Te Awamutu Houses, Farms, Property Management List your property or rental with Ray White and we will advertise your property on TRADE ME rwteawamutu.co.nz CourierPublished Tuesday & Thursday TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 TM YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR OVER 100 YEARS Ph: 871 7149 CIRCULATED FREE TO 12,109 HOMES THROUGHOUT TE AWAMUTU AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS. EXTRA COPIES 40c. BRIEFLY Rugby forum Oarsome milestone Waikato Rugby Union is holding a ‘Women in Rugby Forum’ next week to encourage involvement in women’s rugby. The forum is being held at Waikato Stadium on Wednesday, February 24 (7pm) for all prospective players, coaches, referees, administrators and managers who would like to be involved in women’s rugby. Waikato Rugby Union Community Engagement Manager Bill Heslop says there has been a surge in interest in the women’s game after a successful 2012 season. “The goal now is to build player and volunteer numbers further with the view to potentially running our own competition.” To register RSVP Nicola Marii ([email protected]; 021 704 944) by Monday, February 25. Chiefs’ action While Australian teams had a start in the Investec Super Rugby Competition over the weekend, the Chiefs will begin their defence of the title later this week. The 2012 champions face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night (7.35pm). The Chiefs have their first home game next week (Saturday, March 2, 7.35pm) when the Cheetahs visit FILE PICTURE Waikato Stadium. Magic in TA FLASHBACK: Te Awamutu Rowing Club regatta at Lake Ngaroto in the late 1970’s. BY CATHY ASPLIN the New Zealand Championships. they are the lifeblood of the Te Awamutu Rowing ANZ Trans Tasman netball Over the years a number of rowers have been Club. champions Waikato Bay of Te Awamutu Rowing Club will mark its 50th prominent in the sport nationally, with the most ‘‘As with all clubs, funds are hard to come by Plenty Magic have five birthday with social gatherings and a masters successful being Raewyn Hunn (nee Lofthouse) and we rely upon volunteers. trainings sessions in Te regatta over the weekend of April 12-13. who won several national titles and represented ‘‘The epitome of this is Clive Steenson. Awamutu over the next month. Reunion committee spokesperson Richard New Zealand for a number of years. ‘‘He joined the club as a school rower in the The scheduled training Gray says there is plenty for past and present In all the club had nine New Zealand 1960s, has been President and Club Captain, is a times for the Kia Magic squad members to celebrate — from the development of representatives during that time and provided life member and is still involved with the club as at Te Awamutu Events Centre the club base at Lake Ngaroto to the achievement two national coaches. a coach.’’ are: Thursday, February 21, of rowers at local, national and international In recent times two Te Awamutu Club rowers Mr Gray says the club’s strength is now with 9am-noon; Wednesday, levels. have made their mark on the world stage. school rowers. March 6, 5.30pm-8.30pm; ‘‘The club started in 1963 with just 17 Graham Oberlin-Brown is a two-time U23 ‘‘Often their entire family is involved with a Thursday, March 7, 9am- members but grew very quickly to 60 members, World Champion (double 2006, single 2008) and number of parents being roped in for coaching, noon; Wednesday, March 20, with a further 30 school rowers. won the Silver Medal (pair 2010) at the World the committee or even rowing. 5.30pm-8.30pm; Thursday, ‘‘There was no competitive rowing in the first Championships at Karapiro. ‘‘Current coach Wayne Asplin — a former March 21, 9am-noon. The season, but by the 1970s the club was recording Hannah Osborne is the latest rising star in rower himself — became a club coach when his training sessions are not open considerable success.’’ the club, winning a Bronze Medal (quad) at the children started rowing and is still coaching long The club enjoyed a golden era in the late 1970s Junior World Championships in Bulgaria late after his children have left.’’ to the public. and early 1980s, winning the prestigious Centen- last year. nial Oar in 1981 for the most successful club at Volunteers play a vital role. Mr Gray says ■ Continued on Page 8. The world’s best side x side Working for you just got better! If you place an order we will include a Hard Top Cab with full windscreen for and with you! 9101764AA USA MADE FREE STEPH DUNSMORE Winter is coming! 