pts) - Matt Algie Winning the Johnston Family Trophy - Matt Algie Bay Series 3rd Place (10pts) - Matt Algie 2nd Place (9pts) - Al Joslin 1st Place (8pts) - Belinda Wallace Winning the Bay Series Trophy Belinda Wallace Steinlager Series 3rd Place (27pts) - Paul Dimmock 2nd Place (26pts) - John Jackman 1st Place (22pts) - Bruce Haynes Winning the Steinlager Trophy Bruce Haynes Flaxmill Bay Series 3rd Place (21pts) - Tim Johnston 2nd Place (15pts) - Matt Algie 1st Place (5pts) - Arnie Leigh Winning the Flaxmill Bay Trophy - Arnie Leigh Offshore Series 3rd Place (34pts) - Matt Algie 2nd Place (31pts) - John Wright 1st Place (22pts) - Mike Phear Winning the Offshore Series Cup - Mike Phear One Off Races New Years Day Regatta Millennium Trophy - Brian Parker Individual Offshore Races Castle Rock - Bruce Haynes Although coming in second to Jamie Hutt on Contrast, Toby’ Mug (Cuvier Island) - Max Ross Tauranga to Whitianga (Line Honours) (elapsed 12 hours 55 minutes and 30 seconds) - Mike Phear Coromandel to Whitianga (Handicap) (elapsed time 21 hours 50 minutes and 1 second)- Tim Johnston Dave Giddens Cup (Mayor Island Line) (elapsed time 9 hours 8 minutes and 29 seconds) - Mike Phear Single/Two Handed Beiby Barometer (Single Handed) Mike Phear Bartlett Cup (Two Handed) - Al Joslin Overall handicap results after all races of the season Haywood Cup - Belinda Wallace Best Attendance MB Service Station Cup Belinda Wallace Fair Play Challenge Trophy - Matt Algie There were five strong contenders for the Boats Gnome award. In fifth place - Arnie Leigh, in a race around the buoys Arnie set off 30 minutes early as he does occasionally. On the leg up to the Windy Buoy from the start in the light and fickle breeze, Arnie was overtaken well before the mark. This on its own does not warrant mentioning, however he was in fact overtaken by a swimmer. In fourth place - Carl Rainsfield for a less than successful tacking manoeuvre during a pleasant rounding of Doctor’s Bay Buoy. In third place - Paul Harris for his washing of his gennaker on the Coastal Classic Race. After flying the gennaker, Paul and crew lost all control of the gennaker, dipping it into the tide multiple times before finally sailing over it and managing to tangle the gennaker around the rudder with wind gusts around 25kts. At this stage one crew member was required to jump overboard and cut the gennaker free to enable boat and crew to continue in the race. In second place - Tim Johnstone, while motoring calmly after the New Year’s Day race into the marina and up towards the pier, Tim Jwas concerned at the speed of which his boat Twentysomething was travelling and ran forward to disembark to protect his yacht. On jumping onto the pier, he caught one foot in the safety lines and landed awkwardly on his other foot, only to break three bones in his heel and spend the next three months in a cast or moonboot. The winner - In an attempt to test his young crew’s ability to sail on their own and while sailing downwind in light air, the skipper of H2Go stacked out on the rail to get as much power out of his yacht as possible only to find that the $2 piece of cord at the end of the safety wire was in poor condition and snapped, sending the skipper into the tide and his crew off without a helmsman. That means the winner for 2015 of the Boats Gnome was Paul Dimmock. Photos by Whitianga’s Matt Algie of the Mercury Bay Boating Club prize-giving held last Saturday. • PLU NG• MBI P LUS P 07 866 0377 M 027 227 7252 E [email protected] A 32 Campbell St, Whitianga Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 13 Catherine’s Comments Catherine Delahunty - Green Party MP The Government Budget last week was pretty revealing. No surplus and very little in the core vital areas of health and education. The environment was mentioned in a cursory manner in relationship to spending more money on water quality collaborations. That sounds great, but in the next breath they gave $25 million to irrigation scheme funding, thus incentivising more large dairy farms to put water quality at risk. They are also spending $87 million on converting forestry into a green desert of dairying in the upper Waikato catchment area, just as the price of dairy products plummets. The utter failure of the National Party's Emissions Trading Scheme was ignored as we continue to be the little country that wouldn't take this issue seriously. Much was made of the first benefit increase in 43 years, but that $25.00 per household was tempered by the news that sole parents would have to find 20 hours a week of paid work when their child turned three years. And then there were cuts to Kiwisaver. Overall the Budget was as opaque as ever with the usual desperate scramble to figure out what was new money and what was in fact a cut. The country is not in great shape. I have been speaking to farming people in the Waikato who say the dairy price will hurt the whole economy as well as indebted farmers because the government has fostered this industry at the expense of more diversification. So with “mine it or milk it” the government's only plan, we are now very vulnerable. I saw just how economic policy affects communities last week when I visited some Auckland front line organisations to discuss what they think of the impacts of inequality. Affordable rental accommodation and food were the leading issues, with many families in overcrowded expensive and cold houses. The unfeeling and horribly bureaucratic policies of Work and Income were also highlighted. Job creation should be a leading policy as the market has failed to create decent well-paid jobs. The Green Party has strong housing polices which would protect renters and make homes more affordable. We have a major commitment to healthy food and schools as hubs for healthcare and food for our kids. We want all families to get a tax credit so they can feed their kids and pay their power bills. The Budget was drafted by people who are insulated from poverty and who are prepared to cut the conservation budget and ignore climate change. Is that leadership in our time? UFB - how does it work and how much will it cost? The installation of Ultra fast Broadband (UFB) in Whitianga will be undertaken by a contractor in partnership with the government once the decision have been taken to go ahead in the area. The contractor is unlikely to be a company that deals with the public. Based on the experience in other areas such as Whanganui, they will provide the service to the street and do the connections to your house after you have entered into a contract for UFB with a retailer. Once the infrastructure is in place, there will be a range of retailers putting their hands up to provide services to households. For Whitianga we won’t know how many retailers there will be until after the cables are in, but in other centres such as Tauranga, there can as many as 30 different companies offering UFB. The typical UFB package, once it becomes available, would include one or more home lines and broadband, or “naked” broadband with no home line. More people seem to be choosing this naked broadband option now and using just their mobile phone for everything. Pricing for the average home use plan is comparable with what most people are paying now for their standard home line/copper broadband mix, but the data caps are much higher and the speeds are substantially faster for the same money. We will as time goes by move towards more internet-based services that suck bandwidth, so today’s 80 gigabyte monthly data allowance might sound like a huge amount (and it is), but it could be eaten up by movies, music and streaming - depending on your lifestyle and family requirements. It is therefore vital - not only for businesses, but also for private households that we get UFB for Whitianga as soon as possible. There are a number of websites available which provide more information www.ultrafastfibre.co.nz/get-ultrafast