Long-time Luggate resident Cec Anderson was farewelled by family and friends last month, after a long illness.More than 300 people attended her funeral at the Upper Clutha Presbyterian Church on January 27, and almost 500 people have watched it online - testament to Cec’s generosity and popularity.“She was an amazing person and she gave a lot back to the community and her friends,” her friend Jill Taylor told the Wanaka App.Cec was described as “always giving”, and great fun. Born in Oamaru in 1953, she moved to Wanaka as a young woman. She married Rod Anderson in 1972 and they moved to Luggate, where they have lived ever since.Cec and Rod had four children, and later four grandchildren, whom Cec was very involved with.Cec loved horses and was involved in rodeo.Cec worked as a landgirl, a rousie, in the office at Luggate Timber, and as a real estate agent.She was very involved in the shearing industry and rodeo.“She loved rodeo and was involved over many years,” Cec’s friend Helen McCarthy said. “She volunteered as a timer and travelled around the country.”As part of her varied volunteering, Cec also dedicated a lot of time to the Upper Clutha community. She was on the Luggate Community Association, and was a founding member of the Alpha Club, including some time as president.She coordinated the Luggate Community Association planting initiative, which encouraged people to plant - and water - trees along Luggate Creek.Cec was also the driving force behind planting daffodils along the Luggate Creek, and she was a great flower gardener, Rod said. She loved the mountains and lakes in the area.Because of Cec’s love of pearls, people were asked to wear pearls to her funeral.“It was surprising how many did,” Rod said.Rod said he and his family have received hundreds of messages from people who remembered Cec fondly.PHOTOS: Supplied

A new Wanaka area recreation manager will join the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) team later this month.Allan Wainwright will take up the reins for the newly created role on February 22. He will be responsible for the operational management of Wanaka Recreation Centre (WRC), as well as developing council’s range of sport, recreation and wellbeing programmes across the wider Queenstown Lakes district.QLDC sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick said Allan’s previous experience in managing facilities and working with different community groups would be a real asset.“Allan is a passionate and energetic individual who has spent more than 16 years in the sports, community and recreation sector around Auckland and Bay of Plenty,” Simon said.“He’s regularly up before dawn to play squash, and loves running and mountain biking so I know several members of our team are looking forward to putting him through his paces on our local trails.”Allan’s previous roles include managing Papamoa Sports and Recreation Centre and Lynfield Youth and Leisure Centre; working for Skills Active as a team leader for the Northern region; and a period as national manager for extra-curricular childcare provider, School’s Out.Most recently, Allan managed Katikati Community Centre from where he also led the COVID-19 welfare response coordinating a range of local community groups and partners.“This is an amazing opportunity in one of the most beautiful places in the world,” Allan said. “My wife Gabriela and I both love the outdoors and are eager to explore the magical surrounds of the district.”Allan is looking forward to contributing to the rec centre and council’s district-wide sport and recreation provision.“Wanaka Recreation Centre is such a valuable asset for the local community.”I’ve already seen how it brings people together and helps them keep fit and active, and I’m looking forward to adding my own experience to the mix,” he said.PHOTO: Supplied

John Masters has been giving away cooked sausages for 15 years. He does it as an act of love.Every Saturday night John sets up his barbeque near the intersection of Ardmore and Helwick streets, sizzles up sausages between the hours of 10:00pm and 12:00am, and gives a grilled sausage to anyone who wants one.“It's kind of an odd thing to do, to set a barbeque up on the streets when most people are heading home, and most people are going to bed," John said, adding that he's found that from 10:00 to 12:00 people have time to stop for a chat.  "They are going between pubs, wandering the streets, wondering what to do next. People are attracted to the sausage sizzle, so they approach me," he said.John says he feels he’s not naturally a great communicator. “I'm not a great talker, but I do listen, and I give people time."An electrician by trade, John has been barbequing and giving away sausages in Wanaka for the past eleven years. It’s something he "feels called to do."  Before moving to Wanaka, he lived on Waiheke Island, where he got the idea for the sausage sizzles, and put it into practice for four years before moving south.A scene from the Saturday night sizzles. PHOTO: SuppliedWhile John provides the consistency - and is the one commonly called 'the sausage sizzle man' - he's supported by a dozen others with the same desire to help people.  John and his support crew normally give away about 50 sausages or hash browns a night, allowing them to talk to 50 or 60 people.  He doesn't want a big thing made out of the sausage sizzles, so John maintains a low profile, but he admits that it's not unusual for people to leave in tears because they've been able to share what they are thinking. “I think a lot of the conversation at the pub is very shallow, and then they get to talk to us and it goes a bit deeper."John is a man of faith. "I never used to believe in God but one morning in Waiheke God woke me up, revealed himself to me and encouraged me to go out into the streets and show his love to people. “I sometimes wonder why he chose me, and the only thing I can think of is that maybe he knew I would actually go and do what he asked me to do."When John and his wife travelled to Kaitaia and back in a caravan, he gave away sausages during that trip too. They stopped in the small towns along the way and set up the barbeque even though the streets were sometimes deserted.  John said that if he only had had one meaningful conversation with one person, it would be worthwhile.After three years grilling sausages in Wanaka, John started travelling to Queenstown as well, on Thursday nights. "I felt like this was needed there too."  Even though Queenstown and Wanaka don't have as many overseas visitors as previous years, John says he is giving away just as many sausages now as he was before.He has found that getting something for free is "quite an odd concept for people". People are more than happy to pay and don't understand why sausages and hash browns are being given away.John said the reason is "very simple".  "You're giving away a 50-cent sausage, but people feel like you're giving them a hundred bucks."This humble act of charity immediately removes barriers. People may be shocked at first, but they tend to trust more and start opening up.  "There are a lot of young people out at that time of night. They are out there to party and get drunk, and sometimes they end up spending two hours just talking to us."John buys the supplies himself but regularly receives financial support from local churches and other people keen to help out.He loves doing it, but admits that “it's still hard to do”.  "I'm actually not a night person. I'm a morning person. At 10:00 at night, there are times I want to just go home and flop into bed, but I don't. I go out, and at the end of it I'm so glad that I did because of one particular person I talked to where it made a difference."

