New Plymouth – Page 6 – Smart Writing

CanTeen – Helping those with cancer

November 13, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Originally founded in Australia in 1985 CanTeen was founded in New Zealand in 1986.

CanTeen is for anyone between the ages of 13 and 24 who is living with cancer be it “patient”, “sibling” or “bereaved sibling”. The aim is to provide a relaxed, friendly and fun environment where members can share their thoughts and feelings with other young people whose lives have been affected by cancer.

The New Zealand organization was launched with “Miles for Smiles” a walk from one end of the country to the other, to raise funds and awareness of adolescent cancer. Today, CanTeen operates in 13 regions within New Zealand.

CanTeen does not receive government funding and relies on the generousity of New Zealanders. There are many ways to donate through Cash Donations, Monthly Giving Club and Bequests (see the website for more information).

THE SIMPLEST WAY EVERYBODY CAN SUPPORT BANDANNA WEEK IS BUY A BANDANNA!

Schools bring gardening to life for their students

November 13, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Moturoa Primary School in New Plymouth has made gardening part of its curriculum.

In 1994 the school re-introduced the annual planting of school gardens by the children, marking Arbor Day. Every year since, they have created and planted out a new garden.

Moturoa School was the first Trees for Survival school in Taranaki, opening its propagation unit in December 1996 with funding from Westgate Transport Ltd, Port Taranaki. New Plymouth Rotary West assembled the unit and supplied many man hours and additional funding.

How to show your children how to enjoy a small garden

November 13, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Gardens come in all sizes and shapes. We fit into the small garden category – ‘Small enough to keep under control and big enough to provide a great learning environment.’ What a great way to educate the children.

Make sure you choose a well sheltered area that gets many hours of sunlight. Let your child help prepare the soil. Dirt can be turned over with a small shovel or trowel and clumps can be broken up by hand or by ‘stomping’ on them.

Choose easy to grow plants and as many different ones as you can get into the small space. Carrots, radishes, lettuces and dwarf butter beans are good vegetable choices. Mini cauliflower, mini cabbage and mini broccoli are a great idea for small or planter gardens. Herbs are great to add to meals parsley, thyme, rosemary, chives, peppermint and mint. Strawberries are also fun to grow.

Cooking classes for Kids

November 13, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

With a great passion for cooking, Naomi Ward has years of experience in the hospitality industry. She has worked as a chef and has trained them too.

In 2003, deciding it was time for a change, she purchased Etcetera in New Plymouth. The shop specialises in tableware and kitchenware.

The first thing to add to the shop was a kitchen. Naomi started holding classes in the evening for adults looking to expand their cooking skills. These proved popular and within 18 months she decided to introduce children’s cooking classes. “My children are all great cooks and I’m now working on the grandchildren.”

“I am passionate about children learning to cook in this day and age. They need the basics of cooking for when they go flatting or move on to university.”

Stepping out in New Plymouth

November 13, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Hang gliding at Back Beach — Handgliding at Back Beach

With the holidays approaching fast have you thought about venturing out and about in New Plymouth?

BackBeach is beautiful to wander along especially when the tide is out. The surfers are out in force when the wind is right; also the hang gliders, and more commonly, para gliders float around on the thermal air coming off the high cliffs.

Paritutu Rock is also an unusual place to clamber about. It is a portion of the outer rim of an extinct volcano. The steep track up is graded hard. Make sure to allow heaps of time for the rest at the top as there are amazing views in all directions -most certainly not for the faint hearted.

Another lovely beach with a great playground is NgamotuBeach. There are public toilets and barbecue facilities available. You will also find the beam pump, which marks the site of Moturoa No. 4 oilwell, drilled to a depth of 666 metres in 1931 and closed in 1972. The beam pump was erected by Shell BP and Todd Oil Services as a memorial to the pioneers of oil exploration in New Zealand.

Kawaroa Park is well known for its rock pools. Make sure to have sturdy footwear. Young and old have fun exploring the rockpools, seeing creatures up close and then putting them back into their homes.

