From Principal to Comedian

Monday, June 29, 2020 Since Sept 27, 1879 Retail $2.20 Home delivered from $1.40 THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY Global Junior ambassador rugby P4 returns P6 Mid Canterbury is for business! MidCanOpenforBiz.nz open From principal to comedian Tinwald School principal Peter Livingstone has 220 pairs of eyes watching him when he gives announcements at his school assem- blies. This number of captive audience members more than doubles when he performs in Vari- ety Theatre Ashburton shows at the 500-seat Ashburton Trust Event Centre. But nothing has ever been so daunting in his whole life as what it was on one night in July last year, when he faced a room full of 40 people at Arabica Licenced Café in Methven. Livingstone had enrolled as one of six locals for the stand-up comedy open mic night Tak- ing the Piste, organised by comedian and pro- ducer Bec Sandys. He had signed up after reading an article in the Guardian, about Sandys looking for locals to enrol. “I thought surely everyone is going to give this a go. Surely there’s all these want-to-be comedians who think they can cut it,” he said. He was wrong about that, there wasn’t a huge number, something which surprised him considering the burning desire he had harboured for quite some time. He said he had always admired successful stand-up comedians, and been in awe of their ability to entertain with just themselves on stage, and no supporting actors or script. “That’s what the challenge is in this, that’s why I wanted to do it, because I wanted to push myself, my stuff, my originality, how well would it be received, how good is it?” When it came to the big night, he was quite daunted. This was despite his school and theatre experience, following growing up in a church family where he would do Sunday readings and sing in the choir. Of the six performing at Taking the Piste, he was up third, and found the nerves almost un- bearable. “I was absolutely crapping myself, I shook so much.” His material of a race-call, with the theme of someone relaying being put into a situation they are not familiar with, ended up being a winner and he had the small Arabica audience in stitches. Tinwald School Principal, Peter Livingstone, is making a name for himself on the comedy scene and will open for Ben CONTINUED P3 Hurley and Bec Sandys at the Blue Pub in Methven next month. PHOTO SUSAN SANDYS 220620-SS-0025 Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe! News 2 Ashburton Guardian Monday, June 29, 2020 www.guardianonline.co.nz ■ ASHBURTON MUSICAL CLUB Musicians set to return after break BY SUSAN SANDYS “There must be newcomers [email protected] to town too that we don’t know There is barely a musical in- about, people who have moved strument that has not been here to play an instrument and played at an Ashburton Musi- would like to join,” she said. cal Club concert. The club generally operates The club is in its 96th year, from April to October, with and concerts will resume next seven monthly concerts, five month after a three-month featuring the members as per- break due to Covid-19. formers and two public con- President Janice Allen said certs where guest artists per- the club continued right form. through World War Two, and Members are excited to host this year had been the first their first concert for 2020 on since incorporation that there July 12, featuring Dirt Road had been such a break. Ensemble which has talented “It’s interesting to know young musical students from that the club continued right the Christchurch and South- through the war years with sev- bridge areas. en concerts a year,” Allen said. They will showcase a wide Those regular concerts con- variety of ethnic, folk and cul- tinue to this day, and instru- tural music at the Sinclair Cen- ments played by members tre at 2pm. and visitors encompass a huge Everyone is welcome with range from across the wind, visitors $5 at the door, and percussion and string domains. members and students free of “We have had bagpipes and charge.There will be afternoon we have had trombones and tea at the conclusion of the bass guitars,” Allen said, nam- concert. ing just a few that have fea- tured in recent times. Right - Musical performanc- The club has about 100 es like this one last year are members and is on the lookout set to return next month for more, seeking people who for the Ashburton Musical either like to perform or like to Club. watch performers. PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN ■ WEIGHBRIDGE STATION Selwyn joins in on weighbridge station debate BY JONATHAN LEASK river bridge and the Rakaia rail overbridge, has got in front of safety.” geous”. Selwyn District Council Planning [email protected] already a high accident area. Miller said he expected some significant Manager Ben Rhodes said that what the A weighbridge station on the north of the Selwyn District councillors joined in the safety improvements to the project’s de- councillors had in front of them was “the Rakaia River Bridge is a step closer with the chorus criticising the location but had to sign or changes to the road to make it safer. agency responsible for SH1 saying they Selwyn District Council processing the No- follow the process. “It remains to be seen how they can have done the work and it’s safe”. tice of Requirement last week. Councillor Grant Miller said the section make that a safely operating activity with- “Whether it’s the right location, as they The New Zealand Transport Agency 171 recommendation report on the weigh- out significant road works or reduction in are the designating authority, they own the (NZTA) plans to construct a weighbridge bridge was “heavy on the fact it’s a great speed limits.” land and we can’t actually look at alterna- on a piece of crown land at the junction of place to catch trucks from diverting around Mayor Sam Broughton said that his coun- tive sites, we can only look at the site they State Highway 1 and North Rakaia Road – it” but was light on the valid safety issues. terpart, Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown, “did have chosen. despite fierce opposition. “I think anyone who has driven across not feel that NZTA has done a particularly “Based on the evidence provided we have The Ashburton District Council, AA Can- the Rakaia River Bridge recently or at any good job of consulting affected parties”. no reason to question the safety aspects.” terbury Westland and trucking organisa- time would say ‘that’s not a great place to Councillor Murray Lemon said that stat- The council only makes a recommenda- tions hotly oppose the location, citing road put that’,” Miller said. “We task NZTA with utorily NZTA had gone through the process tion based on the process Rhodes said, and safety issues as their number one concern building safer roads for us to travel on. but “perhaps better consultation with the it is up to NZTA to make its final decision because the proposed site is between the “It seems in this instance, expediency community would have been advanta- with 30 working days. Complete Local Care Since 1982 News www.guardianonline.co.nz Monday, June 29, 2020 Ashburton Guardian 3 ■ TRAGEDY Investigation into fatal accident continues Investigations are ongoing into a fatal accident on Thursday night near Chertsey which claimed the life of two Ashburton locals. Emergency services were called to the scene of a three-vehicle crash near Wilkinsons Road around 7pm on Thursday night. Initial reports suggest that a southbound vehicle crossed the centreline and crashed into a car before then crashing into another which was following behind the first. The two people in the southbound car were killed as a result of the accident. Two other people were injured in the crash and transported to Christchurch Hospital by ambu- Stunning backdrop for fire training lance, one in a serious condition and the other moderate. Police confirmed yesterday the With lockdown restrictions lifted training events are back on the calendar for firefighters across the district, including for mem- their inquiries into the crash were bers of the Lake Clearwater Voluntary Rural Fire Force trained with a stunning backdrop last weekend. Deputy principal rural ongoing and that the matter was fire officer Don Geddes said they were completing two unit standards, being use of water and additives and dry firefighting likely to go before the coroner. techniques. He said trainings will generally take place wherever is easiest for the trainees, which in this case was near the wa- Various media outlets across terfront of Lake Clearwater. PHOTO SUPPLIED the country have named the couple, who were aged in their 80s but out of respect to the family the Guardian has chosen not to ■ TAKING THE PISTE name them until they are official- ly released by police. However, it is understood the From school principal to stand-up comedian couple were residents at Lochlea Lifestyle Resort. The serious crash unit were From P1 added a new event that Living- you can work on,” he said. don’t know how vocal they will called to the scene on Thursday stone will open for – Brendhan His routine for Hurley will in- be.” And he has no plans of giv- night and then returned in the Livingstone went on to per- Lovegrove at Hotel Ashburton on clude his locally acclaimed race- ing up his day job, doubting a life light of day on Friday morning form at all of the Taking the Piste July 31.

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