Te Awamutu 9608289AA 295 Alexandra St Published Tuesday & Thursday TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014 Te Awamutu Courier 07 870 1688 Community Newspaper of the Year | APN Regional Media Awards 2014 EXTRA COPIES 40c Swan-song for local Mobility group Plans are underway to form a mobility scooter support group for Te Awamutu. The first meeting is tomorrow at St John’s Parish Country music duo Lounge at 10am. A gold coin donation is After 22 years of fundraising Graeme McCardle, and many requested to defray costs. for charities Ray and Val others who don’t get the Community Constable and Thurgood have decided to hang exposure that they deserve. Te Awamutu Community up their spurs. ‘‘This is one way of being able Board chairman Richard Health problems are the main to show off their talents,’’ they Hurrell will address the reason the couple will call it say. meeting. quits for Valray Country The Thurgoods also put Promotions after their 100th together tours for Noel Parlane Syllabus out show next month. and Roger Tibbs, and had the Syllabus for the 2014 Te It was back in 1992 in Tara- pleasure of working with eight Awamutu Annual Festival of naki the Thurgoods decided Australian artists. the Performing Arts is now Hawera needed a country music This was hard work, but the available. club. couple enjoyed every minute of Dance entries close on So was born 2ZH Country them. June 28 and for all other Music Club, named after the then Mr Thurgood would sort out sections on July 31. local radio station, which is still the artists, music arrangements The syllabus is available flourishing. etc. and Mrs Thurgood took care from teachers of dance, The same year Valray of ticket sales, suppers etc. and music, speech and drama, as Country Promotions was born made sure that everything was well as from Paper Plus and after the couple were approached done. It is real team-work. to hold a country music show for In the late 1990’s Mr Thurgood Te Awamutu i-Site. the South Taranaki Lions Club. had a set back when he suffered a Competitions commence This first show featuring just stroke. on Saturday, September 27 local artists was a huge success. When he was well enough and conclude on Thursday, It started to build from that Valray were back doing shows, October 2. start when they were asked to but in 2001 he had another slight hold one more show for Cancer stroke which meant having to Lions’ sale Society Taranaki. give up work (and playing Rosetown Lions are This time the star was Roger guitar). staging a garage sale on Tibbs, New Zealand’s top male This slowed them down for a Saturday, June 7 at St John’s yodeller and entertainer at the while, but in 2003 the couple Church Hall. time, and the result was another shifted to Te Awamutu and Proceeds will go to a local great show. Valray Country Promotions was youth project. Over the years the Thurgoods re-born — with country shows in Donations of goods would have supported Riding For Dis- Te Kuiti and Te Awamutu. be appreciated (no abled, Children with Unique Dis- The first local shows were at computers, TVs, clothes or abilities, Scouts, Epilepsy, Te Awamutu College Hall, then shoes please). Stroke Foundation Taranaki, they were offered The Bible If you have goods to and many other charities. Chapel and all shows have been donate phone 871 5898 or The one show that stands out, held their ever since. held at Eltham, was an appeal for They have held shows for 871 3802 (collection can be funds for youngster Chris Mer- Charities from Orewa, Paeroa, arranged). cer who need a liver transplant Putaruru, Te Puke, Taumarunui, operation to be performed in Mokau, Pukekohe, Taranaki, Australia. Hamilton and Te Awamutu, and The word was put out for a top say they have enjoyed every line artist and Noel Parlane show and the audiences were all answered the call from Dunedin, just fantastic. as did many other top enter- Soon it will be the curtain call tainers. TC130514DT01 on this fantastic journey. The hall was packed to stand- CHARITY CHAMPIONS: Ray and Val Thurgood (Valray Country Saturday, June 14 at The Bible ing room only. Promotions) will do their last, and 100th, show next month. Chapel will be one of the biggest The Thurgoods were in nights of country music, with Brisbane when Chris had his Over the years the couple prefer to use New Zealand artists artists from all over the country transplant and surprised him by have promoted country music such as the talented Reg appearing to support Stroke popping in to see how things artists from all over the world, McTaggart, Roger Tibbs, Joy Foundation Te Awamutu and went. The operation was a huge such as Canada, USA, England, Adams, Ricky Waters, Rex and Hamilton — and to salute a success. Australia and Denmark, but Noeline Franklin, Joy Sloan, wonderful, giving couple. 