Rail Trail Duathlon Although entries were down over all, local entries were up! Three teams entered the two day Otago Central Rail Trail Duathlon and Marissa Graham entered as an individ-ual - coming in as first female. Team High ‘n’ Dry (below left) consisted of Deirdre Lithgow, Deborah Paterson, Geraldine Duncan and Ann-Marie Paterson. Jo Dowling, Becs Smith and Bailey Dowling made up another team and the cleverly named team ‘I B PRO FUN’ (below right) saw Hannah McAtamney, Laura Dowling, Becky McAuley and Amanda Graham win bronze medals!

Deb Paterson says, “the first bike leg from Alex to Lauder was a hard uphill grind in the heat! Pretty tough! Day two was great downhill and cooler teams and really pushed ourselves! It was great having quite a few locals in the event! For our team it was a personal challenge and to finish the event was awesome!”

Cavalcade After hosting a successful arrival of the Cavalcade in Ran-furly last year many locals took to the trails and arrived this year in Outram for the ‘Out West Country Fair Day’. Questions surrounded the event given the drought and land owners were torn as to if they’d give land access but all went ahead! The Maniototo Junior Rugby Club again

catered Jim Hore’s trail as it is a great fundraiser!

Farms and Stations en-joyed hosting the various trails as riders, wagons and walkers made their way to Outram. Hugo Paterson (left) of Deep-dell Station was treated to a bit of a ride too!

Download on line from www.maniototo.co.nz/contacts-links MARCH 2015

Phone Amie on (027) 264 3766 or email

info@maniototo.co.nz

FREE

HUNTER STEVENSON - ALL INSURANCE WITH ASSURANCE - 027 438 1288 (SEE FULL AD PAGE 7)

HOW EVENTFUL! February, once again, was event focused in the Maniototo with locals perhaps a little stretched to get out and about to as much as they could! How wonderful to have such a lot on in a small community!

Maniototo A&P Show A scorching hot day was officially opened by invited patron Shayne O’Connor - quite fitting given the cricket World Cup was about to begin! Neville Wahrlich reported good entries into the equestrian events with approximately 50 adult and 50 young riders. Given the testing growing con-ditions there was a commendable turnout for the Horticul-tural and Industrial division in the stadium. En Hakkore catered the morning/afternoon teas and lunch in the Rugby Club Rooms for the first time (a welcome solution to the Combined Churches of the Mani-ototo stepping back after doing it for many years). The Maniototo Young Farmers held successful dog trials with Tim O’Neill (right) and his dog Salve winning Open Huntaway, Young Farmers Cup and most points overall.

Festival in the Park There were moments where the skies threatened to rain down on the newly located festival but it managed to hold off before pelting down just after 6pm. Around 1000 peo-ple came and went throughout the day to enjoy a relaxed

atmosphere and great variety of live music. Many raved about the new loca-tion on the grass, sur-rounded by

trees and a bit of shade. Lucky members of the crowd took away a helicopter ride, free travel and family passes to Queenstown Luge and Gondola from supporting the event raffle.

2

FORWARD PLANNING 2014 MAR Sat 7th Waipiata Husband and Wife Tournament and

Strath Taieri A&P Show (page 5)

Mon 9th & Tues 10th

Patearoa Collie Club Trials

Fri 13th RSA raffle night at Ranfurly Hotel

Sat 14th Maniototo Area School Formal

Wed 18th Maniototo Business Breakfast (page 10)

Sat 21st & Sun 22nd

Kids Hunting Competition in Becks (page 5)

Mon 23rd Otago Anniversary Day

27th & 28th Kyeburn Collie Club Centenary

APR 3rd Good Friday

5th Daylight Saving finishes (clocks back)

6th Easter Monday

25th ANZAC Day

26th Ladies Day (page 4)

27th ANZAC Day holiday

MAY 2nd Duck Shooting Opening Weekend

16th & 17th Bards, Ballads & Bulldust Festival

New Zealand Couriers are happy to support your community publication Positively Maniototo.

Call 0800 800 841 for your courier needs

SCHOOL 2015 TERM DATES

TERM 1: Tuesday 3rd February - Thursday 2nd April Otago Anniversary Day 23rd March TERM 2: Monday 20th April- Friday 3rd July Anzac Day observed 27th April Queens Birthday 1st June TERM 3: Monday 20th July - Friday 25th September TERM 4: Monday 12th October - Wednesday 16th December (half day only) Labour Day 26th October

THANK YOU A big thank you to all those who made “Festival in the Park” happen. Good venue and good music!

Special thanks to Ewan and his team. To the stalls - it takes time and preparation setting up and dismantling.

We appreciate the work put into giving us a good way to spend an afternoon.

Thanks Margaret Hore

COLLIE CLUBS Patearoa Collie Club Trial Dates this year are 9th and 10th of March from 8am each day. Spectators are wel-come both days—just head up behind the Hamilton's Dam on Gorge Road. Food will be available for purchase at all times

Kyeburn Collie Club Centenary is on March 27th and 28th. All past and present members and supporters welcome to join the celebrations. Enquiries to Logan Dowling 444 9095. Courtesy Coach available.

