Te Awamutu Courier
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where are we? Te Awamutu 1585 Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu what do we do? Panel and paint specialists and Insurance approved repairs for cars, trucks & machinery - courtesy cars available Published Tuesday & Thursday THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017 Couurier PH 871 6780 Your community newspaper for over 100 years EXTRA COPIES 40c Celebrating 60 years Cricket for children Children aged six to 10 years are invited to participate in soft-ball cricket at the Te Awamutu College grounds on Factory Road from 5.30-6.30pm on Friday. Organiser, Ken Seabright says any children in this age group are welcome and no gear is necessary. Waka Ama at Lake Ngaroto Nineteen schools will be represented by a collective 126 teams at the Regional Secondary Schools’ Waka Ama Regatta at Lake Ngaroto on Saturday. Hamilton Girls High School is fielding 22 teams, Tai Wananga (Hamilton) 12 and Taupo Nui-a-tia College 10. The events has attracted TC090317SPBAKERS entries from as far afield as TC090317BT02 SIXTY years ago Ken and Betty Baker were New Plymouth, Gisborne, DIAMOND couple Ken and Betty Baker still have the original bouquet of flowers from their married at St Paul’s Methodist Church in wedding day. Hamilton. Whangamata, Taupo and Rotorua. BY BETHANY TIDDY “We lived a self-sufficient life,” says Betty. “It was a very sad time for the family,” But that’s the way many Ohaupo residents says Betty. Continuing Ken and Betty Baker celebrate the sig- lived then and farming families helped each But she says faith and love has kept the nificant milestone of 60 years of marriage other out. family together. education today. “Even putting hay in was a social event. Daughter Sheryle says the family knows An innovative, dual And they say faith, family and farming You’d help out your neighbours.” how to work together during difficult times. presentation will be held at the have been the constant themes in their fun The Baker family enjoyed being involved “Even in those low times, we all pull Te Awamutu Continuing and loving marriage. in the community with time spent supporting together. We all know we are there for each Education Group at the Waipa Ken Baker and then-Betty Yeates both the Ohaupo School, the Rotomanuka Drain- other.” Workingmen’s Club on grew up in Newstead, Hamilton and went to age board, the NZDC Dairy Company, Ken and Betty lived in Ohaupo for 53 years Wednesday, March 15. the same primary school. Federated Farmers, the local Plunket and before moving to Rosehill Lifestyle Village in Fred Simpson and Ron They hit it off as teenagers when they CWI and in later years the Ohaupo Bowling Te Awamutu in 2016. Read will share how life in were preparing the Newstead hall for a Bible Club before it was put into recession. They still enjoy stock-ownership and have South Africa, and other factors, class social dance. Betty was part of the Meals on Wheels award-winning pedigree cows, which are influenced the production of a “I thought, there’s something more than a delivery team for 27 years. farmed at Wendy and son-in law David novel. See ad in today’s paper good friendship here,” Ken now says. Both Ken and Betty attended the Ohaupo Harker’s property in Pokuru. for more details or phone After two years of “going together” Ken, St David’s Presbyterian Church. Attending A&P shows with the animals, 8716434. 22, and Betty, 20 were married at St Paul’s After its closure they joined Te Awa- supporting the showing team and encourag- Methodist Church in Hamilton on March 9, mutu’s St Andrews Presbyterian congre- ing other young animal handlers with animal 1957. gation. presentation is of special interest to them They went on to farm in Matangi and All four children, after completing their both. Morrinsville before farming in Ohaupo education locally, became involved in the Boasting a lively family of 11 grand- where they raised four children — Allan, dairy industry with their respective spouses. children and three great grandchildren, Ken Sheryle, Kevin and Wendy. Wendy and Sheryle still farm today, but and Betty enjoy keeping up to date with their Life wasn’t always easy on the farm, says Allan moved on to counselling and Kevin to grandchildren using modern technology. Ken. property management. With most of the grandchildren having “You’ve got to be very dedicated to the Once family commitments allowed them spent some time overseas, Ken and Betty land.” some freedom, Ken and Betty adventured have taken up Facebook, email and texting to They worked hard, lived simply and all overseas. keep up to date with their family’s travels helped out on the farm and in the home. They enjoyed travelling to Australia, and to stay connected. Betty made the children’s