The Wanaka Filipino community has rallied together to support local couple Jhufel and Rita Mangubat in their time of need.After having stereotactic radiosurgery on January 14, Jhufel suffered a brain hemorrhage and was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital. He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit, at a cost of $8000 a day.Jhufel has worked at Wanaka New World for nearly five years on an interim Visa while awaiting a Work Visa. On the day following his first surgery, Jhufel found out his Visa application was denied. He and his wife are now responsible for the full cost of all of his medical treatment. The couple’s flatmate Liezelle Ferrer is helping them face the challenge of finding the money to pay the hospital bills.(From left) Johanson, Mark, Daimler, Liezelle, and Jay“It's really bad timing,” Liezelle said.Liezelle recently helped organise a three-day sausage sizzle raising approximately $1800. She has printed and distributed posters explaining the tough situation the Mangubats find themselves in.Other friends and family also got to work trying to raise money. They have a Givealittle page, a Facebook page, and Rita's sister started a Go-Fund page in Australia. So far they have raised nearly $30,000.Combined fundraising has raised almost $30,000.Liezelle is gratified by the huge show of support they are receiving. “A lot of people are helping,” she said.She said one woman at a sausage sizzle at Wanaka New World realised she didn't have her wallet, so she returned to the customer service desk the next day with an envelope of cash.  Liezelle is also impressed by how willing people are to help spread the word. A few have told her that they have shared her post on the Upper Clutha Trading Post site, and "one guy from QLDC asked me for one of my posters so that he could put it up in the office".If you would like to help, visit the Givealittle page here.PHOTOS: Supplied

It’s not uncommon in this town to come across someone with more than one job, but running three businesses simultaneously and being contracted to provide services for a fourth sounds … exhausting.Not so for Verity Lawrence, who seems positively energised by her full and diverse work programme.Verity is qualified as an interior architect, a sailing instructor and a yoga teacher and recently established Wanaka’s first design library for professionals involved in the industry of construction and interior design.While her professional career in interior design has been her primary focus since she completed her four year qualification in 2007, she has turned her hand to many employment opportunities, from event management to visitor accommodation. She spent 10 years in Greece, where amongst other things, she established an English-Greek advertising newspaper, similar to Wanaka’s The Messenger.When a youngster loses confidence, the sailing coach has to bring the boat home. PHOTO: Jeannine TuffinBorn in 1983 in Dublin, Ireland, Verity’s first trip to New Zealand was in 2012 when she worked for a year in a Queenstown backpackers, catching up with her twin sister who lives there, and spending a lot of time in the local Bikram yoga studio.She returned to New Zealand in 2014 when she was offered work managing high-end Cavit & Co’s furniture and furnishings retail showroom in Arrowtown and spent three years there as their interior designer.Her heart, though, yearned to be back on the water. An enthusiastic sailor “pretty much my whole life”, she contacted several local sailing clubs but only the Wanaka Yacht Club (WYC) responded and, after a couple of years as part-time volunteer coach, she was offered the role of senior sailing coach.Verity says the young sailors are “amazing - so enthusiastic”. PHOTO: Dillon CharlevilleIt was this role and a desire to further her independent career in interior design which saw Verity relocate to Wanaka in 2017.Verity said she’s been a sailing instructor for over 20 years and learned to sail in a similar environment to Wanaka, where conditions on the lake can swiftly change.“Sailing in Wanaka is always challenging; it keeps me on my toes and it means I can never go into a day of teaching with a fixed plan. You have to adapt.” She said the WYC reminded her of her old club in that it was a community: everyone gave each other a hard time on the water but got on well, and students wanted to be there to learn - it wasn’t just a babysitting service.Yoga and sailing retreats combine two of Verity’s passions. PHOTO: Supplied“The kids are amazing here. They’re very enthusiastic and so polite, and their parents are so involved,” she said. Verity said the sailing environment really appeals to some kids. She remembers she didn’t enjoy school but flourished at her local sailing club, and she’s very aware of those types of kids who come to the club.“You could be that nerdy kid in school who loves the tactician’s role or you could be the jock who just loves to go fast, there’s something for everybody in sailing.”She also reckons the WYC is “100 per cent on the right track” expanding its younger membership, boys and girls equally, and encouraging more women to take up sailing.Verity (left) and business partner Penny Calder at their Design Library in Wanaka. PHOTO: Wanaka App“Working for the yacht club is amazing, and there’s so many women at the club now - it’s brilliant.” A spin off of her success as the WYC sailing instructor was the ability to combine sailing with another passion, yoga, something she’s long dreamed of achieving.  Two years ago she started her first one-day, or weekend “yoga-sailing retreats” in collaboration with the yacht club. She averages about six people on each course, usually held a couple of times a year, and says they seem to attract yoga enthusiasts who have never sailed before.Verity teaches vinyasa and yin yoga classes in Luggate and the yin classes, a slow-paced, relaxing, therapeutic style of yoga, are packed, she said.All these different roles have actually provided her with an unexpected bonus for her interior design career - a mini network of previously unconnected people. She now has clients she met through yoga classes or a sailing lesson. And her professional career has taken another leap forward with the establishment of the Architecture + Design Library in partnership with fellow local designer Penny Calder.Design centres are mostly in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and professionals in a small town like Wanaka have to depend on visiting reps or ordering samples online, which is far from ideal, she said.Establishing a design centre here was the solution. Suppliers have space to display their products, from fabric to tiles, carpet to hardware, and designers can become library members and borrow the samples via an app.Verity said Wanaka is stacked with independent interior designers, many operating from the kitchen table at home with a few boxes of samples. In contrast, their library offers choice with a growing sample library, and with eight desks, private offices and two meeting rooms, it also provides a professional base to bring clients. The business opened its doors on Frederick Street last October and is already attracting likeminded independent industry professionals. Ultimately, they would like to host a variety of professionals, including landscape designers, engineers and draughts-people.  “We want to have it so that you have all these independent people working together who can also collaborate together.”So, is Verity a workaholic, or just really focused and well organised?“I’ve tried to have just one job because I got sick of people asking me what I did and when I told them it was like when are you going to get a real job,” she said.“But I’ve decided this is how I like to do things, to have multiple interests. I could have a really stressful day designing but then I’ll go teach the kids on the water, or I’ll teach yoga, so I’ll end my day in a calm place. “It’s crazy but it works for me, and people don’t find it odd here [in Wanaka] which is really nice.”