Near new, Naseby holiday accommodation available now, reasonable rates, short or long term. Phone or txt Barbara 021 2555618

MANIOTOTO BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS 4th February Club Night (1)

1st Ken Lloyd – Frances Wood New Members! 2nd Diane Barton – Suzy de Louw

3rd Donella Hore – Doris Gibson 11th February Club Night (2) 1st Doris Gibson - Angela Wilson 2nd Judy Elder – Audrey Johnston 3rd Basilia Beers – Jill Crosbie

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Trustee (voluntary position)

A vacancy exists for a Trustee to sit on the Community Trust of Maniototo

Do you have a strong interest in the many sporting, cul-tural and charitable aspects of community life within the Maniototo?

Have the ability to fairly assess without prejudice or pre-determination applications for funding against prescribed criteria that must bring benefit to the community?

Have experience to work as part of a team to manage and grow an investment portfolio?

If so please make an application in writing detailing your relevant community experience and why you would like to be considered for this position in the first instance to:

Expressions of Interest – Trustee Position

Chairman Maniototo Community Board C/- Janice Remnant Community Facility Officer 15 Pery St Ranfurly

Applications close: 5.00pm Thursday 26 March 2015

Note: Incumbent Trustee is eligible for reappointment.

3

PATEAROA PLAYGROUP Mary Heaney from REAP will be taking playgroup at Pat-earoa on the 3rd Monday of each month 10am - 12 midday.

Held at the old Patearoa School, it’s a great time for children and parents to get together and playgroup will be on regard-less of the weather.

Please remember to bring along sunhat, sunscreen, snacks and drink bottles.

Any queries please phone Debbie Paterson 444 9280

LITTLE LIBRARIES Positively Maniototo interviews a couple of women who were based in the Maniototo last month …

Tell us a little bit about who you are and your career in broadcasting ...

We are Julie Shapiro and Miyuki Jokiranta, from the Austra-lian Broadcasting Corporation's year-old Creative Audio Unit. We produce two weekly shows for ABC's "ideas network”, concentrating on narrative work.

What gave you the idea to do a documentary on little librar-ies? I backpacked around New Zealand back in 1998, and first saw the Waipiata library back then (below). Even checked some books out, while staying at Pete's Farm Lodge (then Pete's Farm Hostel).

I'd noticed other small libraries around the North Island as well and, as I was just getting into documentary and radio work back then, the seed was planted that these would be a rich and curious subject for a documentary. Over the years

I've thought a lot about the buildings, their histories, the peo-ple who have kept them going over the years, and wondered about their place in today's communities.

Who has commissioned this work and where will it be heard? The BBC World Service has commissioned a 26-minute radio documentary, "Circulation: The Search for Tiny Libraries in New Zealand." So it will literally be heard all over the world (I believe in mid-April).

Highlight of the Maniototo? The long drives under a changing sky, with dramatic land-scape dotted with horses, cows and sheep. The colours, the sense of space, and the peacefulness. Also memorable were the wonderful people who we met, sleeping out in the cot-tage at Pete's Farm, chatting with Denise on Burn about our project, the sense of com-munity that we found every-where we stopped. And, of course, every library we pulled up in front of in Naseby, Patearoa (right), Kye-burn, and Waipiata...

Where to from here? We're back in Sydney and Melbourne now, back to producing our shows and regular CAU programming. I have a feeling both Miyuki and I will be burning some midnight oil to put the documentary together. We gathered close to thirty hours of tape, so need to sort, listen to and log that before getting into the production mode.

4

BURN729AM UPDATE Denise Baddock

Despite the disappearance of our large red blow up jandal in the first week of our Summer Promotion and the wooden replacement disappearing in

week six, Burn729am would like to thank our sponsors and all the people who entered the draw with the location of it over the last six weeks. Thank you to Pete and Pauline McDonald for relocating the jandal to the new site each week and to the landowners who allowed it on their properties. Congratulations to the weekly winners of the chocolates - Grant Pullar, Janet Parker, Linda Varcoe, Rose Sneddon, Norma Francis and Conrad from Oturehua and to the overall winner Miranda Smith of Wedderburn who picked up a $50 BBQ meat pack on behalf of Burn729, a 24 pack of Speight's from Ranfurly 4 Square and two bot-tles of wine and cushion cover depicting the Rail Trail from Wedderburn Cottages.

You will have noticed some different voices gracing our airwaves in recent weeks. It’s been a pleasure to have the young ones come on board. Nellie McIntyre joined us in January prior to heading off to Christchurch to broadcasting school in Feb-ruary. Nellie (who has connections with the Ida Valley / Poolburn area) will be back at holiday time for more air-time and we wish her well in her venture. Nate, Robyn Newall’s grandson joined us briefly and will be back when other commitments allow. Kenzie Stuart is doing an hour once a week for her Duke of Edinburgh Award and Char-lotte Hutton-Aitkens has taken up the challenge after her brother Jack headed off to boarding school.

To all the ladies of the Maniototo, mark Sunday 26th April on your calendar for a great day out for some fantastic retail therapy and pampering before the winter chill is upon us. Clothing, jewellery, massage and beauty ther-apy, makeup, homewares, to name a few, will be available on the day, details to follow next issue. BEST WORD OF MOUTH IN THE MANIOTOTO We continue to have great responses to our daily quiz questions and promotions here on Burn. Business and community groups please keep us in mind for your adver-tising requirements and updates. Price schedules avail-able, enquiries welcome.

