Photo: Julie Walls

L to R: Laura Shefford-Te Anau Flower Show Committe member, Ron Abernethy-Judge of Mosgiel and Betty Dodds of Te Anau, a very dedicated lady to daffodils.

Photo: Julie Walls

Noelene Campbell of Te Anau, Best arrangement in the Novice Section, themed “Mirror Images”

Te Anau Flower show second biggest show in New Zealand

By Julie Walls

     This year Te Anau Spring Flower Show was the biggest and brightest yet, with call to fame to being the second biggest show next to the South Island National Daffodil Show and bigger than the North Island National Daffodil Show. There were some very proud locals and organizers to reach this achievement. The show had 1230 entries, 2198 blooms and a total of 115 competitors, who came from as far away as Southbridge, Waihola, Winton, Balclutha and Dunedin. Judge Ron Abernethy of 15 years at Te Anau Flower Shows said “Generally blooms wren of a good standard”.
:”Blooms on display were on a par with standard in Christchurch in September at the South Island National Daffodil Society of NZ Show”. Malcolm Wheeler, ex Te Anau, who exhibits under Malroze won the Champion bloom in the North Island Daffodil Show and runner-up in the South Island National Daffodil Show in Christchurch.
The project with potted daffodils was very successful and daffodils will be distributed in pots to the community and schools next year.
Ron Abernethy spoke very highly of the Te Anau committee’s organisation of the South Island National Daffodil Show held in Te Anau last year. Because of the support from local organizations in Te Anau a profit was made and a donation had been made to the organizing committee for the World Convention to be held in Dunedin in 2012. The convention is held only every four years.
Betty Dodds was presented with a citation and certificate by Rozanne Burnby ex Te Anau who is a National Daffodil Society of New Zealand Inc Committee member. The Certificate of Recognition was for her promotion of daffodils in the community.
Betty during the 1980’s, the heyday of flower shows in the south, Betty Dodds was a farmers wife and mother of young children living on the outskirts of Gore. She also found time to pursue other interests in the form of floral art and daffodils. A shift to Te Anau in 1967 made attending shows very difficult but Betty’s interest in daffodils hadn’t waned and all her best bulbs were moved to the new farm. It was about this time that Betty really began to spread the daffodil love. Numerous daffodil collections have begun through Betty’s generosity countless buckets of daffodils have been staged for people who wish to support the local show but don’t have the time to spare and her enthusiasm has sparked many a love affair with these special flowers.
Committee member Laura Shefford said Betty is one awesome lady full of generosity, help and encouragement. She always makes you feel welcome in her home and it’s great to just spend time talking and enjoying a laugh with her”.
Results:Open- W.Cowie, Intermediate: J. Jordan, Amateur:
M Abernethy, Novice: E, Loose, Champion Daffodil: Trevor Rollinson, Champion Daffodil Novice: E. Loose
Malroze Trophy: Malroze, Glaisnock Trophy: M Abernethy
Collection Classes
Amateur:J.Matthews, Intermediate: Joan Jordan
Miniature Cup: N. Taylor
Local Collection Classes
Cut Flowers:
M Knowles,
Best Bloom:
Eleanor Cook
Children’s Classes: Emily Caldelari-Hume
Floral Art Cup: Jan Powell

Hon Bill English
National MP

Clutha/Southland
Electorate

“ Environmental Impact with grounded Rena”

