Secretary CYMDEITHAS GYMREIG WELLINGTON Bob Bevan Smith Welsh Society of Wellington NZ Inc. 38 Whaui Street Vogeltown Newyddion Awst 2020, rhif 4 Wellington 6021 Newsletter August 2020 , no. 4 [04] 389 4644 Email: [email protected] 027 389 4642 Web: https://nzwelsh.wordpress.com President Patron Treasurer Margot Griffith Chief High Court Justice Susan Thomas Bryan Watts Tel: [04] 589 1727 Tel: [04] 385 9622

th Harry Hall was a keen FOTOR member, attending Jo & Mike’s 40 Wedding anniversary every Wednesday nursery workday and planting day. His request for his funeral was "no flowers but a donation to FOTOR”, which was still receiving contributions the week before planting. "Thanks everyone for coming out to help," Alan Hall, Harry's oldest son said. “The last few years of Dad’s life he really enjoyed his time with the Friends.” Among the plants were an extra 150 seedlings donated by Te Hero's nursery and landscape gardener, James Crane. “It's got me interested for this spring — I must propagate more seedlings," he said. FOTOR president, Max Lutz, thanked everyone for their support, particularly Eric and Vanessa arry a’s asting egay Matthews who roll up every Wednesday at the nursery and planting days with morning tea. The plaque was unveiled with the Tree Scheme board and named those who had contributed to the group.

Bruce and daughter Rakapa planting By Margaret Andrews – Otaki Mail The Friends of the Otaki River (FOTOR) held their first ‘Tree Scheme’ planting day on July 11th, with approximately 1,300 native trees, shrubs and grasses planted in little over one hour. Foods as heavy rain fas in Waes ‘Tree Scheme’, just west of the recent Goodman Contractors site, was funded by donations from people and businesses around Otaki and beyond and also included a considerable amount from the Harry Hall Memorial Fund. Funds cover the purchase expenses of growing bags for the seedlings, potting mix and fertilizer. Members and sponsor groups pot the seedlings at the FOTOR nursery and members care for them over the next year until the following planting BBC 4 th July 2020 season June – July, when the sponsor group, The historic Ty'n y Cornel Hotel, by Tal-y-llyn lake members and interested people come along for the in Gwynedd, has suffered regular flooding in recent public planting day. Planting is made much easier years. The hotel building dates back to the early thanks to the guys from the Wellington Regional 1800s and is thought to have offered lodgings Council's Otaki Flood Protection base, and their since the early 1900s. A hotel spokesman said: machine which digs all the holes a day before. "The flood water is up to my knees in the road. It's

Page 1 flooded all the garages but not the main building. Aber edge narrow win over Dogeau The lake does flood a few times but we didn't expect it today. It's the people who sometimes try to drive through that's the problem and the aftermath of the drivers going through." He claimed lorries were the worst, saying: "They just think it's fine to drive through - the bow wave goes halfway up the building." The gardens of Gwydir Castle in Conwy were also hit as Natural Resources Wales issued 10 flood alerts, all but one in north Wales. That was later reduced to six, with three alerts in north Wales and one in south west Wales lifted. From the June newsetter Where was I? Rhosilli, looking over Worms Head Which team was that? All Stars Gymnastic Club, Taff's Well near Cardiff Where am I?