2013 HONDA ATTENTION TRX500 & TRX420TRX42 LANDLORDS • Having problems with your rental? • Don’t know what to do? Let us take care of it all! We have a great Management Team! Give Yvonne or Trish a call today AAsksk AAboutbout OOurur Clearance Deals Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 CENTURY 21 TE AWAMUTU (07) 871 7189 462 Ohaupo Rd Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 Ph 871 7317 www.century21.co.nz/teawamutu www.thehondashop.co.nz 9608893AA 2 Te Awamutu Courier Tuesday, May 13, 2014 KAWHIA HIGH TIDES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ADD FIVE MINUTES FOR RAGLAN HARBOUR TUESDAY: 8.44am & 9.10pm WEDNESDAY: 9.25am & 9.52pm THURSDAY: 10.07am & 10.34pm Water losses need tackling before meters FRIDAY: 10.53am & 11.17pm SATURDAY: 11.40am & – SUNDAY: 12.04am & 12.31pm As per Waipa District per cent. (Data given to me later erty — hard to determine with- meters are not needed. MONDAY: 12.54am & 1.25pm Council’s Service and Delivery says metered as 34 per cent). out residential meters’’. Are we being railroaded in committee report dated March Should Council not make Does this mean that residents having to accept meters? WHATS COOKING AT 11 (Waipa District Council sure that the losses are found are wasting the water? Does that I add that with meters comes website/minutes) it shows that and managed to an acceptable mean that Council has already extra cost like reading and fur- SALT WATER SPORTS losses in water are as follows: level? decided to install meters? Kihi- ther administration and if resi- Te Awamutu 21 per cent; If the losses are identified kihi already has 34 per cent of dents are using less water less Star Fire Kihikihi 48 per cent; Cambridge and fixed Kihikihi should have residential properties metered. revenue will be received so 1, 2 & 3 burner 9 per cent. no restrictions in place and Council has to make efforts to charges will go up to cover for cast iron I urge the readers to access further growth can be encour- reduce the losses before ‘instal- the shortfall that will be created cookers the reports so you can see the aged. ling’ meters as meters alone do ... ‘‘facts’’ as given to the Council- The comment on the page not reduce losses. Council have to be able to Enamel Cookingg Pots lors. identifying Kihikihi’s loss Residents alone are using 28 make the right decision regard- If it is true that losses in quotes ‘‘Supply/demand balance per cent of water. Assumed is ing water issues and be able to especially Kihikihi are so high I indicates significant losses in that by installing residential rely on data given. wonder where the losses are. Kihikihi, leakage investigations meters a saving of 15 per cent They should also be given As per the graph in the report have been completed on Council will be made so in my humble solutions to any issue that arises Thermette other data is given i.e. non mains with no significant leak- opinion this will result in sav- from the data. The ideal all-in-one kettle & cooker metered residential as 23 per age detected and indicates either ings less than 5 per cent overall. BERNARD WESTERBAAN • 2.2 litre capacity • Solid or liquid cent, metered as 9 per cent, higher consumption or sig- If the losses are reduced to Te Awamutu Community metered non-residential as 19 nificant losses on private prop- say 5 per cent or even 10 per cent Board member Survey into water usage Events for 150th year 166 Cambridge Rd, Te Awamutu Ph: 871 6793 Pirongia Community Grand Edwardian-style Ball A regional survey kicks off water. Association and Pirongia in Pirongai Memorial Hall. next week giving Waipa resi- ‘‘We’ve had positive feedback Heritage Centre are promot- On Sunday, June 1 at 2pm dents the opportunity to about the programme from ing four events as part of an inter-denominational NEW feedback on a summer water across the district and this 150th Year commemorations church service will be held PORTABLE campaign. translated into positive actions. being held at Queen’s Birth- in the school activities In November, a partnership ‘‘We want to see how effective day weekend. centre, followed by after- HEAT PUMP between Waikato district, Ham- the campaign was and work with On Saturday, May 31 at noon tea. All year climate control for ilton City and Waipa District residents to develop and grow 11am there will be Founders Tickets for the Founders cooling & heating councils saw the launch of a sub- the campaign further,’’ she said.