I want to assure you that the Government has been doing everything it can to reduce the environmental impact of the situation in Tauranga from the moment the ship hit the reef..
The container ship Rena grounded on the Astrolabe reef, east of Tauranga, on Wednesday 5th October it was carrying 1360 containers and had 1700 tonnes of heavy diesel oil on board for the ships internal use.
The situation is constantly changing; like me you have seen the television footage, tonnes of oil have leaked into the sea and it is reaching Tauranga’s beaches. Some containers have fallen overboard and there are large cracks in the ship which could cause it to sink. It is heart-breaking to see the oil covered wildlife and beaches contaminated.
The frustrating thing is that salvage attempts are hampered by weather conditions. Some people have asked why the salvage team didn’t get the oil off the ship earlier, while the weather conditions were clear. The nature of the ship’s grounding, and the holes in ship’s hull and keel, created a number of very difficult issues for the salvage team. This included extensive damage to the ship’s own piping when it hit the reef, which meant the salvage team had to cobble together pumping and piping systems in order to pump oil from the ship.
The Government is putting every available resource into the clean-up and recovery efforts, and this will continue.
Maritime New Zealand is leading a massive clean-up with on the beach. It expected that there will be in excess of 1000 people collecting oil from the beaches. There are vessels patrolling the harbour picking up debris and there vessels are preparing to use booms offshore should this be possible.
Three salvage experts were winched down to the Rena on Thursday. The barge Awanuia is putting new mooring arrangements in place to allow for the safer transfer of oil.
The salvage company Svitzer is responsible for collecting the containers in the water. The Police and Fire Service are helping recovering containers that have reached the shoreline. The oily waste is being collected by two approved waste companies.
Experts are working to salvage the ship and transfer oil to another ship as soon as possible. We’ve also got environmental response teams working to protect wildlife, the Navy has ships at sea, and civilians and defence personnel are cleaning up the beaches.
As we have seen in the recent disasters New Zealanders have had to deal with people are quick to offer their help to one another and there is a steely determination to fight each challenge that arises. We are seeing this again in Tauranga. I’d like to pass on my thanks to everyone who has helped the Government’s response so far and assure you that the Government is putting every available resource into the clean-up and recovery efforts, and this will continue.
There will be much more hard work to come.

PROACTIVE HEALTHY
bits @ bytes
with
Madeleine Robinson-Muldrew

“Useful thoughts”

I1) In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
2) Your family and your love must be cultivated like a ‘garden’. Time, effort and imagination must be summoned
constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.
3) Family quarrels are bitter things. They don’t go according to ‘rules’. They’re not aches or wounds, they’re
more like splits in the skin that won’t heal because there’s not enough material.
4) Did you know that watching T.V. for prolonged hours may shorten your lifespan? Recent studies show that watching T.V.
constantly may cause a number of health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
5) Did you know that many people do ‘pushups’ wrong? Two common mistakes people do with ‘pushups’ are
a. doing them too fast. b. limiting oneself within a partial range of motion.
6) I believe that the’ best buy’ in public health today must be a combination of regular physical exercise
and very healthy diet.
7) Did you know that two much calcium may also harm your body? Facts show that ingesting more than 3,000 milligrams
per day raise your risk of hypercalcemia, or elevated calcium levels in the blood which may lead to other sicknesses.
8) It is essential for pregnant women to take Vitamin D. Studies show that Vitamin D helps both mothers and babies health
as well as can help prevent against serious pregnancy complications such as premature delivery, and preeclampsia.
9) Use your fingers to ‘tap’ away food cravings, negative thoughts, emotions and stress. Harness the power of the brain
with Neurolink.
10) In a disordered mind, as in a disordered body, soundness of health is impossible.

Enjoy these awesome spring days’ folk.

Take care
Madeleine

Arts Society’s only remaining original member

     Beverley Neilsen of Te Anau has been a residence for the past 31 years and is one of the inaugural members of the society. She was also a member of the 6 interested locals who met occasionally in the early 80’s, as Beverley described it “as a happening” at Chris and Robyn Willett’s home. Robyn was teaching art at Fiordland College at the time and this is where the forming of the society all started from its original beginnings.
She has had office bearing positions, President for 9 years and 3 years as Treasurer. Beverley said, we had a lot of dedicated members such as Lottie Werner)Treasurer over a period of 7 years), Heather Urquhart (President), Claire Maley-Shaw, Brian Lihou (President), Jane Read, Lynley King, Rachael Everett, Beverley Coppins (President & Secretary), John Levett (Treasurer), Pamela Edsall, Margaret Knowles (Secretary), Wallace Keown, Barbara Reid with office bearers continually swapping around to fill the positions.
Local artists have always played a large part in the Labour Weekend Exhibition. To source the society’s guest artists, all members who went to exhibitions throughout New Zealand, the artists exhibiting were invited to come and exhibit at the Arts Society’s Labour Weekend Exhibition and artists were of a high standard.
The focus has now shifted away from the guest artists over the past two years and a refocus on local artists has been concentrated on. The first time with mainly Southland artists the society has had was held at labour Weekend 2010 in the Fiordland Community Events Centre, with local craft groups also exhibiting such as Fiordland Quilters, Fiordland Embroiderers Guild and Fiordland Creative Fibres Group. It was very successful but due the events centre being booked they have had to take their venue to Te Anau Club for 2011 Labour Weekend.
Beverley’s husband Bill in his capacity as the Hotel manager signed the applications for membership for the Incorporated Society and was supportive of the Society and the hotel hosted the exhibition for approximately 23 years. The Society in the early days at the height of the big exhibitions held at THC was in a healthy position. The Friday night Opening night had Ray Willett in charge of the boxes and screens on the Thursday afternoon, he also painted the signage for display in various points around the town. Members all helped to set up on the Friday morning. Margo Shaw stored the guest artists work and with the assistance of other members scrutineered the artwork for any wet paint, broken or damaged artwork and would have to notify the artists concerned. The society was lucky they didn’t have to deal with much damaged in transit.
It was stipulated in the rules on the entry form, that all art had to be covered especially glassware.
Beverley is a keen artist and sometimes exhibits but her main focus is in promoting and supporting the Fiordland Arts Society. (more on page 10 & 11)