It’s a new era for the Luggate Community Association (LCA) as its chairman of the last five years, Graeme Perkins, steps down to make way for the new chair, Dave Hawkins.At the LCA’s annual general meeting last weekend Graeme announced his retirement from the key role, saying he would still serve on the committee.“I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as chair for the past five years….There have been big issues in that time: the new Luggate Hall, the Wanaka Airport development, growth pressures, water, sewerage and roading issues, but I feel as a group we've made good headway,” he said.He said the Luggate community has established a good working relationship with the Queenstown Lakes District Council.“I feel we now have a reputation for 'getting things done'.”Graeme said he was looking forward to a break from being at the helm and he anticipated Dave Hawkins “will do a great job for Luggate”.Dave, who has lived in Luggate since 2012, has been an LCA committee member for almost as long and has been involved in a number of community projects as well as managing the bookings for the Luggate Hall. He was voted in as Graeme’s replacement, despite not actually attending the AGM.In a message to the community, Dave said he had a case of “the man flu” and didn’t want to spread it amongst the LCA members.He thanked Graeme and LCA treasurer Adrienne Taylor, who also stepped down, for their “years of sterling work” and said he would be happy if he “managed to achieve half of what they have”.Dave also thanked the “stalwarts who have put their hat in the ring for another year” but added it was encouraging to see a few new faces joining the LCA committee, “especially some of our younger residents as it is the future of our village that we are working to improve”.He said the LCA would continue to focus on the big issues, such as the new Luggate Hall and potential airport development and also chip away at the smaller goals, some of which have come to fruition last year, such as improving residents’ safety with footpaths and lowered speed limits.But he also wanted to hear from more younger residents in the community.“I really want to get younger people more involved in what’s going on here because what we’re doing is stuff that really is going to affect their lives,” he said.The LCA’s first meeting under new leadership will be at 7:30pm next Thursday (January 28) at the temporary Luggate Hall and all residents were encouraged to come along.In his message to the community Dave said: “If you have any suggestions for things you would like to see happening in Luggate let the committee know. But better still, join us and get your hands dirty and get involved.”PHOTO: Supplied

Not all teenagers were up seeing in the New Year at midnight: 17-year-old Meg McLaughlan was tucked up in bed early last night (Thursday December 31) having spent five days swimming the lengths of Lake Hāwea and much of Lake Wānaka.Meg has approximately 18kms of Lake Wānaka left to swim today, and she hopes to arrive at the Wanaka lakefront by midday.The Dunedin competitive swimmer was inspired to tackle the 80km swim after watching a friend swim Queen Charlotte Sound twice this time last year.“I thought - what can I do? Something like that? - and it sort of went from there.” Meg swims Lake Hāwea.She chose to raise money for the Otago Southland branch of the Cancer Society, as “cancer is something that affects most families”.Meg has already raised almost $5,000 via her Givealittle page.It took three days for Meg to swim the length of Lake Hāwea, including a very windy first day.Teenager Meg McLaughlan“Each morning I’ve been getting in the water around 6:30am,” Meg said. Her parents have been with her the whole time, with either her uncle or brother driving a support boat.“The past couple of days have been really good and flat, like being in a pool. Being bored has been the hardest part,” Meg said.Meg has been swimming competitively for about four years, and while she has a lot of experience in the pool she has never attempted anything like this.As of last night, Meg was feeling “pretty tired”, and when the Wanaka App spoke to her about 7:00pm she was about to head out for another hour’s swimming to shave some distance from her last day of swimming on New Year’s Day.She was hoping for good weather for her final day. “I haven’t really been looking at the weather - that’s mum’s job,” she said.PHOTOS: Supplied

