Wednesday, Aug 7, 2019 Since Sept 27, 1879 Retail $2 Home delivered from $1.25 THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY www.guardianonline.co.nz Speedsters Deputy mayor and long serving councillor Neil Brown confirmed yesterday he will be among those seeking the monitored district’s mayoralty in October’s local body elections. P3 Brown issues mayoral challenge BY SUE NEWMAN table after another election. Five terms and vice versa, that is key and it needs [email protected] is long enough, you have to go the next education.” The race for Ashburton’s mayoralty is step or you go out,” he said. Having both farm and urban business likely to be contested by at least four One of his key drivers if elected will be interests gave him the advantage of un- candidates, with deputy mayor and to ensure the district’s new civic centre derstanding the unique issues facing long-serving councillor Neil Brown con- and library project is delivered on time each community, he said. firming yesterday that he will be among and on target with its new budget. The next term of council would see those seeking the district’s top job in Oc- “Council has some big projects ahead the start of a new era with councillor tober’s local body elections. and we need a steady hand to ensure numbers dropping from 12 to nine and Early With his 15 year background as a coun- common sense prevails over our spend- that meant it was vital all elected mem- cillor, Brown said he would bring the ing,” he said. bers had a good understanding of issues consistent, positive leadership to the Progressing the uniting of town and district-wide, Brown said. job that the district needed for the fu- country would also be key for the future, celebrations ture. Brown said. P24 “I did say at the end of last year that “We need to work on this, on ensuring I wouldn’t be sitting around the council the rural sector understands the town CONTINUED P2 Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe! Winner of Best Innovation at CNA 2018 Awards WINNER News 2 Ashburton Guardian Wednesday, August 7, 2019 www.guardianonline.co.nz That’s a wrap, says Brown issues Ashburton video club mayoral After 30 years of existence, the Closer to home they were members of the Ashburton Vid- called on to video events that eo Camera Club have decided included country music shows challenge to call it a day and wind the club at the Methodist and Tinwald up. halls, 4WD events, plus a Danc- Foundation member Ian ing With The Stars event held in Smith said a combination of a marquee at Methven where From P1 new technology, ageing mem- they screened the show live on “I do think nine councillors is bers and declining interest had screens at each end. a positive move for the district as brought about the decision. They also recorded the Mid we can work more closely and be- He said people these days Canterbury Schools’ Music Fes- come a closer knit group. It will, pulled out their cellphones to tival annually. however, be very important to video scenes and events; for per- “Some of these events result- have nine strong councillors and sonal viewing or social media. ed in payments and this was our the appropriate training will be Club members had gone one income and, although the club needed early on.” step further and used their skills had little overheads, it did pay Over the past term Brown has, over the years to edit and present expenses for our annual dinners on several occasions, challenged historical records of everything and club trips away.” issues that have been tagged from funerals to stage produc- Smith said some members for the in-committee section of tions, mud plugs and television specialised in specific events, meetings and said he will contin- news. like weddings, funerals and or- ue to push for open meeting dis- Smith and fellow founda- ganised parties. “One of our cussions where appropriate. tion members Don Hopwood members was contracted by TV “It’s important to take your and Bruce McLauchlan yester- One to record headline events in community with you and it’s im- day divvied up what was left close proximity for items such as portant a council gets everyone of the club funds and donated a fire, accident or storm that was in the same tent together. We $1076.50 to both the Ashburton newsworthy.” have to understand our commu- Cancer Society and the Ashbur- He said members took great nity as best we can and listen to ton Trust Event Centre, for the pride in recording an event, edit- them.” benefit of the performing arts. Foundation members of the Ashburton Video Camera Club ing it and producing a packaged That the mayoralty is attracting The club was formed back in (from left) Bruce McLauchlan, Ian Smith and Don Hopwood DVD. a number of candidates was posi- August, 1989, when video cam- handed over $1076 to Roger Farr for future use videoing pro- “But sadly, changing times tive as it would get people talking eras were the new format with ductions. PHOTO LINDA CLARKE and technology has overtaken and thinking and it gave the com- instant playback, as compared some of our members and, like munity choice, he said. to the old movie films which many organisations, there are Councillor Leen Braam has al- had to be sent away to be pro- ed Arnold Stanbury, an expe- Many times it was a hit or miss not enough younger members to ready lodged his nomination for cessed. These new machines rienced videographer from exercise with much frustration. replace them. Also the cellphone the mayoralty and for the coun- were a point-and-shoot camera Christchurch, to come and in- “Then the computer came into is so popular and convenient to cil’s urban ward and long time with instant replay and quickly struct them the finer points of play and, while it was much easi- record an event that anyone can retailer and past Ashburton Trust became popular to record family videoing and editing. er to edit on screen, it was a new record, although I often wonder board member and chair Tony events. “Editing was first done by challenge that had some older how many spend the time to edit Todd has confirmed he will be Over 30 people turned out at playing the tape on a VCR and members baffled for a while.” their recordings.” chasing the mayor’s job but has the initial meeting and monthly removing or inserting footage Members got together and Smith said Ashburton was yet to lodge his nomination. get-togethers after that were a before transferring to anoth- entered national and regional likely the last video club in the Sitting mayor Donna Favel has chance to share footage and ad- er VCR. There was also a titling competitions and forged friends South Island to go, but members also confirmed she will be seek- vice. box that could put titles on the around the South Island with would continue to pursue their ing re-election in October, but is Smith said the group invit- tape. Music could also be added. similar interests. videoing hobby as individuals. also yet to lodge her nomination. Spend over $499 in PROMPT July and go in the draw to *T&C’S APPLY. WHILE STOCKS LAST. TH BE IN TO WIN! 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WHILE STOCKS LAST. 308 9019 | Moore St, Ashburton Alister Dean Jacky Paul Carmeena Scott Fay Mary Maree Jed News www.guardianonline.co.nz Wednesday, August 7, 2019 Ashburton Guardian 3 Racecourse Rd a speeding hot-spot BY JAIME PITT-MACKAY just no longer have a cat as a pet [email protected] living on this road.” It is Racecourse Road in name, The next worst road for per- but it appears some motorists centage of violations was Rakaia may be taking that too seriously, Barrhill Methven Road in Rakaia, with council statistics showing where 57.67 per cent of the 25,016 that more than 75 per cent of mo- vehicles recorded were in viola- torists travelling the road have tion of the speed limit. been breaking the speed limit. Vehicles travelling on Walnut Data obtained from the Ash- Avenue south near Ashburton In- burton District Council’s vehicle termediate were relatively more speed display signs shows that considerate with their speed, with of 39,948 vehicles that travelled 22.13 per cent of the 37,276 vehi- past the sign on Racecourse cles recorded being in violation of Road, 77.16 per cent of those the speed limit.