TAKE ONE MOMENT JULY 2011 TTHEHE MMID-ID- WWINTERINTER SSWIMWIM Taking the plunge at Leith Road PHOTO BY RICHARD CARR OOKATOK A T O - more on page 2 OKATO 1 COVER STORY TAKE ONE MOMENT EDITORIAL So, we are half- Midwinter way through the year already! Today as we Swim OOKATOK A T O write it is the Th ey breed them tough down Leith Road. winter solstice How tough, I hear you ask? Tough as an TOM-OKATO is a free, but it feels like spring. It appears that elephant’s hide in mating season. monthly publication, delivered the plants and trees feel like it’s spring Sunday, 19 June saw an intrepid (or is on the second Wednesday of too. Th ere is scarcely any snow on the that foolhardy?) group of people don var- the month to all homes and mountain, the plum trees are fl ower- ious swimming cossies and fancy dress post-boxes from Timaru Road ing and at Kerry’s house, the magnolia to Bayly Road. costumes and plunge into the swimming buds are swelling and the daff odils are hole at Brent Davies’ property at the end of THE TEAM up. Meanwhile, tornadoes have been Leith Road for the annual midwinter swim. Co-ordinator/Features: whipping around the countryside With a rather frigid water temperature of Kim Ferens causing devastation to properties and 14º, the fi rst plunge elicited a few oaths and 06 751 1519 [email protected] people’s lives. We live in an uncertain squeals (I didn’t know that Kane L. sang world. Advertising: falsetto). Mind you, I remember the mid- Kim Ferens Gypsy Day on 31 May marked the winter swim two years ago that took place 06 751 1519 annual changeover for the farming fra- on a bitter day with a stiff southerly blow- [email protected] ternity, so we have recently said goodbye ing up the kilt, and the water was only 8º. Writers: to some familiar faces and welcomed Eat your heart out Bear Grylls! So this time Milly Carr others. We have also farewelled some it was almost tropical in comparison, with 06 752 4425 old village identities, including Des only a few showers interrupting a relatively Kerry Lilley balmy sunny day. 06 752 4350 and Nola Corbett and Father Garty, and are looking forward to meeting the Proof reader: Observing safety fi rst, a number of fetching Maryanne Rossiter Bennett new families who have arrived to live lifeguards in full attire were present, sport- Graphics: in the township. We hope that the new ing some vintage items (love those caps, Ron Stratford arrivals will enjoy our friendly, diverse Fe and Julie), and were keeping close tabs [email protected] community and its varied facilities. We on a swarthy chap (Al Qaeda operative?), are very fortunate to have an area school a doctor complete with proctologists gloves The TOM Group Ltd in the village along with an assortment 22 Sutton Rd, RD4, New (and you think you know someone), and Plymouth of sporting facilities, a range of outdoor a grim reaper intent on claiming a victim. recreational opportunities, a great arts Email: kim@thetom. Other less adventurous souls jumped in for co.nz and crafts community, and several food a brief fl irt with cardiac arrest before retiring outlets catering for all tastes. to the warmth of Brent’s shed. Th e slippery Phone: 0800 THE TOM If you see us in the cafe or around the slide proved again to be popular, with some www.thetom.co.nz village please say hello, and if you have individuals creating a mini-tsunami, remi- Points of view expressed in niscent of those witnessed in recent times. contributed articles are not necessarily an interesting story to share, we would the views of TOM love to hear it. Afterwards, in true coastal fashion, Brent Hei kona rā (goodbye for now). fi red up the barbeque to cook the vast array Kerry and Milly of meat (were we observing World Meat TOM dates to remember for Day?) and empty bellies were satiated. August issue Apologies to Jasmine Stone who Th ank you so much, Brent and Deb, for Copy and ads - 22 July was inadvertently named as Georgia another memorable day. Distribution - 6 August Strachan on last months cover. By Milly Carr Kim Fiona Lacey - lifeguard extraordinaire. 