Photo: Julie Walls

Beverley Neilsen of Te Anau, the only inaugural member of the Fiordland Arts Society and is also one of the six people who initiated the original concept of the Society.

Tour Comes to Te Anau

     The PowerNet Tour of Southland is gearing up to hit the highways around Southland and Tour Manager, Bruce Ross said that the event has again attracted a very good field, including an interesting mix of experience and youth.
     The Tour is set to kick off on Sunday 30th October with the Riverside Rentals prologue team’s time trial around Invercargill’s Queens Park. This will establish a Tour leader for when the six day race gets underway form the ILT Velodrome on Monday morning.
     New Zealand champion cyclist, Hayden Roulston heads the talented field of riders for this years Tour, and will be seeking his fifth Tour of Southland win. The Calder Stewart BikeNZ National team with Roulston at the helm, are a formidable team but stern challenges are likely to come from the well performed Pure Black team plus Share the Road, Kia Motors, PowerNet and Subway Pro Cycling to name but a few. This year’s field includes an exciting crop of developing riders, many of whom who have competed with distinction internationally throughout the year and the PSIS sponsored under 23 section is likely to be keenly contested.
     The Tour has undergone significant changes to the route this year but Ross said that “we have continued with our philosophy of taking the iconic event to as many parts of the region as possible. Changes were needed to refresh the event and to avoid familiarity among the regular riders and believe that the alterations are exciting and will provide extra challenges to the competitors.”
     Te Anau again forms a major stage in the Tour with the WHK sponsored stage commencing from Tuatapere on Wednesday (2nd November) afternoon and travelling up and over the gruelling Blackmount Hill before descending into Manapouri and on to the stage finish in the Town Centre, Te Anau where it is scheduled to finish at approximately 3.30pm, adjacent to the Hollyford Boulevard Cafe.
     Ross said that the interest and support in Te Anau has been very good and the area provides for some spectacular racing and we look forward to seeing a big crowd turn out to watch the WHK stage finish. The Tour and its entourage will stay overnight in Te Anau and depart for the longest stage of the Tour at 10.00am the following morning.

Te Anau Community Board

Meeting held Wednesday 28 September 2011
Real Journey’s Fiordland Community Event Centre
20 Luxmore Drive Te Anau