Phil Leeds made 61 not out for Dolgellau. THERE will be no league matches played this season due to the coronavirus pandemic, but cricket is most definitely back - with all local matches having sanitising breaks every six overs. On Sunday, Dolgellau travelled to Aberystwyth for a friendly fixture, their first match of the ‘new normal’, and it turned out to be a close affair, with Aberystwyth winning by just a single wicket from the penultimate delivery of the match. Clue: Where the Queen meets St. John Visiting captain Stuart Evans opted to have first The Portabe Radio Station - 5ZB use of a good batting track, and his side made a total of 184 for 8 from their 40 overs, with each bowler being limited to 8 overs. Aberystwyth responded with 185 for 9 from 39.5 overs, scoring 104 runs from their last 14.5 overs to successfully reach their winning target. Opener Greg Smithies hit 4 boundaries in his 19 runs, Jonathan Lloyd made 17, Stuart Evans made 16, including a six, Jaco Oosthuizen put on 15, Morgan Yorke 14 not out and Will Hannam made 11. Phil Leeds, batting as low down as number seven, top scored for Dolgellau with 61, before he retired not out in the latter part of the innings. Station 5ZB, built into a railway carriage, was There were other double figure contributions, but hauled all over the North Island in 1939, from no other batsman managed to reach twenty. Whangarei to Masterton and New Plymouth to For Aber, spinner Nat Burrell claimed 3 wickets for Napier. It broadcast commercial programmes from 25 from his 8 overs and youngster Titus Mathew a collapsible aerial set up in railway yards in 13 took 2 for 32. Skipper Ted Trewella, 1 for 21, provincial centres, and earned considerable James Breese, 1 for 31, and Tom Williams, 1 for advertising revenue. The station reappeared, 38, were the other wicket takers, and there was a broadcasting from a temporary studio, at the catch apiece for Mel Jones and Jim Vaughan as Centennial Exhibition in 1940. On St David's Day the visiting team closed on 184 for 8. members of the Wellington Welsh Society wore After 20 overs of their reply, Aberystwyth stood at national dress for the celebrations at 5ZB 58 for 1, but some hard hitting in the middle order by Tom Williams, 32, and James Breese, 28, Page 2 gradually increased the run rate, both batsmen Gymraeg Llundain. They lobbied the authorities, striking a six and 3 fours in their knocks, taking knocked on doors to drum up support and after advantage of some slipshod fielding by the visitors. much wrangling, the London County Council Opener Anthony Burrell top scored with 40, Mel agreed to set up a class in Hungerford Road Jones made 20, Jim Vaughan 12 and Trewella School, Camden Town, which fortuitously was also 12. ruled by Headmistress, Elizabeth James, a Welsh It went from 173 for 6 to 177 for 9 with 3 overs left, speaker and enthusiast for the experiment. They agreed for children to be educated in Welsh up to but the last pair, Adam Shaw 6 not out and Titus th Mathew, 2 not out managed to take their side to the age of 7yrs. On 8 September 1958 the class the winning line with 1 ball to spare, reaching 185 teacher, Heulwen Jones, welcomed the first pupils for 9. and the venture was widely publicised in the press and on television. Leeds was top wicket taker with 5 for 49, while 4 bowlers had one wicket each. Oosthuizen had 1 Now check the meaning of the Welsh word for 18, Sam Williams 1 for 23, Jonathan Lloyd 1 for ‘Heulwen’! 27 and Smithies 1 for 28. There was a stumping for Stuart Evans and a catch for Oosthuizen and Lokdown Puzze for Wesh/Engish Smithies as Aber won by one wicket. Gof Cub. On a train bound for nowhere