‘Keeping it live and local here on the Maniototo’

Contact details: Burn729am/87.9fm. Call 444 9729 or email burn729am@scorch.co.nz and ‘Positively Maniototo’ call 444 9993 or email amiepont@gmail.com

Agricultural Spraying

Precision Drilling

Direct Drilling

Talk to James Pyle about Fodder Beet and Spray and Drill packages

0274479822

Proudly servicing

the Maniototo

AGE GAP How about a 100 year age gap? At a Sub Centre fixture at Waipiata in early February, Champion Triples from each club was played over two days. Teams from Waipiata, Naseby, Patearoa, Middlemarch and Ranfurly competed.

The final between Patearoa (Beryl Reid, Donella Hore and Rae Paterson) played Ranfurly (Dolina Keenan, Linda Varcoe and Maureen Kennett). Ranfurly won a close game!

Amazing that the combined age of the Patearoa team was 255 years and the Ranfurly team 155 years!

Bowls surely is a sport for all ages!

L-R—Donella Hore, Rae Paterson, Beryl Reid, Linda Varcoe, Dolina Keenan and Mau-reen Kennett.

SITUATION VACANT PART TIME TELLER POSITION AVAILABLE MONDAY-FRIDAY 12PM - 2PM.

ADDITIONAL CASUAL HOURS WHEN REQUIRED.

SEE TRACEY OR PAULINE AT WESPAC RANFURLY

5

Mrs Fridays Preschool & Nursery

27 Bute Street

Children 0-5 years Hours 8am – 5pm

20 hours free for all 3 & 4 year olds New Lunch Menu

Free meals for 3&4 year olds using ALL their 20 hours

Get Ready for School Programme Qualified Teachers

Phone us now or call in anytime and secure your space in our

family friendly environment.

Contact Lexie 444 8312

Phone or text 027 448 9233

mrsfridaysranfurly@gmail.com

STRATH TAIERI SHOW Head along to the Strath Taieri A&P Show on the 7th of March to enjoy a fantastic day of spectator enjoyment. Take in the sights of American and Australian Classic cars! Hot Rods and custom cars will be on display.

Be entertained by those crazy local farmers as they go head to head in the iconic musterers race.

Take on the winners of last year’s inaugural Spouse Carrying Compe-tition - Kate and Matt O’Connell. Line up at the start and be in to win your spouse’s weight in refreshments!

Conjure up an outfit for your pet and enter them into the Pet Section. There’s a $300 prize up for grabs generously donated by Patrick Tisdall Contracting.

See you at the Strath Taieri A&P Show on March 7th!

Becks White Horse Hotel’s 5th Annual

KIDS HUNTING COMPETITION 21 & 22 March

Weigh in at 11.30am Sunday at Becks Hotel car park Entries close Friday 13th March.

BBQ lunch available

Categories include: Team—Heaviest combo bag Individual - Heaviest combo bag Team/individual - Heaviest bag of 15 rabbits

(combo bag to include rabbit, hare, possum, magpie and a gutted nanny goat) New category—eligible for 10-15 year olds

Heaviest sow/boar (gutted)

$5 per person $15 per person $15 per team (max 3 people)

Entries close Friday 13th March

Email duncans@scorchotago.co.nz or phone Paulette on (03) 447 3401

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly

about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” George Eliot

6

ART ON THE RAIL TRAIL

Dates: Running until Tuesday, 7 April 2015

The Central Otago District Arts Trust and the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust initiative showcasing our talented Central Otago artists had a suc-cessful opening on Waitangi Weekend. Maniototo ‘hosts’ include Ida Valley Kitchen, Hayes Engineering Works & Café, Oturehua Railway Hotel, Oturehua General Store, Wedder-burn Tavern, Ranfurly Hotel, E-Central Café, The Practice and Black Forest Café. Brochures including map and detail-ing artists at each location are available at each participat-ing establishment.

HAZ HAPPY TO HELP On the 30th of January Mataura hosted the Otago Southland Fire Brigade conference. Ranfurly resident James Hazlett was handed over the Chair as President of the Otago South-land Provincial Fire Brigade Association.

James has been part of the executive for the past 3 years and this year in his presidential role he will lead the execu-tive team in supporting the 72 brigades that are members of the Otago Southland area.

James and Jayne will attend function nights and honour nights held by brigades from Bluff to Oamaru. They will also attend many competitions run by the OSPFBA including the recent Southern Challenge held in Oamaru, Waterways com-petitions and the Road Crash Rescue challenges which Ran-furly have a very successful team in. It will certainly be a year of travel and interesting navigation to the small bri-gades in these regions.

James knows his experience as Chief of the Ranfurly Brigade will help to support other volunteer brigades and in turn he is bringing back new knowledge to help support the Mani-ototo Community.

James Hazlett and wife Jane at the Otago Southland Fire Brigade conference

L-R: Skip King, Central Otago Arts Trust Coordinator Maxine Williams, The Prac-tice owner Amie Pont, artist Luke Anthony and Trevor Mira on the first day of Art on the Rail Trail. Photo courtesy of Jan MacKenzie.

users.

7

Hunter Stevenson Insurance Broker

Farm Insurance Business Insurance Personal Insurance Financial Advice

Time to get serious about in-surance with the recent changes.

Would you like advice from a ‘local’ and not a website or 0800 number?

Give me a call to arrange a no obligation discussion about your situation. I will visit you. (03) 471 6800 (027) 438 1288 or hstevenson@ofs.net.nz

Locally owned

The chance came to move to the Maniototo through her cousin Shelley Jones. “Shelley had bought the very run down building just before the Oturehua turn off. After a huge reno-vation, I came down to help her run it as ‘Whiskery Bills Café & Bar.” Zee had worked for a bit of fun in a pub in Auckland in the past but this was her first time in hospitality so serving cof-fee was rather new to her. The café was open for about four years and Zee stayed there for three before moving into Ran-furly.

