Vol. 35, No. 45, November 21, 2019 52 Ingestre Street, Wanganui. Phone 345 3666 or 345 3655, fax 345 2644, email [email protected] Air Wanganui brings in third aircraft to meet growing demand #\ BY DOUG DAVIDSON 450 hours a year with our Air Wanganui has been providing a crucial $ " service to Whanganui and New Zealand for \ %& over 25 years, mainly as an air ambulance, P ( # O but now also as a specialist, tourist charter #\ service. about 500 patients in and out of Whanganui trans- To meet growing de- ferring them anywhere mand, they have bought It has been refurbished from hospitals in Dunedin their third aircraft – a \- to Auckland but predomi- Beechcraft King Air sentatives from Air Wan- nantly to Wellington, es- \ ganui, the DHB and local pecially for angiography The twin turbo-prop air- businesses watched as the " craft with advanced, high \ already transferred over tech avionics was wel- got the chance to have a %%P comed into Whanganui look over the plane when "&*+ƽ Airport on Monday after must be ready to go at any a three day trip from the Air Wanganui Chief time for air ambulance, Executive, Dean Martin, organ transfer and charter The Kingair was bought says, “It is a huge invest- ! " (Photo courtesy of Jono Gribble) from a private owner and ment but necessary as we ƽ \ has already been painted !" casual pilots as required 67 $ The ratio of work is 90% and without their sup- since charter work re- I think since I’ve been Air Whanganui also op- 1 %; port, Whanganui would /1 here we’ve been to every private charter and donor not have this fantastic air “We have a close asso- 2(P The growth from this side ! 1P ciation with Life Flight in Air Wanganui does not of the business allows the The Directors of Air I think the success for #P 2 fundraise for air ambu- company to keep air am- Wanganui prefer to stay Air Wanganui is that O1!3 lance services and ap- bulance rates at a reason- out of the limelight but, when we’re needed, they aircraft and we also work preciates the support able level and has made it says Dean, “They are can ring the chief pilot closely with Taranaki Dis- of the Whanganui Air possible for the company committed to the commu- or me and we’re ready ( (- Ambulance Trust, which to purchase the new plane, to depart within half an pitals these days are quite raises funds for important which will be used to pro- “The owners have been hour, especially for hos- specialized with the ser- medical equipment like vide both air ambulance very generous and sup- pital work under our con- vices they provide, so we # [1 portive of the community 2(P RIVER CITY PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 - 1 Check out what’s The Pura McGregor waka at Virginia in this week’s RCP Lake to be replaced 1$ an unsung business hero. Older readers may year.” (See our front page). It remember a painted Pura’s great great might surprise you just waka or “Tiki” as it was grandson, Chris Scanlon, how much work they do known, at Virginia Lake. briefed the trustees as a both in air ambulance It had been erected back spokesperson for Pura’s work and as a charter in 1921 to remember whanau. The Trust has business. Congratula- Pura McGregor but was also obtained approval tions to them for purchas- removed in 1987 as it from the District Coun- ing their third high-tech was rotting. Her family RX1 plane. planted a totara tree on group to instigate this This issue has a range the site in the 1990s. work and has also ap- of good new stories. The Having consulted plied to Council’s Public Virginia Lake is plan- widely with Iwi, whanau Y$ ning to replace the Pura and the local arts scene, which can assist only on McGregor waka at Vir- Virginia Lake Trust is a $1 for $1 basis. The ginia Lake with a metal proposing to place on the Trust will seek further waka beautifully de- Doug Davidson, site a full size replica of local assistance to pay signed by Cecelia Kumer- the original waka, to be for what is hoped will oa (page 3). journalist@ rivercitypress.co.nz fabricated locally in Cor- become another Virginia Probation runs an an- ten steel with the rafter Z! nual programme to ‘help ` pattern cut out. The Trust benefactors interested make women a better a brave woman (page 3). has commissioned local please contact Terry version of themselves,’ [ artist, Cecelia Kumeroa Coxon on 06 3452645 bringing in outside fa- `1 to design the work or the or 0274 450460 or at ter- cilitators and speakers in Care. Her experience Waka Maumahara sculp- [email protected]. and providing not only doesn’t make