WHAT’S ON AT THE BROOKLYN COMMUNITY CENTRE

BEFORE SCHOOL CARE 7.30 to 8.30am every school day for school-age children. For details and bookings phone Diva on 027 410 9949

AFTER SCHOOL CARE 3pm to 6pm for primary school kids. Contact Adam Hendry on 385 0089 Email: [email protected]

HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES 8am - 6pm during school holidays. Bookings essential. Ph. 385 0089

ALZHEIMERS WELLINGTON We meet in the RSA room on the 4th Wednesday of the month Phone Liz for details on 939 0131

BROOKLYN WALKERS Mondays – meet outside the Brooklyn Library at 9:30am. Phone Susannah on 384 7412 for more information.

BROWNIES Mondays 6pm to 7.30pm in school terms. Phone Margaret on 389 3028

HIP HOP & DANCE ACADEMY Hip Hop & Junior Jazz - Mondays 4:15 to 5:45pm Fun Fairy Ballet for preschoolers and primary school children. Tuesdays 3:15pm to 6pm Contact Fiona on 476 7046 or 021 721 020.

PILATES Mondays 9am to 9:45am – Friday classes at 9am and 10am. Contact Beth via email: [email protected]

DANISH MUSIC PLAYGROUP Sundays (fortnightly) 10:30am to 11:30am. Phone Karen on 380 1929

TOTS MUSIC CLASSES Tuesday mornings in the Community Centre lounge from 9:30am. Contact – Encore School of Music on 976 8742. Email: [email protected]

INDIAN COOKING CLASSES Saturday and Sunday evenings. Bookings and enquiries to Anu. Phone: 021 0269 7038 Email: [email protected] Issue 252 March 2014 PORSE PLAYGROUP Wednesdays 9am – 11.30 in the hall & lounge Phone Holly on 801 6814 Email: [email protected] Do you live in Brooklyn? REMBUDEN KARATE Beginners: Wednesdays 5:30 to 6:15pm & Thursdays 4:45 to 5:30pm Want to be involved in your community? Adult Beginners: Wednesdays 6 to 7pm & Thursdays 5:30 to 6:30pm Evening Kardio Power: Wednesdays 7:30 to 8pm Then you could be just the person we are looking for! Stretch & Tone class: Thursdays 6:30 to 7pm For more details, contact Patricia on 383 9371 or 027 297 6049 We need people like you to join the Brooklyn Community Association. SPCA ADOPT A PET Saturday 5 April from 12 to 3pm. Cats & kittens seeking new homes. The Brooklyn Community Association Council is responsible for the

ST JOHN CADETS Tuesdays 6:30 to 8pm. Contact Carol on 388 3838 or 0274 321 204 governance of the Brooklyn Community Centre, Vogelmorn Hall, and

TABLE TENNIS New! Tuesday mornings at 9am & Wednesday evenings at 8:15pm the popular Afterschool Care and School Holiday Programmes. Phone Philip on 934 7445 or email: [email protected] Both Community Centres and School programmes are growing, and we TAI CHI CLASSES Thursdays at 6:30pm. First class free. $5 casual or $40 for 10 classes. New daytime class! Fridays at 1pm in the main hall. need more community representation to continue the momentum. Contact Ferne McKenzie on 389 1433 or email: [email protected] Join us at our AGM on Sunday 4 May in the Brooklyn BROOKLYN COMMUNITY INDOOR MARKET LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. Next market on 29 March - 9.30 to 1pm Tables only $10. Phone Euan on 384 6799 Community Centre lounge from 2pm to find out more.

Brooklyn Community Centre can be hired for classes, groups & functions. Or call Euan Harris on 384 6799. Email: [email protected] Office hours - 8.30am - 1.30pm Monday to Friday Phone 384 6799. Email: [email protected] The Brooklyn Tattler is published monthly by the Brooklyn Community Association Incorporated, 18 Harrison Street, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021. The Brooklyn Community Association members accept no liability for the contents which have been prepared in good faith installed in the Brooklyn Community Co-ordinator’s Centre playground, next to the main hall. Contractors spent a busy week Corner during February to create a solid, lev- Hi Everyone el base for the tank to sit. Other sites were discussed, including the oppo- We hope you enjoy this special site side of the playground boundary extended colour issue of the monthly fence, next to the path leading up to Tattler, delivered to your mailbox in the Community Orchard. How- Brooklyn. Copies are available every ever, this sloping section was not month at the library, local retail outlets considered practical during an earth- and online at: quake. www.brooklyncommunitycentre.org.nz

This year Neighbours Day is on the We have a busy month coming up in weekend of 29/30 March. Come to April. The SPCA has their Adopt a Pet Harrison Street on Saturday 29 day on 5 April, and perhaps a first for March and meet people from your Vogelmorn Hall is a wrestling match on neighbourhood at our friendly month- 11 April, it’s called Brooklyn Brawl at ly indoor market, in the Community Vogelmorn Hall! The next day, Brook- Centre hall from 9:30am to 1pm. The lyn Community Association life member, Brooklyn Food Group will have a fea- Gwen Devereux celebrates her 90th ture table at the market showcasing birthday with an afternoon tea at the their work and selling fresh produce. Community Centre from 1 to 4pm. The Learn Traditional Chinese Martial Arts first school term ends on 17 April, so be Then take a short walk to the Brook- sure to go online and check out our lyn Reformed Church’s re-opening For: Fitness - Self Defense – Style – Friendship - Class At- School Holiday Programme. There are day at 34 Harrison Street, to cele- mosphere - Family - History – Values - Confidence two long weekends in April, including brate their completed renovations! Shaolin Gao Can Mun Nam Pai Chuan owes it origins to the Easter and ANZAC day which falls on a There will be kids activities, musi- teachings of Monk Seh Gao Can who became the abbot of the Friday. As in previous years, we will be cians, face painting and a free barbe- Shaolin Sion Lim Temple in Singapore. hosting our community morning tea after cue from 10:30am to 2:30pm around The system includes: the Brooklyn ANZAC Day service. the back of the church. Kicking, punching, Locking, throwing, ground work , Shaolin

