Caring for others Feilding-Rangitikei Page 7 Showing off her skills HERALDSPECIAL TAIHAPE EDITION INSIDE Page 6 Thursday, June 9, 2016 Teen back in school after tumour PAUL MITCHELL [email protected] A Manawatu girl is back at school catching up with friends and class work after having a mandarin- sized tumour removed from her spine. Sanson teenager Hannah Dev- lin, 13, has faced a hard-fought recovery after being crippled by the tumour, which was dis- covered in February. Mum Michele Devlin said the benign, non-cancerours, bone tumour was found just as she was starting at Feilding High School. ‘‘The tumour was the size of a mandarin and was pressing on the spinal cord, damaging nerves and restricting messages from the brain to the legs,’’ she said. Hannah underwent a seven- hour surgery at Starship Chil- dren’s Hospital to remove the tumour, before recovering at the Wilson Centre in Auckland. She still has intense nerve pain and uses crutches to help her mobility, but she had recovered enough to start the new school term at Feilding High six weeks ago. ‘‘I was really excited to come back and see all my friends and catch up with everything,’’ Hannah said. All of her classmates have been great, although a few didn’t quite Hannah Devlin, 13, is back at Feilding High School and beginning to make strides in her recovery after a tumour on her spine crippled her in February. understand how long her road to PHOTO: PAUL MITCHELL recovery would be. ‘‘They think it’s a quick fix: Hannah. physiotherapy a week to just one She said, combined with her was still a ways to go, Michelle hospital, surgery and back.’’ A new couch has been added to day a week once she came home. physio, it’d really helped her Devlin said. She said at the Wilson Centre the school’s learning centre for ‘‘I felt like I just wasn’t getting recovery. On Wednesday they were head- there had been five other teenage her to rest on whenever she was fixed, which really brough down Hannah’s now able to walk a ing back to Auckland for a check girls in treatment who had tired, or during PE and her free my motivation, I was just sitting bit without her crutches, but still up on her progress in terms of supported each other. period. at home feeling grumpy with needs them to help with her bal- pain and mobility, and in August ‘‘It was nice to hang out with ‘‘If I’m really tired and sore I’ll myself.’’ ance. Hannah will be getting a CT scan people who understand every- just have a sit but if I’m feeling But now she was going to the ‘‘I couldn’t even walk from my to see if the tumour was growing thing isn’t fine, who had their okay I’ll do some homework and gym twice a week, thanks to a bed to the kitchen at the Wilson back. ‘‘That’ll be quite scary, but own problems.’’ catch up.’’ one-year membership donated to Centre without a big walking she’s walking well and her motiv- Michele Devlin said the school Hannah said it was a big her by Feilding gym Evolve Fit- frame.’’ ation is really good thanks to help had been incredibly supportive of change going from nine hours of ness. 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A popular machine for commercial Every pivot point has a grease nipple operators getting started in high-end. STIHL SHOP FEILDING 30 Aorangi Street (next to TRC Toyota) Feilding Ph: 06 323 8271 www.stihlshop.co.nz LLOVEOVE Y YOUROUR L LANDAND WE-7248386AD 2 JUNE 9, 2016 stuff.co.nz YOUR PAPER, YOUR PLACE did you know... 1 GETTING CRAFTY Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also An array of arts and crafts will be on known as the Pleiades star FROM offer at the Feilding Craft & Vintage cluster or the Seven Sisters. Market at Manfeild between 9am – THE 4pm on Friday and Saturday. EDITOR 2 FINE WINE The Last of the Summer Wine stage There may not have been any show continues at the Feilding Little dames or knights bestowed upon Theatre Players until June 18. CONTENTS our region this year, but those Taihape.................................................................. 8 who have been recognised in the 1 3 MATARIKI PRIDE Out and About............................................4, 11 Queen’s Birthday honours are no A Matariki event in Feilding’s Conversations ................................................ 