and www.ufb.org.nz/pricing-plans are two that we found helpful. In order for Whitianga to get included in the first round of the government’s allocations of UFB funding, Thames Coromandel District Council needs as many Whitianga ratepayers and residents as possible to complete the surveys on their website. TCDC must provide their initial submissions to the government by Friday 3 July. There is no guarantee that Whitianga will be allocated funding in the first round, but without strong and urgent support from the local community, TCDC will struggle to make a strong case to government and the rollout could be delayed by months or years. We, at The Informer, would like to encourage you to complete two online surveys that will help TCDC with their bid for broadband for Whitianga. This is the link to the survey for personal home users - www.surveymonkey.com/s/communitybroadband. This survey closes on 12 June. This is the link for business users - www.surveymonkey.com/s/tcdcbroadband. This survey closes almost a week earlier on 7 June. Whitianga 07 866 0070 Tile & Grout restoration work including cleaning, repair work Grout clear/colour sealing, re-colouring silicone work Shower glass/glass cleaning/treatment Phone/txt Jack 021 775 118 • Spouting • Roofing • Water treatments systems • Septic tanks • Hot Water cylinders • New Housing • Alterations • General Maintenance • Solar water heating • All LPG gas installation Kitchens Bathrooms WardroBes Furniture shopFitting Custom Renovations or neW Builds 17 Coghill Street, Whitianga. Phone 07 866 4513, [email protected]. www.dimax.co.nz Page 14 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Rugby Club shows support for St John platinumhomes.co.nz 07 869 5149 On Friday last week Chris Costello (pictured centre) and Wayne Smith (on the left) from the Mercury Bay Rugby & Sports Club handed to Mike Burrows, the Whitianga St John Ambulance Station manager, a cheque for $500 in appreciation of the support the Rugby Club gets from St John. “Injuries can and do happen on the rugby field, during training and during games,” said Chris. “It’s always reassuring to know that professional help is only a phone call away should one of our players or one of our opponents suffer an injury.” Rolla-Tilta-Sectional and custom made doors Garages Automatic Openers Houses We service all makes and models 5 Year warranty on all new doors and openers Sleepouts Your design or ours Licensed building practitioners All concrete work Ph 07 866 5544 or 027 493 2691 71a Cook Drive, Whitianga www.hoylandcontracting.co.nz Rob Duxfield 027 4467 961 • Kitchens • Laundries • Vanities • Walk in robes • Splash backs • Media Units Contact Carol Harker: 866 4111 or 027 22 66 289 www.kitchensoncoromandel.co.nz PLASTERCOAT Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 027 578 0265 [email protected] The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz 0 OAT • CHRIS RC 27 5 Mike 0274 720 882 Ph/Fax 07 866 4643 • Inspections of plastered houses • Earthen Clay Interior Eco plaster finishes • Water resistant plaster for wet areas • Swimming Pools • Exterior plastering and more 2 578 0 6 Website www.testdrill.co.nz Email [email protected] • Inspection Drilling • Cone Penetrometer Tests • Ground Anchoring • Foundations - Excavations • Drilling - Piling • Retaining Walls - Digger Hire KER BA For more information and photo’s visit our website PLAS TE For all your plastering needs Page 15 What’s On the next few weeks Sponsored by Dive Zone Whitianga Tel (07) 867 1580 BUILDING CONTRACTOR Quality workmanship guaranteed Design-Build or Your Plan Alterations & Maintenance Now available for more work in all areas Contact Bernie on any of the following Mob 0274 946 019 Ph 866 4877 Fax 866 4879 Email: [email protected] Page 16 Op-Shops and JP Social Services Op Shops - 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm and Coghill Street (west of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00am - 1:00pm. Also JP at Social Services, every Monday 10:00am - 12:00 noon. Phone 866 4476 for more information. The Church Op-Shop, at St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Owen Street, Whitianga. Open Thursday to Saturday 8:30am - 12:30pm. St John Op-Shop, Coghill Street (east of Albert Street), Whitianga. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm. Phone 869 5416. Every first Saturday of the month a special promotion. Free Community Meals At St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Albert Street, Whitianga. Phone St Andrews on 867 1102 or email [email protected] for more information. Mercury Bay Community Bus Available for transport to hospital, specialist or health related appointments outside of the Whitianga area. Phone 866 4993 for information and bookings. “Whitianga Movers and Losers” (the Old WW’s) Wednesdays 5:00pm - 6:00pm at St Peters Anglican Church, Dundas St, Whitianga. $2 donation (to cover cost of room rent). We promote a slow, steady weight loss based on eating well, nourishing foods and moving more - towards maintaining our our ideal weight and optimal health. New members always welcome. Whitianga Senior Citizens Club Meet Mondays in the Whitianga Town Hall, 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Bowls, scrabble, card games, housie etc. Afternoon tea, 55 plus age group. Contact Pam Phillips (president) 866 5908 for more information. Road Cycling and Mountain Biking Road cycling meet every Saturday at 8:00am at the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Bryan on 022 155 8944 for more information. Mountain biking meet every Tuesday at 5:15pm and every Saturday at 7:30am at the Fire Station intersection, Whitianga. Phone Paul on 021 605 230 for more information. SeniorNet Whitianga Incorporated Classes held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at various times. We give older adults an opportunity to demistify their computers and to learn more about new communications and information technology. Contact Lorna Russell on 866 4215 for more information or to join. Mercury Bay Badminton Every Wednesday 9:30am - 11:00am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Diane on 027 246 1915 for more information. Mercury Bay Indoor Bowling Club Thursday evenings at 6:45pm in the Whitianga Town Hall. New members and visitors welcome. Just come along or phone Doreen on (07) 866 5237 or Alan on (07) 866 4024 for more information. Whitianga Probus Club Meet on the fourth Monday of every month at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club, 92 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Friendly club for seniors. Visitors welcome. Phone Arnold or Vivienne Leigh on (07) 869 5995 for more information. Mercury Bay Table Tennis Every Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Town Hall. All welcome. Phone Pat or Neville on 867 1447 for more information. Whitianga Camera Club Meet the first Monday of every month at 7:00pm at Campbells Steak ‘n Ale, Campbell Street, Whitianga. Phone Kay and Paul Evison on 866 2262 or Lia Priemus on 866 2437 for more information. All welcome. Mercury Bay Creative Fibre Group Spinning, weaving, dyeing, everything to do with fibre. Meet the first and third Wednesday of every month from 10:00am - 2:00pm at the Whitianga Town Hall. Phone Betty on 867 1233 for more information. St John Cadets Meet every Monday from 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the St John Ambulance Station, Cook Drive, Whitianga. Phone Beth on (07) 869 5294 or (021) 241 9757 for more information. Free Anger Management Counselling Sessions For men - Every Wednesday afternoon. Phone Whitianga Social Services on 866 4476 for more information. For women - Every Tuesday morning. Phone Whitianga Social Services on 866 4476 for more information. Operation Cover-Up Meet the last Wednesday of every month at Whitianga Social Services from 1:30pm - 3:30pm. An initiative knitting clothing for Missions without Borders in the Ukraine and Moldova. Phone Brenda on 866 5814 for more information. Whitianga Social Services Youth Space Corner of Bryce Street and Cook Drive, Whitianga. Open Wednesday - Fridays after school. Phone 866 4472 for more information. Whitianga Art Group Meet every Thursday and Friday at the Art Centre in School Road, Whitianga. New members welcome. Phone Heather on 866 4474 or Maryanne on 866 4099 for more information. Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Friday 5 June at the Ray White Auction Rooms, Monk Street, Whitianga with Bevan Williams. From 4:30pm 6:30pm. Entry by donation. Whitianga Social Services Youth Space Girls Night In Friday 5 June from 5:30pm. Natural homemade face and body care - “How to” class + goodie bag. For 12-24 year olds. Corner of Bryce Street and Cook Drive. Phone 866 4472 for more information. Mercury Bay Area School First XV Rugby Saturday 6 June v Te Aroha at Lyon Park, Whitianga. Kick off at 11:30am. Meeting Karpovsky Saturday 6 June at 7:00pm at the Whitianga Town Hall. Cash bar and nibbles from 6:30pm. Tickets $15 each, available from Paper Plus Whitianga. A Creative Mercury Bay initiative (in conjunction with Arts on Tour NZ). Messy Church Sunday 7 June from 4:30pm - 6:00pm at St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Albert Street, Whitianga. For families with children of all ages. Fun and food. Weekly Church Services Mercury Bay Co-operating Parish St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, 9:30am every Sunday worship service and kids friendly Bible sessions with Rev Mary Petersen, Albert St, Whitianga. Anglican Services St Peter the Fisherman, 9:30am Sunday services. All are welcome, Dundas St, Whitianga. Crossroad Encounter Fellowship 10:00am Sundays, cnr Joan Gaskell Drive and Cook Drive, Whitianga. St Patrick’s Catholic Church Weekend Mass Saturday 5:30pm and Sunday 8.30am, Monday - Friday 9:00am (except Tuesday no Mass, Wednesday 12:00 noon). Tairua Sunday 10:30am, Tuesday 9:00am, tel 866 2189. Whitianga Baptist Church 10:00am every Sunday, children’s programme, 112 Cook Drive, Whitianga, tel 866 4027. C3 Whitianga 10:30am every Sunday, children’s programme, 23 Coghill St, Whitianga, email [email protected]. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Meet on Sundays 10:00am - 11:30am at the Whitianga Town Hall. Children’s programme. Phone 021 277 2126 for more information. Seventh Day Adventists Home study group. Phone Laurie/Lois on 866 2808 for more information. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Rescue Helicopter Update with Walter Russell QSM JP - chair of the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust Everyone must be keeping healthy and driving with care as May was a much quieter month for the rescue helicopter, with only 22 missions on the Peninsula, three of which were to Tauranga. Some interesting statistics that have just come through are that of the last 348 missions carried out until 31 March 2015, on average the direct cost of each mission was close to $7,000.00. Of that amount the government pays approximately half through various agencies and the rest has to be funded by fundraising events and donations. A quick calculation shows that the balance required runs into the millions of dollars each year. Every cent counts and we truly appreciate the lengths people will go to Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 in order to support us, to, in turn, support the community. We have started the process to enable the installation of a GPS approach system into Pauanui and Tairua to increase the ability of the helicopter to land in most weather events. This is an expensive facility to establish and we have been thrilled to have the support of a group of Pauanui people who have raised almost all of the start-up funding for this project already. Once the GPS system is established we can then move onto the next Peninsula community site. Should you wish to donate or contact us for any reason, please phone me on (07) 866 5032 or email us at [email protected] or write to us at PO Box 227 Whitianga 3542. Auckland and Coromandel rescue Helicopter Missions from 27 April to 26 May 2015 29.04.15 Hot Water Beach - Responded to Hot Water Beach for a female patient in her 40s suffering a medical condition. Transported to WBH in a serious condition. 03.05.15 Whitianga - Responded to Whitianga for a teenage male patient suffering a bicycle injury. Transported to WBH in a moderate condition. 04.05.15 Whangamata - Responded to Whangamata for a female patient in her 60s suffering a medical condition. Transported to WBH in a serious condition. 05.05.15 Cathedral Cove - Responded to Cathedral Cove for a male patient in his 60s suffering a medical condition. Unfortunately after much effort to revive the patient, he was pronounced deceased. 06.05.15 Paeroa - Responded to Paeroa for a female child suffering injuries after a car accident. Transported her to WBH in a critical condition. 06.05.15 Whitianga - Responded to Whitianga for a female patient in her 60s suffering a medical condition. Transported her to WBH in a moderate condition. 07.05.15 Waihi Beach - Responded to Waihi Beach for a male patient in his 70s suffering a medical condition. Transported him to Tauranga Hospital in a critical condition. 08.05.15 Whitianga - Responded to Whitianga for a female patient in her 50s suffering a medical condition. Transported her to WBH in a serious condition. 09.05.15 Waihi - Responded to Waihi for a male patient in his teens suffering injuries after a rugby accident. Transported him to WBH in a serious condition. 09.05.15 Tairua - Responded to Tairua for a male patient in his 40s suffering a medical condition. Transported him to WBH in a moderate condition. 09.05.15 Mangatarata - Responded to Mangatarata for a female patient in her 60s suffering injuries after a horse riding accident. Transported her to MMH in a serious condition. 09.05.15 Whangamata - Responded to Whangamata for a female patient in her 70s suffering injuries after a fall. Transported her to WBH in a serious condition. 10.05.15 Tauranga Hospital - Responded to Tauranga Hospital to transfer a male child suffering a medical condition to Starship Hospital. 11.05.15 Paeroa - Responded to Paeroa for a patient suffering a medical condition. Stood down en-route and re-tasked to Waiheke Island. 16.05.15 Waiomu - Responded to Waiomu for a male patient in his 70s suffering injuries after a fall. Transported him to NSH in a moderate condition. 17.05.15 Tauranga - Responded to Tauranga, as tasked by RCC, to winch 2 crew off a 44 foot yacht in distress 75 nautical miles off the coast of Tauranga. Returned 2 crew to Tauranga, handed crew over to Police SAR and returned to base. 17.05.15 Thames - Responded to Thames for a male patient in his teens suffering injuries after falling from his mountain bike. Transported him to WBH in a serious condition. 20.05.15 Waikawau Bay - Responded to Waikawau Bay for a male patient suffering a medical condition. Stood down en-route. 22.05.15 Coromandel - Responded to Coromandel for a female patient in her 20s suffering injuries after a MVA. Transported her to WBH in a serious condition. 22.05.15 Whitianga - Responded to Whitianga for a female patient in her 30s suffering a medical condition. Transported her to WBH in a serious condition. 23.05.15 Tauranga Hospital - Responded to Tauranga Hospital for a child needing to be transferred to Starship Hospital. 24.05.15 Coromandel Airport - Responded to Coromandel Airport for a female patient in her 70s suffering injuries after a fall. Transported her to WBH in a serious condition. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 17 3 1 95 4 6 2 87 Sudoku Fishing Report with Alan Proctor Sponsored by H&M Pascoe Tel 0274 852 046 Puzzle 639 Name: ___________________________________________________________ Tel no: ___________________________________________________________ Fill in the boxes using the numbers 1 to 9. Every row and column, and every group of nine boxes inside the thick lines, must contain each number only once. Deliver or mail your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga, to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The weekly prize is one free DVD rental from Civic Video, Whitianga. The winner must please claim his/her prize from Civic Video directly. The last long weekend for a few months brought the expected visitors, many of them keen to get out and try their luck with rod and reel. The Mercury Bay Spearfishing Open also saw quite a few chasing their prey from under the water. Unfortunately the weather didn’t really play ball on Sunday, although the spearos weren’t deterred and went on to have a good day anyway. The Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club held our annual snapper tournament on Saturday and although the number of entrants exceeded all expectations, the heaviest fish weighed in at less than 8kg, which surprised many of us, with the weather dictating where many of the smaller vessels could fish and thereby determining that many top spots were out of bounds. It is fair to say that overall results in the last week have been a little below par, which isn’t what we would normally expect at this time of year. As already stated, sloppy conditions have often limited fishers from reaching those high performing spots, which does make a difference. Many fishers have been reporting that they have been catching snapper around or just below the 30cm mark, which means they are being returned - although there are also reports from some that had over-burleyed and managed to find themselves surrounded by sharks. Best results this week came from those fishing around the Mercury Islands, especially the eastern side when you could get out there. Stanley, Double and Korapuki all had their moments too. The inner islands seemed to be holding more of the smaller fish, although on the right tide the back of Centre is still proving productive. Not much news from shore fishers this week with fairly lean pickings reported from those I did see. We really see this temporary drop- off in fishing success as an anomaly and fully expect things in the next few days to get back to the top fishing we have been enjoying. For those of you that have succumbed to the cooler winter days, give a thought to heading down to our club rooms on Wednesday nights for our $10 roasts. If you have any questions about this or any other of our club activities, call the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club on 866 4121. Tight lines, Alan Last week’s solution Last week’s winner - Rebecca Adlam Your local caring funeral directors Keeping you on the water Open 6 days - SALES SERVICES & REPAIRS Ph 07 867 1280 • Modern chapel & viewing room • • Excellent sound system • • Ample parking • Celebrants available • Funeral Directors for over 140 years Tel (07) 868 6003 The one stop shop for all your boating needs. Located at 14 Moewai Road Whitianga (Out by the Airport) Deals on now... Sounders, Fish Finders and New Outboard Engines *Ask us about Mercury Finance “We know marine and we know great deals” Mobility equipment available available for locals or visitors. Walking frames, crutches, walking sticks and mobility scooters Phone Roger on 07 867 1986 for more information Page 18 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Solar design and installation business Good Energy in new hands Mercury Bay’s dedicated solar design and installation service, Good Energy - owned and operated by James Winter and Tara King since 2010, has recently had a change of ownership. The new owners are Simon and Heather Jack of Whitianga. Other than the transfer of ownership, Good Energy is trading and operating as usual with James still actively involved in the technical support, installation and design part of the business, working alongside Simon on a regular basis. Selling the business has allowed The previous and new owners of Good Energy, the Mercury Bay solar design and installation business. From left to right - James Winter, Tara King, Simon Jack and Heather Jack. James the freedom to study and pursue other interests in the music industry. “We look forward to continuing the good work that James and Tara have put into developing Good Energy into the business it is today,” says Heather. “We have every intention of continuing good relationships with all of Good Energy’s existing clients and will be offering ongoing support for their solar systems. All existing clients and those that have current quotes with Good Energy can be assured that we have made the commitment to ensuring a seamless flow and continuity for all those that may be affected by the change of ownership.” Simon is a registered electrician who worked primarily in the electrical sector in Tauranga. He has a great interest in alternative energy sources and as such is very keen to develop his understanding and knowledge of the solar industry. Heather has a strong background in business management and marketing, as well as a desire to learn more about solar design. She will be the voice behind the phone in the office and handle all sales and support enquiries. The couple spent the last year running Cooks Beach Resort as the on-site managers, which was their introduction to Whitianga, moving to Mercury Bay from Rotorua to take on the role. Both Heather and Simon have fallen in love with the area and have invested in a bare block of land where they intend to build their own self-sufficient offgrid home while becoming permanent members of the Whitianga community. Entering into an alternative energy business has been a step towards developing a self-sufficient lifestyle for themselves and helping others do the same. “We are excited about developing the opportunities for households throughout the Coromandel Peninsula to invest in utilising solar as part of their daily lifestyle,” says Heather. “Solar is a terrific energy source and there are very exciting developments on the horizon in the solar industry. Utilising renewable energy sources is going to become a very important part of our future if we are to lower greenhouse emissions and try to slow global warming. “According to the New Zealand Energy Strategy of 2007, if New Zealand achieves 90 per cent renewable electricity by 2025, then this - coupled with energy efficiency measures will cut greenhouse gas emissions back to an emissions level the country saw in 1990.” 5 Monk Street, Whitianga Office Ph: 07 8671087 Email: [email protected] David: 027 4994833 Tracey: 027 4907988 See us for all your land development, planning and resource consent requirements. www.plannersplus.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 19 US Style Crossword Puzzle US 639 Name: ___________________________________________________________ Tel no: ___________________________________________________________ Go in the draw to win a weekend for two in Queenstown next winter (transport to Auckland Airport, flights, accommodation and $500 spending money included). Deliver or mail (or scan and email) your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga, to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner will be notified by phone. No correspondence will be entered into once the winner has been notified. Conditions apply. MAKING PROJECTIONS BY TOM MCCOY / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ Note - When this puzzle is completed, an apt phrase can be found by starting at the top central letter and reading clockwise. Last week’s solution Page 20 © The New York Times ACROSS 1 Choco ____ (Klondike treat) 5 School 10 Items that may be labeled SMTWTFS 15 Dog sound 18 Series of numbers? 