Seeing Red Over Poppy Proceeds
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Donovan does it again Gold medal delightP5 P3 TaupoTimes Tuesday, August 16, 2016 taupotimes.co.nz Young Taupo professionals plant out hillside A score of young people took part in a planting day organised by the Taupo Young Professionals networking group and Greening Taupo on Saturday. Following a brief demonstration by Greening Taupo’s Robyn Ellis, the group planted 400 native trees, bushes and flaxes along the Rotary mountain bike track near Cherry Island. Many hands made light work, and the social group soon enjoyed a sausage sizzle. The next Greening Taupo community planting day is on September 11 at Whakaipo Bay, then September 18 along Wairakei Drive. Visit greeningtaupo.org.nz for updates. ROBERT STEVEN / FAIRFAX NZ Seeing red over poppy proceeds MATT SHAND Garry Lough, a member of the ‘‘It's a bloody shambles in the club financials have been returned to investigating team appointed by their accountant for review. A mobility scooter and a slap of the RSA executive committee, management committee.’’ He denied the mobility scooter paint on a flagpole has landed the laid a complaint with police after RSA Trust Board secretary Garry Lough was purchased for a non-military officers of Taupo’s RSA in hot discrepancies were found in the person or that Poppy Day funds water, and they could be 2015 financial report. discovered $9812.07 of the 2015 parked up for another serviceman were used to paint the flagpole investigated by police. Although a military back- fund was misused. later on,’’ he said. ’’The club presi- and other bits of maintenance. The police complaint was filed ground is not needed to join the ‘‘We have only looked at the dent would not tell us who the The issue came to light at the against the officers of the Taupo RSA, it is needed if a member 2015 accounts,’’ he said. scooter was given to or their mili- annual general meeting in April RSA after nearly $10,000 of Poppy benefits from money collected Lough said investigators were tary history. We know who’s driv- when the 2015 accounts were Day funds were allegedly from the annual Poppy Day told the scooter, which cost ing it around at the moment and withdrawn from the record and a misused. appeal. approximately $5000, was pur- they do not have a military back- motion was moved for the It is alleged the the money was The fund must also be used chased initially for a military ground.’’ accounts to be ‘‘checked to ascer- used to buy a mobility scooter for solely for the direct benefit of member who then changed his RSA president Stewart tain the errors and then represent a non-military member, to paint returned servicemen and their mind and no longer wanted it. McLeod confirmed allegations the new 2015 accounts at a special the flagpole, to buy a display case descendants. ‘‘If that was the case, it should have been made against the meeting later in the year’’. and other maintenance costs. Lough said the investigation have been sold, returned or association and the 2015 Continued on page 3 BE IN TO Receive one entry with HURRY every $50* spent in store when you swipe your Fly Buys card. LAST WEEK! A CAR IN EVERY STORE! *Terms and conditions apply. Promotion runs in store between 1st - 21st August 2016. OVER $2 MILLION TOTAL PRIZE POOL See in store or visit newworld.co.nz for details. 2 TAUPO TIMES, AUGUST 16, 2016 stuff.co.nz YOUR PAPER, YOUR PLACE 1. JAZZ Dan Bolton Jazz Quartet: Friday This newspaper is subject to NZ Press August 19. Direct from New York Council procedures. city. Centre Stage, Matai St. Starts A complaint must first FROM 7.30pm. Tickets $20 from be directed in writing, eventfinda.co.nz or within one month of THE undertheradar.co.nz. publication, to the editor’s email address. If not satisfied with the response, the EDITOR complaint may be referred to the 2. LEARN IT Press Council. PO Box 10-879, Great Lake Senior Net, Taupo The Terrace, Wellington 6143. Library. First in, first served. Bring Or use the online complaint form at Firstly, I would like to thank all of your electronic device with you. www.presscouncil.org.nz Please our customers for their patience Every Thursday 2pm till 4pm. include copies of the article and all while our offices in Heuheu St are 1 correspondence with the publication. being strengthened. 