BBC Wales

Heritage steam railways are in a "precarious" Welsh Clarion August 2020 situation and will be struggling for survival over the summer, one railway manager has said. The relaxing of some British lockdown rules in May was a tricky matter for golfers at one club whose Tourist attractions such as steam railways have course straddles England and Wales. At that time been closed for months and are now reopening golfers in England could look forward to teeing off with social distancing and hygiene measures. but the devolved Welsh government hadn’t given Liz McGuiness, general manager at the Llangollen the sport the go-ahead. Railway, said the industry was "walking a For golfers at on the border of tightrope". England and Wales, it was proving a complex She said the railway will lose hundreds of issue as fifteen holes are in Wales and two in thousands of pounds over the summer. England. On the fourth hole, players hit their first shot in Wales and putt out on a green in England. In searh of Sunshine’ Llanymynech Golf Club, the course where former US Masters champion & world number one Ian Woosnam learnt to play, eventually reopened under measures approved for England. Llanymynech is a village straddling the border between Montgomeryshire/, Wales, and , England, about 9 miles north of the Welsh town of Welshpool. The border runs for the most part along the frontages of the buildings on the east (English) side of the village's main street, with the eastern half of the village in England and the western half in Wales. Ysgol Gymreag Llundain The London Welsh School Kep is on the Way (extract from ‘Yr Enfys’ Winter 2019) Seaweed farming could help clean up the oceans ln 1955, led by two friends from Blaenau and the atmosphere reports Michael Marshall in Ffestiniog, who were teaching in London, a New Scientist 16th May 2020 Saturday morning Welsh class was started at the As a child in South Wales, I was dimly aware that London Welsh Centre. It was the parents of this laverbread was a treasured cultural asset. Nobody group, led by among others, the actor Meredith I knew ate any, though, and it never turned up on Edwards, who conceived the idea of Ysgol my plate. I would probably have turned my nose Page 3 up at it if it had. Far from being bread as most of of the national diet. But in many Western us know it, this traditional Welsh foodstuff consists countries, consumption has historically been less of seaweed boiled into a mushy paste, often conspicuous. “It was kind of frowned upon as dipped in oatmeal and fried before serving. Not my ‘poor food’,” says M. Lynn Cornish at Acadian childhood self’s ideal dish. Seaplants in Dartmouth, Canada. The word "superfood" is a marketing term that has Beyond food no rigorous scientific meaning. It is generally Many people do still ingest seaweed, or extracts of applied to foods that are unusually high in some it, without realising it. Thickeners in sauces and nutrient that is considered particularly important to yoghurts, for example, are made of carrageenans, health. Examples include blueberries, which are compounds found in red seaweeds. Often listed rich in vitamin C; chia seeds, which contain a lot of as E407 on packaging, they are also a common omega-3 fatty acids that help your heart; and kale, ingredient in many cosmetics. which has lots of glucosinolates, pungent chemicals tentatively proposed to offer some “Nobody knows there is carrageenan from protection against cancer. seaweed in toothpaste,” says Holdt. The rise of veganism has also boosted demand, pushing more By these standards, many seaweeds would surely food manufacturers to ditch animal-based count as superfoods. For example, they are high ingredients like gelatine and turn to seaweed in iodine, which our thyroid gland needs, and in extracts instead. supposedly beneficial chemicals such as antioxidants. Some seaweeds also contain a Seaweed’s long-chain molecules are pigment called fucoxanthin, which may have anti- ideal for making plastic substitutes. obesity effects — in rats at least. Seaweed’s multitalented tendrils extend far beyond The problem is that we may not absorb these food. The long-chain molecules they contain are substances in meaningful quantities when we eat ideal for making plastic substitutes, and some such seaweed. “What happens in your intestines?" asks bioplastics are already on the market. Susan Holdt at the Technical University of UK start-up Notpla , for example, uses a mixture of Denmark in Kongens Lyngby. seaweeds and plants to make materials it hopes Seaweed contains a lot of fibre, which is good at could replace plastic water bottles and ketchup binding to other chemicals. That may mean that sachets. You may already have seen them in the desirable trace metals and minerals stay action: runners at the 2019 London Marathon were trapped inside it rather than being taken up by our given pouches of sports drink made from Notpla’s bodies. This is a recurring problem with other bioplastic. supposed superfoods: they may only give us vitamin-rich stools. Cleaning the planet How we prepare the seaweed makes a big At present, one of the most significant sources of difference, says Holdt, as we don’t yet know which greenhouse gases is livestock farming. Cows and methods maximise our nutrient intake. other ruminants have microorganisms in their guts that break down fibrous material like hay, releasing Still, while seaweed isn’t technically a superfood, nutrients that the animal can use. neither is anything else. What’s more, it is thoroughly nutritious and an excellent thing to add This process creates hydrogen gas, which gut to your diet for other reasons. microbes called methanogens feed on, releasing methane as waste. “The methane is then belched Seaweed species contain a lot of protein, so they out of the animal,” says Ermias Kebreab at the are good meat substitutes. There are other University of California. This is bad news for the protein-rich foodstuffs that are vegan-friendly, such planet. as soya, but they are often low in essential amino acids. Not so seaweed. Holdt highlights wakame However, since 2008, evidence has accumulated and nori, a type of red seaweed that is wrapped that adding seaweed to ruminant food reduces around rice in sushi, as being particularly rich in their methane emissions. Later studies found that these nutrients. a genus of red algae called Asparagopsis works especially well, but there was a drawback: many of Today, we still rely on seaweed’s many benefits. these experiments were performed on microbes We use it as a delicacy to wrap round sushi, incubated in a lab, not in real cows. extract its chemicals for use in industry and turn it into recyclable plastics. But its potential doesn’t “I was a bit sceptical,” says Kebreab. “Just end there. because it works in the lab doesn't mean it works in the animal.” However, when his team tried Large-scale seaweed farms could clean up Earth's feeding 12 cows the red seaweed with their normal oceans, restoring biodiversity and increasing the food, the results were dramatic. Over three weeks, productivity of aquaculture. They could suck methane emissions fell by up to 67 per cent. carbon dioxide from the air, and help curb the emission of other greenhouse gases. According to In unpublished results, the team found that adding some researchers, it could even be crucial to seaweed to their diet remained effective over saving civilisation. several months. Kebreab is now on the advisory board of California start-up Blue Ocean Barns, Eating seaweed offers many benefits, but societies which is trying to get the approach approved in the differ enormously in how much they consume. In US. China, Japan and Korea, seaweed is a major part