Zee now has a mix of paid and volunteer roles in the commu-nity. You’ll see her pulling pints at the Ranfurly Hotel and hear her on Burn radio (pictured left with student Aroha Cromb).

She has a hand in early childhood once again as a volunteer at Ran-furly Playcentre (and is also working towards her course requirements), volunteers at the community library and also works with Healthcare NZ in a relief carer role.

Zee’s parents still live in Auckland and, although Zee has not had children herself, she has a large extended family and is a grandmother now through Whangai (tradition of whanau raising other whanau member’s children). Zee has a brother in Ireland who is training to become a special needs teacher and is married with three children. Her goal is to visit them all in Ireland. “The Boyle family has a crest and I’d like to explore that history.”

“After moving to the Maniototo, little by little, I began to con-trol less and truly started living. I began to communicate more openly. The Maniototo has taught me a whole different way of life. There’s so much more than climbing the corporate ladder. Life’s about the people in it, not money and possessions. I’ve learnt to live more holistically, to be nicer to people. We need to be a bit nicer to one another. I appreciate the magnificence of this area. The Maniototo has long invisible arms and when-ever I’m away up North there’s this pull to bring me back.”

WHERE WERE THEY WHEN? Positively Maniototo will be catching up with familiar faces in the community to see where they came from and what brought them here. Our first ‘import’ is Zerena ‘Zee’ Boyle. You may recognise her face and you may also recognise her voice!

Zee’s Story Zee was born in North Shore hospital, raised in Auckland and her parents farmed in Kaipara. “I’m from good, hard working stock,” she says. Zee was a self proclaimed ‘rebel’ at school, leaving early and uneducated without quite un-derstanding the importance of education until down the track a bit. In 1989, after working in various factories such as Kambrook (appliance manufacturers), Zee went to Teachers Training College and was accepted into Primary teaching but in the end went into Early Childhood. A very serious car accident at the age of eighteen changed her life forever. The accident resulted in over twenty years of on and off operations and being told she would never see properly ever again. It was this time Zee says, “that started my journey on the mantra of ‘never say never’. After years of training myself, positive thinking and special lenses I can see well today.”

After the accident and a few years in early childhood, Zee entered the business world, working for BAYCORP (debt collection agency) and eventually became Team Leader. She also went to Australia for eighteen months as well as working on the Club Med circuit in her mid 20’s. “I worked in the kids club and in the circus. I was a trapeze performer in the circus. I did a bit of everything,” she says with a laugh. “I fully recommend cruise boat work to young peo-ple wanting to see the world. I got to go to places such as New Caledonia and the Maldives. It completely takes you out of your comfort zone.” Zee admits a difficult time of control and leaning on alcohol a little too much. “I was a controller. It was my way or the highway. It wasn’t healthy.”

8

Domestic & Commercial Contracting

Home Appliances

Fujitsu Heat Pumps Irrigation & Stock Water Pumps

SHOWROOM: 29 Charlemont St, Ranfurly Ph/fax 03 4449-314

Mob: Doug 0274388380 or Rob 0274478627 Email: grahamelectrical@xtra.co.nz

CELEBRATING SIXTY YEARS Graham Electrical Limited has a long and well respected his-tory in the Maniototo. Bill Graham started the business as a contractor back in 1955 from the building in Mitchell Street using an old Chevy as his first truck (below).

There was then a move to the current Off The Rails building (below) in Charlemont Street which was previously George Bell Ranfurly (saddler and radio shop)

Two of Bill’s sons joined the company in apprenticeship roles. Rob starting in 1973 and Doug in 1977. In 1978 the move to Charlemont Street was made with the opening of a new showroom and office in the old Otago Farmers building (below).

In 2002 the Trust Bank building next door was purchased, a wall knocked out and the showroom was opened in 2005. The company also owns depot buildings on Mitchell Street which are used as a workshop and storage.

The very first customers Bill worked for when he started Gra-ham Electrical Ltd were Chap and Donella Hore at Stonehenge and now, 60 years later, the company is still involved in all Stonehenge’s Electrical work. They’d like to take the oppor-tunity to thank the Maniototo for it’s long history of support-ing local business.

FAMILY TRADITION CONTINUES Recently married, Nic (son of Doug and Jo) and Amanda Gra-ham returned from their overseas travels and have now set-tled in Ranfurly. Nic is set up with his own van and is a fully qualified electrician, approved heat pump installer, appli-ance serviceman, Freeview and data cable installer and adds an extra pair of hands to the company.

Three generations of electricians from the same family have worked for the same company which is rare for any trade!

THE TEAM: William (Bill) Graham Part time electrician Robbie Graham Electrician, Qualified Fire Alarm Technician Doug Graham Electrician, Inspector, Appliance Technician Nic Graham Electrician, Appliance Technician Jo Graham Shop, Administrator and Sales

L-R Doug, Rob, Bill and Nic Graham with their fleet outside the Mitchell Street depot

9

Ten years after celebrating 50 years in business, Graham Electrical Limited is celebrating 60 years of continued sales and service to the Maniototo. To mark the occasion they are having a birthday sale with all in store stock reduced in price during March.

