Valley Voice April 2015

8
VALLEY VOICE NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE ARO VALLEY PAENGA WHA WHA TE REO HAPORI O WAIMAPIHI APRIL - The demolition of the old bakehouse at the bottom of Devon Street by its developer owners has placed the value of the City Council’s ‘Heritage Area’ designation into question. The Aro Valley Community Council led a challenge to the development last month, seeking a Court injunction preventing demolition subject to review of the Wellington City Council’s decision-making processes. The application to demolish was made last year by Aro Holdings Ltd. c/- David Gibson for Spencer Holmes Ltd and approved in a decision in September, when Council granted non-notified resource consent, meaning that the public had no opportunity to object. The AVCC challenged the ruling but, in the words of Co-chair Roland Sapsford, “we hit a very unsympathetic judge”. The building was demolished in its entirety at the end of last month. Architect and Conservator-for-hire, Ian Bowman, (who provided heritage reports on many of the buildings removed or demolished for the bypass), provided the official assessment of heritage effects for the developer’s application, concluding that “the‘bakehouse’ building contributes little to the heritage values of the Heritage Area.” Bowman said that the Aro Street Shopping Centre Heritage Area was listed in the District Plan for its attributes as a: “highly authentic, largely homogenous, late 19th century shopping area, which contains buildings representative of the styles, scales, details and materials of the era”and contended that: “The bakehouse contributes little to these values as it is not similar to the other commercial buildings being single storey, of a different design and of little authenticity”. In other words, it was unique. Dating from an era when fire services were scarce and bakeries had separate baking areas so that fires did not destroy the main building, the Devon Street ‘shed’ was likely the last of these bakehouses in the Wellington region. In approving demolition, the City Aro Valley’s history - blink and you’ll miss it! - Council ignored its own requirement to look for reuse (eg by incorporating the building into a new development) before demolition. The bakehouse will be replaced by two townhouses. There is no evidence the developer ever looked at whether some element of the bakehouse could be retained. The developer has proposed to install a signage display or plaque on the Devon Street wall of 96 Aro Street, “related to the Aro Valley Shopping Centre Heritage Area itself, or associated buildings and/ or activities undertaken (currently or historically) within this area” The Council’s Heritage Advisor, Trevor Keppel endorsed this approach: “Based on the advice of Mr Keppel and given the intended content of the proposed sign display or plaque, the associated effects on historic heritage are considered to be less than minor,” the report said. Built more than 100 years ago, the unusual historic structure would have baked buns for the boys who went off to war from the Aro Valley in 1914. May we all remember it. (No plaque please!!! - Editor) Aro Street 4 Square to close The proprietors of the 4 Square superette at 103 Aro Street have lost their lease, and are due to close their business on 2 July. The dairy’s leaseholder, Manjula Patel, who has operated the business and held the lease since 2000, says that when the lease came up for review in March, the building’s owner told her that they would not renew it, and the shop would have to close. The building’s owner, Has Patel, owns several other commercial properties on the same side of Aro street. Future plans for the site are unknown. Majula Patel regrets the closure, and says that she is keen to re-establish the superette elsewhere, but is having difficulty finding a suitable location in the area. “I love to serve the Aro community as a business person, as I have had lots of support from this community in last fifteen years. It’s been a great privilege,” she said. She had approached Has Patel more than once to try to re-lease the property but had been turned down. Members of the community have expressed concern for the loss of this important local amenity. You can contact Manjula on: [email protected] “Not a strong contributor to the streetscape of Devon Street” - Wellington City Council

description

News and views from the Aro Valley, Wellington, New Zealand

Transcript of Valley Voice April 2015

  • VALLEY VOICE NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE ARO VALLEY PAENGA WHA WHA

    T E R E O H A P O R I O WA I M A P I H I APRIL-

    The demolition of the old bakehouse at the bottom of Devon Street by its developer owners has placed the value of the City Councils Heritage Area designation into question. The Aro Valley Community Council led a challenge to the development last month, seeking a Court injunction preventing demolition subject to review of the Wellington City Councils decision-making processes.The application to demolish was made

    last year by Aro Holdings Ltd. c/- David Gibson for Spencer Holmes Ltd and approved in a decision in September, when Council granted non-notified resource consent, meaning that the public had no opportunity to object. The AVCC challenged the ruling but, in

    the words of Co-chair Roland Sapsford, we hit a very unsympathetic judge.The building was demolished in its

    entirety at the end of last month.Architect and Conservator-for-hire, Ian

    Bowman, (who provided heritage reports on many of the buildings removed or demolished for the bypass), provided the official assessment of heritage effects for the developers application, concluding that thebakehouse building contributes little to the heritage values of the Heritage Area. Bowman said that the Aro Street

