Blueskin Bay FM 88.2

22 June 2010

Orokonui Ecosanctuary (column)

By Sue Hensley

Last month's talks and workshops proved popular and others planned for
July include a fern workshop, a winter walk off the beaten track and
fun family activities such as frog frolics and native nibbles.

An amazing array of fungi were collected by the Botanical Society
group for the workshop with David Orlovich. Among them an edible
bolete, bright red and yellow fungi and one that smelt like almond
icing (a good clue as to its deadly intent!).

The moss workshop with Maia Mistral also threw up some surprises.
Under the microscope we saw a sporophyte (the little stalk that sticks
up from a moss patch) open its mouth (operculum), bare its teeth
(peristome) and release its spores.

Many native trees have not fruited well this year and as a result the
hungry silvereyes, bellbirds and tui have been entertaining us with
their antics at the sugar water feeder. Even Mrs Mihiwaka (the kaka
which nested on the hill) has returned after an absence of seven months to
tuck into the supplementary food.

Six robins have been seen back in their Silverpeaks home with one at
Orokonui amongst the pines on the hill at the northern end. Let's hope
it stays there.

The rats are still with us in selected areas and Elton our
conservation manager is concocting various and devious plans to deal
with them, including feeding outside rats with a dye just to check
we're not getting rats in through some unknown breach.

The Rotary Club of Dunedin, although formally having handed over the valley
track, is still generously supporting work there and recently another
helicopter drop of gravel was undertaken in order to complete
surfacing of the track.

The Visitor Centre and Café are open every day 9.30am - 4.30pm. The Centre is
free to explore as is the Pa Harakeke walk (Flax Plantation) and the
9km perimeter track. Guided and unguided walks are available. We have a
Facebook page as well as a website www.orokonui.org.nz to keep you up
to date.

From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

New Principal for Waitati School.

By Tania Turei

The Waitati School Board is delighted to announce the appointment of a
wonderful new principal, Heidi Hayward, who will join us at the start
of Term 3.

We are looking forward to working with Heidi, and we hope you take the
opportunity to introduce yourselves to her and welcome her to our
school and our community.

Heidi really impressed us all and we know that she will impress you,
too. She introduces herself here:

Kia ora. I come from a teaching background. Both my parents were
teachers, my husband, sister and brother-in-law are also teachers. I
have three lovely children, currently involved in three tiers of
education (pre-school, primary and secondary school) so I feel like I
have a good grasp on education – where we've come from, and where we
are heading.

I began teaching in 1999 and have enjoyed many years at Macandrew
Intermediate School, initially as a scale A teacher, followed by six
years as part of the senior management team. I've done a little post
graduate study during this time, also.

It is my belief that the goal of education is to help students realise
they can think, learn, act and hold the potential to change things.
Teaching students to be responsible and respectful (of themselves and
towards others) is at the core of education – learning of content is
secondary to this.

Of utmost importance is, I believe, that schooling is just one
component of life-long learning. Family life, playing sports,
involvement in cultural activities and good health are all necessary
to complement formal education and grow a well rounded individual.

In this vein I also have many interests outside school. I am heavily
involved in the arts, love gardening (although I am no good it at),
cooking (which I am quite good at) and skiing (which I was once good
at, before I developed middle age fear!).

I look forward to meeting you all in the very near future.

http://heidihayward.wikispaces.com/

LES BELLES VILLAINES (column)

by Kate Grace

Les Belles Villaines is a small group of enthusiasts interested in
traditional dance and music from France and its close
European neighbours. We started a regular (fortnightly) class in
Waitati at the start of this year which will resume on Friday 6
August, from 6pm at the Waitati Hall.

Les Belles Villaines is organising a public dance to celebrate Bastille Day, the
French national day. 'Le Petit Bal' is not a presentation by a
performance group, it is an opportunity for everybody to have a go at
French dancing in a casual setting, with music by Les Charibois and
guests.

Le Petit Bal will be held at the Baptist Hall 270 North Road
in North East Valley on Wednesday 14 July, at 7:30pm. Tickets $10 on
sale at Taste Nature, 131 High St or by contacting Kate 473 6488 or
kategrace@clear.net.nz

Early deadline for September Blueskin News

by the editors

Items for the September issue of Blueskin News will need to be in by
18 August, rather than our usual deadline of the 22nd of the month.

The September issue will come out a few days early, at the end of
August. This will allow our printer, Graeme Youngman of North East
Otago Computing in Hampden, to take a well-earned overseas holiday.

Five Warrington School Pupils in Collier A Hockey Team.

By Polly Higham

One third of this year's Otago Collier A hockey team is made up of
Warrington School Year 6, 7 and 8 pupils. Congratulations to Mira
Neuman, Natasha Abbott, Izzy Locker, Devon Familton and Ruby Randall.
This is a remarkable achievement for a school of 65 pupils.