Page 4 Wesh Industry is responding to Using recyclable material to make PPE Caerphilly-based Transcend Packaging, manu- the Coronavirus pandemi facturers of sustainable packaging, including paper straws for quick serve restaurants, became PPE certified so that they could create millions of protective face shields that are now being supplied throughout the UK and across the globe. We worked with them to adapt production and ensure face shields met all requirements. As a result, over three million shields have been produced, with over 1.5 million going directly into the Welsh NHS supply chain, councils, care homes, retailers and factories. Repurposing factories to manufacture Cari-Anne Quinn, Chief Executive Officer, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Hwb Gwyddorau Bywyd Cymru Similarly, following an initial submission to Life Life Sciences Hub Wales Sciences Hub Wales, long-standing Welsh New Scientist, 27 June 2020 manufacturer BCB International has been working Global industries and local businesses in Wales to help NHS Wales get key supplies to frontline have been adapting and innovating at significant staff. The organisation quickly converted its pace and scale in response to GOVID-19. factory base in Llanelli to make high strength alcohol sanitiser and first responder medical PPE The Welsh life sciences sector (including medical for NHS Wales and key workers. Since its original technologies, testing, diagnostics and medicine) submission, it has supplied over 5oo,ooo litres of and businesses beyond have played a significant its hand-sanitiser to the NHS Wales and continues role in supporting health and social care services to provide PPE including gowns, gloves, masks across Wales. At the end of March, the First and shields. Minister of Wales and Life Sciences Hub Wales issued a direct call to industry in support of These are just a small number of the businesses infection control products, medical devices and that are placing Wales at the forefront of the life digital solutions. sciences sector whilst driving innovation, development and delivery at significant pace. Our This activity led to an overwhelming response from ambition is to continue the acceleration and businesses across Wales and global leaders adoption of innovation across health and social including PerkinElmer and Ortho Clinical care beyond the current crisis - ensuring a more Diagnostics. Working alongside health and social resilient and robust healthcare system in Wales care buyers, Life Sciences Hub Wales managed and across the globe. the high volume of supply offers received from businesses, enabling them to focus on the most Wathers of the Waes Rugby Word appropriate offers of support. This helped facilitate and deliver critical products to staff on the frontline. Cup math at omewood At the forefront of antibody testing We worked with Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a global provider of testing solutions for a wide range of diseases and medical conditions to produce antibody tests at its state-of-the-art facility in Pencoed, Bridgend and is now one of three companies worldwide to provide a COVID-19 antibody test for the UK. The made-in-Wales tests, which have been qualified by both Public Health Wales and Public Health England, detect antibodies that confirm a previous and recent COVID-19 infection, letting people know whether they have had the virus. The new-style blood tests are being rolled out across the UK as part of the national testing strategy. A group of Welsh rugby fans and also the International manufacturer, PerkinElmer also Australian High Commissioner were invited to responded to our industry call with an offer to Homewood to watch a Rugby World Cup match source testing kits and lab equipment required to between Wales and New Zealand in 2019. process them. With established bases in Wales L to R : Phil??, Margot Griffith, Australian High and the UK, PerkinElmer was able to work quickly Commissioner HE Hon Patricia Forsythe, British with its UK customers to requisition technology High Commissioner HE Laura Clarke, Patricia devices that could be repurposed for COVID-19 Watts, Bryan Watts, Peter Vincent, Maida Vincent, testing. and Colin James