By Donna Hogeboom

Fiordland Focus Community Board Reporter

Public Forum
Sergeant Tod Hollebon provided an update on community law enforcement in the area and stated, over the last year there had been 191 breaches, down 14.7% on 2010 period of 244 breaches of the law. He said you can never solve crime 100% and they had a 75% rate which they were proud of.
Councillors asked about Community patrols, Video surveillance, Drug Driving and if there were any town planning issues creating problems.
Sergeant Hollebon said patrols are not required as a need had not been identified for it. Video surveillance is a great tool for police but for clear visibility trees would need removed or lot’s of camera’s installed and though it may assist with solving crime, it probably wouldn’t solve anymore as the unsolved crimes in the area tended to house burglaries, where someone comes into the area, does a few burglaries and leave.
At present if someone is stopped on the road and not drunk but also under an influence a doctor is called in, as the tests for drug driving are not that accurate and also pick up medicines , so at this stage police will wait until a more accurate system of testing is introduced. He added drug use in the area hadn’t noticeable changed and methamphetamine drugs have not taken hold in the area.
Town Planning is constructive in preventing crime, but Te Anau had no Hot Spots and is a safe community, he stated.
Action sheet
Councillors agree to clean up children’s park at the Boat Harbour and add a Memorial Rock at this stage with costings to add 1 item of play equipment with installation at $10 to $15,000 put on hold.
10 Submissions received so far on changes to Town Centre Traffic Flow, which closes 21st October.
A representative from the Road Department of Southland District Council said a development along Sandy Brown road of medians and Islands was required to slow traffic and remind drivers they are in a residential area and to provide safe crossing points for children. Current speed limit is 80 and this is governed by the amount of driveways which come off the road. Ann Carran would like to see Captain Roberts road changed into one way, this is being looked into.
The representative from roading also stated if cycle ways were required on town roads then there may be funding from NZTA for this.
If burger van has a containment area for waste then moving it back from where it is to where the parking curves in, could provide a cost efficient park area, as it would cost $6,000 to move water and power in the future.

Photo: Provided

Cubs Rileigh Lundman, Jordan Maher and Jacob Robertson enjoy cooking damper

Borland Camp another huge success for Scouts Te Anau

     On 23-25 September, 97 members of Scouts Te Anau took part in the annual Group Camp at Borland Lodge. A huge range of activities were undertaken including: trying out the climbing wall, river crossing, cooking all sorts of delicious snacks, making ice cream, making jewellery and other crafts, hip hop dancing, slow marble race, go kart racing, river swing, face painting, sumo wrestling, pioneering challenges and much more besides!
     The campfire on Saturday night is always a highlight, as is trying out the rope swing and bridge over the river, built by the Venturers.
     There are vacancies in all sections of SCOUTS Te Anau:
     Keas is for boys and girls in Years 1 & 2 at school. Keas meet on Tuesday afternoons from 4.00–5.00 pm.
     Cubs is for boys and girls in Years 3, 4 and 5 at school. Cubs meet on Tuesday nights from 6.30–8.00 pm.
     Scouts is for boys and girls in Years 6, 7, 8 & 9 at school. Scouts meet on Thursday nights from 6.30–8.00 pm
     Venturers is for boys and girls in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 at school. Venturers meet on Monday nights from 6.30–8.00 pm.
To find out more, contact Noel or Sue Walker at 249 7394 or email suenoelwalker@xtra.co.nz.

Te Anau Library E-Reader Winner

Jo Mann of Te Anau was the winner of the first draw for the Te Anau Library e-reader competition. The Kobo e-reader has 100 inspiring free classics preloaded and ready to read. You van take your library with you, and has space for up to 1000 books. E-books will be available to Southland District Council Library members to download by the end of the year. A second draw to win an e-reader from Te Anau Library will take place at the end of October.

Photo: Julie Walls

Te Anau Library Librarian Angela Bell presenting winner Jo Mann of Te Anau with her e-reader.

DESTINATION FIORDLAND

“Big Weekend”

Lisa Sadler

Manager

Labour weekend traditionally has signalled the kick off to the summer season, but with the Rugby World Cup finals, and a range of other factors that have disrupted “normal” travel patterns, it is more difficult to predict. Fiordland has a busy program of events over the weekend to attract people to come here.
With everything from Art & Fashion to Timber Sports, Fishing and the fantastic Steptoe auction there seems to be something for everyone happening over the long weekend.
I hope locals too find their way around all of the attractions on offer to make sure that the organisers and many hours of volunteer work are rewarded by strong support. Coordinating such events has taken a great deal of effort by individuals and organisations.
A further quote from the Peter Kenyon Talk
‘The old style answer of throwing money at the problem is not the high impact solution for regional development in Australia. Given the task of rejuvenating a region and the choice of $50 million, or $2 million and 20 committed local leaders, we would choose the smaller amount of money and the committed leaders’.
(McKinsey and Company (1994) Lead Local Compete Global: Unlocking the Growth of Australia’s Regions)

     The 4th Te Anau/Manapouri Fishing Classic along with Kids Gone Fishin Experience will be held at Labour Weekend Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October at the Te Anau Rugby Grounds in Dusky Street Te Anau.
     The format will be the same as previous years with a car and boat expo, Speight’s Alehouse and the Wood chopping demonstration event held for the first time last year will now be a full championship chopping event in 2011.
     A Speed Chop
     The prize for 2011 has had a change with the first prize a trip to DOC Warners Alaska Adventures, a premier Alaska Halibut and Salmon Fishing destination. Beginners and experts alike have the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime and experience the adventure of a lifetime.