animal styles and weapons, Chi gung, Tai Chi – and more We welcome the School News feature Daytime Tai Chi is now running on Childrens Classes Adults and Teens Classes back to this month’s Tattler, now written Fridays from 1pm. Monday, Tuesday Mondays: 5.00 – 6.00 pm 6.00 – 8.00 pm by our accounts and finance person, Ju- and Wednesday classes are a possi- Fridays: 4.30 – 5.30 pm 5.30 – 7.30 pm lie Seevens, who is known to many par- bility. Contact Ferne on 389 1433 or Contact: Scott Wilson 021 1875006 or ents through her involvement with email: [email protected] Brooklyn Playcentre and Brooklyn [email protected]

School. Julie takes over School News Have a great month Or just come along to try a free class - wear T shirt and long from Gwen Devereux who collated and trackies. First Monday of the month is beginners class. wrote this for many years. Euan Harris Tanera Park Hall, Tanera Cres (off Ohiro Rd), Brooklyn. Co-ordinator www.shaolinkungfu.co.nz By the time you read this, an emergency 25,000 litre water tank will have been Copy Deadline for the next Brooklyn Tattler is 28 March 2014 Email: [email protected] with your contribution. 23 2 Brooklyn History RESOURCE companion outings It took 5 days and the women moved CENTRE four tons of paper. The women kept 21 Mar: Jules Lovelock The Brooklyn RSA, which meets in in touch with branches that had NEWS Breaking into the film the Community Centre, was formed in moved away from WRSA. For in- 36 Jefferson Street industry 1934. It hired clubrooms in Cleveland stance, in July 1948, a combined 28 Mar: Michael Cox Street and added a billiard room in women’s caucus or general meeting PHONE: 384 4299 Art speculation 1936. The branch took a 200 pound was held that included Wellington, loan from the City Council in August OPEN: Weekdays 9am-4pm art also for sale Hutt Valley, and 12 affiliated Wom- 1944 to buy a section and clubrooms CONTACT US FOR; en’s Sections. 4th April: Margret Macawley in Cleveland Street. The purchase MAH JONG; Eat unlimited Heat and Eat included a house at No 46 and next Since the 1970’s , fragmentation of Monday 1pm-3pm meals door at No 48, two narrow shops with the greater Wellington RSA has oc- Beginners welcome a flat above them. The branch erected curred. Seventeen branches have 11 April: Jade Kaukau a small army hut on a terrace in front either closed or gone independent SPEECH THERAPIST A spoken word poem. of the house. President at the time, Mr (membership open to non-services). Monday & Wednesdays 9am-1pm Phone: 383 5415 D J Alabaster hosted a function in Those who went independent were Thank you to our speakers. We are April 1948 to mark the loan having Johnsonville (1975), Wellington PLUNKET: really enjoying your talks, it really been repaid and the title deed handed South (1977) (both now closed), Po- Clinics: Monday 9am-4pm does make our Fridays. over. rirua & Titahi Bay (1979), Tawa Tuesday 9am-4pm (1984), Paraparaumu (1981), Call for an appointment on 384 5253 We are in need of some more meals Plans to develop No 46 came to noth- on wheels drivers for Mondays and ing and the branch used the flat Seatoun (1991), Eastbourne (1993), COMMUNITY LUNCH; Tuesday 12noon-1pm Thursdays and also more relief above the two shops as clubrooms for and Pukerua Bay (1994). Miramar and Hataitai both closed in the early Inexpensive lunch for everybody drivers for other days when drivers the next 50 years. are away. If you would like to help Children welcome 1970’s, Plimmerton (1976), Ngaio Brooklyn RSA Women’s Section, es- please ring Jo on 3841795. (1978), Roseneath (1982), Service- SPINNERS and KNITTERS: tablished under Agnes Weston on 10 women’s (1992), Northland (1993), 1st and 3rd Thursdays 1-4pm. Our monthly committee meetings are March 1942, succinctly defined its and Island Bay (2002), all now PODIATRIST; held on Monday afternoons at wartime functions as ‘to support and closed. Every second Friday 3.45pm. We will be meeting on the visit mothers in maternity homes 9.00am-11.30am Then WRSA had just four branches: 17th of March if you are interested in whose husbands are overseas, visit- Ph. for an appointment on 384 4299 joining our committee. Come along, Brooklyn, City, Karori, and Kilbirnie. ing mothers and wives of prisoners of we would welcome new members. war and ones that suffered bereave- City has since closed and others, FRIDAY CIRCLE: $5 Cars will collect you if needed. ment.” They also held social after- such as Eastbourne and Seatoun, Our garden is slowly coming together. Programme: noons to help relieve the strain all amalgamated with or entered agree- Dorothy has been busy looking after Craft activities 9.30am were living under at the present time ments with outside bodies, resulting the top garden just outside the Morning Tea 10 am of war. The social activities usually in a loss of identity if not existence. kitchen. The flowers are just starting Lunch 12 noon involved fundraising or rose-making. to pop up. Thanks for the lovely Much later, Brooklyn branch added Arthritic Exercise 1.30pm Brooklyn amalgamated its older La- colours Dorothy. its own medical scheme in 2002, Guest Speaker 2pm dies Auxiliary with the Women’s RSA offering benefits to its members in Afternoon Tea 3pm We would love to see you at the the following year (1943). addition to the WRSA scheme. centre for lunch, so come on in for Mrs Weston also mobilised 40 women Brooklyn branch finally closed on Speakers for March/April 14 some nice food and lovely company. at short notice to help wrap nearly 31 December 2013. 14: Mar: Maura and Louise 90,000 RSA Reviews in 1945 when More next month See you soon Driving Miss Daisy the printers were unable to do the job. Chris Rabey Jenny