    Shopping Centre Heritage Area was listed in the District Plan for its attributes as a: highly authentic, largely homogenous, late 19th century shopping area, which contains buildings representative of the styles, scales, details and materials of the eraand contended that: The bakehouse contributes little to these values as it is not similar to the other commercial buildings being single storey, of a different design and of little authenticity.In other words, it was unique. Dating

    from an era when fire services were scarce and bakeries had separate baking areas so that fires did not destroy the main building, the Devon Street shed was likely the last of these bakehouses in the Wellington region.In approving demolition, the City

    Aro Valleys history - blink and youll miss it!

    -

    Council ignored its own requirement to look for reuse (eg by incorporating the building into a new development) before demolition. The bakehouse will be replaced by two townhouses. There is no evidence the developer ever looked at whether some element of the bakehouse could be retained.The developer has proposed to install a

    signage display or plaque on the Devon Street wall of 96 Aro Street, related to the Aro Valley Shopping Centre Heritage Area itself, or associated buildings and/or activities undertaken (currently or historically) within this area The Councils Heritage Advisor, Trevor

    Keppel endorsed this approach: Based on the advice of Mr Keppel and given the intended content of the proposed sign display or plaque, the associated effects on historic heritage are considered to be less than minor, the report said.Built more than 100 years ago, the

    unusual historic structure would have baked buns for the boys who went off to war from the Aro Valley in 1914. May we all remember it.

    (No plaque please!!! - Editor)

    Aro Street 4 Square to closeThe proprietors of the 4 Square superette at 103 Aro Street have lost their lease, and are due to close their business on 2 July.The dairys leaseholder, Manjula Patel, who has operated the business and held the lease since 2000, says that when the lease came up for review in March, the buildings owner told her that they would not renew it, and the shop would have to close.The buildings owner, Has Patel, owns

    several other commercial properties on the same side of Aro street. Future plans for the site are unknown.Majula Patel regrets the closure, and

    says that she is keen to re-establish the superette elsewhere, but is having difficulty finding a suitable location in the area. I love to serve the Aro community

    as a business person, as I have had lots of support from this community in last fifteen years. Its been a great privilege, she said.She had approached Has Patel more

    than once to try to re-lease the property but had been turned down.Members of the community have

    expressed concern for the loss of this important local amenity. You can contact Manjula on: [email protected] Not a strong contributor to the streetscape of

    Devon Street - Wellington City Council

  • 2 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015

    CorrectionRe the article on cats in Marchs issue, we would like to apologise to Angela Campbell for printing her name as Angela Nash. We sincerely regret the error.

    Better, cleaner, cheaper buses submission guideRegional Councillors Paul Bruce and Sue KedgleyWe encourage you to send in submissions to Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) during the Annual and long term plan (LTP) consultation period through to 20th April requesting a better, cleaner, cheaper bus plan be brought forward from 2017 to now.The Wellington bus review consulted on over the last 5 years, will not come about until after the completion of the new bus tender round in 2017, and perhaps not even then, due to the difficulty of adopting a Bus Rapid Transit system with bendy and/or double decker hybrid buses. The scrapping of our trolley bus services are likely to add to the delays. We do not think this is satisfactory. We are calling for a better buses 5

    point plan ahead of the implementation of the new tenders:

    Zero fare Saturday buses in Welling- ton cityFree bus transfers within Wellington cityHalf price student fares Cleaning up the bus fleet Safer school buses

    Go to: www.paulbruce.co.nz/better-wellington-buses-submission-guide/

    Aro Valleys fruitful historyDo you know the history of any of the fruit trees in the valley? Sarah Adams from the Wellington City Council is on the hunt for old trees with a known history around the Aro Valley.Heritage fruit trees are an important part of our settler history: they are often lesser known varieties and are examples of trees which grow well in the Welling-ton climate. Trees collected through this programme will have cuttings taken from them and will be grown to be planted in sites around the city. We know there are a number of heritage

    tree around the valley, for example the Holloway Road damson plum. But wed like to know more. Who planted it? When was it planted? Or take the apple tree in Holloway Rd playground what variety is it? When was it planted? Are there other heritage trees whose history you know? If you have any

    information about the history of any of the older fruit trees in the area, or you know someone who does, please contact Sarah Adams at [email protected].

