As a small group of New Plymouth volunteers touched down back home in New Plymouth Steve Bowkett was already planning a third trip back to Tacloban.
“Right up to the last day we were still meeting people that we would of liked to help. I would like to go back in September.”
“I’ve told my church that I will go back. It does tug on the heart strings. You see the need and how badly off they are. You just give a hand. I enjoy it and it’s fun.
“We don’t give out any cash. They might ask but we just build them a house, give them a sack of rice, school supplies or something like that.”
A furniture builder by trade and owner of Artesano in Fitzroy, New Plymouth, he enjoys travelling to disaster areas around the world helping others by offering whatever skills he can.
“Last year we started in Barangay 79 after Typhoon Yolanda ravaged the Phillipines. A local, Emma, gave us a list of people around her neighbourhood that really needed help. I still hear from a few of them on facebook.
This trip Steve was joined by Justin Butler, Zavia Smith and Lynette Betteridge.
“It took quite awhile to get a team but I got the right people at the right time. We worked well together.”
The Augusta Taranaki Mountain Airs battled hard against the Hawkes Bay Hawks at the TSB stadium in New Plymouth last night.
Airs Aaron Bailey-Nowell and Brad Anderson both showed great leadership and commitment as each team battled for the lead.
The lead changed 13 times and was tied a further seven in the tightly contested game. The Hawks came out the victor 118 – 90 in the final minutes of the game.
Captain Aaron Bailey-Nowell said he found the loss frustrating.
“It is the same things that have been haunting us over these 5 loses that we have had. It’s the execution down the stretch and playing defence.
“I thought Sulieman showed why he’s the all star 5 in the MVP. He really took over the game but we could have stepped up as a team defensively. Another one down and we just have to go back to the drawing board.”
“It felt like a really tight game. I thought it could have got away on us a couple of times. They pulled out to a double digital lead at one stage. So showing true fight we know how to fight back but it’s just getting over the hump and getting the win.
“I always try and lead by example and hope that it rubs off on the guys. It’s a game of 40 minutes. We showed that we are right there but we can’t get over the hump.”
Airs Ashton McQueen watches as team mate Aaron Fuller leaps for the hoop.
The Augusta Taranaki Mountain Airs played a very competitive home game against the Wellington Saints in their opening game of the season.
They matched the Saints play for play during the first two quarters even though three of their players had 2 fouls early in the first quarter at the TSB Stadium in New Plymouth.
Saints Coach Cameron Pero said he thinks the Airs will give a lot of teams trouble this season.
“It’s typical Mountain Airs basketball, I have come here and lost before. They played good basketball and we are very, very happy to come away with a win.
“We have had a month to prepare knowing we are going to play each other and we are just unsure what each other runs because on game night not everyone ran their stuff.
“It’s the second year for Streaky (Coach Shaw) and he has come on leaps and bounds. I don’t think he is a new coach any more but has a few games under his belt and it definitely showed tonight.
“I didn’t think we hit our straps. I think we were good in some respects but poor in others. We need to address some obvious issues.
“On saying that, I still commend our guys for coming out of here with a tough win. It was tough, really tough and we were able to just keep ahead of them.”
Sydnie Maxwell on her new travel scoot with her mother Maree and members of the Naki Boyz team.
Sydnie Maxwell is leaving everybody in her dust as she powers away on her new electric travel scoot sponsored by The Variety Bash and Rotary.
“I have cerebral palsy so that means I use 10 times more energy than the average human being so I do need to preserve my energy when I can. The travel scoot is great for me.
“It’s definitely really awesome as I can collapse it myself and then my friend can stick it in the boot of her car. I couldn’t do that with my wheelchair as it is way too heavy.”
The 25th Variety Trillian Bash started in New Plymouth this year with 35 vehicles assembling at East End Surf Club for some presentations before hitting the road.
Ambassador Suzy Cato was there to share her love for the bash. She really enjoys meeting so many amazing people as she travels the country with the bashers.
“The Bash is a great way of promoting Variety, especially through the small towns where Variety can play a huge part of a child’s life.
“It’s meeting the people – that’s the highlight for me. By talking to them and sharing your love for the bash the love is shared!”