BIG BRANDS Rob says: Graham Electrical continues being a member of Appliance Connexion, New Zealand’s biggest appliance group and, now with it’s expanded product access, can sell and service more big brands such as Electrolux, Westing-house, Haier, Mitsubishi and Maytag alongside the Fisher & Paykel and Fujitsu appliances and heat pumps we’ve been associated with for over 50 years.

Other brands include Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Sharp Audio and Visual, Lowara pumps, Sunbeam, Goldair, Breville and many other smaller appliances.

LED LIGHTING New technology with LED lighting means a lot for money saving and heat loss prevention. GEL is retrofitting down light installs where other fittings are not only costly with lamp replacement but also when the log burner has been lit all the heat disappears into the ceiling cavity. All fittings we supply can have insulation covering the fitting. The fittings are completely sealed meaning no heat loss. Call in for ad-vice and free, no obligation quotes.

RE-WIRING Graham Electrical Ltd also specialise in rewiring installations which have old conduit or rubber cabling in them. Now days insurance companies require a certificate of compliance for all types of buildings. We can inspect, locate any problems and remedy them. GEL will remove old cabling systems and upgrade switchboards etc for compliance.

A full range of service and installation work is available in-cluding: New housing Woolsheds Dairy conversions Pump sheds Heat pumps Ventilation Appliance repairs Refrigeration repairs Data cabling Satellite installs Fire Alarm Systems Emergency lighting Commercial appliance repairs

Over the years Graham Electrical Limited has made and in-stalled a variety of commercial chillers (right).

There have been numerous people undertake apprentice-ships through Graham Electrical including Robbie Dobson, Andrew Blue and Kevin Johnston.

Graham Electrical are also a recognised employer of New Zea-land Fire Fighter volunteers. The partnership between the Fire Service, volunteers and their employers is based on mu-tual benefit. The Fire Service acknowledges that the signifi-cant input from volunteer fire fighters is never provided in isolation and, without the employers allowing employees to drop everything for a call out, the service would not operate at such a high level.

Bill Graham (on the tractor) and the late Denny Kreft load the first walk in chiller made by Graham Electrical in the late 1960’s for Ranfurly Four Square.

Employee Owen Hunter installs a more modern chiller made for Sue and Jim Hore at Stonehenge.

BIRTHDAY SALE

IN STORE STOCK REDUCED

10

BUSINESS BREAKFAST

The latest Maniototo Business Breakfast was again well at-tended (given it was the morning of the A&P Show!). Guests included new community Constable Jaco Pieterse, Jason Bod-min of PGG Real Estate (Alexandra) and Rob Kinney of Vision Chartered Accountant Limited (Dunedin).

Amie Pont covered the work being undertaken by Maniototo Promotions, upcoming events and the great reports about the area coming through The Practice Gift Gallery. Serving coffees has increased stops by passing through traffic and locals alike.

Sam Inder reported that indicators estimated $80,000 was in-jected into the area during the Pacific Junior Curling Champs. The Winter Games are coming up in August and that Darren Carson will be heading to Japan this month in his capacity as international curling umpire.

After moving from Sydney, Australia, Jason will be servicing the area on a regular basis and took the opportunity to attend the breakfast and make himself known.

Errol Millar wore a variety of hats, reporting good bookings for Hawkdun Lodge with an increase in mature groups staying for 2-3 nights as well as increased business planning/retreat groups. Maniototo Lions are also planning a Highland Park Trip on the 12th March which includes lunch in Ophir. Errol also covered work being done on new signage for Patearoa Walk-way which has been very popular with locals and visitors alike over the summer. A new town brochure is also being worked on.

Lorraine Duncan said Wedderburn Cottages have been working on expanding their backpackers market as they’ve found a lot more visitors coming from overseas on a budget. Bookings have been steady with a full March and April ahead.

Rob introduced himself through his connections to Hyde (born in Ranfurly) and his time spent working on Aitkens farm and playing rugby for Ranfurly/Gimmerburn. Rob services clients from not only Otago but throughout New Zealand and is happy to discuss set up, small business, tourism and farming account-ing needs.

Jaco had already met most in attendance but was keen to con-tinue getting to know as many members of the community as possible. The Pieterse family have settled in and have felt very welcomed by the Maniototo.

Marilyn Swinbourn had an amazing holiday period as the new owner of Naseby Store. There’s been lots of learning curves and lots of ice creams rolled! Eric Swinbourn welcomed Con-stable Jaco and his family before outlining some of the special-ist mechanical work and racing he’s been undertaking at High-lands Park.

The next Maniototo Business Breakfast is on Wednesday March 18th, 8am in the Ranfurly Hotel Dining Room. All very welcome to come along, share what you’ve

been up to in business and network!

For further information call Amie Pont on 027 264 3766

Wednesday 18th March - 10am to 2.30pm

11

OUT AND ABOUT

STEADY AS YOU GO

Falls are not a natural part of ageing. Falls are preventable. Save yourself from a fall by attending SAYGo classes to improve your strength and balance. The classes are designed for men and women and have been shown to provide continuous improvements in strength and balance over time.

Ranfurly classes are on Thursdays 10.30am in the St John Ambulance Rooms. It’s only $2 per session. Contact the Hospital receptionist on 444 9420.

LEFT: Kelly Weir and Liz O’Neill on a girls golf trip last month. Belinda Scott and Natalie Blakely organised a ‘mystery’ trip for seventeen keen golfers. Stops included Jacks Point, Arrowtown and Dunstan. The weekend was filled with lots of fun and laughter.