TimberSports Carnival –

Te Anau Rugby Grounds 22/23 October Start 10am

     The Southland and Otago Axemen will be hosting a 2-day TimberSports Carnival in Te Anau to coincide with the Te Anau/Manapouri Fishing Classic at Labour Weekend Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 October at the Te Anau Rugby Grounds, starting each day at 10.00am. There will also be an exhibition in Te Anau township on Friday 21October between 6.30pm-8.30pm outside The Ranch, Town Centre Te Anau.
     What will make this TimberSports Carnival so interesting, Southland and Otago Axemen are to host the South Island teams Racing Championships. The team consists of two standing block cutters, two underhand cutters, single saw and Jack & Jill Sawyers.
     Teams from West Coast/Buller, Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury and Southland/Otago and at the moment there are three World Champions competing. But with two championships, the 13” standing block and the 13” underhand worth $1,000 each and there maybe some North Island Axemen also attending. In the TimberSports Carnival there is $1,000 prize money on the popular Double Hand Sawing Championship. The World Championship Double Hand sawyers, Adam Lowe and John Aicken will be strongly challenged by some top Southland Sawyers, Craig and Steve Unhai, Dan Minehan, Andrew Scobie but to name a few.
     There will also be some top women competitors chopping and sawing on the day and are always popular with the crowd.
     On the Programme there will be a variety of events from Axe Throwing, Butcher’s Blocks, Chainsaw Racing and Junior events. With the amount of top axemen and sawyers coming to Te Anau for the 2-day TimberSports Carnival, it must be rated as the top 2-day carnival in the South Island. – Peter Templeton-Sports Commentator 03 234 9018 or 0211 253 684

Photo: Provided

Nicholas Corbin of Riverton, Ace 15 years, One of Southlands’s up and coming Junior Tinmbersports Competitors ready to cut a Underhand Chop.

HUGE Labour Weekend Market
Saturday 22nd October

     The Labour Weekend Market is the biggest market we have held so far. 40+ stallholders are expected to attend on the day. We have all our regular stallholders attending including some who have not been able to attend for a while so it will be great to welcome them back.
     We have some very exciting stallholders attending Labour Weekend, for example Wallace Harrington will be offering a range of collectable Matchbox toys for sale. The toys are in mint condition and come in their original boxes, a must for every collector to view. Plus we are also very fortunate to have Allan Grace from Gore Trading Co attending selling a range of Historical New Zealand books pertaining to Southern NZ, Fiordland, Hunting, and Otago Southland High country. The majority of the books are now well and truly out of print and again will be a fantastic edition to any book collectors collection. In the past the large selection of books Allan has to offer have been very well received at markets and have drawn people with a special interest in local history.
     The Labour Weekend Market also has an impressive array of Original clothing, Tupperware, Jewellery, Condiments, Books, Pottery, Toys, Plants, Food and much more...
     Opening time is earlier at 9.00am to coincide with the opening time of the Steptoe Auction. Closing time will be at 3.00pm as usual.

All Artists Fiordland – Multi Media Art Exhibition

     30th Fiordland Arts Society Labour Weekend Exhibition will be held at the Te Anau Club on the corner. Opening night Friday 21 October 7pm-9pm will be to recognise the 30-year anniversary, would include a special presentation honouring Beverley Neilsen, the society’s only remaining original member.
     All present and past artists and anyone associated with the Fiordland Arts Society, including the general public, were cordially invited to attend and join in the anniversary celebrations and the opening of the All Artists Fiordland – 30th Multi Media Art Exhibition.
     There will be a “Retro” Theme–come dressed in your best 1970’s clothes or similar. Exhibition opening hours. Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 October 10am-5pm and Monday 24 October 10am-2.30pm. Gold coin donation at the door, $5.00 per family.
     Special Guest Artist Tim Wilson who is one of New Zealand’s leading landscape artists. His finely detailed work can be found in galleries and homes around the world.
     A fantastic array of glass, pottery, fibre, photography, woodwork, paintings, and sculpture etc will be exhibited by local artists, plus some amazing art by local students as well as special displays. In support of young talent, the Society was offering a special Youth Award of Excellence for 15 to 18-year-olds, with a $100 prize, she said.
Any enquries contact Glenda 03 2498548 or Jan 03 249 4303