    Community Co-ordinator leaves on high noteAro Valley Community Co-ordinator, Kelvin Aris has resigned from the role, to pursue other interests. This follows a second successful fair, and two productive years spent in the role. Its been great getting to know every-one in the Valley, and I wont be too far away. You havent seen the last of me, says Aris, who now lives in Newtown.The AVCC Committee has made a

    decision to divide the Community Co-ordinators role into two part-time positions of an Administrator and a Developer, for 20 hours a week each These are currently being advertised (Applications close 21 April. see Notice below). Josephine Brien and Lynsey Ferrari are

    temporarily filling the Community Co-ordinator role until the new appointments are made by the Management Committee of the AVCC - comprising Roland Sapsford, Lisa Thompson and Rachel Griffiths._________________________________

    Work for Aro Valley!Two new roles at the Community

    Centre

    Community DeveloperCommunity Administrator

    Both 15-20 hrs per weekApplications close 21 April 2015

    For full details see the ads on www.dogoodjobs.co.nz

    oremailtheCommunityCentreOffice:

    [email protected]_________________________________

    Polhill pines to goThe Wellington City Council will soon be removing several pine trees from Polhill Reserve that are overhanging or within fall distance of a private property. The council says the structure of these trees, combined with their location, makes them a potential hazard to the surrounding area, which is on the ridge south of Holloway Road.The work will be carried out by the councils contractors. This is expected to start on Monday 13 April and to take 2-3 weeks, weather permitting.To minimise impact on the surrounding

    vegetation, the trees will be removed by sectional felling, with wood and foliage left onsite clear of the paths. The area will be left to naturally regenerate, taking advantage of the native seed sources within the reserve.For safety reasons, public access to

    the work site will be restricted for the duration of the project. Tracks will be closed at junctions, and alternative routes put in place.

    Above: Artists impression of the two townhouses destined for the site of the old bakehouse on lower Devon Street (see cover story: Aro Valleys history)

    COMING SOON....

  • 2 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY PAENGA WHA WHA 2015 3- -

    Aro Valleys bid to host the 2078 Summer Olympic Games is one step closer. History was made in the Valley on Friday the 20 March 2015 with the opening ceremony of the Arolympics. The Olympic torch was run through the valley, igniting the Olympic spirit as it went.Starting from the top of Holloway

    Rd carried by Moses Buda, down Aro St and up Epuni carried on by Miles Buckingham and then eventually into the Olympic stadium carried by Hayden Thomson of Aro Street .Proud Aro Valley streets marched

    into the stadium in all their glory with homemade banners unfurled. Holloway Rd, Epuni St, Levina Ave, The Durham Cres Ducks, Aro St, Boston Tce were all there.There were emotional scenes as each

    street was announced and strodejubilantly in, followed by a French

    translation scarcely heard over the ecstatic on-lookers. Once the teams were assembled a hush descended over the crowd and the electric atmosphere was filled with the Olympic theme song Jump by Van Halen.Then, like a bolt of goldy glitter

    lightning Sergio Velcro the head of the Aro Valley Olympic Committee and his entourage of Solid Gold Dancers ran confidently into the deafening roar of Stadium Aro. Holding the torch high he delivered a speech to the crowd and then John Martin and Nigel Collins sang a stirring rendition of Gold by Spandau Ballet accompanied by the amazing Solid Gold dancers and their specially choreographed dance for the games.On the day of the games the crowd

    gathered in anticipation at 12 noon to witness the first glamour event : the Limbo, taken out by the tiny high altitude street-nation of Levina Ave. Action was intense and excitement

    built through each event such as water balloon toss, the sack race and the hugely popular tug-of-war won by a strong Holloway Rd team. This however was all leading to the Glamour event, the champagne sporting event of the games - the Aro Valley Pentathlon.

    Competitors had to rummage through the Vinnies Op shop box, empty a

    dehumidifier, order chips from Aro chips after answering a question from the replica Aro chip shop, a gruelling sampling of all the garage project taps, then finally returning an overdue VHS to the Aro street video drop box replica built in the park.The medals and the results were tallied,

    and Aro Street was triumphant.The sporting spirit of the Valley was

    the real winner on the day and the people revelled in the friendly funny rivalry and the glory of Olympic victory, Olympic medals and the winners podium. The games closed with the torch being

    symbolically handed to St Werberghs, Bristol, care of Treefrog, a former resident of the neighborhood, which is Aro Valleys twin in the UK.May the games live on and Aros

    Olympic bid to host the Games in 2078 come to fruition. Yes we can do it.

