Te Awamutu Next to Te Awamutu The Hire Centre Te Awamutu Landscape Lane, Te Awamutu YourC community newspaper for over 100 years Thursday, January 10, 2019 0800 TA Hire | www.hirecentreta.co.nz Races run at a loss Swap crops Crop Swap Te Awamutu meets on Sunday, January 20 from 2pm to 3pm at Mahuika House, 114 Downes St. Crop Swap brings together Future meetings now in doubt backyard gardeners, home bakers and food foragers keen to swap high-quality local food BY COLIN THORSEN on a regular basis. Bring your excess produce, The future of Pirongia’s Box- baking or preserves to swap for ing Day race meeting is in seri- something different. ous jeopardy after a disappoint- The free event is for all ages. ing crowd of only 1500 paid at the gate on December 26. Alexandra Racing Club secre- Steam trip tary, Charlie Coles reports that A Glenbrook Steam Train the meeting ran at a financial trip from Te Awamutu has loss which affects the future of been organised for Sunday, the day. February 17 — departing at “We simply can’t keep going 8.30am. and lose money,” he said. The day out costs $70 per “Numbers attending have person and includes lunch and gone down rapidly in recent coach. years making it hard to pay for There are limited numbers things as our only real income is available — contact Te at the gate. Awamutu RSA on 871 3707 for “There is no one particular more information and reason for the dwindling crowd bookings. numbers.” Coles said lifestyles have Win a VIP changed. “People didn’t travel away as experience much in years gone by. Now you To celebrate the the Ride see kayaks on the roof of vehicles Festival coming to Waipa¯on and bikes on the back, there are Sunday, January 27 Waipa¯ so many other activities to do. District Council is looking for an Boxing Day sales don’t help, epic support crew! neither did last year’s meeting The person named as our being cancelled at the last min- champion supporter has a huge ute. day ahead of them. “Four years ago we drew even Keep on trucking: Te Kawa Young Farmers again turned out in force for the Boxing Day Races at First, you'll be whisked away thanks to grants but they appear Pirongia. Photo / Colin Thorsen in a helicopter so that you can no longer available for events see the race from the sky as like ours. The grants kept us “We’ve also had support from Awamutu. “It’s the fourth year these top-class cyclists race afloat for a number of years, local clubs and the school which People didn’t travel I’ve brought my (Freightliner) around the streets of balancing the books on the day.” have worked on the day in return truck so us members can set up Cambridge. Coles said expenses have for a donation.” away‘ as much in years camp for the day. Then we'll have a spot rapidly increased. Coles said those who attended gone by, now you see “Five years ago I brought reserved so you can be there as “Some people ask what we the latest meeting would have kayaks on the roof of along one of John Austin’s truck the winner crosses the finish spend our money on. enjoyed themselves. and trailers.” line and claims the glory. “Major costs are the traffic “It was a very relaxing atmo- vehicles and bikes on Te Kawa Young Farmers have After that, it's time for the plan and control on the day (the sphere with lot smaller crowd the back, there are so a membership of 60 of which 20 Party In The Park, where you'll road is now a state highway), queues for race tickets, many other activities to were at the races. have an exclusive tent set up gate and crowd security to cope refreshments and kids’ rides and Successful ‘punter’ Caitlin with plenty of entertainment, with the alcohol licensing laws, entertainment out the back of the do. Seager was also sorry to hear it snacks and a few bevvies. advertising in various forms, the course.” CHARLIE’ COLES could be the last Boxing Day race To enter the competition, sound system, ambulance attend- A meeting next month will meeting at Pirongia. either head over to the Waipa ance, waste disposal, portable decide the fate of the Boxing Day “That is a real shame. It’s District Council Facebook page toilets, Armourguard Money races at Pirongia. Te Kawa Young Farmers always a great day out and I’ve or keep an eye out in your local Security and printing of the tote Coles said a switch from Box- again brought a truck load of been lucky enough this year to paper for an entry form. tickets and race book. ing Day (because