2 Times Weekend LocalNews Saturday, January 30, 2021

WEEKEND Paddle-out fitting farewell forveteran surf lifesavers INSIDE TODAY Leah Tebbutt that was the way he wanted to be "We discussed it many times before couple of kilometres across his finding him face down in the Local news .. .. 1-7 remembered. Pa¯pa¯ moa farm to go surfing — water. His neck had been What was atwist in the current “He spent his life in the ocean,” and it never stopped. damaged in awave and the pair Nation ...... 9 turned into the perfect send-off for he said. he passed away because that was the Chris, along with his siblings worked tirelessly to resuscitate Opinion ...... 10 two top blokes from the Swimming, diving, spear- Emma and Jared, were involved him. Beach Surf Life Saving Club this fishing, kayaking and ocean way he wanted to be remembered. He in surf livesaving since they were Arescue helicopter flew them Business ...... 11 week. swimming were all on Sid’s list of spenthis life in the ocean." around 7years old. He said being out and Lester spent 10 weeks in Sport ...... 12-13 Clubbies young and old hobbies. able to share their father’s hospital and aspinal unit being World ...... 14-16 ventured into the ocean to say Many of Sid Salek’s peers AndySalek, son of lifesaver honoured passion for the water was “huge”. told he would never walk again. their last goodbyes to the late would struggle to walk 9.5km, let “From the early days of him “He’s abit of astubborn bugger Lester Phelps and Sid Salek with a alone swim the distance through pushing us onto waves on ...He made it his mission to prove traditional “paddle-out” on choppy seas, but that’s exactly younger people because it made through into his eighties. surfboards after we had just the doctors wrong. His goal was PLUS essence liftouts inside Thursday and the circular shape what he achieved at age 75 when him feel alive.” “Everything he did, he did it learnt how to stand up, up until obviously to be able to be back in they formed started to drift into a he took part in the Mo¯tı¯ tı¯to It was his father’s stubborn- 150 per cent.” lifeguarding on patrols alongside the ocean as well.” love heart. Mainland Swim Challenge. ness that many, including himself, Lester Phelps, alife member of him, it was something that really Traditionally a“paddle-out” It was fitting for two men who Sid was in Mount Maunganui would remember Sid by, he said. the surf lifesaving club, spent pulled us together as afamily.” was to say goodbye to old club arguably had no greater love than for agood 30 years and he had “He was stubborn, not always many years working with young Chris considers himself lucky members who had died. Contact us the one for the ocean or for their quickly fallen in love with the easy, but passionate, driven. athletes and also on the club’s to have learnt the lifeguarding Commotion and laughter filled club. Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving “His body was amedical exper- board. skills, as they came into use in the ocean as the clubbies paddled Regional Editor Scott Inglis Salek, also known as “Super Club, Andy said. iment and he was always working His son, Chris ,told the Bay of 2005 to save Lester after he back in, catching every wave Sid”, died earlier this month aged There is now even an award out how to get the best out of him, Plenty Times Weekend his suffered aspinal injury while possible. Senior News Director Dylan Thorne 90, and Phelps died in late Decem- handed to the most promising like what to do with his diet. He father’s love of the water began surfing at Matakana Island. Fitting, once again, for the two ber after ashort battle with youth in his father’s name, Andy had heart monitors right the way way back when he walked a Chris and his cousin, Issac, had who would want nothing more News Director Carmen Hall cancer. said. to pull his father in to shore after than to be joining them. It was aproud moment to be a “I think it speaks to his News Director Jo Raphael part of for Sid’s son, Andy, with passion, his enthusiasm, and con- clubbies throwing flowers and nection and his joy and inspira- Editorial inquiries and news tips splashing about after words were tion and everything that he lived 07 577 3154 shared. for really. He liked younger [email protected] “We discussed it many times people, he didn’t like older people. [email protected] before he passed away because Well, he liked hanging out with

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New Zealand Media Council

The Bay of Plenty Times is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. Acomplaint must first be directed in writing, within one month of publication, to complaints@bayofplentytimes. co.nz email address. If not satisfied with the response, the complaint OmanuBeach Surf Lifesaving Club remembered Lester Phelps may be referred to the Media Council PO Box 10-879, The Terrace, Wellington 6143. (left)and Sid Salekwith apaddle-outonThursday. Or use the online complaint form at www. PHOTO /JAMIE TROUGHTON DSCRIBE MEDIA SERVICES mediacouncil.org.nz Please include copies of the article and all correspondence with the publication. House squeeze forces ‘Sickofit’:Anger at road delays more seniors to rent Residentshit out at BayLink work extensions, MP sayshe’s‘saddened’ ■ Continuedfrom p1 children both financially and with aplace to live. year, she applied for rental after “This means that they are included in the $262m total costs. freight vehicles, in particular, from rental, to no avail. Having never less able to prepare for their own Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller local traffic will greatly improve rented before, she had no refer- retirement, and so the problem believed the project should have safety and overall traffic flow.” ences, which she said increased is amplified with each genera- Kiri always had an underpass. When asked how the project the difficulty of finding aplace. tion.” He said