clothes and food England, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, “If you take interest in young ones, they was mainly home-grown. Denmark and Canada. will take interest in you,” says Ken. Fruit, vegetables, meat, milk and eggs In 2014 they suddenly lost their eldest son, They will celebrate their 60th anniversary were all sourced on the farm. Allan. with family tonight. PrattsP is hiring now! Great opportunities for growth Visit pratts.co.nz/news for more info or see our classifi ed ad this edition 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, March 9, 2017 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CourierTe Awamutu Public have say Community Newspaper of the Year 2014 Market rents are fair Your community newspaper for on housing sale over 100 years. Mr Walters claims that Council as the WDC does when setting rates, Circulated free to 14,055 homes through Te Awamutu “dreams up” market rents. He is you will find that while they say Consultation opens next week on Waipa District incorrect. there is an average rate rise of 2 per Council’s proposal to sell its Palmer St pensioner and surrounding districts. Statistics on rental rates are kept cent, in reality due to that increase housing complex. CIRCULATION 14,055* (7136 urban, 6919 rural) by the Ministry of Economic De- in capital gain, real rate increases Before Christmas Waipa District Council confirmed velopment. are way more than that. it wants to sell the 36-unit complex to Habitat for We welcome letters - preferably via email. They Those figures come from details Locally there are plenty of pri- Humanity and use the sale proceeds to build new should be under 300 words and must have the of bonds lodged nation wide and are vately owned similar facilities. The pensioner housing units in the district. sender’s name, address and phone number. No summarised regional information. WDC is not the rent setter. Habitat, which already owns the neighbouring pseudonyms are accepted and names will only be The law is that a landlord cannot Similar flats in Hamilton are Freeman Court, will be required to maintain the withheld in special circumstances at the discretion charge more than the market rent. rented at higher rates that Mr complex for pensioner housing. The current tenants of the editor. Letters are not usually acknowledged MBIE make these data available Walters home. have all been informed of the proposal and, as long as and may be edited, abridged or discarded. so that landlords do not over charge. Mr Walters should spend some of conditions are met, will be offered lifetime tenancies as a There is plenty of data to support his retirement learning about condition of any sale. MANAGER the “fact” that a single bedroom markets and how they naturally On Tuesday Councillors approved a formal consulta- Alan Price dwelling in New Zealand is worth occur in nature. tion document detailing the proposal. [email protected] $220.00 per week and one with other They are roughly measured by Mayor Jim Mylchreest reiterated council was “abso- EDITORIAL accoutrements and services pro- economists but properly explained lutely committed” to growing the district’s pensioner Dean Taylor (editor) vided is worth more. by psychology students because housing stock and this proposal offered a way to do that, [email protected] Not only that but the value of a they are the result of human behavi- while still looking after existing tenants. property income can be determined our. He said the proceeds of any sale — likely to be Colin Thorsen (journalist) several ways, and if you look care- Inflation is not an economic between $1.7-$1.9 million — would be ring-fenced for new [email protected] fully you may find that the WDC has phenomena. It is a psychological pensioner units. Bethany Tiddy (journalist) taken the most generous approach one based on people’s communal “Our district is ageing, so demand for pensioner [email protected] toward it’s tenants. anticipation of what their future housing in Waipa is only going to increase and we have ADVERTISING Looking at value based on the resource needs might be. an obligation to respond to that.” Dorinda Williams rises in values of general property JAMES PARLANE Palmer Street tenants have been kept completely “in [email protected] the loop”, the Mayor said. Ange Holt “Existing tenants could choose to stay in their [email protected] Pleasing Council listened current unit if they wish and the rents would remain at Bookings or below market rate.” [email protected] If the sale did not go ahead, Council would use the $2.6 It was pleasing to see Council Moving the dog pound now would million already budgeted in its 10-Year Plan to upgrade CLASSIFIEDS took the concerns of some Kihikihi future proof the district’s identity the current Palmer Street units.