Local athlete Tanya Louise has ascended the equivalent of Mt Everest - and then some - after summiting Roys Peak as many times as she could within 24 hours on Saturday (December 12).Tanya called her epic effort the ‘Peak of Possibility’, using it to raise funds for Shine, a domestic violence service provider which played a part in her own personal history.Tanya achieved eight full laps of Roy’s Peak, the approximate equivalent of 120km and just over 10,000m of vertical ascent, finishing in just under 24 hours.Tanya told the Wanaka App she climbed about 1000m more than Mt Everest, therefore “another Roys Peak on top of Everest.”“That was well beyond what I thought I could achieve,” she said.Tanya at the base of Roy’s Peak. PHOTO: Supplied“I genuinely had the best time,” she said, adding it wasn’t until the seventh lap that she started feeling the pain, and realised she “didn’t want to do another one”.Tanya had plenty of support during her challenge: Local trail legends Mal and Sally Law joined her for the first lap, and Brook van Reenen for the second and the final lap. Tanya had only the fourth lap by herself.Each lap took about 2.45 hours to complete, including 10 minutes or so in the aid station for her to eat some food.“It feels a bit like a dream,” Tanya said. “All those people that supported were so amazing - even people climbing the trail were so supportive.”Tanya has been fundraising for Shine for more than a year.“I wanted to raise money and raise awareness,” she said. “I used Shine myself when I left my husband six and a half years ago. They were an amazing support for me and my children.”Tanya said Shine is not well known as an organisation, and while not all of its services are available locally, its free national helpline (0508-744-633) is.“People tend to keep out of other people’s business,” Tanya said, adding that sometimes we do need to get in other people’s businesses and ask questions.People can call Shine if they are worried about people around them.So far Tanya has raised more than $2,000 for the organisation, $1,000 of which came from Saturday’s event and the other $1,000 through previous fundraising. She may not reach her goal of $5,000 soon, but plans to eventually: “It might take a few more mountains though.”Tanya, who has a three year running plan, said her next event will be the Northburn 100 mile race in March. It will be the final of her four South Island 100 mile races, collectively called the Southern Season Miler Challenge. If Tanya completes Northburn she will be the first woman to complete all four races.Donate to Shine here.

The Mount Aspiring College (MAC) show jumping team has won the Secondary Schools’ Showjumping Championship for Otago/Southland, which took place on Sunday (December 6).MAC’s equestrian teams have usually performed well at the event, which is held in Gore each year, but their team win came as a surprise nonetheless.Despite knowing they had ridden well individually, the red sash for the overall team winners wasn’t a given, and the whole team was “ecstatic” when the riders learned of their victory, MAC team coordinator Bernie Hewson said. The team from Blue Mountain College, in Tapanui, was placed second overall.The annual event attracted 12 teams from throughout Otago and Southland for the one day championship which comprised three rounds each for senior riders (jumping at 95cm), intermediate riders (75cm-85cm), and junior riders (65cm).Each round required slightly different approaches; Two phase (where the rider jumps one round smoothly and, if it’s a clear round with no faults, immediately jumps a second round against the clock); Instant jumpoff (the rider clears the fences in the first part of the round then carries on to jump the remaining fences against the clock); and Speed (fastest ride, sometimes taking tighter turns, or a different track to optimise their time). MAC’s team of six riders, all from years 7 to 11, and seven ponies had all scored individual placings in the three rounds of jumping, some even being placed on all three rounds, Bernie said.Team captain Carter Hewson, riding Blockbuster, scored the most points over three rounds in the 95cm class and his twin sister Montana, riding Que, was awarded second highest points in the same class. Bernie attributed the riders’ success to their solid equestrian skills.“We’ve got a really skilled bunch of kids,” she said. Montana, for example, won placings on a horse she had borrowed only 10 days before the champs.“It takes a lot of skill to ride well when you haven’t had the time to build a relationship yet with your horse,” Bernie said. The team comprised Carter Hewson (16), Montana Hewson (16), Bella Edwards (13), Aryn Henderson (13), Sophie Fountain (12) and Lily Cousins (12). The team’s red sash as overall winners will go on display at MAC.MAC physical education teacher and equestrian team manager Nikki Cameron-Small said the team’s win was a fantastic achievement, but the manner in which the students conducted themselves was outstanding. Montana was given recognition for kindness towards her horse and supporting her fellow riders.“I was very proud of the students and how they supported each other,” Nikki said. “The equestrian team has had an impressive year and we are looking forward to building on this momentum in the future.”  MAC’s equestrian team also forms part of the Hāwea-Wanaka Pony Club, which offers coaching and a fun learning environment for all abilities. PHOTO: Supplied