of so many members to the race meeting. have the winning tickets in each Entries close Friday, January “The club has had great finan- counter-attractions) to another “We’ve been coming for at of the first three races,” she said. 18, terms and conditions apply. cial support from the business date is a possibility but he least 10 years, so we are sad to It is now a case of what will be, world and various individuals doesn’t hold his breath on that hear that the meeting could be will be as far as the future of the over a long period of time. change. canned,” said Jason Inness of Te meeting, founded in 1866, goes. Te Awamutu and Pirongia are on 1 Sprinklers 6-8AM &6-8PM Hand-held hosing any time Serving Waitomo, Waipa, & Cambridge. 100 Roche Street, Te Awamutu 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, January 10, 2019 ■ LETTER TO THE EDITOR Time to take care of our own recycling 14,045 News in that another country How are other countries deal- dant powerplant in Meremere. happening to the stuff that is is refusing to take our ing with their stuff? Why has the government of being collected? Is it going to recyclables? Follow the link to see what that day and subsequent govern- storage or landfill? 14,045* Should we be worried? I Sweden is doing — sweden.se/ ments not gone ahead and de- It is high time New Zealand CIRCULATION 14,045* believe we should. It has been a nature/the-swedish-recycling- velop that plan? deals with the issue and invest long time coming to deal with revolution/ On a local level ratepayers into converting recycling into our own recyclables, especially Quite a few years ago the idea are paying for recycling through energy. plastics. was mooted to use the redun- their rates. What is actually BERNARD WESTERBAAN Water use on the rise Council’s water services Cambridge and warm weather set to con- [email protected] manager Tony Hale said Pukerimu (which supplies tinue, we need to continue to water usage in Waipa¯ison O¯ haupo¯ and Kaipaki) have be mindful of our water the rise, and further restric- seen the largest increases in usage to ensure further re- [email protected] tions may be necessary if we water usage. While the addi- strictions are not necessary” What’s On don’t cut back. tional capacity at the he says. [email protected] Usage in the district has Kara¯piro Water Treatment “Small changes like increased by 7 per cent in Plant was keeping up with using your sprinkler in the in January [email protected] the past week as people Cambridge’s demand for evening when the sun is return from their summer now, Tony encouraged down and watering your holidays. people in those areas to garden by hand can make a Te Awamutu Events Guide as notified to [email protected] Te Awamutu and consider how they could cut huge difference.” the Te Awamutu Visitor i-Site Centre. Pirongia’s usage continues down their water usage. Te Awamutu and ■ 12 Te Awamutu Country Variety Club, to be of concern as the warm “Overall it’s good to see Pirongia remain on Water Bible Chapel, Swarbrick Drive, starting from [email protected] weather impacts the avail- the community making an Alert Level 1. Other parts of 7pm. Featuring Reg McTaggart, Carleen ability of water from the effort to keep their water the district remain without Still and many more. Ticket prices: Adult - Mangauika Stream. usage down. But with the restrictions — for now. $20 / Children under 12 - $10. Tickets available from Binn Inn or Ray Thurgood, 870 1551. ■ 14 Te Awamutu Museum, Pressed Stay vigilant over summer Flower Craft Workshop, all ages, $5 per participant, 10am-12.30pm. ■ 15 Te Awamutu Museum Pressed [email protected] Figures from Water too many and a tragedy for says Jonty. Flower Art Photography, 13 years+, $10 per Safety New Zealand indicate all families and communi- “The summer holidays participant, 10am-3pm. Learn photography the preventable fatal ties involved,” says Water go on for a couple more and editing techniques with photographer drowning toll for the official Safety chief executive, Jonty months yet and we know David Lupton holiday period (running Mills. Kiwis will continue to enjoy ■ 16 Ponderosa Country Music Club, Te from 4pm December 24 to “This has been another our beautiful waterways as Rahu Hall. 12.30-4.30pm. Ph 871 3129. 6am January 3) is four. holiday period of record the warm weather con- ■ 20 Te Awamutu Country Music Club, Methodist Hall, 1- 4.30pm.Ph 871 2799.