4 21

th WHAT’S ON AT THE VOGELMORN HALL We are celebrating Gwen Devereux’s 90 Birthday th SPIRIT TAEKWON-DO CLUB Sunday mornings 9.15am to 12:45pm On Saturday 12 April, 2014 Thursday evenings 4:45 to 8:45pm Come and share Afternoon Tea with family & friends Contact Louise on 021 272 1060 or email: [email protected] at the Brooklyn Community Centre, Harrison Street BARBARIAN KIDS Movement & expression classes with Any time between 1.00pm and 4.00pm Jo Randerson Monday afternoons 3.15pm to 4pm - Wild things Refreshments provided - Cake cutting at 3.00pm Monday afternoons 4pm to 4.45pm - Crazy Horses Email: [email protected] ALL WELCOME! View: www.barbarian.co.nz/kids

Contact Jenny 9705138 or Sue 9393222 FELDENKRAIS CLASSES Awareness through Movement

Monday 10am to 11am & evening 7pm to 8pm Wednesday mornings 10am to 11am Contact Barbara on 384 5249 or Toni on 475 3355

KARDIO POWER Monday evenings 5:40 to 6:10pm STRETCH & TONE CLASS Monday evenings 6:10 to 6:40pm Punch that pad and get fit, or gently tone and stretch your body. No experience required. Contact Patricia on 383 9371 or 027 297 6049

POSITIVELY ZUMBA Tuesday evenings 7.15pm to 8.30pm Contact Beth via email at: [email protected]

FIONA HAINES DANCE Wednesday afternoons & evenings 3:15pm to 9pm Contact Fiona on 476 7046 or 021 721 020 [email protected]

KIDS ART Thursday afternoons from 3pm to 4.30pm During school terms

IAIDO TRAINING Non-combative Japanese Martial Art Saturday afternoons from 3pm to 5pm Contact Cam on 021 263 0351 or [email protected]

The Vogelmorn Hall at 11 Vennell Street can be hired for classes, groups and functions. Contact Euan Harris the Coordinator for details. Phone: 384 6799

Email:[email protected]

View us online at: www.brooklyncommunitycentre.org.nz

22 3

so be sure to come along to join in School News Katie Underwood the fun and grab yourself a bargain Our schools are all now well under way at the same time. 027 248 2061 or 04 894 3717 into Term One and everyone is busy, busy, busy! This term is a long one at Children at St Bernards have begun Leaders Real Estate eleven weeks but we’re half way through the school year learning about pray- already and the time seems to have er and building a strong relationship Call me to sell your home! with God. The beginning of school flown by. year Mass had a fantastic turnout Local Salesperson, Local Knowledge . Brooklyn School welcomed Jo Wheeler with many family members and pa- [email protected] to the teaching staff; she is teaching rishioners attending. Father David Licensed under the REAA 2008 www.leaders.co.nz/katieunderwood Year 5/6 in the Takahe Syndicate. They Dowling celebrated the mass and also welcomed new Mandarin language the school is looking forward to his Autumn: a table showcasing our work Brooklyn Food Group assistant, Yue, who will be helping with continuing involvement with them. at the Brooklyn market day on March the Moa syndicate on Mondays. After At the mass the House Leaders for Ways to get Involved 29th. Selling local produce and other being closed for over a year the school the year were blessed and present- goodies. Please come and say hello! The Brooklyn Food Group is a group library has re-opened with lots of new ed with their house badges. that work together to grow food, and Winter: ‘Prune in June’ fruit tree pruning books and equipment, and the Kiwi syn- workshop, learn how to care for your dicate were thrilled to see their new Last day of school for Term One share food skills in our community. th We have an ethos of ‘building com- trees in the winter months. climbing frame which was installed over is Thursday 17 April. the holidays. Year 8 children were re- munity through local food initiatives’. Spring: ‘The birds and the bees’ garden Julie Seevens tour, repeating our previous popular tour cently asked to apply for the 2014 House We grow food together and learn of beekeeping and chicken raising in Captaincies and they have now been from each other, which not only fills Brooklyn. appointed.

our bellies, builds our skills but lets us make friends with our neighbours Summer: ‘No fail, no space vege gar- The school is currently undergoing a and build pride in our community. dening’, for all of you with small spaces School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP) Come to a workshop or join in with who want to make the most of them. which will provide the school with high quality data infrastructure to an approved the working bee while learning at the We would also love to see you at a same time. Ministry standard allowing for future net- working bee amongst the fruit trees and work expansion and ultra-fast broad- We have a lot of exciting seasonal wild flowers at the community orchard band. workshops and events planned so any Monday night, 5:00pm onwards at ERO will be reviewing the school at the get in touch if you would like to be a the end of Harrison Street. end of March. part of the action: Everyone is very welcome. The juniors at Ridgway School have started Discovery Time on Thursday af- CARPET LAYER ternoons with activities designed to en- courage the children to practice and Installation of new or second hand carpets. demonstrate elements of each of the key Relays, repairs and maintenance. competencies. This term the focus is on Relating to Others. All materials can be supplied. Free quotes.