The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust has announced the appointment of Sophie Kelly to the role of festival director for the 2023 Festival of Colour in Wanaka.Sophie replaces Philip Tremewan, who has programmed every Festival of Colour arts festival, as well as the off-year Aspiring Conversations ideas festival, since their inception in 2005.A Nelson-based dedicated arts advocate with an extensive background in event curation and management, Sophie is the former festival director of Nelson Arts Festival, Summer Events programme and Opera in the Park, as well as festival director of Upsurge Bay of Islands Arts Festival and project manager of Te Ramaroa Light Festival. She is also the current manager of Nelson’s Adam Chamber Music Festival.“I feel incredibly privileged to be taking on the role as artistic director of the 2023 festival programme. I have an enormous amount of respect for the wonderful work Philip and his team have done in establishing and running this much loved festival, and am really looking forward to spending time in such a spectacular region and getting to know the community,” Sophie said.Philip said he was thrilled with the appointment.“I’ve loved working in Wanaka over the years. The town has a huge sense of ownership of the festival and people so much enjoy the roll-out of shows over the festival week.“And I’m delighted to be passing the torch on to Sophie. She’s such a good friend and colleague and we’ve spent many weeks together over recent years, hunting out festival shows in Edinburgh and Adelaide, and checking out arts markets in Brisbane and Auckland.”Philip will stay on to programme the 2022 Aspiring Conversations festival of ideas.Sophie will be in Wanaka throughout the 2021 Festival of Colour (April 12-18) to take part in the running of the festival.

Snow Sports NZ has announced its new CEO.Nic Cavanagh, who has worked at Snow Sports since 2012, has been selected for the top job.He replaces former CEO Jan Shearer, who resigned in October after three years in the role.Nic has previously held the role of campaign and logistics manager and is currently the high performance director, a role which he will continue to hold alongside the position of CEO.“We are really thrilled to have Nic take on the role,” Snow Sports NZ board chair Jacqueline Cheyne told the Wanaka App.“The organisation has some exciting opportunities as well as challenges coming up and we are absolutely confident in Nic’s leadership abilities, particularly in these unprecedented times”. Jacqueline is also a recent addition to Snow Sports, bringing with her 18 years of experience in financial audit, sustainability and assurance related professional services at Deloitte.Despite upcoming challenges, Nic said he is looking forward to fronting the Snow Sports NZ team.“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead Snow Sports NZ as we head towards the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said. “I feel very privileged to be working with such dedicated staff who are totally committed to ensuring our New Zealand athletes take on the rest of the world and win.”While COVID-19 restrictions had thrown up some significant challenges around qualifying for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, Nic said he was confident Snowsports has “the plans and strategies in place to ensure our team is safe and are able perform to their potential”.Snow Sports NZ is the national sporting organisation representing the interests of adaptive snow sports, alpine ski racing, cross country skiing, freeskiing and snowboarding. Its purpose is to lead the growth and success of competitive snow sports in New Zealand. PHOTO: Snow Sports

A local man has been honoured for dedicating a quarter of a century to volunteer work as a firefighter.Matt Anderson has received a Gold Star medal from the United Fire Brigades Association (UFBA) for 25 years of service to the Luggate Fire Brigade at the Annual Service Volunteer Fire Brigade Awards. Matt didn't have dreams of being a fireman, he said, but his father asked him to go along to a practice one night to make up numbers and he was quickly hooked. "I don't think I ever stopped going,” Matt said.Nor has he ever missed a practice or training session. Since starting in 1995, he has had 100 per cent attendance. Matt credits this with an understanding family and understanding employers.  "I've had different jobs, but I've always been in the fire brigade before I had a job."Matt with his family, after receiving the award PHOTO: SuppliedMatt admits to being "pretty nervous" on the awards night at the Lake Wanaka Centre a few weeks ago, but that was because he knew that he'd have to get up and do a speech, and that's "certainly out of my comfort zone".  The award itself hasn't changed much for Matt. It did give him cause to look around at the younger members of the team and realise: "Crikey! There are people in our brigade who weren't born when I started."Matt, a born-and-bred Luggate resident, joined the brigade when he was 16-years-old. Being part of the team offers "good camaraderie" and an opportunity to meet people whom he normally wouldn't have met.  While the fire brigade was formed to extinguish and control fires, members are also called to motor vehicle accidents, and often assist on medical calls. Matt doesn’t see any of this as a chore. "It's not a duty looking out for other people. I look after them. They look after me. It's how the world works."He has never been asked to rescue a kitten from a tree, but Matt did attend a call where a puppy had locked itself inside a car by jumping on the door locks. After assessing the situation and realising the dog was not in stress or danger, the brigade called the Automobile Association.Matt has just been made deputy chief of the brigade, an honour and title he felt a "little reserved" about getting because his dad, Rod Anderson, is the fire chief.  "When we go out in the firetruck, we do have a pretty good understanding of each other. We know how to communicate without actually talking. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. I think it's a very good thing."Matt lives in Luggate with his wife, Lucille, and two children, Will and Dot.