Page 5 We will hold our annual Arts & Crafts competition, and also the ‘6 Welsh Cakes on a Plate’ contest at this event, so get your creative juices running! PLEASE SUPPORT TESE EVENTS Picnic in the Summer sun August 7th – See the Front Page In January, we will go by ferry to Somes Island, and have a picnic. Bring your family. m m m Coffee Circle m m m We may go on Saturday 23 rd or Sunday 24 th if the Malvina Major Retirement village, 134 Burma Rd, weather is not good, or the following weekend. st Khandallah on Friday 21 August 10:30am and Cymanfa Ganu postponed until 2021 meet Heulwen Jones. Check with Winifred . We have heard that the National Cymanfa Ganu Also celebrate Roald Dahl day and Owain Glyndwr will now take place in Auckland next year. day at the Welsh Dragon Bar on Tuesday September 15 th from 5pm onwards in the lounge. Ad-Hoc events (To be confirmed ) We will endeavour to have other events such as rd Friday October 23 at 10.30am at National Library theatre visits etc. from time to time. Make sure we cafe, 70 Molesworth Street, Thorndon have your current email address! Ideas for the future However, your ideas are needed please! At a recent Committee meeting we discussed possibilities. Here’s what we came up with. Daffodil Day Street Collection On Friday 28 th August, the Cancer Society has volunteers on the streets collecting donations. If you feel up to it, contact the Cancer Society by email [email protected] or by phone (04) 389 8421 to offer your services. If you have a Welsh costume, wear it! PS. They will be selling bunches of daffs too. Operatunity concert – Fab 50’s Reminder – Annua Subs We are looking at going to Lower Hutt at lunchtime th The Soiety’s subsription year runs for this concert (lunch included) on Monday 7 st September. Let us know if you are interested . from 1 Apri 2020 st The Daffodil Express 13 th September to 31 Marh 2021 Steam incorporated will run their vintage steam Download a Membership form from our locomotive and carriages to Carterton on Sunday website, and update your details. Make th 13 September. Bookings essential . It leaves sure we have your correct email and Wellington at 8:20am, calling at Petone, Waterloo postal address and phone number. and Upper Hutt. At Carterton you can get a free bus ride to & from PLEASE DO TIS FOR US the Middle Run daffodil fields, where you can pick • Contribute an article or photo for the next a bunch for a small donation, or just admire the Newsletter – news, gossip, newspaper cuttings glory of acres of daffs in bloom. (please identify the source and date of The streets of Carterton will be full of street publication). Or maybe something entirely vendors, and a Brass Band will be performing on original. the green. Meet us there for lunch perhaps. But • Above all, come to our meetings! watch for further news – we may decide to go to http://www.bbc.com/news/wales the Gladstone Pub to eat. Let us know if you book a ticket , or if you decide The next issue will probably? possibly? be to drive a car instead. We may have people published in late September wanting to share a ride. October 17th. Editor Nga Manu Nature reserve , or possibly a twilight tour at Zealandia . We’ll let you know. You could contribute an article, or a photo, for the next newsletter. Christmas Party November 29th Or even a joke to amuse us! We haven’t booked a venue yet, but we are looking at a place up near the Tram Museum near YES, YOU! Paekakariki. So let us know whether this suits you, or whether you have a different suggestion. Does that date work for you? Email us to the address at the top of page 1.

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