Big Brother Big Sister Programme Taranaki

October 20, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Community Focused: Case manager Nic Willis (left) and Senior Constable Paul Lampe (right) are focused on ensuring that young people have a positive role model in their life. Photo : Sharyn Smart — Community Focused: Case manager Nic Willis (left) and Senior Constable Paul Lampe (right) are focused on ensuring that young people have a positive role model in their life.
Photo : Sharyn Smart

Taranaki volunteers are getting behind the Big Brothers Big Sisters programme making it one of the biggest agencies in the country.

The Taranaki branch has 120 matches in the New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood and Hawera areas.

Programme manager Snr Constable Paul Lampe said the focus in Taranaki was on children aged 7 to 10 years who could stay matched until they were 18.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programme is for any child who wants and needs a mentor in their lives,” he said.

The youth mentoring programme focuses on children at an age when they are most likely to bond with the volunteer, creating a good friendship base and potentially life long friendships.

“The whole point about mentoring is for the volunteers to have fun with the young person that they are matched with,” Mr Lampe said.

Volunteers spend time being a big brother or big sister by doing things they already enjoy doing such as kicking a ball around, taking a walk on the beach, going to the movies or just hanging out.

‘Big and little sisters’ enjoy outing to Pouakai Zoo

October 20, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Voluntee Fun: New Plymouth “little sister” Wiki enjoys her ultimate animal experience encounter kindly sponsored by Fiona Carson of Pouakai Zoo. Photo: Supplied — Voluntee Fun: New Plymouth “little sister” Wiki enjoys her ultimate animal experience encounter kindly sponsored by Fiona Carson of Pouakai Zoo.
Photo: Supplied

After being a volunteer for 18 months Nic Willis decided that she loved the Big Brother Big Sister programme so much she joined the team.

Miss Willis, of New Plymouth, has been matched with Wiki, 13, since April 2011 and thoroughly enjoys spending time with her “little sister”.

“I just like seeing Wiki grow up and see her confidence grow,” she said.

Some of the things they do together are as simple as walking the dog, doing some baking or heading to the Big Brother Big Sister clubrooms at the Tasman Club where they play darts, cards and board games.

“We just hang out and do everyday stuff,” she said.

Wiki has good supportive parents who wanted something extra for her.

Indoor softball drawing in players

October 20, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

FAST FUN: Charlie Smith, Hawera, smacks the ball into the outfield during an indoor softball game in New Plymouth. Photo: Sharyn Smart — FAST FUN: Charlie Smith, Hawera, smacks the ball into the outfield during an indoor softball game in New Plymouth.
Photo: Sharyn Smart

Softball is being revamped in an attempt to attract new players.

The Taranaki Softball Association under the watchful eye of Allan Prestney, Witt’s Kaitakawaenga – Maori and Pasifika support co-ordinator, has shortened the game and moved it indoors to get more people involved.

“With it being mainly a Saturday afternoon sport we are loosing players due to work commitments,” she said.

Mrs Prestney said that too many games get rained off between October and December and moving indoors would enable play regardless of the weather.

She encourages people to have some fun and exercise by joining a team.

“We have mixed composite teams. So it’s just about giving it a go,” she said.

Teams are generally made up of nine players but can play with a minimum of 7.

ANZA Challenge supports Halberg Disability Sport Foundation

October 20, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Stratford Paralympian cyclist Nathan Smith Photo: Supplied — Stratford Paralympian cyclist Nathan Smith
Photo: Supplied

NZ Challenge: Harcourt’s John Christiansen, left, and Halberg disability sports advisor John Sigurdsson are joining forces to raise funds for disabled children in Taranaki. Photo: Sharyn Smart — NZ Challenge: Harcourt’s John Christiansen, left, and Halberg disability sports advisor John Sigurdsson are joining forces to raise funds for disabled children in Taranaki.
Photo: Sharyn Smart

Stratford paralympian cyclist Nathan Smith is part of the New Zealand team competing in the ANZA Challenge later this month.

Mr Smith has focused on his career after last year’s London Paralympics, working fulltime as charge pharmacist at McKay Pharmacy in Stratford.

“When they asked me to do it (the ANZA Challenge) I said it will give me a reason to get back on my bike and train for something. I was dead keen,” Mr Smith said.