The woman who set up St John Outreach Therapy Pets in Wanaka is one of 69 people to be named in the 2020 Order of St John Honour List.Janine Taylor said she was “really surprised” to see her name on the list, but was happy to accept the award if it helped raise the profile of the therapy pets programme.Outreach Therapy Pets is a community service programme delivered by St John in which volunteers share their animal companions with those who live in rest homes, hospitals, rehabilitation units, healthcare facilities and schools throughout New Zealand, helping enhance those people’s lives.“It’s a really rewarding thing just to share our dogs around the place,” Janine said. “They have so much love to give people.”Janine first came across the programme when she was on the SPCA committee, organising the Mutley Dog Show (“a kind of ‘anti-Crufts’ dog show”).She became the team leader for the therapy pets programme when she lived in Kerikeri, a role she held for seven years, and said she was “horrified” to find the programme wasn’t established here when she moved to Wanaka.It took about a year for Janine to go through the bureaucratic process to set up the programme in Wanaka, and it was finally ready to go in 2015.“We go into the local primary schools and children practice reading to the dogs,” she said. “The dogs thrive on the attention they get. They can lie next to a child who is patting them while they read.”The programme also runs in the local library, and some members go to rest homes and visit the elderly with their dogs. The group is also getting involved with Alzheimers and Age Concern, Janine said.“Dogs are wonderful icebreakers. Particularly with the elderly, they are amazing... When we take the dogs along they come out of their shells, and start reminiscing about the dogs they used to own.”There are now 23 people - and 23 dogs - involved in the programme in Wanaka.Dogs are assessed to take part, and they have to be gentle, calm, and affectionate, Janine said.“It’s all about the dog’s personality, how they respond to their owner, and people. We’ve had dogs as small as a chihuahua, right up to a labradoodle.”Janine is now working almost full-time as an administrator for St John in Wanaka. She also volunteers as the therapy pets team leader but is not currently visiting with dogs, as her dog Sharna - who was a therapy pet - has now resigned, and her second dog Bonzo is “a completely bonkers labradoodle” who is too boisterous to be a therapy pet.Janine is now a 'Member of St John'. She attended an Investiture Ceremony at the ‘Transitional Cathedral’ in Christchurch, where governor-general Dame Patsy Reddy awarded her with her medal. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Prolific, award-winning Wanaka writer Liz Breslin has had a stellar month: picking up prizes from both the International Writers' Workshop and the Queenstown Writers’ Festival.Two weeks ago, November 5-8, Liz won the adult category of the inaugural Queenstown Writers’ Festival Short Story Competition.Dr Maxine Alterio whittled down the entries and chose Liz’s story, The Very Bones, as the winner. "The majority of stories entered in this category were of a high quality, making the task of selecting a short list very difficult,” Maxine said. Liz has also been announced as the 2020 winner of the Kathleen Grattan Prize for a Sequence of Poems, at the annual prize giving ceremony of the International Writers' Workshop.Liz won the $1,000 prize for her sequence of poems, entitled: "In bed with the feminists.” The competition was judged by 2019 winner Siobhan Harvey, who read two of the poems from Liz’s sequence at the award ceremony. “I was so surprised and delighted to get the call to say I'm this year's winner. I worked on these poems during a period on my own in lockdown, so it's really affirming to see them recognised outside my head and my house,” Liz said.Siobhan commended Liz’s winning entry... "for its unapologetic voice, clear vision and assured awareness"."The her-storical narrative and creativity make this a compelling lyrical analysis of feminism both in the contemporary age and in the past," she said.Liz, who sets off this week with fellow wordsmiths Laura Williamson and Annabel Wilson on a poetic tour of the Rail Trail, is also currently working on a play for the Festival of Colour.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appointed a new Upper Clutha liaison manager to support the work of the Wanaka Community Board.Jessica Garrett joins the QLDC on Monday December 7 and will be based in the Wanaka office in Ardmore Street. She replaces Robyn Steel, who originally took up the position in early March 2020 and resigned recently.Jessica has a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in International Studies (Asian Studies), and has previously worked in local government and higher education.Having been working in Canterbury for the past two years, Jessica brings with her experience in governance, stakeholder engagement, and business management, the QLDC said.