St John Youth were out and about in Ranfurly last month trimming back, weeding and laying mulch on three community peony gardens in the town as part of their commu-nity service badges.

It was with a bit of luck that Elaine Aitken and Donella Hore were home on Show Day. After smelling smoke they soon realised there was a fire at the Sownburn swimming hole. Emergency Services arrived to find both Patearoa identifies with their spades out and the fire under control.

Grace and Laura Paterson with Josie and Rosa Herlihy at Festival in the Park. There was a ‘colourful and creative’ themed dress up competition which saw lots of lovely entries! Joan Pringle was judge and also took this lovely photo.

12

CONCERT ENTHRALLS AUDIENCE A capacity audience of 270 people gathered at the Wanaka Pres-byterian Community Church Centre on Sat.7th Feb. to hear the renowned Maniototo Baritone David Mc Atamney perform. He was accompanied by Judy Faris, an esteemed and very accom-plished pianist from Alexandra, formerly Dunedin.

A contrast provided by a Local duo ‘LochCeol’ followed, with a repertoire of traditional flute pieces played by Allen Hogan, ac-companied by pianist Anne Marie Lake. This gave the audience a time to sit back and enjoy the sweet melodies.

An introduction to David Mc Atamney was presented by Noelene Pullar, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Wanaka. She gave some historical information about David’s musical career, along with a showcase of his many and varied talents. This list includes his long involvement as a horse-riding Cavalcade Boss, his long and successful rugby career, and his lifetime of farming in the Mani-ototo, interrupted only by his time in Australia. He was Resident Baritone for The Australian Opera. David made his first debut singing Escamello in Carmen with The Dunedin Opera Company during the 80’s.

David was warmly welcomed by the audience, and he said that he had selected the well-known song ‘Bless This House’ to open because of the Church venue.

His first bracket consisting of a selection of famous songs was followed by a short intermission. After a complimentary glass of chilled champagne the enthusiastic audience returned in antici-pation for what was to follow.

Every song he sang delighted the audience and on three occa-sions in total he received standing ovations. His masterful per-formance of Di Provenza from the opera La Traviata saw the au-dience rise for a standing ovation.

His beautiful and moving rendition of Panis Angelicus saw the second one and his final song Old Man River saw a rousing ap-plause indicating the desire for an encore. Once again the audi-ence arose in appreciation of his outstanding voice, and memora-ble concert.

David and his wife Edna, who live part-time in Wanaka, returned to Ranfurly the following day for David to attend to his farm du-ties, his dogs and his horses.

The funds from the concert are for a Rotary Project to provide Emergency Response Kits for The South Pacific.

Central Otago Sheep Handling have made a few

changes to their business over the last month.

Firstly, the new name change to Smiths Rural Con-

tracting Ltd and, secondly, the addition of two more

experienced blokes to the team.

On top of our conveying, tailing, drenching and dip-

ping services we offer the services of a full time

fencing crew in the area. They will be available for

all of your new fencing, maintenance fencing, sheep

and cattle yard construction.

So give Reon and Tash a ring on 444 9931 or Reon

on 0272313170 for all your conveying, dipping, tail-

ing, casual stock work and fencing requirements.

Tune in to Maniototo’s own community radio station! Burn 729am or 87.9fm (Ranfurly only)

13

Advertorial

ANIMAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN DROUGHT SHEEP & BEEF FARMERS

RULE 1 – take the HIT THIS SEASON and DON’T LET IT FLOW INTO NEXT YEAR.

By now you will have : Sold lambs at lower weights to the works Sold lambs store, or both Sent any prime cattle to the works. (Farmers who sell early usually get the best prices) Looked at what feed supplies you have in the pad-

docks, what you can expect in the autumn and what winter supplements you have on hand compared to what you traditionally have.

If you don’t have enough feed available to get through to your normal winter feeding start or you have less winter supplement than normal you need to either: Buy more feed or Lighten the load of stock – consider the profitability/

importance of each class of stock you farm – ewes are usually worth buying feed in for, while beef cows are marginal.

TO FULFIL RULE 1 YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR BREEDING EWES.

Most ewes are still in reasonable condition but it is critically important that they are not losing weight over mating. If there is a lighter end to the ewes, body condition score, draft and feed accordingly. If paddocks are bare, start sup-plementing now. Take care when starting barley or nuts.

Use your normal ewe treatments pre-tup (Toxo and Campy vaccinations now in maiden ewes and closer to mating FEC to see if a worm drench is necessary, give Selenium and Io-dine Supplement.

If you lamb hoggets, decide now whether you can keep pushing them up to acceptable mating weights (all over 40kg LW) and whether you can keep them growing through win-ter. If you don’t have crop/Lucerne/green grass for them over autumn and most of winter then don’t mate them. If not mated then save the cost of Toxo and Campy vaccina-tion until next year. Even if you are not mating them, you still need enough feed to make sure they are not stunted as 2 tooth's.

Worms, fly strike and foot rot are all likely to give less prob-lems than in a normal year, but don’t completely ignore them. Worm eggs can hatch into massive numbers of larvae if the drought breaks while the weather is still mild.

Stuart Road, Ranfurly. Phone 444 9615

Ag & Auto workshops

(6) Qualified Technicians (1) Apprentice

Specialising in car, ute, motorbike, ATV,

tractor, digger, farm equipment and

light truck repairs.

MTA approved member.

