Issue 959 - 20 July 2021 (07) 866 2090 - [email protected] Circulation 8,200 McClinchy Cup champions! History was made on Saturday last week when the Mercury Bay Senior A Marlins rugby team became for the first time ever the sole holders of the McClinchy Cup by beating Thames 12 - 10 in the 2021 Thames Valley Rugby Union club championship final. It was only the third time that the Mercury Bay Senior A team reached the final. With unrelenting wind and rain, the game was played in the most difficult circumstances imaginable. In 2015, the Bay shared the cup with Waihou after a draw in the final. This time was different. The cup will be displayed in the Mercury Bay trophy cabinet for a full 12 months. The emotion among players and supporters were visible when the final whistle went on Saturday. It was undoubtedly one of the proudest moment in the long history of a very proud club. Read the full story on page 39. Distributed throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, coast to coast from Thames to north of Colville - www.theinformer.co.nz In the strongest position yet The Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust’s reaction following the Health Select Committee of Parliament’s response to the petition to have a rescue helicopter based in Whitianga over the busy holiday periods. The Health Select Committee of Parliament consider at what point additional ambulances, In a statement addressing the Select Committee often winding roads, and with communities is encouraging all parties involved in including a rescue helicopter stationed in response, the CRHT says discussions have that are subject to large seasonal variations providing emergency medical care to the Whitianga, would be deemed appropriate. been underway with NRHL for some time in population.” Coromandel Peninsula to sit around the table The recommendation was made by the already to try and establish a pathway The committee members pointed out and work out a plan for ensuring the area is committee members in their formal response forward. “The Select Committee’s response that the needs of the Coromandel must be adequately serviced, particularly during peak to a petition for a rescue helicopter to be is promising,” the statement, signed by all the considered within “a wider context”, including holiday times. reinstated on the Coromandel over the summer trustees, reads. “…an integrated system of road and air The National Ambulance Sector Office period and other busy holiday weekends, In its response, the Select Committee ambulance services which ensures the delivery (NASO), St John, Northern Rescue Helicopter and a verbal presentation by Whitianga acknowledged “…the complexity of of timely and clinically appropriate emergency Limited (NRHL), the Coromandel Rescue residents Stephan Bosman (the petitioner), delivering road and air ambulance services care” and “...a wider regional network of air Helicopter Trust (CRHT) and the Waikato Walter Russell and Kevin Pringle. The petition in regions like the Coromandel, with widely ambulance services which ensures timely District Health Board are being urged to was signed by more than 46,000 people. dispersed populations separated by rural and responses and equitable access across the The Whitianga-based trustees of the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust in the trust’s helicopter hangar on Saturday last week - John Stephenson (left), Merv George (chair - centre) and Walter Russell. The other trustees of the trust are Jennie Turner (Tairua), Doug Walters (Whangamata), Andrea McCartney (Thames) and Nigel Strongman (Coromandel Town). What’s happening in the night sky? Night sky information provided and sponsored by Week of Wednesday, 21 July to Wednesday, 28 July - The Moon is a help this week to locate Jupiter and Saturn which are now rising mid-evening and make a lovely pair high overhead in the late evening, with Jupiter the brighter of the two. Venus is a brilliant sight low in the NW dusk sky. Several good International Space Station (ISS) passes this week too, all in the early morning. Thursday, 22 July - Venus sits right next to Regulus with Mars just below it in the evening twilight sky. A bright ISS pass starts at 6:34am near Jupiter. Friday, 23 July - The ISS pops out from the Earth’s shadow at 5:49am next to Jupiter. Saturday, 24 July - The full Moon sits just Astronomy Tours and B&B above Saturn. Sunday, 25 July - The Moon is now between Saturn and bright Jupiter. The ISS again pops out from the Earth’s shadow at 5:53am in the south. Monday, 26 July - Jupiter sits just above the Moon with much fainter Saturn above. Tuesday, 27 July - The Moon now Phone (07) 866 5343 lies below Jupiter with fainter Saturn about the same distance higher up. www.stargazersbb.com Whitianga and Hot Water Beach tides Tides data sponsored