20 Kurt Vonnegut’s “Happy Birthday, ____ June” 21 Former part of the British Empire 22 Joe Biden’s home: Abbr. 23 “I expected as much” 25 Towering 26 Letters of obligation 27 Hair piece 28 Currency that, in one denomination, features a portrait of Linnaeus 30 Garment for tennis, perhaps 32 Not as exciting 34 Return from a store 37 When blacksmithing began 39 Perfect orbit 40 Fanatical 41 66, e.g.: Abbr. 42 Nav. rank 43 Run ____ 44 Boarded 45 “Awe-SOME!” 47 Occurring in March and September, say 50 Shenanigans 53 Dietary no-no 54 Grey and ochre 55 “There is ____ in team” 56 Pleasant inflection 57 Park opened in 1964 59 Easy-peasy task 60 Chocolate- mint brand with peaks in its logo 63 Temperature units 64 Muscles worked by leg presses 65 Anti-Revolutionary of 1776 66 Gets harsher 68 An example of itself 70 Lacto-____ vegetarian 71 Condemned 72 Gone 76 Hockey team with a patriotic name 78 Distraction for many an idle person 80 Bests 81 Capacious 82 Apple desktop 83 National Novel Writing Mo. 84 Havana-to-Palm Beach dir. 85 Eagerly accept 86 See 92-Across 88 Handled roughly 90 Japanese for “teacher” 91 Message to one’s followers 92 Portrayer of 86 -Across in “Elf” 93 Artifact 95 Rakes 97 Cooking-spray brand 98 “The Downeaster ‘____’ ” (Billy Joel song) 100 Sleep mode? 106 Malt product 107 Bring home the gold 108 Barely manage 109 Breakfast-cereal maker 110 Hyphenated fig. 111 Factions 112 “It was just a joke!” 113 Where writing is on the wall? The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz DOWN 1 Mai ____ 2 Bottom-row key 3 Capt. Kangaroo’s network 4 Peak that’s known as “The Great One” 5 Rare notes 6 Crisp bit in a stir-fry 7 Further 8 String after B 9 Seafood-soup base 10 Series opener 11 Privy to 12 Attraction that operates under its own steam? 13 Not in the dark 14 Authorization 15 Catcher of some waves 16 Shake-ups in corps. 17 Champagne holder 19 Seasonal linguine topper 24 “____ even” 29 Expunge 31 Prepare to tie a shoelace, say 32 Staple of quiz bowls 33 Redolence 35 Pro ____ 36 Coin to pay for passage across the River Styx 38 Put another way 39 Strewn 41 Fodder for tabloids 44 Little bugger 45 Wise ones 46 Daughter of Hyperion 48 Condition of sale 49 TV’s “The ____ Today” 50 Bring, as to a repair shop 51 Thoroughfare 52 Dog sounds 54 Collapsed, with “in” 57 Ends of letters 58 Somebody ____ 59 Words below an orange on a license plate 60 One of 24 in a glucose molecule 61 Bagel topper 62 It might contain a list of postal abbreviations 63 Something you might get a kick out of? 64 Steven Wright’s “I intend to live forever. So far, so good,” e.g. 66 Capital city founded during a gold rush 67 Mariana, e.g. 68 ____ a one 69 What’s superior to Lake Superior: Abbr. 71 Hip-hop’s Mos ____ 72 Hematophagous creature 73 Buddy 74 Pass 75 Hand source 77 Bank to rely on 78 Soaks (up) 79 Pouting expression 81 Major stockholder? 83 “m” and “n” 85 Hula hoop? 86 Dumbfound 87 Small change 88 June honorees 89 Parts, as blinds 90 Blind parts 94 Highway number 96 Variety of antelope 99 Fiction 101 Old White House moniker 102 Unit usually seen with the prefix deci103 Equal: Prefix 104 Big name in current research? 105 Point of writing? Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Great turnout for Snapper Tournament UK Style Crossword © Lovatts Puzzles Puzzle UK 639 Name: ___________________________________________________________ Tel no: ___________________________________________________________ With 66 anglers fishing off 26 vessels in the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club’s annual Snapper Tournament held on Saturday last week, the number of entrants far exceeded all expectations and made for a great atmosphere at the club during and after prize-giving. The sea conditions were reported to be a little more sloppy than expected, which limited the fishing area for many smaller boats - especially as the day wore on. This impacted on the number of fish weighed, although not many complaints will be heard from the overall winner who caught the largest fish and was also in the sweepstake, walking away with $940 cash after a good day out on the water. The results were (in the order of angler, vessel, weight (kg) and prize) Open Section 1st Ian Wildman Hannibal 7.54 $590.00 2nd Luke Findlay Early Times 6.195 $354.00 3rd Graeme Tucker Trophy 6.105 $236.00 Junior Section 1st Tom Bennett Renagade 2.355 $35.00 2nd Connor Holmes Yogi 1.25 $21.00 Sweepstake 1st Hannibal $350.00 Pictured are Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club manager Alan Proctor (left) and overall winner Ian Wildman during prize-giving. MERCURY BAY POOLS LTD Concrete Swimming Pool Builders • Design and build new pools • Renovations of existing pools • Pool covers, auto or manual • Quality portable spa pools Contact Peter Thomas M: 0274 806 288 A/h 07 866 4358 www.mercurybaypools.co.nz Win a $6 Big Wednesday ticket. Deliver or mail (or scan and email) your entry to The Mercury Bay Informer, 14 Monk St, Whitianga or PO Box 426, Whitianga, to reach us by 6:00pm Monday each week. The winner must please claim his/her prize from the New World check out manager directly before the Wednesday the week following the issue in which he/she was announced the winner. T HE O DD J OB M AN GARY VINCENT ACROSS No job too small. [email protected] 07 866 0059 021 1466 074 1. 4. 7. 8. 9. 12. 15. 17. 18. 21. 22. 23. Nullified Embezzlement Many-sided figure Hang in folds Hollywood’s movie prizes Superfluous Sailing Pulled strenuously Desires Fine Paled Followed DOWN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 10. 11. 13. 14. 16. 18. 19. 20. Barely Fragrances Uses spade Money reserve False names Eat Garden pest Horse’s cry Made unhappy Glanced through Stratagem Frond Hurried Tangle Last week’s solution Last week’s winner - Neil Moore Exclusive to Bedpost 50% off on all True Comfort Beds Now in store at Bedpost Whitianga Whitianga’s Bedding Specialist Lee Street, Whitianga 07 866 2448 True Comfort made by Seally Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 21 Sport Results MERCURY BAY CLUB SNOOKER Wednesday 27 May Best of three frames. Winner - Warren Bellingham with three straight wins. Two wins for Ken Gibson (runner-up) and Trevor Rashleigh. Highest Break Ken Gibson 22. MERCURY BAY INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Thursday 28 May A general club night was held with a good turnout from members. After three games, the winners were Doreen Davies, Earl Inch, Jim Hargreaves and Allan Gardiner. Runners-up were Rose Stewart, Lyn Wilkins and Keith Denny. Good Sports - Merle Ward, Terry Buchanan, Brian Lawn and Glynne Jackson. Great to see a number of our new members in the results. COOKS BEACH INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Wednesday 27 May 24 players competed. Winners - Norm Strong, Lois MacDonald and Keith Wright. Runners-Up - Trevor Knight, Frank Caulton and Alan Gregory. TAIRUA INDOOR BOWLING CLUB Monday 25 May Despite miserable weather, a good number of bowlers turned out for roll-up bowls. Winners - John McConnell, Ron Annan, Beryl Burrows and Jan Spinlay. Runners Up - Mal Burrows, Margaret Snodgrass, Peter Carverhill and Johnny Morrison. Choc Fish Award - Ken Lowe, Ray Bruce, Shirley Pedersen and Ray Thompson. Raffles - Peter Carverhill, Bev Mancer, Johnny Morrison, Jan Spinlay, Perrine Busby and Joan Smith. MERCURY BAY CONTRACT BRIDGE CLUB Champion Pairs Round 1 - Wednesday 27 May 2015 North/South - 1 Ernie Pitchfork and Sue Gill 70.11, 2 Laura Scaglia and Augusta Canegallo 59.79, 3 Maggie Urlich and Pete Hogg 55.56. East/West - 1 Giorgio Allemano and Annette Cox 63.99, 2 Jenny Layton and Lynne Mitchell 54.17, 3 Martin Lewis and Vivienne Leigh 53.87. HAHEI BRIDGE CLUB Mahurangi Pairs - Tuesday 26 May North/South - 1 Jean Martin and Annette Cox 57.44, 2 Bev Dickie and Val Dwight 52.68, 3 Laura Scaglia and Myra Hoogwerf 52.08. East/West - 1 Robyn Hogg and Peter France 66.07, 2 Dave Dylla and Bill Cummings 59.52, 3 Carol Brewer and Vivienne Leigh 54.17. MERCURY BAY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Ladies’ Golf - Wednesday 27 May The