The charitable event will pit two celebrity teams, representing New Zealand and Australia, against each other as they compete for national pride and raise money for their nominated charities.

Mr Christiansen, New Plymouth spokesperson for Harcourts, said it was a great honour to be principal sponsors of the ANZA Challenge.

The New Zealand race of the ANZA Challenge will begin in Wellington on October 15 and move through Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hamilton, with their charity being the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.

Taranaki Huntaways win silver at Pony Club Champs

October 20, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

TARANAKI SUCCESS: Representing North Taranaki the Huntaways team of C Herbert (left), V Berrie, A Spurway, S Megchelse, S Henderson, O Thompson-Booth, M Henderson, P Grayling and Coaches: H Marshall and L Quay won second place at the North Island Show Hunter championships. PHOTO: Supplied — TARANAKI SUCCESS: Representing North Taranaki the Huntaways team of C Herbert (left), V Berrie, A Spurway, S Megchelse, S Henderson, O Thompson-Booth, M Henderson, P Grayling and Coaches: H Marshall and L Quay won second place at the North Island Show Hunter championships.
PHOTO: Supplied

Riders, ponies and horse-floats took over Foxton earlier this month.

Pony clubs from around the North Island competed for the Show Hunter Championship title.

Representing the North Taranaki Pony Club, the Huntaways finished a close 2^nd in the team event at the annual Manawatu Pony Club run event.

Wellington Gold was first and Carlyle (Waverley) was placed third out of 23 teams from the North Island.

Joint coach Holli Marshall said the event had been held since 2007 and the level of competition had grown and improved every year.

“Riders have been training, trialling and working hard with their horses and ponies. Many people made this event a success,” she said.

Huntaways team captain Cassie Herbert said it was a successful end to a great event.

“Everyone in the team rode really well and we all had some real good individual results which made the team come out on top,” she said.

Award winning design by Cake Alicious

October 20, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

Wedding masterpiece: Alison Lythgow, owner of Cake Alicious in Bell Block, returned from Fashion Week after being named as runner-up for the North Island in the cake decorating section. Photo: Sharyn Smart — Wedding masterpiece: Alison Lythgow, owner of Cake Alicious in Bell Block, returned from Fashion Week after being named as runner-up for the North Island in the cake decorating section.
Photo: Sharyn Smart

Being handpicked to take part in New Zealand Fashion Week was a proud moment for New Plymouth business owner Alison Lythgow.

“I was so excited, what an amazing experience,” she said.

Mrs Lythgow owns a cake decorating business aptly named Cake Alicious, which she operates from her Bell Block home.

Her reputation for perfection and high quality work has resulted in Mrs Lythgow being picked along with eight other cake decorators from the North Island.

“It’s a great honour to be named one of North Island’s best cake decorator’s,” she said.

Quadruple Overtime for Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs

October 17, 2013 by Sharyn Smart

With the biggest crowd of the season watching, The Good Home Taranaki Mountain Airs put on a show deserving of a win, only to be nudged out in the FOURTH extra period to lose to the Otago Oceana Gold Nuggets 137–145 at TSB Stadium, New Plymouth last night.

MountainAirs Coach Dave Bublitz said he has never known a game to go on and on like this game did.

The close game was very physical and at times out-of-control as players flew in all directions with inconsistent decisions from the refs.

The fourth quarter saw the Mountain Airs playing “catch up”. Amazing work from Airs’ Jack Leasure, Link Abrams and Ethan Rusbatch saw the gap close. The calls from the refs were starting to have a big impact on the game as Nuggets’ Mark Dickel took a swing at Airs’ Link Abrams. The crowd chanted “off, off, off” but the ref only gave Abrams 2 shots. This decision would haunt the Airs.

With 4.07mins remaining on the clock Nuggets’ Benny Anthony was fouled out of the game and expressed his displeasure to the crowd. At full-time the scores were locked 93-93 with a clutch shot from Airs’ Jack Leasure sealing the deal.

Airs’ Kenny Gabriel had a quiet night adding only 10 points and 6 rebounds to be fouled out in the second of the four extra periods.