Successful year for Te Anau Lions

     The Te Anau Lions Club is proud to have donated $20,000 to community and charity causes last year as well as helping other community groups when required. This figure does not include a further $10,000 which has since been sent for relief in Christchurch. All of this money is raised by the members efforts and of course the community’s support.
     Some things never change and once again it is time for our Steptoe Auction. I wonder if the original organisers ever thought that we would get up to no 41 and still be going strong? I doubt it. Changes are being made in an attempt to hasten the clerical work so that people are not held up trying to pay but there will always be a delay between the auction and the office and it is not realistic to expect otherwise. It has been noticeable that the amount of quality donated goods has increased markedly in recent years which we like to think is a measure of the community’ssupport. We ask all our vendors to read our advertisements or flyers and particularly the fact that we do not process items that fail to make more than $5. To date we have never had a complaint regarding this but we just want people to be aware.
     Other things of course do change including the average age of our members and the demands on their time. This is affecting the Trout Observatory as it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the cleaning and maintenance roster. Subsequently this is falling on fewer and fewer shoulders and the decision has been made to dispose of it. Anyone interested should contact Te Anau Lions Club. The site has some unique benefits for tourist based attractions.

Te Anau Club’s 21st Fishing Competition 2011/RWC Final/Live Entertainment Labour

Saturday 22 October/ Sunday 23 October

 FREE ENTRY – 3 sections Men, Women, & Children under 12. Different comp each day with final weigh in 5pm at the Club, great prizes. Overall trophies for best Condition Factor Rainbow & Brown
All fish must be ungutted and caught in the Southern lakes District; current fishing licence must be produced
Popular Dunedin band “Forbidden Fruit” playing Saturday & Sunday
Te Anau’s only Rugby World Cup Official Match Day Bar thanks to Heineken final on the big Screen. Club Members and visitors all welcome.

