Since Sept 27 1879 Friday, March 12, 2021 $2.20 Pat’s still baking, preserving P2 INSIDE FRIDAY Team Queen under pressure Racism, depression, anger and frustration – just another day at the office for the Royal Family. Well, not quite. The fallout from the Oprah Winfrey interview with Harry and Meghan would have shaken the palace and their supporters. Everyone has had their say. Even Mid Cantabrians have expressed their opinion. Our coverage, and those views Pages 6 and 8 Ouch! That’s gotta hurt Meet Ashburton’s Tamati Graham. He’s our answer to Billy Elliot, the character in the movie about a British boy who found a passion for ballet. Read about Tamati’s stunning success, Page 3. Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe! Curious about what your house could fetch in today’s market? Contact the team at PB today to discuss further Ashburton 217 West Street | P 03 307 9176 | E [email protected] Property Brokers Licensed REAA 2008 2 NEWS Ashburton Guardian Friday, March 12, 2021 Home baking queen Ashburton grandmother raises thousands for charity The McLarens also have their own veg- By Maddison Gourlay etable garden, which is where she sourc- [email protected] es a lot of the ingredients for her chut- neys and pickle varieties. Patricia McLaren really is one of Mid Can- The fruits for jams are from her prop- terbury’s home baking charity queens. erty or given to her by members of the Don’t believe me? Then get along to the community. Ashburton Farmers’ Market every Satur- “The ladies at the checkouts in New day to find out for yourself. World know me by now,’’ McLaren said. McLaren’s various jarred products and “They can look at my trolley and they baked goods are there for all to see. know what I am planning on making.’’ She’s been selling jams, pickles, chut- It takes times, too, with McLaren neys and baked goods for the past six spending her week baking and preparing years. And she has been doing it with a stock for the Saturday market. very personal connection as motivation, When the market’s closed in the cold- with all her profits donated to Ronald er months, McLaren will get regular cus- McDonald House in Christchurch. tomers calling asking if she has any stock McLaren’s grandson was born nine available. weeks early, needing treatment at Of course, the time and commitment Christchurch Hospital. Ronald McDon- needed meant that it could not last for- ald House generously let her daughter- ever. That’s why McLaren hoped 2020 in-law stay at the accommodation facility would be her final year as a stallholder. to avoid having to travel up from Ashbur- But she had an abundance of stock left ton. over when last year ended, so now she They also went the extra mile and hopes to sell it all and put her feet up at looked after her daughter-in-law, McLar- the end of this year. en said. And when she leaves her stall for the fi- Over the past six years, McLaren esti- nal time, she will take with her the mem- mates she has raised $35,000 for charity. ories, and thanks, from the generous And it has not gone unnoticed. people of Mid Canterbury. McLaren has been regularly thanked by She knows there wouldn’t have been the group, who occasionally visit her at six years’ of donations to the Ronald Mc- the market. Donald House without them. And why her jarred product success? “Ashburton people are such giving peo- Well, McLaren credits her upbringing for ple,’’ she said. that. “When I started, I never thought I “I was brought up to save everything. would be doing it for this long Put it in a jar, it will last forever,” McLaren “I think my husband might be starting Patricia McLaren in her home holding a tray of her baking best seller, shortbread biscuts freshly said. to get sick of the smell.’’ rolled and cut and ready for the oven. PHOTO MADDISON GOURLAY Local blooms for the Beehive Sunflowers from Mid Canterbury are adorning the Prime Minister’s office. When Rangitata MP Jo Luxton, visited Mount Somers’ regenerative farmer, Duncan Humm, last week, she was presented with a bunch of his home-grown blooms. They’ve now made their way to the ninth floor of the Beehive. On Tuesday Luxton visited the PM and presented her with a slew of sunflowers. “A bit of Mid Canterbury sunshine made its way to the 9th floor,” Luxton said afterwards in a symbolic salvo. PHOTO SUPPLIED Convenience and Great Value 10% • Fast and Effi cient Dispensing off retail purchases for: • Medicines Advice Please support your local pharmacy • Vaccinations • Gold card holders • A full range of healthcare • Ruralco card holders products in-store & online • Wises loyalty club members* • FREE Local Delivery * Terms and conditions apply CONTACT US OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 03 308 6733 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6pm Countdown Complex, Saturday 9am – 1pm East St, Ashburton Sunday 10am – 1pm Friday, March 12, 2021 Ashburton Guardian NEWS 3 In brief Missing man Police have recovered the body A royal tutu-oring of an Ashburton man who failed to come home from a fishing trip in the Twizel-Tekapo area. By Adam Burns The man’s body was recovered [email protected] from the Tekapo Canal on Wednesday morning, police Literally taking it in their stride. said. Police are now in the Dozens of ballet pupils were at- process of formally identifying tentive followers during a dance the person. Police received a class with an instructor from the report of the man being overdue Royal New Zealand Ballet. from a fishing trip on Sunday Students from the Ashbur- evening and a search and ton-based Charmaine Quaid rescue operation was launched School of Dance were ushered on Monday where his car was through classes with dance ed- located at Irishman Creek next ucator Lauren Byrne across two to the Tekapo Canal. Police then separate classes. began searching the Tekapo Further showcases from the Canal with the assistance of the RNZB were offered to a few local Police National Dive Squad on schools yesterday as a lead-in to Tuesday. last night’s Tutus on Tour perfor- mance at the Ashburton Trust Artist sought Event Centre. The Ashburton District Council “It’s quite good to hear the is looking for an artist to create same things as a teacher that a street mural in the Ashburton you say all the time . but from town centre, and anyone someone who is new and pre- wishing to be considered can senting it in a different way,” now submit their concept dance teacher Charmaine Quaid designs by April 7. Ashburton’s said. newest public artwork will be She added that it was amazing Royal New Zealand Ballet dance educator Lauren Byrne ran a class for Ashburton’s up-and-coming ballet talent this week. PHOTO ADAM BURNS 100321-AB-0332 installed on the back of the to have an instructor of her cali- Armadillos building, on the bre come down to Ashburton. “She (Lauren) managed to hip-hop forms. off in our classical classes,” she corner of Burnett and Cass “We don’t get that opportunity capture everybody.” The classical style of ballet said. Streets, and very often. The dance school runs six remained a popular form for “And as they progress through is envisaged “The students thoroughly classes a week, from pre-school young girls, Quaid said. the school, a lot of them take jazz to be an enjoyed it, an hour wasn’t long ages to 18 years. “Most little girls want to learn as well. interactive enough, but we take what we can It incorporates contemporary, pretty ballet and tutu ballet and “Both styles complement each piece that get. classical ballet, lyrical, jazz and tiara ballet so they usually start other quite well.” celebrates diversity and the Mid Canterbury landscape. The call Ballet boy snares scholarship for artist concept Liz McMillan “It felt good.” By Adam Burns designs A total of 70 dancers were whittled follows submissions made [email protected] down to 30 for the semi finals before Ta- by residents on what a visual mati continued his run to enter the finals. representation of ‘welcoming’ An Ashburton Intermediate pupil is Preparation had been continuous for would look like to them. The prancing away with the dance accolades. the young dancing star with endless trips project’s panel has narrowed Tamati Graham’s superb finish at the to Christchurch in recent times. those submissions down to South Island Ballet Awards earned him Knowing that he had done what he three design themes: Speaking a prestigious scholarship to go alongside came to accomplish, the butterflies sud- on behalf of the panel, his top 10 placing. denly came to the surface for the young- Ashburton District Deputy Exceeding his own expectations for the ster come finals time. Mayor, Liz McMillan said they biennial event at the Isaac Theatre Royal, “It was really nerve-wracking, you are looking for a design that the 11-year-old was the youngest per- couldn’t really feel your legs or anything. can incorporate any or all of former to make the final phase of compe- “I guess it’s when you walk on stage that the three themes before a tition. it all goes away, then you dance.” shortlist of finalists goes to a It was a result which earned him the The award was handed out to Tamati public vote.