by the time the project was future-proofed for the region’s “It was very hard ... every- McCombe said they had seen Gillespie was completed, it would not be increasing population, Wilton said body is in need, there’s alot of aspike in people aged 65 and sufficient for the amount of traffic traffic modelling was undertaken people out there.” over accessing their services. there would be. as part of the project design. On top of that, she believed She said people of all ages ews one of the Bay of “If they haven’t done four lanes, “While overall population many of the rentals were of poor were taking on properties they Plenty’s biggest roading [on the flyover bridges] it won’t be growth in the region has been more quality. couldn’t afford because houses developments has been big enough. For the scale of the significant than anticipated, design N build, they should be building it for “All Iwanted to do was try to were in such short supply, and delayed another year has of the project is still expected to keep warmer ...but some of the the struggletopay ever- been met with outrage, sadness four lanes. I’d be bloody disap- make aconsiderable difference to places Iwent to, Ithought even increasing rents was across the and resignation by the pointed if they don’t.” overall traffic flow upon project though Idon’t have running board. community. The project includes atwo-lane completion.” water and that, maybe I’m better Food, doctor visits and social Transport Agency flyover bridge at the intersection of Wilton said the project was off there.” activities were being sacrificed Waka Kotahi confirmed last week SH2/Maunganui Rd and Girven Rd, “only one piece of amuch bigger She now has awarm and dry to afford rents, and “even those the Baypark to Bayfair (B2B) Pro- similar to the Hewletts Rd flyover. picture” and was being built in a home in the CBD close to health that have some money set aside ject, also known as BayLink, was This will be supported by two time when there was ashifting providers. for retirement are struggling”. now expected to be finished in separated lanes on either side of focus on transport and immense “I’m in ahouse at the mo- The Office for Seniors stated December 2023 at acost of $262 the flyover to help with traffic flow. population growth across the re- ment, it’s not my own but Itreat one in five New Zealanders aged million. Greater Tauranga’s Sue gion. it like my own. Ilove it.” 65-plus was still working despite Original estimates put the cost McArthur said, in her opinion, the “Increasing the share of travel Accessible Properties chief being eligible for superannu- at $120m and the finish date in 2020. project would not deliver any by public transport, walking and executive Greg Orchard ation, and that number is pre- Most recent estimates pegged the significant benefits for Bay of Traffic lines up on SH2between Bayfair roundabout (in the background) and cycling is apriority for the Govern- expected arapid increase in the dicted to climb to one in three. cost at $146m and acompletion Plenty people. Baypark as part of works to complete the Baylinkproject. Baypark to Bayfair ment. From aregional perspective, number of older people needing ASalvationArmy date in 2022. McArthur believed the benefits Link(B2B) construction. PHOTO /FILE Waka Kotahi is working in part- public housing as the population spokeswoman said elderly who Tauranga MP Simon Bridges for travel time savings and safety nership with [local authorities] to aged and the levels of housing came to the service for support said he was “really saddened” by would hardly be worth the estim- Parry lives right on the boundary Parry said he received regular deliver the Transport System Plan, stress increased. usually needed aplace to rent. the ongoing project delays. ated cost of the project. of the construction site and has emails informing him of updates astrategy aimed at better As aresult, he expected “They’ve never had to rent “Construction was started when Amotorist who commutes from done for 30 years. and there was awater truck that preparing the region for population Accessible before and Iwas Transport Minister and that Pa¯pa¯ moa to Tauranga each day While his patience was wearing regularly watered the site to keep growth.” Properties’ they don’t seems along time ago now.” said she no longer travelled thin with the project, he was also dust levels down. The Transport System Plan was services have refer- Bridges was there to turn the through the roadworks as she had resigned to the constant “That dust, it gets everywhere.” aimed at helping alleviate strain on would become Key issues faced by ences, which first sod of the project in 2017. In become “sick of it” and the conges- vibrations, noise and dust. Transport agency acting port- the region’s arterial routes, and more tailored older renters is also are- 2019, the project completion date tion was “awful”. “That’s just afact of life but it’s folio delivery manager Jo Wilton also highlighted that building more to seniors. quirement was revised to mid-to-late 2021. The woman, who would not be probably getting to the stage said in response to Muller’s con- roads was only part of the solution, He said ■ Unaffordable rents and when being Original plans for the project named, said she now travelled where I’ve had enough of it. The cerns at the project’s lane layout Wilton said. wealth in- difficulty in paying rent considered for did not include the popular pedes- through Welcome Bay and knew of entrance is right next door to that aprimary objective was to “Infrastructure alone cannot equality is a prompted moving to rental proper- trian and cyclist underpass near others who did the same. She said where Ilive.” separate state highway and local solve the region’s congestion prob- growing issue cheaper accommodation. ties.” Bayfair Shopping Centre, but com- she doubted the project would Parry said he just had to get on traffic. lems. Behaviouralchange