by nzwindows.co.nz 4 Dakota Drive Whitianga Tel 07 869 5990 Page 2 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Issue 959 - 20 July 2021 In the strongest position yet wider populations it serves.” now opened the door for them to directly In addition to encouraging all emergency engage with all stakeholders about improved care stakeholders to enter talks, the Select emergency care on the Coromandel. “We are Committee also encouraged “...NRHL to about to start the process to get everyone to continue to work with the CRHT to explore meet together,” the statement says. “One of the options which ensures the best coverage of topics on the agenda will be additional funding the Coromandel for air ambulance services, to NRHL. While that process is ongoing, we as well as to develop a shared understanding will continue to work with NRHL and the of the circumstances under which NRHL Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (a 50 would consider permanently basing an air percent shareholder in NRHL), with whom ambulance in Whitianga during the peak we have always enjoyed a close friendship, holiday season.” to see what is required for NRHL to employ Discussions between NRHL and the additional helicopter crew without a funding CRHT have started early last year already. commitment from NASO. That may well “In January this year, NRHL based a involve an ongoing financial commitment helicopter in Whitianga on a trial basis,” from the Coromandel. the CRHT statement says. “Unbeknown to “A financial commitment is nothing new. many, the helicopter was crewed by staff The people of the Coromandel have for more sacrificing some of their annual leave. than a decade been extremely generous in their “The outcome of the trial was that NRHL support of an air ambulance service.” is in clear need of a third rescue helicopter The CRHT undertakes to keep the people (in addition to the two they are contractually of the Coromandel updated with regard to the obliged to base at Ardmore Airport south of Auckland) over the busy holiday periods. negotiations. “The petition was a resounding The demand for their services continues to grow. success and put the people of the Coromandel They deem Whitianga the most appropriate in the strongest position since the campaign location for such a third helicopter. However, to have a rescue helicopter returned to they cannot rely on their staff to continue to Whitianga started more than three years ago,” sacrifice their holidays to crew a third helicopter. the statement reads. “We would like to say “As a result, the primary request Stephan a heartfelt thank you for all the support we Bosman, Walter Russell and Kevin Pringle have received to date and we ask everyone to made in their verbal submission to the Health remain generous. It is winter and there is no Select Committee was for NASO to make rescue helicopter in the hangar in Whitianga additional funding available to NRHL to at the moment, but we are still being served by employ what is called ‘surge capacity staff’. an outstanding air ambulance service. NRHL is of the view that the equivalent of “Your continued support will not only two to four extra full-time crew members will enable the service to continue to fly, but may be sufficient.” well contribute to seeing sooner rather than Addressing the future, the trustees of the later a rescue helicopter based back on the CRHT say the Health Select Committee has Coromandel when it is needed the most.” Issue 699959 - 2720 July 20162021 The Mercury Bay Informer - www.theinformer.co.nz Page 3 Former serviceman’s fatal dash was driven by heartbreak Meghan Hawkes uncovers another unique story about the characters who now rest in the Mercury Bay Cemetery and our other local graveyards. William Wilson was penniless, This was likely the son, the with scarcely a shoe on his feet. senior CA Harris being the The 56-year-old Scotsman had one who owed the wages and been employed at the Whangapoua the target of William’s threats. mill of CA Harris and Son, but the CA Harris told William that work was finished and William, the contractor he worked for along with several others, was in debt, so would pay him had headed to Mercury Bay. nothing. William then made William was owed a his fatal dash down the wharf. considerable amount in wages William’s unpaid wages from the mill and frequently were about £25, the loss of declared that he would kill his which triggered the sad end of former employer for cheating him a once proud and strong man. and then jump into the river. His William had been in New mates did not take much notice Zealand for more than 20 of his threats which continued as years. He had formerly served they all sat on the verandah of the in the 58th (Rutlandshire) Mercury Bay Hotel on a Saturday Regiment of Foot, also known in February 1878.