3. HORSE RACING The building requires Fiber Fresh Stud Day: Thursday, earthquake strengthening to August 18. Horseracing meet run by CONTENTS bring it up to modern code and to Taupo Racing Club. Centennial Conversations P6 meet our company’s Drive Racecourse. Starts 10.30am. What’s On P10-11 requirements. Motoring P13-14 Work should be completed 4. CREATE Backyard Banter P15 later next month but in the Taupo Creative Fibre: Every Dr Libby P16 meantime we can be found at 155 to do list Wednesday, meets at Harrier Club Puzzles P20 Spa Rd, just up from Taupo-nui- rooms. Spinning, knitting felting, 2 3 Out and About a-Tia College and our sign is fairly crochet and other fibre crafts. visible from the road. Beginners and Experts welcome. Despite the limitations of our 11am till 3pm. Contact Anne on 378 temporary facilities, we have 1452 or Rosemary on 378 7132 continued to provide you with the very best news that we come 5. GET HEALTHY across. Nuki’s Women’s Boxing: Classes This week, we take a look at every Tuesday, Nuki’s boxing gym, some of the issues facing the RSA 250 Spa Rd. $10 per class. Starts on the front page. 9.30am. Phone 022 086 4241 for 4 5 On page 5 we look at a prison more information. programme that is helping tackle the most serious problem in our society - family violence. Contact us Contact us: Editor: Daniel Hutchinson, phone: 07 378 9060, [email protected], Area manager: Antonio Ganz, We also have two pages of [email protected]. News: Steph Rangi, 07 376 2262, [email protected], Robert Steven, 07 376 2260, What’s On this week to ensure [email protected], Matt Shand 07 376 2261, [email protected], Senior Media Sales Consultant: Graeme you don’t get bored in the winter Goldsbrough, 07 376 2252, [email protected], General and classified advertising: Lynne Webb 07 376 2265, months. [email protected], Judy Jones 07 376 2264, [email protected], taupotimes.co.nz, Taupo Times, PO Box 205, Daniel Hutchinson Taupo 3351. Circulation and delivery inquiries: Dave McEwen 07 376 2263, [email protected] LOVE Sign up to WIN Sign up to a 12 month wheelie bin subscription & go in the draw to win either AN EXTRA 12 MONTH SUBSCRIPTION FREE** OR A $100 MTA VOUCHER SUBSCRIBE “Hearing well is something special. 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ORDER ONLINE WASTEMANAGEMENT.CO.NZ/TAUPOPROMO Call 0800 56 46 46 today OR CALL 0800 10 10 10 AU-7354341AA 11 Tamamutu Street,Taupo | www.lauraarnold.net www.mags4gifts.co.nz stuff.co.nz AUGUST 16, 2016, TAUPO TIMES 3 Third win for Taupo author Poppy proceeds Issues showing potential misuse of Poppy Day money misuse at STEPH RANGI Taupo RSA came to light at the annual general meeting in April Donovan Bixley’s latest book when the 2015 accounts were was a 10 year process but all that withdrawn from the record and time paid off when he took out the ordered to be checked. illustration category at this year’s A report filed by investigators, book awards. RSA Vice-President Ray Dunbar Bixley’s book Much Ado About and Garry Lough, revealed Shakespeare was up against four ’’significant errors in how the 2015 other finalists at the 2016 New Poppy monies was spent, which Zealand Book Awards for Chil- were contradictory to the dren and Young Adults. It turned RNZRSA policy instructions’’. out to be the top book in his The report also concluded category. $9812.07 of welfare expenditure ‘‘I was just lost for words,’’ had been incorrectly attributed to Bixley said. ‘‘It’s incredibly the Poppy Fund and needs to be satisfying to be acknowledged by repaid. your peers.’’ ‘‘Therefore, $9812.07 needs to While this was Bixley’s third be transferred to the Poppy Day time at the awards - and the third Fund back account,’’ the report win for him, having won best jun- read. ior fiction with Monkey Boy and Lough does not think it is the children’s choice award in possible for the RSA to return the 2014 with The Three Bears... Sort money, as it is currently of - Bixley said the feeling of insolvent.’’It’s a bloody shambles waiting for an execution never in the club management lessens. committee,’’ he said. Much Ado About Shakespeare At a question and answer is an illustrated biography of the session on Thursday RSA Club famous English poet, playwright, Treasurer Allan Waller revealed and actor and after spending 10 sobering financial data for the years on it, it was released just in RSA Club.