is and ■ Insecure tenure. She said munity action changed this and make much difference in travel with it as “there’s not much we can “The flyovers are designed to equally important and we need to affordability ■ Lack of supply of suitable the elderly did last year the transport agency times due to the city’s swelling do really”. improve efficiency and resiliency consider how we can better en- was akey fac- homes for an ageing not always confirmed it would build anew population. “I do believe they are trying for freight traffic to the Port of courage people to change their tor in seniors population —cold, damp. have family underpass at acost of $26m. This is Eversham Rd resident Michael their best.” Tauranga. Separating heavy travel habits.” moving from ■ Lack of housing for nearby they ownership to people who need accessible could reach renting. features or modifications to out to. Previously, maintain their “Finding a comparatively independence. property can Veteran host says workingwith his sonjustgold low housing be quite prices had stressfulfor helped people them.” Leah Tebbutt in the studio but he maintains that into home ownership and al- Tauranga Moana Takitimu Mark is still the boss despite the GOLD AM lowed people to pay off their House men’s shelter manager, Local radio host Brian Kelly began family hierarchy. Frequencies (and mortgage before retirement, he Annamarie Angus, said they had his new role as Gold AM’s The “He poured his heart and soul available on said. not had any increase in referrals Country Sport Breakfast host this into it and got the job and it’s been This allowed older people to from older demographics but week, saying goodbye to his com- Brian (BK) Kelly in an absolute dream working with iHeartRadio): “maintain living standards on a would need to consider the addi- fortable seat as host for the ’s theTauranga my son and he’s just loving it. ■ Ashburton 702 AM relatively low level of retirement tional risks, including increased local Bay of Plenty Breakfast show. studio with his “I’ll respect him. You know he’s ■ Auckland 1332 AM income”. health issues and physical When Kelly, known as BK, was producer andson, ayounger market, so Idon’t want ■ Christchurch 1503 AM However, this has become health issues if they did. asked to host the new Gold AM Mark Kelly, in the to be an old ‘No Iwill do it this ■ Dunedin 693 AM less common, he said. She said the risk of show, he said it was adream come background. way’. Nope, [I’m] very happy to ■ Hawkes Bay 1125 AM “The research further homelessness was morphing, true. PHOTO /GEORGE work with him and we’ve been ■ Manawatu 1089 AM reinforces the need for action on with housing availability, prices, However, the dream took on a NOVAK having fun.” ■ Masterton 87.6 FM* housing and supports Accessible and accessibility proving to be new dimension when his son, Mark NZME head of talk Jason ■ Nelson 549 AM Properties’ vision to deliver new risk factors. Kelly, was appointed as his pro- Winstanley said Gold AM’s break- ■ New Plymouth 774 AM / and improved housing in the When the service opened six ducer. some good ol’ classic rock music rural aspect that was challenging. fast show was designed for re- 87.8 FM Pukehinahina [Gate Pa] Tau- and ahalf years ago, it had a Now the father-and-son duo are through the show as well.” “It’s alearning curve on the gional New Zealanders and sport ■ Northland 729 AM ranga Hospital area.” focus on long-term homeless hitting the airwaves across the Gold AM’s The Country Sport rural side of things, not having lovers alike. ■ Rotorua 1350 AM Long-term support and com- predominantly due to unmet country. Breakfast was launched in July come from afarm, but we’re “Calling the Bay of Plenty home, ■ Southland 558 AM mitment from local and central needs, trauma and addiction. BK goes live from the Tauranga last year, the show delivering rural making it work. BK’s aheartland-dwelling, self- ■ South Taranaki 1557 AM / government, investing in the “More and more, over the last studio while his son streams in and regionally focused news and “You’re more current, so what I confessed sports nut and the voice 88.2 FM regeneration of the city’s two years, we are receiving from Auckland. interviews, served up with abig was doing before was alocal of New Zealand motorsport for ■ Taupo 107.7 FM* existing public housing to pro- referrals for people who have “It’s quite abig change from dose of sports information, inter- programme. Now, it’s New over 40 years, so in many ways, ■ Tauranga 1521 AM vide additional suitable housing, less complex issues, however, being amusic radio DJ to suddenly views and opinion. Zealand-wide. And so you’re look- this show is designed just for him,” ■ Timaru 1494 AM was needed, he said. are unable to access housing due becoming asports and rural an- BK has been involved in broad- ing at things that interest the he said. ■ 792 AM Tauranga BudgetAdvice to the lack of availability. nouncer,” BK said. casting since 1970 in anumber of whole of New Zealand, from the BK’s move to Gold AM means ■ Whanganui 1062 AM manager Shirley McCombe said “Given the current climate, “Number one, it’s challenging, on-air roles but has always had a dairy farmer in Southland through the Coast’s Bay of Plenty listeners ■ Wellington 1503 AM it was difficult to own ahome this lack of affordable housing or but it’s really enjoyable. passion for sport, particularly to the dairy farmer in Northland will be able to catch the popular now, and parents were support- home ownership is on the in- “You’re talking to sportspeople, motorsport. who is suffering from drought.” Coast Feel Good Breakfast with ing adult children and grand- crease.” talking to finance people and then While the sports element of the It’s been more than 30 years Toni Street, Jason Reeves and Sam in amongst that we get to play show flows easily for him, it’s the since BK had aproducer with him Wallace on 97.4FM.