    Arolympicstriumphant

    Arolympics 2015 Medal Tally

    Aro street- 2 Gold- 2 Silver-1 BronzeEpuni Street- 1 Gold- 1 Silver- 1 BronzePalmer Street- 1 Gold- 1 BronzeLevina Avenue- 1 Gold-1 Bronze

    Grant ROBERTSONYour MP i Wellingto

    P 04 801 8079E [email protected]/GrantRobertsonLabour

    @grantrobertson1220 Willis St, Wellington

    Authorised by Grant Robertson, 220 Willis Street

  • 4 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015

    WANTED: new editors for

    Valley VoiceTim Bollinger and Max Rashbrooke, who have edited this monthly newspaper for the last three years, are now looking to step down so as to have time for other projects. We would love to hear from a person or persons keen to take over the job, which consists of gathering Aro news from various sources, attending local meetings, writing some of the articles, and laying out all the content. Around 10 issues are published each year. The work isnt paid, but is great fun and means you get to know pretty much everything thats going on in the Valley. Its also providing an important service to the community. Anyone who is interested should drop the editors a line on [email protected] or 022 694 0871.

    Save the Basin and the Mt Victoria Historical Society, are holding a dinner to raise funds for the legal appealtofighttheBasinReserveflyover.NZTA are appealing the Environmental Protection Agencys decision to reject the flyover, and we need funds to fight it.Come and celebrate an evening of

    costume, melodrama, conviviality and style.This fancy dress fundraising event will feature:

    An historic setting at the Basin Reserve; A sumptuous buffet dinner; Musical entertainment; A silent auction of Victorian treasures; Prizes for those in the best Victorian costumes.

    Brought to you by the Mt Victoria Historical Society, all profits will go to the Save the Basin Campaign (raising money for the cost of taking part in the High Court appeal).Contact Sue by email at [email protected] or phone 04 384 8208 to secure your ticket. The details of the event are here: http://mtvictoria.history.org.nz/event/victorian-dinner/

    Mary Rose Dimock: Yoga Sundays from 10.30 to 12pm at Aro Hall, $15 or $10 for students/unwagedMary has a great passion for helping people to create positive change in their lives, and believes that she can accomplish this through her service as a Yoga Teacher.Mary has recently completed her Level 1, Level 2 and Certificate 4 in Purna Yoga with Byron Yoga Centre in Byron Bay, Australia. Purna Yoga means whole or complete and is an integrative style of yoga that incorporates Asana, Pranaya-ma, Meditation and Philosophy.Marys yoga classes incorporate Hatha

    styles of yoga and flow sequences with philosophy, pranayama and meditation.Mary also enjoys teaching Yin Yoga

    and she completed a Yin teacher training while she was living in Hawaii at the Kalani, Oceanside Retreat and Training Centre on the Big Island.She has a degree in Psychology

    and Education and has worked in the education sector for the past four years. Mary has also worked for five years as a volunteer youth counsellor.

    ***********

    A Victorian Gaiety 2 May, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm, $95

  • 4 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY PAENGA WHA WHA 2015 5- -

    Tommys Aro ValleySpeciallist

    zoe smithis in the Valley this week if you wold like to request an updated current market appraisal, please either call or email on [email protected] to make an appointment.

    Call free on 04 212 4377 or 021 856 887

    zoesmith.co.nz

    More bike racks and other Big IdeasNicola Young, Lambton ward councillor

    Wellingtons economic growth is lag-ging behind the rest of New Zealand, so Council has decided to invest for growth through our 10 Year Plan rather than the business as usual approach of just maintaining essential services.The Mayor is proposing a 3.9%

    average rates increase over the next 10 years, of which 0.8% is earmarked for her Big Ideas (the airport extension, a film museum, convention centre, a tech hub). I believe the Big Ideas money should be ring-fenced, so that it can be returned to ratepayers if not required. Rates cost about $5.69 per person, per

    day; few people like paying bills, so its important to remember rates cover many services that are free of additional charges and subsidise other things we take for granted. Council subsidies mean an adults ticket at Freyberg pool costs $5.90 (instead of $15.50) and $21 to visit the zoo (instead of $43). Plus the infrastructure that makes Wellington tick: our parks, festivals and cultural institutions; and those unseen things like