Important dates for Ridgway include the Contact John on 0274 426 915 or 381 2216 School Gala on Sunday 30th March from 10.30am to 2.30pm. There will be an auction, white elephant, and lots of stalls 6 19 downhill track, called Serendipity, Lines from the Library bourgeois upbringing when she that will relieve pressure on the Brooklyn Tracks Update transforms her home into a headquarters very popular lower section of the British novelist, Doris Lessing (1919 for a group of radicals who plan to join – 2013) who died recently, aged 94, Talk on Pre-European Vegetation in Transient track. the IRA. Written before the ‘war on was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in the Aro Valley terror’ this is a fascinating book that You may have noticed rocks on the Literature and in 2008, The Times combines domesticity with rebellion and This public discussion is about what grassed area of Polhill Park, at the ranked her fifth on a list of "The 50 the personal with the political. She Aro Valley looked like before the top of Aro St. This is a temporary greatest British writers since 1945". continued to write until announcing that Pakeha arrived. The presenter is Jean measure to safely separate She was a consummate writer with ‘Alfred and Emily’, a novel about her -Claude Stahl of Te Papa. different users while the City perfect control of language and an parents, would be her final work. Part Council develops a plan to 7.30 PM, Friday 28 March 2014 engaging writing style but deciding fiction, part memoir it was described by redevelop this park to Aro Valley Community Hall. where to start with her impressive the Guardian as "a perfectly crafted and accommodate the many, diverse Entry - donation to the Aro Valley range of novels is a challenge. I quietly extraordinary meditation on users and the different riding lines Restoration Project. would recommend beginning family". of the tracks. chronologically with the four volumes of her ‘Children of Violence’ series, Doris Lessing displayed one of the finest The Brooklyn Trail Builders are also published from 1952 – 1969 (with a understandings of the human condition making good progress building a Last winter’s native tree planting by fifth volume, ‘The Four Gated City’ of any modern writer. Her novels are new pedestrian and cycling uphill the Brooklyn Trail Builders group in published in 1995). It is hard to deeply engrossing and weave together track that will link Holloway Rd with the George Denton Park, Polhill and imagine that the story of Martha historical events, veiled autobiography the George Denton Park play area. Waimapihi area is all doing well, Quest, an intelligent, sensitive, and and complex stories, written with deep They’re also working with WCC thanks to the damp summer. fiercely passionate young woman psychological insight. She left behind a staff to plan several other new living on a farm in Africa during her body of work from which it is possible to All of the 130 nikau planted along the tracks south of Highbury. This will adolescence and early womanhood gain understanding of the events that Fling and Transient tracks have ultimately enable a walking and is not in some way autobiographical, shaped our world written from a deeply survived the transplanting and most cycling loop from Highbury right as this is how Doris Lessing spent personal perspective by a master of the are flourishing. Many more nikau around the outer edge of this area her early years before moving to craft. seedlings are being cultivated for of the town belt. London aged 30. John Heighes future planting with the goal of For track locations see bringing 1,000+ nikau back to this Her most famous work, ‘The Golden http://tracks.org.nz/area/show/3 area. Notebook’ was published in 1962 and To keep up with the work of is now considered one of the major Brooklyn Trail Builders see https:// works of twentieth-century literature. Last year Brooklyn Primary School www.facebook.com/ It tells the story of Anna Wulf, a writer students were involved in planting BrooklynTrailBuilders and single woman, who lives with her native trees along the Sawmill and young daughter in a flat in London. Windmill tracks and beside the 4WD Late last year an active group The novel explores mental and section of the Transient track (near formed to taken on pest control on societal breakdown, and also Durham St). They’ll be doing further the Polhill reserve. See https:// contains a powerful anti-war and anti- planting for this year’s Arbor Day at www.facebook.com/ Stalinist message and an the top of Polhill. groups/240432439438196/ for examination of the budding sexual information. and women's liberation movements. To make a donation please go to In 1985 she published ‘The Good Terrorist’, which tells the story of The Brooklyn Trail Builders are http://wmtbc.org.nz/donations Alice Mellings, a woman who finishing off the new intermediate level (donations are tax struggles with her ideology vs her deductible) 17 8 ages of 7-9 1/2 years of age to join or Chris Rabey: 384 9293 GROUP ROUNDUP Brooklyn Scouts Brownies for fun, friendship and other ♫ Brooklyn Scouts, Cubs and Keas meet in activities. Ph. Margaret 389 3028 for Brooklyn Walkers the Scout Hall in Harrison Street, details. Brooklyn Junior Cricket Club Brooklyn Walkers meet Monday Brooklyn. Brooklyn Pippins meet Monday Brooklyn Junior CC welcomes all mornings outside the Brooklyn Keas: 5-7 years, Tuesdays 5.30-6.30pm evening during term time 6-7pm at the junior cricketers for the current Library. The walks are varied Cubs: 7-11 years, Mondays 6.30-8.00pm Reformed Church, end of Harrison St. season. Contact Mark Jones covering most of Wgtn and are easily Scouts:11-14 years, Tuesdays 7.00- Contact Nicola Burdon: 971 1265 [email protected] 027244 suitable for senior walkers. Our group 9.00pm. Brooklyn Guides meet Mondays 6.30 4325 or Matthew Roche is full of friendly people so join us. For more information contact Gavin -8.pm at Reformed Church, Harrison For more information call Susannah: McGlashan [email protected] [email protected] 021463432 St. Ph. Kathryn Marsh on 802 5049 384 7412 or Clare 384 9054. phone: 939 3222