A range of academic, cultural and service awards were granted at the Mount Aspiring College’s (MAC) annual senior prize giving ceremony last Wednesday night (November 4) before a packed audience in the college’s gymnasium.The four premier awards were awarded to Siena Shotwell (dux), Michael Gealogo (proxime accessit and best all round boy) and Emily Heath (best all round girl).Siena has attained academic excellence in art design, art painting, english and drama. Next year Siena will be studying law and arts at the University of Canterbury.Michael has attained academic excellence of the highest order in calculus, physics, economics and physical education. MAC said in a statement he has also excelled in his various leadership roles at the school. Next year Michael will be studying engineering at the University of Canterbury.Having achieved a 2020 Class Act award, a World Vision Scholarship and a Duke of EdinburghGold award, Emily has also gained numerous titles in her sport, swimming, and is an active volunteer. She will be studying veterinary science at Massey University.Michael Gealogo, who was also named proxime accessit, with dux Siena Shotwell.Scholarships were awarded to Helene Price and Hannah Craig (leadership); Aimee McArthur (medical); Maggie Miller (hospitality); Olive Pujol, Jack Findlay, Oliver Clements, Meg Breen, Jono Watson, Ryan Schmack, Lukas Schafer, Kiera Gray, Rata Horan, Czaliya Viloria and Ben McNabb (leadership and role-model); Zelda Boyd (engineering); Luca Georgalli, Jessie McKenzie and Owen Lea (music); Siena Shotwell (law); Jaydon Jordi (technology); Quinn Curtis (design); and Katey Donovan (vocational). The prize giving ceremony also celebrated many students’ personal achievements in winning national awards. They are Holly Gibson, Laura Neale, Kiera Gray, Isobel Smith, Cecilia Gardner, Olly Thomas, Siena Shotwell, Luca Georgalli, Jaimee Vink and Ollie Blyth (showquest 2020 national winners); Ollie Blyth (Young Shakespeare national selection); Benjamin Silipo (swimming); Scarlett Norman, Abby Fisher and Georgie Bruce (athletics); Ines Stephani (tennis); Hannah Prosser, Zach Smith, Georgia Prosser, Leo Staufenberg, Jack Findlay, Campbell Wright and Laurie Watson (triathlon).A number of students represented New Zealand in sport and other endeavours this year. Premiere sports awards went to Lukas Schafer (fairplay); Abby Fisher (girls sports); and Campbell Wright (boys sports and international achievement in cross country skiing and biathlon).Cultural awards went to Tawhiri Rupapera (mana pounamu) Jessie McKenzie (te korowai o te maatauranga), Lillian Eastwood (music), Ruby Burke (art), Siena Shotwell (drama), Isobel Smith (speech), and Ollie Blyth (writing).Year 11-13 students also received individual academic awards for highest achievement and high achievement in the year levels. PHOTOS: Supplied

Outgoing Rams coach Paul Glynn says five years is enough: “I’ve put my heart and soul into it. It’s time to give the boys a different voice.” Paul began coaching the Upper Clutha premier rugby team, The Rams, in 2016. Under his tenure the club won its first premiership in 39 years and reached the semi finals on three other occasions.On the outside Paul is a ‘Southern man’, a tough, no-nonsense, loose forward from Southland. But losing his father when he was a teenager made him realise the importance of community, and how important it is for young people to have a place they belong.“I lost my father when I was 18. When that happens you look for support networks and rugby provided that for me,” Paul said. “I was fortunate enough to be involved in several good rugby clubs, clubs with good strong cultures and I had good coaches around me.”A promising player, Paul was told he’d never play rugby again when he was 25-years-old. “I tore all the ligaments in my knee. I was determined to play again but in the meantime I started coaching and learnt a lot from established coaches.”Thanks to his dogged determination, Paul did get back on the paddock, and after a move to Wanaka in 2008 he played for The Rams. He says the club had an outstanding team but it just didn’t feel right. “The culture just wasn’t there and I didn’t find it enjoyable,” Paul said.“I remember thinking then that I’m going to come back to this team and coach.” Paul returned to Wanaka and took over the head coaching role in 2016. “I came back in 2016 and found a great bunch of young guys, all top mates and they were great guys and a strong group.” Paul says he went ‘hard’ on attitude and culture. “Culture is the number one thing. The key is basic human nature, that sense of belonging to something,” Paul said.The team responded and the boys went to work over the 2017/18 summer and when it came to the 2018 rugby season the boys were fit, but better than that, they were “tight”, Paul said.He said it was a focus on a healthy club culture which laid the groundwork for the 2018 championship victory.“What we achieved in 2018 was absolutely special. The average age of that team was 23 and it was a special year. Those guys will hold those memories for the rest of their lives.”Paul said things worked because everyone was on the same page. “The culture went beyond the team. When we went into the 2018 grand final the physios [Central Lakes Physio] really worked hard to ensure the boys were as fit as they could be. I can’t say enough about Vicky, Lauren, and Anna from Central Lakes Physio & Pilates. They were outstanding and absolutely professional.”The side went on to lose in the semi finals in 2019 and 2020, both times to Arrowtown. “Arrowtown is a club I admire,” Paul said. “They have a great attitude and look after their players. They’ve become a bit of a bogie team for us.“In 2019 we were looking good, we won the premiership but lost in the semi finals. There was plenty of disruption that year with the new club rooms being built and having to play away a lot. When you’re dealing with young guys it doesn’t take much to put them off key, but that was just the way the cookie crumbled.“This year pre-COVID we had the strongest team I’d ever seen at the club, but COVID interrupted preparations and when we got back on the paddock a third of the guys weren’t available. We still made the semis.”Paul says player numbers are growing and many players are missing out on game time. He says it may be time for a new rugby club to emerge. “There is a field at Hāwea and a community centre. A club could start there and build into it. The other option is Upper Clutha Rugby Club [could] operate two teams but it is very difficult to run two premier teams out of the one club,” he said.The club has some very experienced coaches who may be interested in the role of head coach at the club, Paul said. “There are people wanting to be involved and that is what club rugby is about.”The future of the club looks bright and for the club to go forward they just have to look after the players, he said. “As for me, I’m going fishing.”Paul would like to thank the following people: Jason Richan, Robert Nolan, Rob Boller, Hamish Lamb, Paul Cosgrove, Katrina Bristow, Richard Pledger, Gary Reid, Blair Kenedy, and Jai Baxter.Paul's team of the last five years:Blair KennedyMichael DonaldFergus SmithBrendon MurdochGeorge ReedHamish CooperFraser DowlingSam CalderWillie ShortJason RichanJimmy DownsAdam FaulksTyler FordGeorge GilchristBen PurvisScott CunninghamMatthew TempletonTom HudsonJack GilchristJai BaxterOliver StirlingBrodie FlannerySomln PagePHOTOS: Wanaka App