24 Hour Fuel

Accept EFT POS, BP, Credit Cards including

RD1

High flow diesel pump

Castrol Oil Distributor

Check out our awesome in-store deals now!

Duncan Agmech winter feed equipment

CaseIH Parts & Service Agent

Husqvarna Forest & Garden

Robertson Pearson -Rata -King Hitter

Post Drivers

AVAILABLE FOR HIRE - CaseIH

MX100c & Loader/ Silage Grab/Soft Hands

Puma 155MC & Loader /Silage Grab/Soft

For all your Ag & Auto repairs talk to Mike today

Open 7.30am Mon-Friday, 8-00 -12noon Saturday

4449160 or 4449747

office@mclarens.net.nz

DROUGHT SHOUT Two ‘Dry Relief’ events were run in Millers Flat and Oturehua at the end of February. Organised by Nicola Chisholm, AgFirst Otago through the Beef+Lamb NZ Central Otago Farming for Profit Programme the aim was to get farmers together to talk about drought management, realise that they were not alone in the struggle and to chill out a bit with family and friends.

Nicole estimated about 70 farmers attended the Oturehua event (plus their kids). “Warren Lees was the keynote speaker – he was excellent, telling many cricketing yarns and shared his experiences in the national and international cricket scene. Warren had some really good messages around sticking through tough times, looking out for your mates and the importance of family and happiness for per-formance,” says Nicole, “ Both events were well supported by Farmlands and Alliance Group – Alliance put on a fantastic BBQ, and Farmlands made sure that there were no dry mouths!”

14

Jane Falconer presents her CLACHANBURN COMMENT

Rain at last, and how wonderful to hear it on the roof over-night, and wake up to moisture in the air and feel the fresh-ness in the garden. This last rain was fairly general in the valley so that is good.

Did you visit the Horticultural exhibitions at the local A & P show this year? Well done to all entrants who, in a very difficult season, still managed to display a fine show of a large range of produce and some excellent entries in all sec-tions. The show is a lovely community day out, where all ages can compete. The show would not occur if a lot of people didn’t give so much of their time to make it happen.

Back home in the garden this is the time to be preserving our produce from the vegetable garden and orchard. The fruit in the orchard is growing well in spite of limited water. Today I picked Red Haven peaches which are simply beauti-ful, and I used a new tool to do so. A fruit picking pole which has a long wooden handle and on the end a plastic coated wire basket with tines on one side which bend in-wards, and in the bottom of this small basket is a piece of thick sponge rubber. It was wonderful and worked very well, not damaging the fruit at all and safer than a wobbly ladder.

The tomatoes this year are ripening well too and the plants are healthy, they do like constant heat, and have certainly enjoyed that. As cooler temperatures occur try to keep the glasshouse as even a temp. as possible! In the Spring I pur-chased a mixed brassica punnet of cauli’s and broccoli, but did note when I planted them that they looked very similar. Only a few weeks ago they were all leaves and no heart, then with the recent extreme heat they exploded, one min-ute they were nothing and then bingo! and yes they were all cauliflowers – how annoying, how does one person eat 6 huge ones, so I gave some to friends and made pickles. Leafy greens have seeded more than usual so the hens have devoured the discarded sections.

In the flower garden roses, lavenders, hollyhocks, and cistus have all flowered very well, and sedums too, which now come in a wide range of colours for you to consider.

It is time soon to think about bulbs for spring flowering. With the rain will come weeds so keep the round up and the hoe handy, and we will need to mow our lawns again.

Another good rain in a week or two would give us some growth before autumn sets in.

Happy gardening Jane

MANIOTOTO MUSEUM TREASURES Hazel Harrison When the Mt Ida Presbyterian church was built in Naseby 1873 music was not part of the services. As with other mat-ters the local citizens were innovative and agreed to install a

harmonium [smaller version of an organ minus the pipes] in the church August 1876 having procured it then asking for public funds to pay for it. The Otago Presbyterian Synod passed permission for musical instruments within the church three months later. William Henry Ash was the first organist.

Reverend James McCosh-Smith, first minister 1871 – 1907, visited outlying districts by horse and cart and took the har-monium with him.

Although 129 years, old the harmonium is still playable and on display in the mu-seum (right).

RSA NEWS RSA members would like to thank all those that sup-ported their raffles and stall at Festival in the Park on Saturday 21st February. They hope all those ANZAC biscuits hit the spot!

RSA are raising funds for the refurbishment of the cenotaph and have a raffle night coming up on Friday 13th March at the Ranfurly hotel to help with this. They’d like to thank those who’ve already donated prizes. If you wish to donate a prize for this please contact Bonnie Smith on 444 9932.

The refurbishment of the cenotaph will begin this month and will look good for the ANZAC Day services on the 25th April. Thank you to the people who have contacted Bonnie with offers of assistance and food for morning tea following the family service. If you’d like to help please contact Bon-nie on the number above.

The RSA appreciate the interest show in the 100 year com-memoration of the Gallipoli campaign and want to con-gratulate all those green fingered florists who put entries into the “Lest We Forget” category at the Maniototo A&P Show. They were fantastic and congratulations to the win-ner, Marilyn Swinbourn, for her entry.

Details of the Anzac Day services will be advertised in the April edition of Positively Maniototo.

