The Juniors enjoyed a nice sunny day at their Athletics in Palmerston
late in November. It's great to see how well our children did
competing in all the events. Well done to Elsa and Lola who
represented the school at the Otago Athletic Championships. It has
also been great seeing so many students involved in summer sports
Rippa Rugby, Tball, Soccer and Surf Group.
OROKONUI ECOSANCTUARY
by Sue Hensley
The eight kiwi released in November are exploring their new home and it seems that one of the favoured feeding grounds is the grassy areas near the main tracks at the top of the Ecosanctuary. I guess that shouldn't be surprising since under the mat of long wet grass is soft moist earth and juicy grubs. What was surprising for me was how big the probe holes are that kiwi make when they push their beak right in up to their head to reach their prey. It has also been really exciting to discover kiwi poo on the tracks and the guides have been down on their hands and knees to learn and identify its distinctive smell!
The upgrade of the top to bottom Valley Track is almost complete thanks to another helicopter drop of gravel courtesy of the Rotary Club of Dunedin. It has been a massive job and track ranger Craig Leach and many many volunteers over the last year have put in untold hours of heavy work. There have also been extensive changes to the route due to water problems on the old track. The new sections show off some beautiful old trees, including one part where John Barkla of the Botanical Society found a rare perching orchid (Drymoanthus flavus).
The Visitor Centre designed by Tim Heath of Purakaunui has recently won a prestigous architectural award. I think the birds too have given it the seal of approval with the pond award from the paradise ducks, the best nest place from the swallows and best fast food outlet (the exterior wooden blinds that house lots of spiders and insects!) from the fantails and bellbirds. It is also a great building to work in and not many people have such an amazing view from their workplace. Congratulations to Tim.
Christmas is nearly upon us and gifts and guided tour vouchers etc are available from the Visitor Centre shop. Visitor Centre and café are open every day 9.30-4.30. Orokonui facebook and www.orokonui.org.nz will keep you up to date with events.
A big thank you to those local volunteers who have dedicated many hours to the Ecosanctuary project. Thank you also to those who support Orokonui through memberships, visiting, attending events and such like. Places like Orokonui survive on your generosity. Merry Christmas to all and wherever you go, safe travelling.
In the next few weeks we will be making the most of our swimming pool
and fun activity days including class trips to town, camping in the
school playground and cooking cockles on the beach.
Many thanks to all those in the community who have helped make our
year at Warrington school so fantastic!
Tracy Kyle (1965 – 2010)
Tracy was a wonderful parent to Nick and Josie, and loved partner to Dennis. An involved member of the local community, she was a loyal friend and provided special 'counsel' - wise and intuitive, non-judgmental and very funny - she made us laugh lots!
Tracy's impish, perky grin and fierce drive said it all. It was Tracy who began calling our new Waitati Edible Gardening group 'the Weggies' – and suggested a particularly uncomfortable membership greeting as well! Vital and vibrant, full of life and laughter, intelligent and wise, kind, caring and compassionate, Tracy loved life and lived it to the full.
Tracy attended Warrington Taekwando with Nick and Josie. She earned the respect of Senior Black Belts through her application and dedication, and of the juniors for her compassionate yet firm and precise pedagogy, always with a smile or laugh. Naturally, she earned her black belt, and earned the respect of New Zealand's Taekwando fraternity in the process.
She had a natural grace and style no matter the situation, whether socialising, or at work, and especially in gumboots on the farm. Tracy's cancer was virulent and unrelenting. In the ten months between diagnosis and her death she continued to go into work and shared the management of their home building project. She came to Weggie markets, attended friends' parties and threw her own big birthday party with flair.
Tracy loved her family so much. Her pride in her children was clear for all to see, and when the Kyle's hosted an Edible Garden Tour Tracy couldn't help but entertain visitors with stories of Dennis' garden exploits, all the while claiming that her job was only to survey it all, glass of chardonnay in hand.
Of course she was angry that she was dying, and angry she wouldn't be there to care for and support her family, to share in their successes and their failures, or to see the new house completed. But she was also astonishingly upbeat with those around her, even in her last days, such as advising a friend on how to deal with a dickey heart, while all the while battling herself. Tracy thought of others first.
As a successful businesswoman, with her business partner, she built a flourishing nursing business. She loved her work and the opportunities it gave her to use all her wonderful qualities and to make people's lives a bit better, a bit brighter. A Southland girl, who loved fishing, worked in town and lived in Blueskin Bay, Tracy had great friends around the country. Her nursing friends have many, many stories about Tracy during her nursing training.
Dennis talks about Tracy's passion for catching salmon off the treacherous 'Pudding Stone' on the peninsula, and of the privilege of nursing his partner and best friend. We all carry great memories of her in our lives, and she is strong in our thoughts.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with Dennis, Nick and Josie.
It's hard to believe Christmas is nearly upon us and we are getting ready to wind up for the year!
We have been really enjoying the lovely weather and getting out and about. We've had two visits to the Warrington School Swimming Pool recently and really enjoyed catching up with our old Playcentre friends during their Playtime.
We have just learned that we are to receive $1500 from a COGS lottery grant to go towards power/gas/water. Fantastic!
We are continuing planning our 'Wild Things' area. Things are moving along with a load of dirt being donated and distributed (many thanks to all for their muscle power especially Tim for giving up his Saturday morning to play mud-pies!). Some grasses and plants have also started to arrive (thank you Gilbert, Lyne, Neville and Coleen). It's exciting to see things starting to take shape but please remember us when clearing out your garden, we are still after a variety of trees, shrubs, plants, rocks, logs etc. Call Lisa if you can help (482 2511).
Coming up … we will be travelling to the Otago Museum to take part in a Japanese Culture Expo. We can't wait to learn more about Japan as Miwa and Ayano have been teaching us little pieces throughout the year. Arigato!
Our Christmas party this year will be on board the Seasider train! We are all looking forward to making our way from Warrington to Palmerston for lunch, and then returning. It will be such an adventure, as we often run out to wave at the passing trains when we are at Playcentre, to see if we can get them to 'toot!'
Thank you to everyone who has been involved with us this year, your support and enthusiasm has inspired and enriched our children in so many ways.
If you are interested in joining us next year we are open Wednesdays and Fridays 9:15am to 12:15pm, phone the Playcentre 027 227 7329 or Mary-Jane 482 1962.
We wish you all a very merry Christmas and safe and happy holidays. See you in 2011!
By the editors
An extra Coast Road Market at Seacliff will be held the weekend before Christmas so we can all buy our gifts from local producers.
Always held on the first Sunday of each month, the additional market will be held on Sunday 19 December from 11am to 2pm.
Coast Road Market is held in the grounds of Coast Road Retreat, alongside the Art Shed, at 728 Coast Road, Seacliff.
Experience a unique blend of food, coffee, art, craft, clothes, local produce, plants, preserves, bric a brac, books, toys and more!!
It's a free market so if you would like to have a stall, come along before 11am to set up. Or you can phone first on 465 7990 with any
queries.