Sharyn Smart talks with Brando Yelavich after he completes a 600 day navigation around the wild coastline of NZ.
Brando Yelavich finishing his epic over 8,000 km journey around the NZ coastline.
Making an extreme decision to “clean up” his life changed Brando Yelavich from a troubled youth to inspirational hero.
“Go big or go home. I think that if you are going to do something you might as well give it a 110%. You only do it once, especially if you are walking around NZ. I’m not going to do that again! – he laughs.
The 21-year-old has just returned from his latest adventure at Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand in Anikiwa.
“I had no idea what was going to happen at Outward Bound. So it was just like once again going into the unknown and just living. I wasn’t nervous at all but just excited for an adventure of 21 days in my element.
“I quickly discovered outward bound was completely different to my solo adventure as it was team based. You were forced to be in very close proximity to 14 other people for 21 days. You pretty much can’t escape people. It turns these 14 strangers into family members or friends for life which was absolutely amazing.”
Scooby checks out the new friendship chair presented to Egmont Village School – Photo by Sharyn Smart
Pupils at Egmont Village School now have a friendship chair thanks to the Scooby Doo Crew.
Fred aka Warren Haakma, Velma aka Fay Haakma and Scooby aka Cees Meeuwsen crew the Mystery Machine.
They couldn’t wait one more sleep for the official Variety Trillian Bash to start as they presented their friendship chair to the school.
Fred explained how the friendship chair worked to the children, staff and parents.
“If you are a bit sad and lonely when you sit on the friendship chair that is a sign for someone else to come and sit next to you and be your friend.”
Egmont Village School Principal Raewyn Rutherford said they were privileged to receive the chair and she could see little girls using it heaps because they often came up to staff and said ‘no-one will play with me today’.
“I thought the offer of the friendship chair was wonderful. We found out about three weeks ago that we had been chosen as the recipients.
“I think the idea of having the chair is great. It is a really lovely idea that fits in nicely with our values of giving, sharing and helping others that we have in place at school.
Fred AKA Warren Haakma has been bashing for 20 years and has only missed three road trips. Thelma AKA Fay has done 6 main bashes along with 8 mini bashes and says “it’s something that gets in your blood and you just have to do it for the kids”.
“It can get quite emotional sometimes when you are seeing the joy it brings or the difference you make when you are giving an insulin pump, a wheelchair or a scooter to a kid that really needs the help.”
Team members of What a Load of Bull and The Tron were there to support the Scooby Doo Crew as they handed out giveaways before letting the children inspect their vehicles.
Both Scooby Doo Crew and What a Load of Bull display a tribute photo of westie comedian Ewen Gilmour.
What a Load of Bull team – Photo by Jacqui Madelin.
What a Load of Bull team captain Lyndon Tamblyn was encouraged and then supported by the late Ewan Gilmour into being a variety basher.
“I was selling beef jerky and I didn’t really know who Ewan Gilmour was. He kept taking my samples at a trade show. I said if you like it that much have a bag!”
Later that evening he went on stage and told jokes. In the middle of the jokes he stops and eats his beef jerky and says Lyndon the guy down the back, he’s got beef jerky.”
“I thought you are actually quite a good bloke. I got to know him over a number of shows we did together with him the comedian and me an exhibitor. We bounced off each other and it was just great.
“He said you should do the variety bash. I quickly said I would love to and the rest is history.”
The official 25th Variety Trillian Bash kicked off the next morning with 35 vehicles assembling at East End Surf Club for breakfast.
Thunderbirds are GO team with Suzy Cato (pink suit) – Photo by Jacqui Madelin
Dresssed as Lady Penelope Variety Club Ambassador Suzy Cato was set to travel in style with the Thunderbirds are GO crew as they left New Plymouth.
“The BASH is a great way of promoting Variety, especially through the small towns where Variety can play a huge part of a child’s life. We don’t go down the main roads. We go off all the little side tracks and side roads. We meander our way across the country.
In doing that we meet a whole lot of people we wouldn’t normally meet, we see a whole lot of amazing scenery and get to go to places that the average kiwi wouldn’t get to do.