Morrison Cup Handicap Matchplay and a scramble were played. The drawn winners were - Glenice Ebsworth, Maree Denney, Carol Wyborn, Su Marceau, Debbie Holmes, Robyn Evans and Debbie Davidson. Nearest the Pin on #4 (sponsored by Mainly Casual) Raewyn Hill, Nearest the Pin on # 18 in 2 (sponsored by Sheree Henderson) - Debbie Holmes. Men’s Golf - Wednesday 27 May Two in form player's tied for the top prize in the midweek stableford scramble - Mark White and Kevin Smith with 40 points. Next were Bob Haase, Mike Borren and Dennis Price with 38, followed by Gordon Davidson on 36 and Derryck Tomalin on 35 points. Two players had two two's - Garry Morton and Mark White. Men’s Golf - Saturday 30 May See the report on page 27 of this issue of The Informer. PURANGI GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Thursday 28 May A 9-hole stableford competition. This was won by Dick Watson and Barry Scott, both with 20 points. Kevin Milroy, John North and John Hughes 18 points. Jim Mitchell and Bill Cummings 17 points. Saturday 30 May The 18-hole stableford competition was won by Mike Davies with 39 points. Closely followed by Geoff Dalzell and Grant Webster with 38 points, Lauchie Phillips 37 and Dennis Hardie with 36 points. The 4 Ball Best Ball Competition was won easily PENINSULA NAIL GUN SERVICING Ph Ian Sloane 866 4235 027 7263 797 Page 22 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Sport Results (our thanks to the coaches, managers and administrators who provide us with the results) by Grant Webster and Mike Davies with 51 points. Geoff Dalzell and Dennis Hardie and Jim Brown and John Hay had 46 points Net Eagles. This was won by Grant Webster and Mark Osborne. TAIRUA COUNTRY CLUB Ladies’ Golf - Tuesday 19 May The 9-hole ladies played a stableford round as numbers were down on the day. Results - Mike Trott 18, Gillian Martin 14. The 18-hole ladies played the R1 of the Strokeplay Championships and a LGU net round. Winners of the R1 - Bronze 1 Marilyn McCabe 87 gross, Bronze 2 Diana Avery 105 gross. Nett prizes went to - Lisa Radford, 63, Val Bradley 68, Robyn Hayward 70, Tina Larsen 72. Ladies’ Golf - Tuesday 26 May The 9-hole ladies played another stableford round this week. Results - Jill Shanley 16, Gillian Martin 13, Mike Trott 12, c/b Lori Sinton 12. The 18-hole ladies played the Pat Deal 4 Ball Best Ball R1. Results - Robyn Hunter and Nat Hoskin 56, Sue Poland and Val Bradley 60, Robyn Hayward and Marine Horan 63. MERCURY BAY FOOTBALL CLUB Saturday 30 May 11th Grade - Played the Hauraki Plains Hawks and won both games, 8-1 and 6-1. Players of the Day were Sebastian Ross and Marlon Ross. 13th Grade - Played Hauraki Plains and won both games 3-0 and 3-0. Player of the Day was Corbin Duerre. Senior Girls (report by Shannon Trebes) - The Senior Girls’ first Knock Out Cup game led them to Waihi, with the help of their sponsors - the Mercury Bay Lionesses, Mercury Bay Pharmacy, Mana-Nui Motel The 11th Grade Mercury Bay football team would like to thank Pub Charity for their new purple uniforms. They would also like to thank Civic Video for their player of the day vouchers and Mercury Bay Area School for the use of their fields and facilities. Pictured are the 11th Grade team members. Back, from left to right Yu (student coach), Marlon, Jakob, Tristan, Michael, Macy, Quinn and Max (coach). Front, from left to right - Conrad, Cory, Sebastian, Max and Kenzo. Absent - Finn. and Dino’s Pizza. In the first half the Bay girls knew they were up against it this time as Waihi attacked hard. The game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other, with the Bay defenders - led by Monica Harris and Brynn Kays - put under the torch in more ways than one and with Shannon Trebes being taken out multiple times. Waihi shot the first goal one minute before the conclusion of the first half to lead into the break 1-0. The second half led to a tie for the Bay with a great follow-up goal from Hannah Parry to shoot and score. The aggressive nature of the game was causing many injuries to the Bay players. Nearing the end of the second half Monica Harris got badly injured, sitting her out for the rest of the game. One minute to play, Brynn Kays with a power shot hit the top bar to be denied the winning goal. The Bay girls continued to hold their ground for a full-time score of 1-1. Game score 1-1, but being the Knock Out Cup, there had to be a winner. So the two teams set up for an extra two 10 minute halves. Carrying many injured players, but with plenty of heart, the Bay girls ran out trying to hold off vicious attacks from the Waihi strikers, where one beautiful shot slid into the back of the net. In the second half of extra time the girls were hoping to regain a goal to even the score, though to no success. Waihi came out firing, scoring two more quick goals, final score 4-1 to Waihi. Player of the Day went to Freda Ngahuia for outstanding goalkeeping and the Fair Play Award went to Shannon Trebes. The Bay girls were knocked out of the Knock Out Cup. MERCURY BAY JUNIOR RUGBY Saturday 30 May 9th Grade Black - The team played Paeora Green at Paeora this weekend. It was another tough game for the boys playing an experienced team, but a great learning game with great sportsmanship displayed by both teams. The score was 70-35 to Paeora. Dylan Ray was chosen by Paeora for Best and Fairest Player. Our team chose Brynn Ramage for Best and Fairest Player and Jack Hill for Tackler of the Day. 8th Grade - The team travelled to Te Aroha for what promised to be a tough game. The skill levels were awesome, way above other teams, including hard tackles from both sides. The Bay forward pack kept pushing Te Aroha off the ball and our backline attacking hard resulting in three great tries by Riley Jackman. Overall a really hard game with Te Aroha just holding on 20-15. No Fear Tackler went to Colville Green. Best and Fairest Player went to Danyl Thompson-Hudig. Super Shone Player of Day was Riley Jackman. MERCURY BAY SECONDARY SCHOOL RUGBY Saturday 30 May 4th Grade - The 4th grade kicked off the Club Day at Lyon Park in Whitianga last Saturday against Waihi. This was the last game of the first round and the Bay knew it was going to be their hardest yet. The game started with the Bay gaining good ground and having a few good phases of play. They made it to the Waihi try line, only to drop the ball and for Waihi to capitalise on and get a runaway try. The Bay put pressure on Waihi with long periods of possession and the forwards seemed stronger and more persistent. Some good set moves set up James Hocking for the Bay team’s first try of the day. Mercury Bay then missed a few first-up tackles, which allowed Waihi to score a few more tries. Waihi led at halftime 27-7. Mercury Bay took charge of the second half with Fletcher Bale having some strong runs and also turned over a lot of the Waihi ball with backup from halfback Liam McQueen and first five Joe Reynolds. It seemed as if the Bay were going to be back in the game, unfortunately a lapse in fitness and vision allowed Waihi to score four very quick tries. However, the team did not give up and set up Callum Walker for another try late in the second half. Aaron Johansen, Joe Reynolds and Jett Valdez-Olivet put in some big tackles throughout the game. The Bay will need to work on this a bit more at training. Player of the Day went to Fletcher Bale and Achievement Award went to Joe Reynolds. The final Score was 58-12 to Waihi. Thank you also to the team members for their efforts at their fundraiser on Saturday. First XV - It wasn't to be Mercury Bay’s day. Playing an away game at Rhodes Park, Thames in fine but windy conditions, the stage was set for a great contest. Two tries came early to Thames High School. The Bay replied with a try and conversion. By halftime Thames was 20-7 in front and showing dominance in all areas of the game. In the second half Thames was straight back on the score board, the