14 less worthy of our respect. Manchester Square between What’s On ....................................................18,19 Many of the people who were 10.45am and 2pm will be a Backyard Banter.......................................... 39 honoured are individuals who celebration of community, whanau, Dr Libby/Puzzles........................................ 40 have worked tirelessly to make Maori culture and kai. Community Cookbook .......................... 42 their communities better places to Sport.............................................................. 43,44 live. These people often go 4 SOUL SESSIONS unheralded, so it is important that Thomas Stowers and Friends are we take the opportunity to shine a to do list bringing their Motown and Old Skool This newspaper is light on their contributions to 2 3 showcase to Taihape’s Gretna Hotel subject to NZ Press society. One of these unsung on June 11. $15 presale tickets or $20 Council procedures. heroes is Marton’s George door sales. Doors open at 8pm A complaint must first London, who was awarded a be directed in writing, 5 MARKET DAY within one month of Queen’s Service Medal for his publication, to the editor’s email address. contribution to the community. The next Taihape Playcentre If not satisfied with the response, the George has impressive record, Community Market Days will be held complaint may be referred to the which includes volunteer work on June 11 at St David’s Presbyterian Press Council. PO Box 10-879, for St John Ambulance and the Church Hall between 10am and 1pm. The Terrace, Wellington 6143. Community Patrol, involvement Or use the online complaint form at www.presscouncil.org.nz Please in the rebuild of four vacant 4 5 include copies of the article and all buildings in Marton, and support correspondence with the publication. for the Arahina Training Centre and Edale Home. That he continues to do this work despite Contact us CHIEF NEWS DIRECTOR: Matthew Dallas (06) 355 8800, [email protected] SALES MANAGER: Donna Wallace, having a quadruple bypass is a (06) 355 8771, 027 495 7581, [email protected] SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Grant Nickolls, 027 809 3669, testament to his dedication to [email protected], Gavin Allanson (06) 355 8836, [email protected], Arran Stevenson, 027 4368068, helping others. [email protected] REPORTERS: Paul Mitchell, (06) 355 8814, 027 405 2012, Emily Beaumont 06 388 0639, 027 889 3172 CLASSIFIEDS: (06) 323 5839 or 0800 835 323 AD DEADLINES: 4.30pm Friday WHAT’S ON: [email protected] (deadline: Jonathon Howe 10am Tuesday) MISSED DELIVERY: (06) 350 9555 or [email protected] Darraghs Feilding Good range Woodsman fires of Smoke 25% off normal retail price Alarms instore Warrior Standard flue and smoke firebox combo on the alarms Woodsman Brunner only $13.47 and NoVo fires Talk to our instore fireman, David about the best smoke alarm for your home, workplace etc Darraghs Mitre 10 Opening Hours mitre10.co.nz Mon–Fri:8am–6pm Kimbolton Road, Feilding Be quick - Saturday8am–4pm Phone 323 4054 while stocks last SundayandPublicHolidays9am–4pm WE-7276160AA my.stuff.co.nz stuff.co.nz JUNE 9, 2016 3 Feilding firefighter wins climb prize THOMAS HEATON Scaling more than 1000 steps carrying about 25 kilograms of extra weight each while panting through masks is what Feilding volunteer firefighters are pre- pared to do for leukaemia. With their different motivations in mind as they scaled the Sky Tower in Auck- land, all four Feilding firefighters reached the top in about 30 minutes or less. Crew member Paula Phillipson took out the top spot in her category, the female grand masters, scaling the tower in just 30 minutes, 30 seconds. But Phillipson insisted it was a team effort. ‘‘It’s a team medal, because we Feilding’s trained all together,’’ Phillipson volunteer said. firefighters, from They were four of 850 firefight- left, Paula ers, including some from Aust- Phillipson, Debbie Bates, ralia and the United States, who Geoff Bates, Josh travelled to Auckland to compete. Bish and Ben It was Phillipson’s first time Locton, who took scaling the country’s tallest build- part in the Sky ing, with her son joining her from Tower Challenge.