15

POSITIVELY MANIOTOTO MONTHLY BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ANDREW P. HAYES

BUSINESS AND TAXATION CONSULTANT,

OAMARU Eden Street , Oamaru P.O. Box 168, Oamaru

Telephone: (03) 434 8593 Mobile (027) 221 6343

Fax: (03) 434 8586

Email: andrew@andrewphayes.co.nz

at the Maniototo Service Centre Pery Street,

2nd Thursday each month

MCER

Mining & Construction Equipment Repairs Ltd

Heavy equipment repairs & servicing Component overhauls Hydraulic Repairs Electrical repairs Mobile welding

Phone: Paul Bain 0272531137, 03 4897317 or mcrepairs@xtra.co.nz

Workshop: C/o Hyslop Rural, 28 Bell Street, Outram

WADSWORTH LTD FIRE WOOD PROCESSING

Offering flexible, affordable, cost effective firewood processing and tree felling.

Supplier of retail and wholesale firewood.

Tony Wadsworth 444 9529 or 027 444 9529 t-wass@xtra.co.nz

TRAVELLING? Holiday or Business?

Contact the expert who can create an inspiring tailor made holiday for you.

Phone (03) 432 4172 or (027) 432 4177 Email lynne@nztravelbrokers.co.nz

*TAANZ approved Travel Broker for NZ Travel Brokers WINNER- TAANZ AWARD BEST BROKER BRAND

ilhore@yahoo.co.nz

Central Otago Tree Care Qualified and 25 years experienced

tree surgeon for all your tree felling

and pruning needs.

Large and difficult felling a specialty.

Fully insured.

Cromwell based.

Jerry Lynch www.centralotagotreecare.co.nz

Phone 03-4450633

16

MONDAYS Ceramics Club: Ranfurly Karate Club: Monday Night Memories:

TUESDAYS Pottery Group: Maniototo Ladies Golf: Uruuruwhenua: Maniototo Golf:

WEDNESDAYS Catholic Women’s League: Artists Group: Line Dancing: Ranfurly Karate: Maniototo Bridge: Country Show:

THURSDAYS Rock Show:

FRIDAYS Catholic Women’s League:

SATURDAYS Maniototo Golf:

SUNDAYS Presbyterian Church: Naseby Golf: Catholic Church:

10am at the Art Centre. Contact Carol 444 9264 or Maureen Kearney 444 9449 6-8pm for beginners & lower grades, Maniototo Arts Centre. $1pp – call 444 9831 Burn 729am 7-9pm, 444 9729

Arts Centre, Reade Street, Ranfurly. Contact Denise 444 9985 Maniototo Golf Club 10.30am, tee off 11am. Contact Liz 444 9318 or Belinda 444 9185 Smoking cessation 10.30am—2.30pm and from 6.30pm - Ranfurly Plunket Rooms. Twilight Golf at 6pm Contact Eric Stringer 444 9093

Op Shop. Open 10.30am - 4.30pm. Contact Francie on 444 9243 1pm, Arts Centre, Reade Street, Ranfurly. Contact Norma 444 7076 4pm, Arts Centre. Contact Joan 444 9612 Graded Members, Arts Centre 6-8pm. $1pp. Call 444 9831 7pm Wallace Memorial Rooms. New members very welcome. Call Ang on 444 9231 Burn 729am 6-8pm. 444 9729

Burn 729am. 6pm - 8pm. 444 9729

Op Shop. Open 10.30am– 4.30pm. All welcome. Contact Francie on 444 9243

Tee off 12.45pm. Contact Wayne for details on 444 9491

10am Family Church Service at Ranfurly Club Competition. Tee off 1pm. Contact Carol 444 9949 or Syd 444 9604 5pm Mass, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Stuart Road, Ranfurly

The Burn Budget Your community calendar + a few extras!

10 Pery Street, Ranfurly. 444 9729 burn729am@scorch.co.nz

Maniototo Toy Library 2nd Monday 11.30am – 12.30pm Renee 444 8212 or Michelle 444 9034 Maniototo Spinners 2nd and 4th Monday 10am – 3pm Tracey 027 654 1977 or Karen 444 9814 Plunket Playgroup 1st Monday 10am-12noon Heather 444 8353 Business Breakfast 3rd Wednesday 8am - 9am Amie on 444 9993 Garden Club 1st Thursday 7.30pm Mary 444 9435 St Hilda's Anglican Church 1st Sunday 10.30am St Hilda’s Church, Ranfurly Naseby Vision 3rd Friday 7.30pm Naseby Fire Brigade Rooms 444 9996

Please note some dates may alter over the school holidays

WHAT’S ON BURN AND WHEN Becker's Transport Road Reports, Cancellations & Water Notices - Top of the hour 6am - 10am

Helina’s Kitchen Birthday calls 7.50am weekdays/ 9.20am weekends

McLarens Machinery Buy, Sell and Swap 9.30am , 11.30am and 3.30pm weekdays

Vet Centre Community Notices 10.30am, 2.30pm and 5.30pm weekdays

Farming Show 12noon - 1pm weekdays

Monday Night Memories 7pm - 9pm Mondays

Groundworks Ltd Country Show 6pm - 8pm Wednesdays & 9am - 12 noon Sundays

Entire Plumbing Rock Show 6pm - 8pm Thursdays

Combined Churches Choices 8am - 9am Sundays

McLarens Sports Round Up 9.30am Sundays

The Hits Weekends 6pm Friday nights and after midday Saturday and Sunday

For all notices placed in Buy, Sell & Swap, Live and Community Notices for individuals or groups, a gold coin donation would be very much appreciated (other than community groups who already make an annual do-nation). Thank you.