2 OKATO Cape Egmont Boat What Was I Club Celebrates Thinking? Fifty Years PAUL HENRY’S BOOK LAUNCH Cape Egmont Boat Club celebrated fi fty years at its Bayly Road clubrooms on Saturday, 4 June. Following the cel- ebration meal, Commodore Dan Funnell paid tribute to the past and present members who had contributed to the growth and success of the club, which had started out in a tin shed that was originally the Warea School Princi- pal’s carshed. Dan also outlined hopes for the club’s future development, including a wider, deeper race and a small marina. Nicci with Paul Paul Henry describes himself as an orator — a natural born storyteller. Th is is only one of the descriptions that fi t this incredibly charming man. His book, What Was I Th ink- ing, enthrals readers with stories that will make you cry laughing, and others that could potentially save your life. His memoirs are interspersed with illustrations from his dear mum, who now lives in a home for the bewildered. Paul’s love for her shows through and is another of his traits to be admired. I was lucky enough to be in the audience of about 200 people at the Devon Hotel and to spend some time with Paul at his book launch, hosted by the magical team at Benny’s Books in New Plymouth. Paul was extremely engaging and had every person in the room fascinated as Ken and Joyce Donald cut the celebration cake, held he shared insights into his complex character. His manners by Tom Goodin. were impeccable — he always apologised after swearing. Paul greeted each person eagerly awaiting a signature in his Gordy Wells and Crusty (Chris) Aylward were awarded book like they actually mattered to him. Th at we were the life memberships. A surprised Gordy said he was blown reason he wrote it. So we could understand what makes away. “I just do it for the club, really,” he said. him tick. “I didn’t join to be a life member,” said Crusty, “but to I can’t disagree with Mr Henry when he says, “You know, have fun... It’s a pretty mad outfi t sometimes,” he added, I do believe this is the best book I’ve ever read. I felt so launching into a story about when the club’s fi rst storey engaged.” You can fi nd it in the Coastal Taranaki School’s was being added and, already terrifi ed of heights, he fell library. I thoroughly recommend it! through the ceiling into a big pile of sandwiches. Story and photo by Nicci Hooker After the speeches, Patron Ken Donald and his wife, Joyce, cut the anniversary cake, which had been baked and deco- rated by George Mason, who represents the local iwi. In a moving speech, George paid tribute to the Barrett, Brophy and Fleming families, which are branches of his wider family that have been associated with the club. George also described the Coast of days gone by, with houses and gar- dens along the shoreline, Pungarehu School populated by about 200 children and Warea by a further 120 or so. Bayly Road Boat Club is an active club that has much to be proud of, not least its stunning location. As someone in the audience announced, “We have the best view of Mount Egmont in New Zealand off the coast here.” Story by Kerry Lilley Photo by Nicci Hooker OKATO 3 Christchurch Earthquake 2011 SIX PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCE We have heard suffi cient about the Christchurch earth- quake now for the details to seem familiar. Many of us feel we have a handle on the horror of it and have given to the cause accordingly. Bear with me, however, while I recap. On September 04 2010, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Christchurch, causing signifi cant damage to the city and the central Canterbury region. Th ere were stories of close calls but the quake had happened in the early hours of the morning when most people were still in bed, and incred- ibly, there were no direct fatalities. Nearly six months later, on 22 February this year, a 5km deep, magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck near the city. Th is time, a number of factors conspired to ensure that the city did not get off so lightly. Th e quake occurred during a weekday lunchtime when the central business district (CBD) was busy. Th e epicentre was closer to Christch- urch and shallower than the September event. Intense peak ground acceleration (PGA) — simultaneous vertical and horizontal ground movement — made it almost impossible for buildings to survive intact, especially when many build- ings had been already weakened by the previous quake and its aftershocks. Liquefaction caused signifi cant ground Jaws open for another demolition. movement, undermining many foundations and destroy- Helen and Allan have been allowed three short, supervised ing infrastructure. Destruction of and damage to the city visits to retrieve some of the things that are important to and its buildings, land, roads, bridges, water and sewerage, them. Th ey are not sure if they can live there again. After the power and communications was extensive. At least 181 quake, they stayed briefl y with their daughter’s family, have people died (the causes of four further deaths are at present moved twice since then, and now rent a tiny state house in inconclusive) and 1500–2000 people were injured, 220 of a suburb on the other side of town, far from friends, neigh- them seriously.