♫ ♫ 17 Mar: Walk to Wallace Street, bus ♫ St John Youth Division and to Karori Cemetery, Friends of Owhiro Stream Kaiwharawhara, Otara Brooklyn Garden Club Drivers down Ohiro Road will have Penguin Programme Bush (9:10 start for 9:35 The Club meets at 7.30pm on the first noticed the vast improvement over the For 6-18 year olds, weekly No.11 bus at Wallace St). Wednesday each month at the Brooklyn past few years to the Owhiro Stream sessions, some weekend camps, 24 Mar: Bell Rd, Nairn St Park, Resource Centre, 36 Jefferson St. and its environs achieved by this local and fun activities provides a Hankey St, High School, Come and hear interesting and group. Work is ongoing and if you structured programme for Basin Reserve, Ellis St, informative guest speakers, share would like to find out more about it, attendees to develop life skills, self Brougham St, Majoribanks gardening tips and plant cuttings, and call: discipline. The Penguin Programme St, waterfront to railway enjoy the company of our small friendly Paul – 389 8545 or Martin – 389 8995 for 6-8 year olds meets at St station. group. New members and new ideas Bernard's School, Taft St, Mondays ♫ 31 Mar: Hutt Valley river walkway, are always welcome. For further details 3:30-4:45pm. The Youth Division Pomare Station (9:18 No.7 contact Barbara on 389 4307. Central Park Care Group for 8-18 year olds meets at \ Brooklyn Community Centre, bus 10:05 Hutt Valley train) ♫ Our working bee is the last Sunday of 7 April: Walk to Adelaide Rd the month from 10am to noon. Meet at Tuesday 6:30-8:00pm. Contact through High School, (No.3 Turbine Talkers Toastmasters the picnic table next to the big bridge, Karen for Penguins on 389 4060 bus to Kilbirnie). Walk to Club 2 mins from the main gate. Come and Carol for Youth on 0274 321 city via Hataitai. Turbine Talkers is the local chapter of along for great conversations, meet 204 www.stjohn.org.nz

Toastmasters International. We hold new people, fab morning tea provided ♫ ♫ fortnightly meetings to teach and and contribute to the care of Central Brooklyn Food Group practice the skills of effective Park! No formal meeting in January. The Brooklyn Food Group have a Brooklyn Table Tennis communication in a supportive learning Contact Debbie for informal times. passion for local food and The Brooklyn Table Tennis Club environment. Turbine Talkers meets Email Debbie at community. We run workshops, plays from 8pm till late every every 2nd Tuesday, at St Matthews [email protected] shared gardens and a community Wednesday and 9am on Tuesdays. Church on Washington Avenue. For ♫ orchard. Join us for a working bee Small, friendly group, welcoming further details. Ph. Caroline 971 8494 amongst the fruit trees and wild Brooklyn Local History Group new members of all ages. We have ♫ flowers at the orchard any Monday The next Brooklyn Local History 3 tables, good lighting in a pleasant night 5:00pm onwards at the end of Brooklyn Brownies, Guides & Group meetings are at Brooklyn hall. Balls are supplied and a number Harrison Street. Everyone very Pippins Library at 2pm. Everyone is welcome of club bats are available for use. welcome. Brownies meet Monday evening during to attend. For information phone: Philip 934 [email protected] school terms, from 6.00-7.30pm, in the For more information contact Sharon 7445 or Gwen 384 9060. and www.facebook.com/ Brooklyn Community Centre, Harrison Macintyre: 387-1487, email BrooklynFoodGroupNZ ♫ St. We welcome any girl between the [email protected] 13 12 Friends of Owhiro Stream blackberry by a hard working group from Brooklyn Residents the proximity of the bus stop to the pe- the Mormon Helping Hands (thanks FOOS Association (BRAI) destrian crossing and potential risks to guys!) and had been optimistically planted pedestrians and flow through traffic) Goodness - March already - the year is rather late in the season with rata and We are an Association representing all work out. This is an important matter well underway, and by the time you other smaller things. Any of you who are residents (owners and tenants who re- read this FOOS will already have held for Jefferson St residents. gardeners will know that this has been a side within our area) and try and be in- two working bees. Our working bees fantastic growing season, and the weeds volved in matters impacting on locals We sadly note the demise to the Vogel- are held on the second Saturday of the were indeed fantastic, a waist high forest around a range of issues. Following the morn Bowling Club and wonder aloud month from 10.00-12.30; generally we in fact. But underneath, our plants were heated discussions last year over the fu- what is to become of this facility and its are working in the area around the old well and healthy, and making good ture of the Brooklyn Library, we have use for the public – retained or poten- Bagel factory, but if you were to drive growth. More exciting still, a myriad of been informed by the Earthquake Resili- tially sold off by WCC?; Bus services - down Owhiro Rd at 10.00 am you little seedlings was popping up - kawaka- ence manager from WCC about what the Greater Wellington Regional Council would see our flag somewhere along wa and rangiora, taupata and karamu, council intend to do (strengthening work, (GWRC) ongoing proposed changes to the way. We supply tools and gloves, mahoe, small leafed twiggy coprosmas, disruption, etc.) and their timelines. We the city and region wide bus services, so there is no excuse to not stop and two sorts of ferns. It is very encouraging will keep you informed as matters pro- timetables and reorganization of bus join us for an hour or so! February's to know that given the chance, and a gress as it is our intention to host a pub- routes. We note this has now been working bee was a very successful and helping hand, the bush can regenerate lic meeting so the wider community can postponed to 2015. Eventually, we look visible effort, as we weeded and itself; it is also a great incentive to keep hear these plans directly. forward to the proposed local service mulched planting along the road side of going back, to keep an eye on the black- We continue our work with Friends of expansion of the Kowhai Park / Pano- the stream. Alas, work in other areas berry, convolvulus, scrambling dock and Owhiro Stream in regards to the pro- rama Heights full weekend bus service requires a bit more effort, with less to other nasties until the plants are big posals and objections relating to expan- and how they join and meld together. show for it, at least from the point of enough to provide enough shade to sion plans at all three landfills south of view of the general public walking or prevent weeds germinating. We have a good number of new mem- Brooklyn – the vast majority of the waste driving past. bers and local community groups who vehicles pass through Brooklyn village. If you want to find out more about us, have connected through our new mail- To recap; Wellington City Council South- Nevertheless, working further in the contact Martin ph. 389 8995 ing list brooklynresidentswelling- ern Landfill proposed Stage 4 extension 'interior' is very satisfying. A few weeks [email protected] [email protected], Facebook page to the (the proposed extension seeks an- ago, the Wednesday workers, who are or www.facebook.com/ other 80 years or so of activity and fill normally busy at the shade house in Janet ph. 385 2077 brooklynresidentswellington , and Twit- and corresponding traffic volumes); the Vennell St, took themselves to a patch [email protected] ter profile @Brooklyn_NZ or by post to Burrell Landfill (otherwise known as C & of planting further into the bush. This PO Box 6332, Wellington. We wel- D extension application). We have been patch, a light well among the trees, had Janet Campbell come all Brooklyn residents to make working alongside Friends of Owhiro been cleared last year of mountains of on behalf of Friends of Owhiro Stream contact and extend an invitation to our Stream (FOOS) on expansion plans for next meeting, which is on Wednesday the T & T landfill. All have ecological, 19 March at 7pm in the Brooklyn environmental and traffic flow implica- Resource Centre - 36 Jefferson Street. tions that will directly impact our area and certainly rubbish / waste vehicles Chair: Simon McLellan Ph. 972 5102 transiting through the Brooklyn Village Secretary: Carl Savage lights pose traffic and pedestrian risks 934 9348 or 027 2808934 and hazards to the local community. Treasurer: Sam Donald 021 0231 3939 We watching with interest how the pro- email: brooklynresi- posed changes to the Jefferson St / [email protected] Cleveland St intersection, next to Khana Khazana takeaway, (due to concerns of 20 5 Gwen Devereux into the original Brooklyn Library building. Self Defense is a State of Mind in or attend a Self Defense course Is 90 Years Young! that will teach you some simple de- In the late 1960s a group of local Self Defense isn’t just learning about fensive moves, and about the places On 12 April 2014, long time Brooklyn mothers initiated one of the first defensive moves to save you when or if and situations you should avoid. afterschool care programmes in NZ. you are attacked, that is part of it, but resident and community stalwart, In April holidays Brooklyn Rembuden When it was no longer possible to get there is much more to it than that. It is Gwen Devereux celebrates her 90th is running an evening Self Defense voluntary supervisors, the programme about a state of mind, where you have birthday. Gwen grew up in Island course (6 sessions). If you would like was inherited by the Brooklyn ownership of yourself and you take re- Bay, before shifting to Brooklyn in to know more contact Patricia on Community Centre with paid staff. sponsibility for your actions – good and 1957 with her husband and young 3839371 or 0272976049 or email: family. Gwen was elected on the bad, wise and foolish. This is how we Gwen became involved when the learn! Without taking responsibility we [email protected]. committee of the Brooklyn Communi- programme moved to the Community blame others and we learn nothing. ty Association (BCA) at their AGM in Centre. Children were charged a 1958. Gwen is now a life member of shilling per day back then, and activi- Self Defense requires that you are Best Bumper Stickers the BCA. From the outset, Gwen grounded in the NOW. So that you are ties included week long camps and  My Mother Is a Travel Agent for Guilt says that she wanted to be involved swimming in the pool at Brooklyn aware of what is going on around you Trips so that you can react to it instantane- with her community, and the BCA School, where the adventure  I used to be Schizophrenic, but we're was and is the perfect place for her to ously. playground is now located. OK now do that. In traditional karate training there is a  Coffee, Chocolate, Men; Some things Gwen’s long list of community lot of repetition. The reason for this is are just better rich Gwen also has a long association involvement is far greater than space that we are programming the brain.  Gravity...It's Not Just a Good Idea. with Brooklyn School, where she will allow for this article. Other notable Each time you learn a new movement It's the Law started working part time in the office projects include: being part of the and perform it a neuron fires across  If at First You Don't Succeed, Skydiv- a month before her youngest child committee to establish the annual your brain creating a new pathway. The ing Isn't for You Sue enrolled. Gwen worked for 20 Brooklyn Festival in Cleveland Street, more you perform that same movement  The trouble with the Gene Pool Is that years, including typing for the organizing ANZAC Day community the stronger the pathway is, in your there's no lifeguard principal on an old Imperial morning teas, editing the Brooklyn brain. The action becomes a reflex ac- typewriter. She remembers when the Tattler for 15 years, the Brooklyn  Old Age Comes at a bad time tion by the body, more fluid. Eventually first electric typewriters were Markets and much more. Gwen is still  I used to have a handle on life, but it no conscious thought is involved - only introduced and “what a luxury that very much a community orientated broke. was”. As a school committee member action. person who keeps active.  Madness takes its toll. Please have