Bay seeming to have forgotten how to tackle. But to the Bay’s credit, they never gave up and finished the game strongly, proving they got it. You just need to want it. Final score 35-7 to Thames. A try to Rayven Ngapo and conversion by Jayden Tegg. Players of the Day as voted by Thames - forward Zarric Auriom, back Rayven Ngapo. A big thank you to all the parents and supporters who made the trip to Thames. MERCURY BAY SENIOR A RUGBY Saturday 30 May See the report and photos on page 28 (back page) of this issue of The Informer. Isabella Street - Whitianga Winter Special Carpet Cleaning Charlie Lodge & Restoration Buy 2 or more tyres from us during for the months of June, July & August 2015, & receive a FREE Wheel Alignment Check valued at $75.00. Bryan & Louana Skelton E-mail: [email protected] Residential Commercial Industrial Carpet Cleaning & Restoration - Marine Carpet & Upholstery Upholstery Cleaning - Stain Removal - Rug Cleaning Vinyl Floor Restoration - Spot Dyeing - Odour Control All work undertaken will be to the AS/NZ Standard Institute of Inspection Cleaning And Restoration Certification T: 07 866 0075 M: 027 2806374 Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz PH 07 866 2245 0274 736 114 Page 23 Donk, O’Connor winners of Coroglen duck competitions Whitianga Tractors & EQUIPMENT CENTRE Sales Repairs Maintenance TRACTORS & SMALL ENGINES Dave and Karen Phone 07 867 1046 a/hrs 0275 832 343 Email [email protected] Dakota Drive Whitianga Your local Husqvarna dealer Peninsula Home Kills SERVING THE WHOLE PENINSULA - 2011 Processing beef, sheep, pigs & all game Top quality sausages, bacon, ham & salami g Knife sharpenin . le b la service avai Phone Nick Burcombe 866 3970 or 021 2125 260 21 Rangihau Road, Coroglen Page 24 If you think that heaviest duck and duck calling competitions at the Coroglen Tavern on a Sunday night at the end of May is a quaint, parochial country kind of activity, spare a thought for poor old Willie Robertson, eking out a living in the backwoods of Louisiana making duck callers for people like Peter O’Connor, who was announced the winner of the heaviest duck competition (that ran for all of May) at the pub last Sunday. Except that Willie Robertson is not old and he most definitely is not poor. Willie’s father Phil invented the Duck Commander brand of duck callers in 1972. Willie has a business degree and developed the brand to the point where Phil Robertson has an estimated net worth of around 15 million US dollars today. “Jump on Google and look up Duck Commander,” said Peter. “You’ll find it quite interesting.” He wasn’t wrong. Peter’s duck weighed in at 1.42kg, winning a respectable $400 prize package - including Coroglen Tavern vouchers and a Birdlands decoy combo pack. His nephew Sam Astwood’s best duck was just 10 grams lighter, taking out second place with a 1.41kg bird. The duck calling competition was well supported according to Michelle Harper, with husband Jed the owner of Coroglen Tavern. “We had seventeen competitors, boys and girls, including some as young as seven. The winner was Warren George, who everyone knows as ‘Donk.’” Steve Tree won the dubious honour of first place in the “worst duck call ever” division. “It sounded like something being strangled,” said Michelle. “It wasn’t pretty.” Sunday night at the pub was a real family affair with lots of kids enjoying the evening too. Peter said that he and his family have been duck shooting in the waterways around Coroglen for more than 30 years. “We shoot for the table, so everything we bring down gets plucked, goes into the freezer and gets eaten by the family. Nothing is wasted.” A duck shooting licence costs $91 and that the money goes towards the preservation of estuaries and the protection of wetlands for future generations. “If we get excessive flooding, it can take out many of the nesting sites, so it’s important to keep up the management of the wetlands areas,” Peter said. By all accounts the numbers have been reasonable this year and the duck shooting season ended last weekend on a high note with happy hunters and larders full of fat ducks ready for the roasting pan. Pictured are Michelle Harper with Peter O’Connor (on the left) and Sam Astwood. The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Classifieds & Public Notices PUBLIC NOTICES NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUDGET? Not sure if the benefit you’re on is correct? Do you need help to clear some debts? Did you know the Mercury Bay Budget Service is in town? Did you know this is a free service run by Budget Federation trained volunteers? Call in and make an appointment at Social Services, 2 Cook Drive, Whitianga. Or phone our receptionist to make an appointment time to suit you - 866 4476 KUAOTUNU LAND SEARCH AND RESCUE AGM 16 June 2015 at 7:00pm at the KSAR base at 20 Monk Street, Whitianga. All welcome. WHITIANGA SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB Special General Meeting Whitianga Town Hall Monday 15 June at 1:00pm. Purpose - to elect a committee for 2015/6. SITUATIONS VACANT WHITIANGA COUNTRY MUSIC & VARIETY CLUB Due to lack of interest, the Whitianga Country Music & Variety Club has decided to hold a Special General Meeting to discuss the implications of going into recess. Meeting at 2:00pm 21 June 2015 at the Mercury Bay Club. Any queries contact Jim Hill (president) on 0274 500 841. WANTED SALES REPRESENTATIVE/ COLD CALL GENIUS Whitianga Office. Casual 20 Hours P/W. Flexible. Email [email protected] for more information. THANK YOU From Rod Goodlet’s Family THIS LOVELY CAT NEEDS A HOME - CAN YOU HELP? Jet black adult female with golden eyes. She was found in Debenham Drive the Thursday before last and brought in to the vets. As her owner has not claimed her, we would like to find her a new forever home. Please phone the vets 07 866 5314 or call in if you can help. During the time of sorrow we learn how much our friends really mean to us. Perhaps you send a lovely card, or sat upon a chair. Perhaps you send beautiful flowers, if so, we saw them there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words that any friend could say. Perhaps you were not there at all, just thought of us that day. Whatever you did to console our hearts, We thank you so much, whatever your part. Alison, Ricky and Emily THANK YOU MERCURY BAY COMMUNITY CHOIR AGM Thursday 25 June, 5:30pm. Unit 29/73 South Highway, Whitianga DEATH NOTICE HOWELLS, EILEEN ROSA - 17/1/1939 - 31/5/2015 Dearly loved wife of Gwyn, loving mother of Stephen, Andrew and Jackie. Devoted grandmother of Alisha, Jessica, Jared, Shannon, Jack, Kane, Luke, Joshua and Cody. Loving mother in law of Joanne, Leanne and Tony. Lost a courageous battle with cancer on Sunday 31st May 2015 at 11:15am. Passing away peacefully at home surrounded by family. Though your smile has gone forever and your hand we can never touch, we will never lose the memory of the women we loved so much. You will always be loved and never forgotten. Eileen’s farewell will be held at St Andrews by the Sea Community Church, Albert St Whitianga on Friday 5th June at 12.00pm. Followed by a private family cremation. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped Eileen and family through this very emotional time. IN MEMORIAM WANTED TO BUY In memory of our beloved fisherman Paul William Barrett who left us one year ago 04/06/2014. Sadly missed by Colin, Phyl, Brendan, Paula, Daniel & Sam. WANTED TO BUY Young keen couple seeking lawnmowing business/round to buy. Have previous experience. Phone 027 879 9176. TREE SERVICES GOT a DEAD or ALIVE VEHICLE $ $ $ Free removal, cash paid Peninsula wide TREE SERVICE Any tree work at all. Free quotes. Phone Jeremy on (07) 866 0118. 