    Big Bang budget Iona Pannett, Lambton Ward Councillor

    The Aro Fair was a fantastic event as always and the AroOlympics an inspired idea. Thanks to Kelvin, the Community Council and all the volunteers for making it happen.We have been consulting on our big bang budget for the next 10 years. There are some good ideas in there, some which will require some debate and discussion and some which are untenable in a world that needs to deal with climate change. $45m is devoted to improving the citys

    cycle ways; a trial will be held to show how cheaper bus fares can increase patronage; money has also been allocated for new bus lanes; the proposed landfill for the city will be scaled back (a win on environmental and economic grounds); there will be more money and rates relief for owners of listed heritage buildings; and over $1m is devoted to an expanded Aro Valley hall. Some of the big ideas up for debate

    are a runway extension, a new concert venue and new museums given over to conflict and film. The citys obsession with 1960s-style motorway programmes continues unabated with a commitment to improving vehicle access. The issue of character protection for

    the Valley is a continuing conversation between the community and Council. The community rightly wants the rules

    upheld; there is some will in parts of Council to allow for a limited amount of concentrated development. I will keep you posted. [email protected] / 384-3382 i

    underground pipes. Council officers are working on a

    citywide cycling network master plan to take advantage of the Governments 2:1 funding deal. Retrofitting cycle ways into Wellingtons narrow streets wont be easy, and its likely some car parking will be lost, but evidence from abroad shows replacing car parks with cycle ways actually boosts retail sales.We also need more cycling locking

    points (a particular bugbear of mine), as theres a real shortage around the city. Im proud to have scored eight bike stands for the Aro Valley community centre, and have asked officers for locking points outside the Aro Street cafs; as theres not enough space for the classic Sheffield stands, cyclehoops will be used converting lamp-posts into kerbside bike racks.Legal highs are back on the Councils

    agenda. Unless we designate specific areas for their sale, the Government has decreed they can be sold citywide. Its likely Council will reluctantly agree to sales in the central city, although sensitive areas like central Cuba Street will be surrounded by a cordon sanitaire. Finally, the weather was glorious for

    this years Aro Valley fair. I returned home with several jars of chutney, and honey from CBD hives. Its interesting bees do so well in cities; thanks to our gardeners and their love of flowers. [email protected] / 021 654 844

  • 6 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015

    The Valley recently held the very successful annual Aro Fair. One of the goals this year was to decrease the amount of waste going to landfill.

    Passionate volunteers (thank you all!) set up waste stations, kindly lent to us by the Porirua City Council, which provided bins for compostable waste, recycling and landfill. To help make the decision on what was compostable or not, items (plates, utensils, etc) that were com-postable were stuck to the waste stations. We also made sure all packaging supplied by food sellers was compostable.It was nice to see that we managed to

    add five wheelie bins (1,000+ litres) of compostable waste to the Epuni Street and Community Centre compost bins. But it is also unfortunate that

    Kai o Te Aro many people do not take the time to consider where their waste goes, and that volunteers end up sorting through bins to ensure waste streams arent contaminated. Worms cant do much with plastic. While it is up to individuals to make

    decisions about how they deal with their waste, it would be helpful if government (both local and central) took a stand and developed some standards around packaging. There are many packaging options available to suppliers, some of which (polystyrene and plastics) could be levied or outright banned. Other options (such as bioplastics and plastic lined paper) are of questionable benefit, and research into lifecycle costs could help in decision making and education.That said, suppliers also need to play

    their part. There are plenty of packaging options available, and a little thought, a little research and a little education

    can lead to less waste and happier customers. The stallholders at the fair all had environmentally friendly options that were awesome to see.The classic example is take-away

    coffee cups. Many places provide plastic (recyclable) lids on compostable cups. Customers often dont have the compostable/recycling bin options available and therefore put lid and cup in the same bin. This decision means someone else will have to correct the mistake at the recycling plant. There are now compostable coffee lids to go on compostable cups, or alternatively, plastic cups to go with the plastic lids so lets go either all compostable or all recyclable.Heres a thought: maybe for the next

    fair we get rid of packaging entirely and use the tried and tested ceramic plates, glasses and cutlery along with a couple of cleaning stations and more volunteers!Jamie, Kai-O-Te AroThe next working bees is: Saturday 24 April - at the Orchard (next to 225 Aro St). Anyone growing or have spare autumn/winter seedlings at home is welcome to share the love with the gardens - be in touch :)[email protected]