and employee, Gwen vividly recalls If you don’t practise a martial art then I exact change. when the original brick building was Gwen says her long history of recommend you do start if you can fit it demolished and the fight to keep community involvement has given her  Out of my mind...Back in five minutes. proposed new buildings from lots of great friends and memories encroaching on much needed play- over the years.

ground space, and the 1983 School An afternoon tea with family and Centennial celebrations. friends is planned for Gwen at the Gwen was part of the steering com- Brooklyn Community Centre from mittee, including Betty Armstrong, to 1pm to 4pm on Saturday 12 April. raise money to establish the Brooklyn Refreshments provided – cake cutting Playcentre which originally opened in at 3pm. This is an informal occasion a Cleveland Street church hall, (long to which anyone with an association since demolished) behind the site of to Gwen is welcome to drop by and th the Fire Station. Eventually the play- say hello on her 90 birthday. centre moved to 22 Harrison Street 7 18 Friday Help at Mainly Friends Of Central Park I hope that you have had time to get Councillors Corner to the beach and enjoy some of the Music FoCP was successful in applying to 2014 has started at a cracking pace, many outdoor events that have been Transpower for funding to improve with the Council facing major issues; organised over the last few weeks. Mainly Music is a free music group the site of the former paddling pool in for young children held at: many of which hinge on the spending It is wonderful to yet again welcome Central Park, which was filled in and St Matthew’s, of your money. Councillors must be the International Festival of the Arts grassed over in the 1990s. The con- 96 Washington Avenue vigilant about fiscal prudence. to the city.