Year 12 Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Ollie Blyth has been selected for the experience of a lifetime: representing New Zealand in the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) Young Shakespeare Company in England in 2021. Ollie and the 23 other Kiwi members will travel to London and have 12 rehearsals with a Shakespeare’s Globe director in scenes from one of Shakespeare’s plays, which they will perform for the public on the Globe stage. During their time in London, members will also take part in workshops, talks, have Q&A sessions with Globe actors and directors, have behind the scenes tours of London theatres. Emily McRae, Ollie’s drama teacher and head of drama at MAC, said she was incredibly proud of Ollie’s prestigious and highly competitive selection. “As an educator there is nothing better than seeing your students excel in their work beyond the classroom,” Emily said. “This is a stunning achievement and thoroughly deserved after an incredible amount of focused hard work.”Ollie (who uses the gender pronouns they/them/theirs) said they were stunned by the news of their selection. “The group of people I'm going with to London are incredibly skilled performers, and great friends. The idea of spending three weeks with them in London, working with high level directors and tutors, and putting on a show in the Globe Theatre still feels unreal.”Ollie entered the regional University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival (as both a student actor and director), where they won Best Student Directed Scene and were selected for the competitive SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production 2020 alongside young actors from all over New Zealand. “This was a nine day long intensive programme in Dunedin late last month with 48 other young performers which culminated in two public performances,” they said. Following the programme, 24 students were selected to represent the country in London.While there is a chance that COVID-19 will affect the feasibility of the trip, Ollie is keeping an “optimistic outlook”.“If COVID eases its grip by July, the trip to London is going to be an incredible next step in my journey as a performer.”Ollie has always loved the performing arts and hopes to work in the industry when they leave school. Since moving to Wanaka in 2018 Ollie has been a part of a variety of productions, including Box Theatre productions (the MAC drama department senior theatre company) and school musicals. In 2019 they were also one in a group of MAC students who acted in the devised piece Permission to Speak with Goya Theatre Company as part of the Festival of Colour. “Art has an immense power when it comes to reflecting and influencing society. It's a very life giving experience to be a part of a performance process, and the life skills I've learned as a result have been highly beneficial,” Ollie said. Ollie thanked MAC for its support.“I'm deeply grateful to the school – particularly the drama department – for its support of me throughout this process, as well as the wider community. I wouldn't have been offered this position if I had not been encouraged and supported by my teachers and wider whānau.” PHOTO: Memory of Light Photography

An Auckland deputy principal of a 2,000 student high school has been appointed principal of Mount Aspiring College (MAC).The MAC Board of Trustees (BOT) said they were “delighted” with Nicola Jacobsen’s appointment.Limited statutory manager Madeleine Hawkesby said Nicola, who will begin at MAC at the start of next year, is an ideal fit for the school. “As a leader of teaching and learning, Nicola has a focus on personal excellence. Her ability to collaborate, problem solve and critically analyse will be a significant asset to the college,” she said.“A key strength of Nicola’s was clear and effective communication and I am confident that she is the right person to lead Mount Aspiring College as we move forward together.”Nicola, who is originally from Blenheim, has been at Auckland’s Pakuranga College for the past six years. “I believe that education is for everyone; and to lead a school which serves the whole community is a great opportunity,” Nicola said.The new principal understands the importance of strong community connections and will bring a fresh perspective to the school, BOT chair Ian Hall said. PHOTO: MAC“I’m looking forward to getting to know the community. The staff - who are a valuable asset of the college - the students; who we serve - and the wider school whanau. This partnership is crucial for our youth to achieve their personal best and become the leaders of the future.” she said.Before her appointment to Pakuranga College, Nicola held senior positions at Botany Downs Secondary College. She is a graduate of the University of Canterbury and the Christchurch College of Education and completed a Master’s degree from the University of Auckland in 2019.The recruitment process was led by Madeleine in consultation with the BOT. Madeleine was commissioned by the BOT in early June to complete an analysis of issues at the school, following a critical Education Review Office review last year, the resignation of two members of the board in April as well as long term principal Wayne Bosley’s resignation in May.She identified a raft of issues in a scoping report (released in July), which included an immediate need for strategic and focused leadership.BOT chair Ian Hall said Nicola’s appointment is a positive step for MAC. “Nicola comes to the college with an impressive track record of effective educational leadership and strong academic credentials. The board was impressed by Nicola's presentation to us and by her vision of a high-performing college that caters for the needs of all students,” he said.“Nicola will bring a fresh perspective and she well understands the importance of strong community connections.”Nicola will meet with MAC senior leadership later this term, and will be welcomed officially to the school with a pōwhiri at the start of Term 1, 2021.