    The Aro Valley Community Centre offers regular language lessons tothosewhoarentconfidentinspoken English. There are no other programmes in the city that offer the same kind of service for free, making the Aro Valley programme unique.The classes provide a safe, social experi-ence for people to increase their con-fidence in spoken English, while also forming friendships with other students which often continue beyond class.Wendy, with the help of a couple of

    volunteers, teaches a 20 week course (usually at three levels), and is at the Community Centre three days a week. Students are able to join at any time during the course. The classes are practical and topic-

    based, with grammar structures and vocabulary being taught along with pronunciation. With such interested and diligent

    learners - its such a real buzz.Wendy loves teaching the classes.Its an incredibly satisfying thing

    for me to teach something that I love particularly to older students. For me, its been the most wonderful experience.

    Speak English at Aro Hall

  • 6 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY PAENGA WHA WHA 2015 7- -

    VALLEY VOICEEditors: Max Rashbrooke & Tim

    BollingerDistribution: Jo Brien

    All contributions and feedback to: [email protected]

    or 022 694 0871Valley Voice is published on behalf

    ofAro Valley Community Council

    48 Aro StWellington

    Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the writers and not of

    the Aro Valley Community Council (AVCC) unless adopted at a general

    meeting.AVCC co-chairs 2014-15:

    Roland Sapsford Charles Barrie (in absentia)Secretary: Sarah Jane PartonTreasurer: Rachel Griffiths

    Committee members: Luke Allen, Jay Buzenberg, Cindy Jemmett, Jadwyn Lowe, Madeleine

    Rashbrooke, Julia Stace, Bridget Stocker, Lisa Thompson, Mattie

    Timmer, Rochelle WalkerAro Valley Community Centre

    Coordinators (acting):Jo Brien & Lynsey Ferrari

    [email protected](04) 384-8499

    R

    EGU

    LAR

    HA

    LL U

    SER

    S

    Printed byDatastream Instant Print

    384 [email protected]

    Pam rememberedLong-standing local resident Neil Patel wrote to Valley Voice with this tribute to Pam Whittington, whose obituary appeared in the last issue: Pam was great to small businesses and always supported the local business community. I recall, Pam would help needy people but she knew to help small businesses was vital and she went out of her way to help.Being a JP she helped Nalini to get the

    documents signed for her NZ passport, and her mother Lalitaben Maganlal

    Day Time Activity & Cost Contact

    Monday 7.15am 8.15am Tai Chi Class(Koha)Yi Ching Mao 384 3588

    6.00pm 8.00pmCapoeira($10 casual /$40 - 8 classes)

    Bobby Semau027 [email protected]

    Tuesday 9.30pm 11.30pm

    ESOL English Language Class(Koha)

    Wendy Vink: teacherContact AVCC 384 [email protected]

    12.00pm 12.45pm Sit and Be Fit ($3 per class)

    Kathy McConvilleContact AVCC 384 [email protected]

    7.00pm 8.00pm Pilates with EricaCasual $15, Unwaged $1310 class concessions

    Erica292 7909 or 022 646 [email protected]

    Wednesday 7.15am 8.15am Tai Chi Class(Koha)Lynsey384 5520

    9.30pm 11.30pm

    ESOL English Language Class(Koha)

    Wendy Vink: teacherContact AVCC 384 [email protected]

    6.30pm 8.00pm Starjam [email protected] 4971 021 782 866Thursday

    CSA Organic food pick up

    9.30pm 11.30pm

    ESOL English Language Class(Koha)

    Wendy Vink: teacherContact AVCC 384 [email protected]

    2.45pm 4.15pm Kids Jazz Dance Classes$12 per class / $100 per term Debbie: [email protected]

    6.00pm 7.00pmSamba from BrazilHillary Mitchell & Fabiola Stevenson

    Hillary [email protected] 021 230 8732

    7.30pm 9.00pmYoshukai Karate ($10 a week pay what you can afford. Includes 2nd weekly class Northland Community Centre)

    Colin Berry027 249 5342 475 9985

    Friday

    CSA Organic food pick up

    7.15am 8.15am Tai Chi Class(Koha)Lynsey384 5520

    10.30pm -12.00 noon

    Sing For Your Life - community singing. Come along any time to have a great sing and a cuppa - $5 a time