0800 227 3867 WORK WANTED HOUSE WASHING Detergent Soft Wash, Roof Clean/Treatment, Window Cleaning. Phone Russell Short on 866 2097 or 0273 602 937. MIKE’S MOWING $25 empty sections, fortnightly or monthly mowing. Free edge spraying. Free quotes. Phone Mike or Deb 866 4678 or 027 320 1703. LAWN MOWING AND RUBBISH REMOVALS Reliable service. Free quotes. Great price. Phone Rebecca 021 064 7659 or 07 867 1586. THE BESS HANDZ EMBROIDERED MONOGRAMS Alterations, repairs, zip and hem service. Phone 866 5277. CHIMNEY SWEEP 2nd Hand Covers HorseTransport Saddlery Cover Repairs FARRIER Clean and efficient service. Phone Ian now on 866 5344. Ron Cooke 866 5984 027 498 4447 Tricky Trees • • • • Pruning Felling Stump grinding Firewood Call Chris Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz • • • • Hedge maintenance Crown reductions Difficult removals Chip waste to mulch 021 240 9909 Page 25 Classifieds & Public Notices FOR SALE HOME BREW SUPPLIES Full range available. Mercury Bay Pharmacy FOR SALE Dry ti-tree $120 per load delivered. Phone 866 3026 FIREWOOD Dry pine, shed stored. $80m³. Free delivery Kuaotunu, Matarangi, Whitianga. Other areas may incur delivery fee. Phone Max 867 1361 or 027 495 8033. BOATS WANTED WE NEED YOUR BOAT NOW!!! Quality late model trailer boats needed for sale on behalf! We have buyers waiting! Call the team at Wh itianga Marine Centre today on 867 1182 or come in to 233 South Highway, Whitianga. CATTERIES KRISTIN’S BOARDING CATTERY Vet nurse, warm, clean, secure, outdoor run. Phone 866 4724. Bella Cattery 5 Golf Road Whitianga Hours 8am-10am and 4pm-6pm Inspections Welcome Phone 07 866 5631 FOR HIRE ART PROJECT FIREWOOD Dry Pine $90 for 1.2m³ www.trickytrees.co.nz or phone Chris on 021 240 9909. POLES, Do you need S.E.D H5 poles for retaining or house foundations? Timber and poles all lengths available. Oriental trellis made to order. MB Timber & Fencing Supplies 225 South Highway Ph: (07) 866 2457 FIREWOOD, hardwood 2m³, $160 delivered. Ph: 021 102 1081 SPLIT DRY FIREWOOD $70m³ Free delivery, including Hahei and Cooks Beach. Phone Jeff 021 480481. CHURCH SERVICES ANGLICAN SERVICES TOY LIBRARY WHITIANGA TOY LIBRARY Isabella Street (off Coghill St) Open Tuesday 4pm - 6:30pm and Friday 10am - 12.30pm. New members welcome. ~Toys for Hire~ TO LET MARINA BERTH, Whitianga. Ph: 027 477 9176 STORAGE SHEDS available, various sizes, reasonable rates. Dry and secure. Free furniture trailer available - conditions apply. Ph: 07 866 5147 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & HOMES FOR RENT “Our expertise in property management will ensure your investment property is well looked after. You can just sit back and relax. We also offer a selection of quality rental homes for tenants.” We welcome your enquiry at 7 The Esplanade (by the wharf). Robyn Turner 866 0098 or 027 550 0120 [email protected] Licensed under the REAA2008 St. Peter the Fisherman Dundas Street, Whitianga Sunday Service: 9:30am ALL WELCOME Enquiries Ph 869 5577 www.anglicanchurchwhitianga.co.nz Call Krissie Brand Licensed Property Manager with 13 years local experience Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 Understanding the Coromandel Since 1960 07 866 5824 or 027 273 4420 Long term & holiday. Free rental appraisals. Landlords & Tenants, for all your rental requirements. GOT A COSTUME PARTY COMING UP? Call Diana at “Get Frocked Costume Hire.” Phone 866 4334 or 027 210 7557. COURIER SERVICE WANTED ! Quality homes for quality tenants. VEHICLES FOR SALE GARAGE SALE SAT 6 JUNE, 12 Annette Place, Whitianga, 8:00am - 1:00pm. HEALTH SERVICES NATUROPATH MEDICAL HERBALIST Registered ILLNESS can benefit from support of plants and nutrition. Leanne Halliwell 0274 588 626 or 07 866 5899 Page 26 08 Mitsubishi Fuso 4 berth M/Home $84,900 08 Mitsubishi Fuso 6 berth M/Home $84,900 05 Toyota Corolla S/W, only 46,000km $10,900 04 Toyota Corolla S/W, auto, facelift $7,900 04 Toyota Corolla S/W, auto, 175kms $6,900 03 Toyota Rav 4 LTD, auto, silver $8,950 03 Mazda Atenza S/W, auto, 2.3lt $7,500 98 Toyota Camry GL sedan, 5spd $2,900 94 Toyota Celica, 5 spd, silver $3,200 94 Nissan Sunny, 1.5 auto, tidy $1,700 19 Campbell Street, Whitianga www.coastalautos.co.nz The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 Andrew Fleming Trophy winners Last Saturday the Andrew Fleming Trophy was played for at the Mercury Bay Golf & Country Club. The format was foursomes played over 36 holes. The field was made up of 17 pairs. The winners were Bob Haase (pictured left) and Muzz Bennett (pictured right). They were followed by Geoff Lowe and Shane Hardy and John Lister and Stuart King. Bob was also Nearest to the Pin among the senior players (those with a handicap 0 - 18). Wayne Cosgrave was the junior player (a handicap higher than 18) who was Nearest to the Pin. The senior player who had the Longest Drive was Andrew Fleming (the donor of the trophy that was played for) and among the junior players Stuart King had the Longest Drive. Town too good for Country in squash clash Last Saturday saw the second year in a row the Town v Country Shield (or broken racquet) of the Mercury Bay Squash Club having been up for grabs after a break of more than 15 years. Town (those living within the Whitianga town boundaries) won the shield last year and this year, despite a valiant effort, Country (those living outside Whitianga, primarily from the “Dark Side” - the Cooks Beach, Hahei, and Hot Water Beach area) again had to make peace that they won’t be able to transport the shield on the ferry across the Whitianga River and triumphantly parade it down Link and Purangi Roads. Of the nine games played, Town won six. Pictured are the top players of the two teams - Keegan Wells representing Country (left) and Mark Jones representing Town with the shield prior to their game. M O FR 5 $2 LAWN MOWING | EDGING | GRASS/LEAF REMOVAL | TREE PRUNING Customised contracts to suit your personal requirements. One off jobs, weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Just call or email for a fast and friendly quote. Issue 639 - 3 June 2015 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 27 Good win for Mercury Bay Senior A rugby team on Saturday By Dwayne Mansell - Mercury Bay Senior A rugby team coach Last Saturday the Mercury Bay Senior A rugby team took on Hauraki North at Lyon Park in Whitianga in front of a big crowd of supporters. A win by North would see them take out the first round cup of the Thames Valley Rugby Union Senior A Competition. With North beating the Mercury Bay team twice last season convincingly, the Bay knew they had to come out firing. North pressured the Bay line from early on and missed an early penalty attempt, but the Bay boys were able to fight back and end the half with a penalty and a well-worked team try by Maui Paurini-Hakaria to go into halftime 8-0. Mercury Bay started the second half playing into the breeze. The boys were able to hold onto possession and, with some strong play, Jesse Hewitt-Van Der Putten was able to score a converted try in the corner. North fought back in the last 20 minutes, successfully kicking a penalty goal, but weren't able to cross the Bay line. The Bay boys were able to then turn defence into attack and captain Kieran Ramage scored the team’s third try for a final score of 22-3 to Mercury Bay. Beau Hamilton kicked one penalty and two conversions. The second round draw of the Thames Valley Rugby Union Senior A Competition comes out this week. Keep an eye out for this weekend’s Senior A game on the Mercury Bay Rugby & Sport Club’s Facebook page, the Informer website or the black board at Lyon Park in Whitianga. The team would like to thank everyone who supported not only them, but also the club day and glow in the dark party, on Saturday. Both the day and the party in the evening were a huge success. Pictured on the photo left is Maui Paurini-Hakaria scoring for Mercury Bay in the first half. On the photo right are the Senior A team members after the game on Saturday with their coaches, some family members and members of the Mercury Bay 9th Grade Gold team who were ball boys during the game. Photos by Marie Relph.