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Ph: 07 871 8838 2 TE AWAMUTU COURIER, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 Salt Water Sports Fishing LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 9101278AA KAWHIA HIGH TIDES ADD FIVE MINUTES FOR RAGLAN HARBOUR TUESDAY: 5.24am & 11.30pm Rates benefit future generations WEDNESDAY: 6.41am & 11.57pm THURSDAY: 7.54am & 1.13pm FRIDAY: 8.51am & 2.18pm Amanda Reilly’s letter was a any member of council or and cycling tracks in the country. judgmental about you as you SATURDAY: 9.35am & 3.08pm breath of fresh air. council’s staff and I am happy The Mighty River and Kihikihi were about Amanda Reilly. SUNDAY: 10.13am & 3.49pm I too am weary of reading the with our Council. Domains host a fantastic range of Is it possible that you are MONDAY: 10.49am & 4.26pm negative, sometimes abusive and Sometimes we need a international events . need I go retired and have too much time often factually inaccurate anti- reminder of what our rates con- on? on your hands? Just because you It’s still BIG GAME council letters in this publi- tribute to. No, I don’t agree with every and members of your clique no cation. We don’t have to think about decision our Councillors make. longer hike up mountains or fly fi shing season I’m all for having your say, where our water comes from, we And no, the velodrome and high on playground swings but I often question the real just turn on a tap. We don’t have pool (covered or uncovered) in doesn’t mean you shouldn’t con- Get all the gear motives behind some of the regu- to worry about where our waste Cambridge will not benefit me at tribute to others enjoying these & get out there! lar ‘council is to blame for goes, we just flush. Our parks and all. But my children might bene- amenities. everything’ letter writers. reserves are wonderfully fit from them one day. And surely Who paid for your libraries, For Dennis Pennefather to maintained. We are encouraged that is the point. roads, parks etc when you were a assume that to be happy with to do our bit in helping the My parents and grandparents child? Oh, let me guess — in your Council’s performance Amanda environment by recycling. We paid rates, which enabled me to day you didn’t even have flush- Reilly is either rich or connected can visit our tiny but mighty enjoy life to the fullest when I was ing toilets. to council in some way, is ridicu- library and museum. We can a young person and now it’s my I love living in Waipa and I am lous and judgmental. swim at the Events Centre and job to do the same for the next happy to pay rates for the priv- PAKULA I am a ratepayer, I am by no enjoy the adventure playground. generation. ilege of doing so. LURES means rich, I am not related to We have some of the best walks Dennis, I’m now going to be as SAMANTHA FORD GREAT FOR BIG GAME FISHING Watchdogs penalised Views help inform others During the last two years copies of the weekly agenda Regarding Amanda Reilly However, watchdogs’ (prophets) Waipa Council has been under (council meeting). expressing her views, my question role is to make a noise when they attack by a dozen or so rate- Without this agenda our job is when you see names of writers sense or see danger, which is meant payers, including myself. will be virtually impossible. who upset you, why do you keep to alert and inform others. We write letters to the Council has indicated it will reading their letters? You say that they don’t repre- Editor and we were involved in cost up to $1000 per person per I find letters to editor the liveli- sent you, your family or anyone 166 Cambridge Rd, Te Awamutu the ‘Famous Rates March’. We year for this soft copy. est column in the Courier and have else you know in this town. Phone 871 6793 are very concerned ratepayers It is rather shortsighted to learned much about Waipa District They do as it was Robin Duncan, and ‘Council watchdogs’. charge ‘Council watchdogs’ — affairs from these regular letters. with these writers and others’ help, Many councillors, senior particularly if we are going to Reason being, these writers, who organised the Waipa Rate- council staff and the Mayor be standing for Council. We with past minutes and meeting payers Protest March, a substantial don’t like us.