The Collier A team is the intermediate team and includes children from
Balclutha to Oamaru. They worked hard, having a fitness session,
training session and game in the High School grade competition every
week. They will be playing in local competitions in Otago and
Southland leading up to the National competition in Timaru in October.
The girls will be fundraising for the costs associated with these
trips. Look out for the advertisements in this month's Blueskin News;
a fantastic and useful metal recycling scheme and bags of pine cones
to keep you warm this winter!

Warrington has represented hockey in Otago teams for many years,
having players in the Girls' Developmentand Collier B teams, and now
Collier A team this year. One third of Warrington pupils play hockey
and we have players in four competitions this year. Five intermediate
players have combined with East Otago High School in the Friday night
competition, 16 Year 4-6 players play for the Warrington Warriors and
Warringon Dolphin teams in the Wednesday Primary competition and six
Year 1-3 players play for the Mighty Ducks in the Saturday mini-sticks
competition.

We are very proud of all our players and thank all our parents for
their support.

21 June 2010

News - Big Fat Solstice Feast a Success

'Forest creatures' emerged from their lairs on Saturday June 19 to
celebrate the winter solstice. Organised by Lucy Jack of the Waitati
Edible Gardners, revellers donned their favourite forest costumes, and
headed to the Waitati Hall to eat, drink and be exceedingly merry at
the big fat solstice feast.
Thanks to the number of participants and the generosity of the bands -
Skybus and [still to come] for refusing to accept payment - the WEGies
coffers swelled satisfactorily.
Caught in their sartorial splendour were Jackie Fanning (left) and
Lucy Jack; Derek Onley (left) and Rosemary Penwarden, and singer Tahu
[surname coming] who must surely have won an award for the most
forestly creature.
Plans are afoot, reports Lucy, for a return match next year.
--
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Ā ā Ē ē Ī ī Ō ō Ū ū
From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

Fwd: For the July Blueskin News Please from Rosemary Penwarden

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rosemary Penwarden <rose.p@ihug.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:40:01 +1200
Subject: For the July Blueskin News Please from Rosemary Penwarden
To: editors@blueskin.co.nz

Hi editors,

Article attached for next month's edition.

Many thanks

Rosemary Penwarden

C/- Counter Mail

Blueskin Bay Store

Waitati

Otago 9069

03 4822831

rose.p@ihug.co.nz

--
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Ā ā Ē ē Ī ī Ō ō Ū ū
From blueskin.co.nz and 'Blueskin News' published by Blueskin Media:
voluntary/non-profit community publishers in Blueskin Bay (Seacliff,
Warrington, Evansdale, Waitati, Doctors Point), Dunedin, New Zealand.
All material sent to or published by us is "copyleft" in the public
domain and may be freely shared, archived, re-edited and republished.
If you want to credit the source it's "blueskin.co.nz".

20 June 2010

Blueskin resident opens drive-through coffee shop

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Daniel Duxfield <danielduxfield@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:58:31 +1200
Subject: Blueskin resident opens new drive through coffee shop.
To: editors@blueskin.co.nz

Blueskin Media wrote:
> Hmmm, Daniel, I like what you are doing and I am happy to publish it,
> but the "he said" style of press release always looks a bit fake. Why
> don't you rewrite it in the first person and be the one saying all
> that stuff? It will seem more open and friendly and be more suited to
> our style.
>
> Peter Dowden
> president/co-editor
> Blueskin Media
>
> On 09/06/2010, Daniel Duxfield <danielduxfield@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have written this article about my new shop.
>> I am happy if you want to edit it.
>> Let me know if you want to meet me and take a photo or two, or I could
>> send you some photos.
>>
>> Yours,
>> Daniel Duxfield
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Hi Peter,

I've re-written the press release.
Hope it better suits your publication.

Cheers
Daniel.

Fwd: Library article for Bluesin News

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mike Collett <mcollett@dcc.govt.nz>
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:37:53 +1200
Subject: Library article for Bluesin News
To: "editors@blueskin.co.nz" <editors@blueskin.co.nz>
Cc: Louise Booth <lsherrif@dcc.govt.nz>, "Alasdair Morrison (Community
Board)" <info@calmarine.co.nz>

Hi Lynnaire,
Replaces the previous version I sent earlier today. This one in A5
format which I understand you need.
Regards,
Mike Collett
Head of Customer Services
Dunedin Public Libraries/Ka Kete Wanaka o Otepoti
Dunedin City Council

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Bird survey 3 of 3. Actually this has nothing to do with the survey, just from the same person

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mike & Fay <mikeandvalfay@paradise.net.nz>
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:11:37 +1200
Subject: woops
To: editors@blueskin.co.nz

My apology. I put it down to advancing years, a couple of bottles of
home brew and doing things in too much of a hurry. This is what you
should have received.