It’s meeting the people – that’s the highlight for me. By talking to them and sharing your love for the bash the love is shared!”
Suzy has been involved in many Variety Bashes and is excited to be celebrating 25 years.
“We watched a montage of clips last night as part of the celebration dinner. Oh that brought back some memories. There were some fun times; crazy times and very wet times but definitely all were fun times.
Suzy Cato takes control of the Mystery Machine – Photo by Jacqui Madelin
Proud to be one of the Variety Club Ambassadors Suzy Cato just wants to say:-
“If you see one of our crazy cars please toot or give us a wave. If we are wandering along the street maybe drop some gold coins into the bucket. Every single dollar is going to those kiwi kids to help make their lives a little brighter, to put smiles on their faces and it’s all about having heaps of fun. We are sunshine vehicles – it’s a wonderful event!”
To donate online to the Scooby Doo team go to https://varietybash2015.everydayhero.com/nz/scooby-crew
2015 Bash 6th to 14th March
This will be the 25th Anniversary Bash. Starting in New Plymouth, teams will travel South to Wellington, then back up to finish in Auckland.
The event will be capped off by a Gala Function celebrating 25 Years of Bashing in NZ.
This will be one of the bigger bashes covering all the towns that the bash teams reside in, so get your fun stops organised, extra beds ready or maybe shift towns for the week but hey the Bash is coming to your town!
CJ the Clown busy at work entertaining on the Children’s Ward at Taranaki Base Hospital.
For many the word “clown” conjures up spooky images from a Stephen King movie.
Not so for staff, patients and family members at Taranaki Base Hospital who share the wards with a very different type of clown – a Care Clown.
Wayne Annand aka CJ the Clown is a volunteer at the Hospital spending many hours with patients and staff offering a kind, caring listening ear along with crafting hundreds of balloon creations.
“Finding out about Care Clowning drastically changed my life. It is the perfect fit for me. You can paint a clown smile on but the clown still has to come from within.”
Over the past eight years it has allowed Wayne’s quiet demeanour and mischievous personality to shine. Added to this is his huge compassion to comfort, distract and relax children and adults alike developing into an amazing resource.
“It took me a long time to become a clown. The clown is in you, it has to be, otherwise you can’t do it, but it took me a long time to bring that character out.
“Care clowning changed me from being an entertainer at parties to just wanting to be a care clown.”
“I donate my time and skills because if you really enjoy something and it means a lot to you as a person why wouldn’t you do it for free.
Programme Director Rita Noetzel on Red Nose Day 2014Founder and CEO Prof. Thomas Petschner on Red Nose Day 2014
Founder, CEO and Creative Director Professor Thomas Petschner’s ultimate utopia is for clown doctors to be in every hospital as part of the hospital’s daily routine.
“We have helped 70,000 patients in the last five years.
“Like people wash their hands as part of hygiene at the hospital, I would like to have clown doctors become part of the mental hygiene. It is something that should be in every hospital and be absolutely normal and necessary.
“Knowing you have helped that many people motivates you and in many situations, as a clown doctor, the patients have changed my life and those of the people that I work with. It is extra special when you work with someone who knows they are going to die and you are able to get a smile out of them.”
Arriving in New Zealand nine years ago Petschner was dismayed to find there were no clown doctors practicing here. He immediately spoke to his colleague Rita Noetzel now Programme Director and Team Leader and they formed the charitable trust Clown Doctors New Zealand.
“The purpose of clown doctors is to help people overcome their challenges in regards to their hospital stay. Clown doctors work hard to get people out of that depressive mind set of being in a hospital by distracting them and therefore reducing their pain levels.”
Engulfed by 800 degree flames and having his naked body wrapped in glad wrap are vivid memories Graeme Hill will never forget. Nearly four years after receiving his life changing injuries he talks about what happened and what he still endures.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 ended up being unlucky for two New Plymouth Senior Firefighters. Graeme Hill, 34, and his shift partner Sam Julian, 31, entered a Lepperton chicken shed to put out a fire when a flashover fire exploded engulfing them in flames.