cept plan, which has had Wellington Friday mornings 9.30am to 10.00am City Council go-ahead, provides an Transport issues are again on my followed by morning tea. The increase in the cost of re- area of lawn at a raised height to strengthening the Town Hall (initially mind. The hearing on the Basin The group needs assistance with set- improve drainage, and boardwalk Reserve flyover is in full swing. I am ting up, preparing and serving morn- $34m, then $43m, now at least $60m) access to the stream edge, with proud of the community who have ing tea. If you live in the community means all options for the building’s enough room (and seating) on the future need to be considered. It won’t put up a strong case against the and are able to spare ½ to 1 hour on deck area for people to linger there. much better resourced NZ Transport any Friday morning during term time be an easy decision; its auditorium has Construction is planned for glorious acoustics, and the building has Agency. we would be most grateful. mid-winter, in time for planting and Please contact great sentimental value to many As part of this hearing, it has re-grassing in early spring. Wellingtonians (including me). Phillip Bolton 389 9206 or become clear that public transport Karen Don 389 4060 for details. The Friends are pleased to see the I continue to oppose the Council’s patronage will decrease as a result Council has removed all the fallen decision to implement the ‘Living Wage’ of all the big roads that NZTA are trees from last year’s storms that for its direct employees, without any building. We have been promised were blocking paths, plus some of the consultation on the cost or implications better public transport but the option standing trees which were a risk from if rolled out to CCOs. that is being promoted has serious limitations. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre new wind loadings and a hazard to On a more cheerful note, it’s good is the option is being put forward Brings you Genevieve Simperingham park users. The Council has also news the Cuba Street Carnival will be encourage more people onto buses. of the Peaceful Parent Institute (NZ) repaired the bridges alongside the re-instated next year. It was a true Wel- I have some significant questions stream so that all the paths are lington event that brought a great deal Fri 28 & Sat 29 March 2014 around the safety and capacity of useable again. of colour to one of the city’s most inter- Friday Evening (7.30-9.30) or BRT. Modest increases in esting areas. There’s also progress on Saturday Morning (10.30-12.30) Everyone is welcome to join in the patronage do not seem to justify the ‘building identifiers’; some of you may Venue: St Matthews Church, working bees: coffee, tea and spend of millions of dollars of public remember I campaigned about the delicious snacks provided! money and bigger buses in 96 Washington Avenue absence of street numbers on build- Wellington’s narrow and hilly streets Building self-confidence, self-esteem Friends of Central Park meet on the ings. Frustrating when looking for an make me a little nervous!  Alternatives to threats, punishment last Sunday of every month; join us address and a real issue in Christ-  Coping with resistant, defiant, ag- from 10.00 – 12.00 at the overhead church after the earthquakes. Almost The higher fares that GW have just bridge up the main path from the gressive or hyperactive behaviour 471 buildings in the CBD have been introduced are also not helpful. It is main gates on Brooklyn Road. checked. 202 had either no number or time for a fundamental rethink on  Managing relationships between an incorrect one! Council officers For more information, contact transport. Let’s hope that this siblings, peers hope to complete surveying the CBD Barbara at [email protected] or rethink can start with debate on what 20 per person / $30 per couple by the end of October. sort of public transport system we 384 5249 or Payment to Peaceful Parent Institute Debbie at [email protected] Nicola Young want in Wellington. Kiwibank: 38-9011-0805155-01 W: 801 5100; M: 021 654 844; Iona Pannett - Lambton Ward Please Include surname, phone num- [email protected]; 384 3382 M:021 227 8509 ber, AM or PM in reference fields. Twitter: @nmjyoung Email [email protected] Facebook: NicolaYoungWellington.

9 16 Toastmasters Mayoral Musings appointed interim Priest-in-Charge Farewell to and will be taking up her duties in For many, the idea of giving a talk to The Council is trialling a Housing Reverend Robert McLay March 2014. One of her first duties a public group can be extremely Warrant of Fitness (WoF). This aims was the Ash Wednesday Service on daunting. The nerves and anxiety can to improve access to healthy, warm St Matthew's Church farewelled Rev the 5th March. overwhelm. Yet public speaking is a homes critical to Wellington’s physical Robert McLay on Sunday 23rd St Matthew's always welcomes vis- skill many people need at some point and economic health. We are making February at the morning service it o rs and new members to join our of their lives. real progress with this project and followed by lunch. Robert has been congregation. Where do you go if you want to learn recently completed a trial in 30 with us for approximately ten years and to speak in public? Toastmasters! homes in Wellington. during this time he has continued our Maureen Cooper – Vicar's Warden close association with St Bernard's Ross Young – People's Warden Toastmasters is a non-profit educa- Advancing the Housing WoF will help Catholic Church; he has taken services tional based organisation which helps us protect vulnerable people in on a regular basis at the Irwell Rest over a quarter of a million members Wellington and support property home; he has visited the Brooklyn worldwide to overcome their fear of owners. speaking in public. Resource Centre and has been very With the days getting shorter it is a caring in his ministry to the sick and Turbine Talkers is a friendly and en- great time to think about how you can needy in our parish. He was appointed thusiastic group, from all walks of life, make your home warmer and more Archdeacon of Wellington in 2007 and Calling Potential Keas and helping each other to become better energy efficient. The Council offers Vicar General (2ic to the Bishop) in Cubs speakers. We meet fortnightly on free Home Energy Saver Assess- 2010. On the retirement of Bishop Tom Swimming badges, fishing trips and Tuesdays at St Mathews Church ments. Assessors look at everything Brown he continued in this role for the visiting the fire station are just some from 7.30 - 9.30pm. from heating and lighting to water first year following the appointment of of the activities Brooklyn Keas and use, offer simple tips and provide you Bishop Justin Duckworth. We welcome anyone who wants to Cubs have been working on recent- with a detailed action plan tailored to come as a guest to see how the About four and a half years ago he ly. Scouts and Venturers have your needs and budget. Toastmasters experience works. At brought Mainly Music to Brooklyn. This picked up on the watery theme too To book your assessment and learn our meetings you will see how mem- is for mothers and care-givers of young with a sand yachting camp and a more check out the website bers gain confidence through stand- children where they meet on a Friday beach bonfire. The group has also www.homeanddry.co.nz. ing up, giving talks and telling a story morning for half an hour of music been actively recruiting new mem- The Sustainability Trust is still offering to an audience. Each talk gives mem- followed by morning tea. This has bers. With a steady influx of 10.5 – subsidised insulation. Find out if you bers the chance to build skills such been a very popular gathering and our 14 year olds, the Scouts troop is al- are eligible by visiting their website as voice usage, body language and Church lounge is often 'bursting' with most at maximum numbers. Spaces sustaintrust.org.nz/smarthomes/ speech structure. And importantly, young mothers, care-givers and for boys and girls keen to try activi- insulation or calling 0508 787824. each speaking opportunity empowers children and also the leaders and ties and learn new skills are still