    Julian Raphael 802 5398 [email protected]

    Saturday 9.00am 10.00am Yoga with Maggie$5 per classMaggie [email protected]

    10.30pm -12.00 noon

    Yoga with Mary$15 per class / $10 unwaged

    Mary [email protected]

    1.00 3.00pm(last Saturday of the month)

    Capoeira Free

    Bobby Semau027 696 [email protected]

    Sunday 2.00pm 3.00pmSmall Voices - Munting TinigChildrens Choir and Filipino culture - All Welcome

    Miriam Vilalba 0221 757 243

    With such interested and diligent learners its such a real buzz. Come along. The classes began at the

    end of February, but people can join anytime throughout the course. Classes cater for everyone, from migrants, refugees, grandparents, young mums and dads, to partners of PHD sponsored students (from places like India, Sri Lanka Indonesia and South America) who are in New Zealand for just a couple of years.The lessons are free, however

    participants are able to make a gold-coin koha to help with administration costs and photocopying. If anyone is unable to donate, they are still more than welcome to join in. [email protected]

    Patels medical certificates, and all she needed.Pam was the heart of the Valley and

    Wellington and New Zealand. She is always remembered by Nalini,

    and myself and our customers. That little lady was a big lady and she is in our hearts!!!!! Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (O Peace

    prevail!!!) Cheers, Naginbhai Neil Patel

  • 8 NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VALLEY APRIL 2015

    5733406A

    A

    Goldsmith artist Dorthe Kristensen ofVilders Gallery inAro street, makes contemporary jewellery with individuality and flair.

    Vilders also recycles gold jewellery inspired by making it sustainable.

    Bring in your old gold andVilders will work with you togive it new life.

    104 Aro Street,WellingtonPh: 04 384 7989 | www.vildersgallery.co.nz

    New website, now buy online.Free shipping within NZ.www.vildersgallery.co.nz

    Billboards have started to appear in the Aro Valley with a large photo of Colonel William Malone in front of a sandbag bunker at Gallipoli. Colonel Malone deserves to be

    remembered as one of the first iconic New Zealanders and has been chosen to be the image of the weekend event My Country Right or Wrong? an Aro Valley contribution to the WW100 commemorations, social historian Tony Simpson said. Colonel Malone risked battlefield

    execution by refusing to lead his men forward on the same suicidal mission that had just seen 300 of the Auckland Brigade killed, advancing 100 metres. The 100 or so survivors of that assault were pinned down in a shallow trench by Turkish artillery and other fire, Tony Simpson said. Malone took his men up the steep

    slope under cover of darkness without loss and captured the commanding height

    from which his men could see the glitter of the Dardanelles, the ultimate objective, and the furthest into Gallipoli of any advance. Unfortunately

    his men, despite a superhuman fight, which lasted more than a day, were driven off the hill and at 10.30pm what

    was left of the Wellington Battalion came down - only 70 unwounded or slightly wounded, out of 760 men. Malone was in the thick of the fighting in the centre of the ridge all day and was described as the bravest man I ever saw...who was doing the jobs from Lance Corporal to Brigadier-General... by Sergeant Kenneth Stevens, wounded in action that day.At 5pm that evening

    Malones luck ran out and he was killed either by a misplaced salvo from an Allied destroyer or a howitzer attempting to shell the Turks. Tragically Malones heroism had all been in vain and for decades it was the official British view that Malone had lost the battle. More recent revisions have shown that by putting

    Colonel Malone on Aro Valley billboards for WW1 seminar

    his men first he not only saved their lives but also created a brilliant opportunity.It took Jim Anderton MP 16 years to

    get recognition for Colonel Malone in Parliament where there is now a plaque in the main foyer. Mr Anderton said at the time that it was one of the most difficult of all his achievements as an MP. Funded by the Wellington City Council

    for local World War One projects, the My Country Right or Wrong? event includes a series of short presentations by prominent Wellington writers, historians, teachers, and journalists, followed by discussion. Topics include why New Zealand went to war, the anti-war movement, the Maori response, the involvement of Aro Valley - and the art of war. My Country Right or Wrong? Saturday and Sunday 9-10 May, 10amAro Valley Community Hall, 48 Aro St Bookings are essential. For a programme or to register, email: [email protected], go to www.arovalley.org.nz, or ph: 384 8499