Graeme was thrown to the ground by the blast gaining his first serious ‘on the job’ injuries from 19 years service. He received second and third degree burns to 20-30% of his body, requiring skin grafts on his bottom, back, legs, arms and hands. He spent three weeks in the burns unit at Waikato Hospital before spending a further 26 months recuperating. He was finally able to return to work on December 23, 2012.
“Sam is a very talented firefighter. His ability to work well under pressure proved to be a very handy asset that day,” says Graeme.
“He led the way to exit the building in nasty and extremely hot conditions.”
“It went from pitch black to daylight as we managed to pop out the other side of the wall. One second we were inside, the next we were out.”
As he removed his level 2 structure kit – jacket, helmet, breathing apparatus, etc, the seriousness of his injuries became apparent.
“I got a good view of my skin hanging off my fingers on both hands and down my arm. I sort of looked at all that and thought ‘oh this is a bit more serious than I thought.’
Graeme’s ever present humour kicks in and says ‘Everyone picks on a ginga – even fires do,’ as he bursts into laughter.
The men were rushed to New Plymouth Base Hospital. Sam Julian suffered burns to his bottom, back, shoulders and hands and spent 11 weeks recuperating at home before returning to work Christmas Eve 2010.
Nigel Latta’s new TV series is focusing on the big issues currently facing our country and aims to get everyone talking.
The first episode titled “The new haves and have nots” aired on Tuesday 29th July with immense positive feedback from the public.
Sharyn Smart talks to him about the show and life in general.
“I had a sort of interesting university career. I’ve got a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Science in Marine Science. I went back and got a Master of Philosophy with First Class Honours in Psychology and then did a post graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology,” says Nigel.
“It was back in the days when education was better than free, I got paid to go so I could afford things that were interesting, that weren’t necessarily tied to a career, and come out of that without a massive debt. I could never have afforded to do that now. That’s where it’s difficult for kids today because the generation who go their education for free is now telling them you know what … we can’t afford it, you guys have to pay for it yourselves.”
Nigel says it would be easy to solve this problem by getting some of the multi-national companies to pay their fair share of taxes and then most people could have a free education.
Art skills: An exhibition aptly named From Pixels to Paint at Inglewood’s Fritz Reuter Gallery has photography by Derek Hughes, paintings by Margaret Bake and images from the Inglewood Photography Group. Photo by: Sharyn Smart
Ironically two of the artists who were part of the first exhibition held at the Fritz Reuter Gallery could also well be the last.
Taranaki photographers Margaret Bake and Derek Hughes were joined by Adam Buckle and Helen Wilkin ten years ago at the official opening of the gallery named after a ship which brought the Polish settlers to Inglewood in 1876.
“If my eyesight hadn’t failed through that shingles attack 25 years ago leading to the demise of my business, we would have never come to Inglewood and possibly the Inglewood photographic group may never have been formed. So you just never know circumstances change,” said Margaret.
Dean Probyn lives his ‘One Life, One Decision’ motto every day since a car accident in 1990 left him a tetraplegic.
In 1993 the New Plymouth local took an opportunity to “pay-it-forward” and share his story by speaking to school children, clubs and groups around the country.
He took his “pay it forward” a step further in 2013 and contacted the American Military to offer his skills as a motivational and inspirational speaker sharing his daily life experiences with the wounded soldiers.
After seeing such successful results from his one talk the military now want him back for a longer period of time to reach more soldiers.
“I wanted to do something to just say ‘hey thank-you’ to the soldiers and see if I could help in anyway. I suppose it’s about paying it forward. I’ve been blessed with friends, family, good mates and a good life. So I got in touch with the American Military and got clearance to go in and give a talk.”
“I don’t pretend to understand what they’ve been through. I talk to them about what I went through and what helped me get through things. Your family, your friends, your mates, they are all important to you. You have to be willing to talk about things because that helps.”
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 ended up being unlucky for two New Plymouth Senior Firefighters. Graeme Hill, 34, and his shift partner Sam Julian, 31, entered a Lepperton chicken shed to put out a fire when a flashover fire exploded engulfing them in flames.
Dean Probyn lives his ‘One Life, One Decision’ motto every day since a car accident in 1990 left him a tetraplegic.