for easy ture, as Cecelia correctly The original waka good tips on employment reading. calls it. was erected on the and self-esteem but also Congratulations to Ly- Trust Chair, Terry Cox- eastern end of the lake The suggested design cosmetics, clothing and nette Phillips for her 45 on, told the RCP, “Local on Toronui Point, the shoes donated by retailers years of helping out with consulting engineers will site of a former Pa, and artist, historian and (page 5). Meals on Wheels (page 3). design the foundations apparently had been Works Supervisor for the I was impressed with the I recommend coming to and then quotations will secured by her husband Whanganui River Board. variety of activities Keith hear ex-RCP journalist, be sought from the two Gregor McGregor from It was erected by a St School has introduced Murray Crawford, on Sun- Wanganui engineering up the river and prior to combination of whanau, Y- [! companies capable of her death in 1920. The Maori friends and the riculum. The students the series on the Waimarie fabricating the sculpture rafter or kowhaiwhai Wanganui Beautifying seemed to be appreciating anniversary (page 22). and erecting it, hopefully pattern was painted on it Society members shortly the choices (page 12). - Doug Davidson in the early part of next by T W Downes, a noted after her death, yet with her prior knowledge, in 1921. She died in 1920 and is buried in Heads Road Cemetery. The Virginia Lake Trust was established in 2000, as the result of a public meeting called by Sandy Dobbin. The meeting led to a volun- teers’ working group spending two mornings a month at the lake and a Trust which has organised the spending of close to $500,000 on lake improvements since 2000. Terry says, “The Trust are also keen to acknowledge the role Pura’s husband Gregor McGregor played in the greater Whanganui com- munity and its River, particularly recognising # Chris Scanlon, on the right with his father Joe his skills as a boatman, beside the original waka his role as a purchasing signage at the memorial the Wanganui hinter- ƾ$Qƽ site. Gregor died aged 84 land. His real epitaph is and his success as a in 1942 and on his head- Q!YP formative manager of stone in the old Wan- The RCP will have the large Maori farm- ganui Cemetery it states an article on Pura ing venture on the river, “One of the pioneers of McGregor next week Morikau Station. ([- cant achievements, with his wife, notably the Beautifying Society which laid out the Lake and planted it initially. He richly deserves men- tion on proposed new Only 4 more papers until Christmas! Book your advertising now. email: rivercitypress@ xtra.co.nz Ph. 345 3666 2 - RIVER CITY PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 Lynette Phillips moving on after 45 years of Meals on Wheels Z X [ grapefruit tree. Lynnette Trinity Trust for 36 years. would step in and relieve Lynette started delivering Meals ƽ The job is easier these for her if it coincided with Phillips on Wheels when her son, day, Saturday, to help, en [- her Meals on Wheels day. David, had just started route to taking David to ed, the drivers would have The delivery could take walking – he is now 47. a soccer game. From that to pick up the empty stain- 30 to 60 minutes. So she has been a volun- time on the lady continued less steel containers from If someone doesn’t an- teer driver/deliverer for at to ask questions about how the day before and take swer the knock on the least 45 years. She says, David was going right up them back to the hospital door, Lynnette would try “It was one form of com- to when he went to univer- for washing and sterilis- [ munity service I could do sity. ing. Now they use dispos- by looking in windows or and take my children with She says that much of the able containers. They also asking neighbours. Some- me. The old people loved value of Meals on Wheels had to collect payment. times the person might seeing them.” The ‘chil- is talking with the recipi- She remembers the charge have forgotten or, as was dren’ included Sandra who ents. “You could be the “being something like the case once, had been is now 49. only person they see in a $2.97 and we would have taken to hospital. She However, Lynette has whole day,” she says. “It to give change.” Now pay- adds, “I was always con- decided to shift to the 1 [- ments are made direct. cerned about them.” North Shore to live in the ish your round as quickly Her husband, Charlie or This concern led to her house next door to her as possible.” her mother, would accom- calling the police once.