members to tame their nerves of be- helpers!! available in Keas (5.5 – 8 years) and Celia Wade-Brown ing in front of a supportive audience. Cubs (8 – 10 years). Mayor Reverend McLay is retiring and moving Group Leader Gavin McGlashan So don’t put off public speaking, take to Wanganui. A large congregation says more Scout spaces could open up the challenge to become a more gathered, including representatives of up if new leaders can be found. confident person through becoming a our partner churches (Methodist, Pres- Gavin says potential Keas and Cubs Toastmaster. byterian and the Wellington Regional are welcome at any time to try out a

Forum) to wish both him and his wife meeting and see if it’s for them. Ac- If you want to know more about A BIG thanks to John Heighes who Toastmasters get in touch with Malin Liz all the very best for their future. tivity plans for groups can be found has ably sent in Lines from the 384 1398 or Robin 382 9965. Or at www.brooklynscouts.org.nz or Library for our reading pleasure. Reverend Annette Cater has been come along to our next meeting at 96 call Gavin on 934 5442. John is handing over the reins for a Washington Avenue on 25th March. well earned rest. Ed 15 10 At The Movies Got a Photo? TV had a small screen the size of a Back Then handkerchief, not a screen the size of

Le Weekend Had an event in Brooklyn? Want to When at a store checkout the young cashier the county of Yorkshire. In the kitchen, A married couple in suggested to the older woman that she we blended and stirred by hand because shout about it? If you took a photo or we didn't have electric machines to do their twilight years re- two send them to me and I will see if I should bring her own shopping bags in fu- ture because plastic bags weren't good for everything for us. When we packaged a visit Paris to revitalise have room to print in the Tattler. fragile item to send in the post, we used their marriage, and the environment. [email protected] wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, run into an old friend The woman apologised and explained, "We not polystyrene or plastic bubble wrap. who acts as a cata- didn't have this green thing back in my earli- Back then, we didn't fire up an engine

lyst for things to Brooklyn Library er days." and burn petrol just to cut the lawn.. We

come. At Christmas, avid readers had the The cashier responded, "That's our problem used a push mower that ran on human chance to be read to at the Brooklyn today. Your generation did not care enough power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run Library. to save our environment for future genera- Starring Jim Broadbent, Lindsay tions." on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green Duncan, Olly Alexander, Jeff Gold- She was right -- our generation didn't have thing back then. blum, Roger Michell the green thing in its day. Back then, we M Offensive language, sexual returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer We drank water from a fountain or a tap references & drug use bottles to the shop. The shop sent them when we were thirsty instead of demand- ing a plastic bottle from another country. 1hr 40mins duration back to the plant to be washed and steri- lized and refilled, so it could use the same We accepted that a lot of food was sea- bottles over and over. So they really were sonal and didn’t expect to have out of 3 Mile Limit recycled. We refilled writing pens with ink season products flown 1000s of miles It's 1965 and rock instead of buying a new pen, and we re- from around the world. We cooked food music is shaking up placed the razor blades in a razor instead of that didn’t come out of a packet, tin or throwing away the whole razor just because plastic wrapping. We could even wash the world but not on our own vegetables and chop our own New Zealand radio. the blade got blunt. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. salad. But we didn't have the green Richard Davis, a 23 thing back then. year old journalist, is We walked up stairs, because we didn't Doggy Dos and Don’ts have an escalator in every shop and office Back then, people caught a train or a determined to break the governments Some lovely caring doggy owner took building. We walked to the shop and didn't bus, and kids rode their bikes to school climb into a 300-horsepower machine every or walked instead of turning their moth- monopoly on broad- picking up poo to a new level. Take it time we had to go two streets. ers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had casting and bring off the track and leave it in a lovely But she was right. We didn't have the green one electrical socket in a room, not an rock n' roll to a younger generation blue bag basking in the sun by a sign- thing in our day. entire bank of sockets to power a dozen as well as hold onto the woman he post At least here, it won't get stuck appliances. And we didn't need a com- Back then, we washed the baby's nappies puterised gadget to receive a signal loves. Based on an incredible true in anyone's shoes or tyres. I’m going because we didn't have the throw-away beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in story this epic David and Goliath to assume that they forgot to collect it kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an space in order to find the nearest pizza struggle defined a country. on their return journey. energy gobbling machine burning up place. 2200watts -- wind and solar power really did But isn't it sad the current generation dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids Starring Bruce Hopkins, David laments how wasteful we oldies were got hand-me-down clothes from their broth- Aston, Matt Whelan just because we didn't have the green ers or sisters, not always brand-new cloth- M Offensive language & drug use thing back then? ing. But that young lady is right. We didn't 1hr 40mins duration have the green thing back in our day. Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in Back then, we had one TV or radio in the conservation from a smart-ass young house -- not a TV in every room. And the person.

11 14