Fiordland Arts Society celebrates 30 years

     A GROUP of local Artists met at the home of Chris and Robyn Willett on the 9th July 1981 to consider setting up an arts group in Te Anau. All present had more than a passing interest in the Arts and came from varied backgrounds and work experiences.
     The next meeting those present were Janet Christie and Mrs Pamela Hall-Jones representing the Southern Regional Arts Council & the Queen Elizabeth Arts Council. They were present to advise and direct the establishment of an Arts Society in Fiordland.
     At the second meeting on the 20th July 1981 where there were a good number of locals there to attend the first minuted meeting of the newly formed group.
     The first President was Sally Thomson, Sec, Robyn Willett and Tres. Robin Brady, all other members to be committee.
     And so the foundations were being laid to promote the Arts in Fiordland. At a third meeting the name for the group was set ‘The Fiordland Arts Group’. Business also at this meeting included plans to visit the Riverdale exhibition 5/6 July and Tuatapere exhibition on 14 August 1981.
     Plans were also made to have a Festival/Exhibition Labour Weekend 24/26 August 1981.
     Planning was in full swing at the next meeting, Venue was to be booked and Bill Neilsen of THC Te Anau (Tourist Hotel Corporation) to be approached and Guest and performing artists to be invited.
     Special guests from the community and Invercargill to be contacted and guest artists to be invited to exhibit their art and commission on sales and admission price were set. Rules for sale set to inform all exhibiting arts.
     The format of the opening night was to be considered. Guest Artists were Jonathon White, Peter Beadle, Hone Tuwhare, Denise Copland and Joy Cragg.
     There were approx. 22 local artists who wanted to exhibit with the exhibition. The range of media were paintings, woodwork, weaving, spinning, pottery, embroidery.
     There were further meetings on 14th September and 12th October at which details were fine tuned. Note catalogues price was set at 50c as was entry to the Exhibition 50c. Primary school children with a parent FREE. The Exhibition was a huge success.
     The second year for the Fiordland Arts Group was a busy and successful one. The Group held an Easter exhibition at the Luxmore Hotel at which eleven local artists exhibited their work. It was well supported by the public with good sales of exhibits, and a profit was made for the group from a donation charge for viewing the exhibition.
     Plans were being made for the group to bring more guest artists to Te Anau for Labour Weekend. There was much to plan for the future and much needed equipment to be built if the group wanted to set a standard in the display of exhibits. As with all new enterprises they had to call on the help from local trades and craftsmen to design display screens and boxes for this purpose. Peter Bailey and Ted Thomas were two men we have to thank for making this equipment and with repairs and maintenance done by Ray Willett over the years it is still in use. Then the group had to find space to store the equipment in town, and that has been an interesting challenge over the years. There too we have had good local support.
     The THC Te Anau (now Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas), as most locals know it, is where the Labour Weekend Exhibition has always been held. Again through the years many local people and the Rotary club members have helped with the transporting of all this equipment for the Society, for which the members are very grateful.
     At a monthly meeting, July 1982, there was a motion put in the minutes to set out a constitution for the group which led to the change of the Fiordland Arts Group’s name to the Fiordland Arts Society and to become an incorporated society. And so began the process to make this change.
     At a special general meeting called on the 21 March 1984, thirty members signed two copies of the Application of Incorporation. The Certification of Incorporation was signed in Invercargill on the 27th of November 1985 by the Assistant Registrar of Incorporated Societies. It took three years of work to become an Incorporated Society but it has been well worth the effort.
     Fiordland has produced some well known artists over the years many who have been members of the Society. Landscape painters Wallace Keown, the Late Ted Thomas, Brian Lihou, Geoff Milne; artists Robyn Willett, Jane Read, Ray Willett; potters Kaye Hansen, Barbara Wilson; weavers Keri Smith, Barbara Reid, Sally Thompson, to name but a few.
     Guest Artists include Neil Bartlett, Rosemary Jones, Ralph Hotere, Russell Beck, Thomas Harte, and Mark Winter, cartoonist and artist, was a guest speaker at one Exhibition. In 1999 Lorraine Brady, calligrapher, was a guest artist and speaker and opened our Exhibition. At the time Ms Brady was the only person in New Zealand to have attained the London Calligraphy Guild’s qualification.
     These artists are to name but a few in the early years who exhibited at a Labour Weekend Exhibition. This standard set the tone for future exhibitions which have brought the work of many well known New Zealand Artists to Te Anau.
     As a result of the Exhibitions many works of art have stayed in the homes in Te Anau and the public Library. One of these is the splendid woven wall sculpture by Vivien Mountford of Christchurch, purchased by the Society and placed in the then new Te Anau Library. Other works may also be viewed at the Library.
     In 1983 the Society became involved in the celebrations for the centenary of Te Anau. Locals will remember this time of good weather, good fun and everyone getting into the spirit by dressing in period costume for the week. The society’s contribution was novelty boards with faces cut out, one a sandfly with the face cut so that one could stand behind it to be photographed. The weather was wonderful.
     During the 80’s the Society brought to the Te Anau Basin performing artists for concerts or recitals for the benefit of the music lovers in the area. These included David MacTamney, opera singer, Mike Harding, guitarist, George Zukerman, bassoonist, Margaret O’Hanlan, singer, and the Auckland opera quartet, and Sam Hunt, poet,
     This is a short overview of the life of the Arts Society in Fiordland. Our aim to bring quality and talent into the area for the benefit of the Te Anau residents has been accomplished and each year a high standard has been maintained in the visual arts accompanied at times by the performing arts. The Society has also endeavoured to encourage the youth of the area in their interests in all these art forms. Their most recent activity in 2006 was to present a youth concert where we were treated to the talents of our young artist’s performances. At each Exhibition we encourage art work to be exhibited by the pupils of the three Te Anau Basin schools and this art work creates much interest from the general public. The Society presents to the Fiordland College in the form of book vouchers six prizes to be presented to students who show promise in the varied fields of endeavour during their studies in the school year.
     All past and present members are to be commended in the way they have achieved much in bringing the Arts to Fiordland. We may be at the end of the world but the world has come to us. Everyone who has been a member over the Society’s past 30 years has helped to make the aims of the Society into a reality. (more on page 2)

Photo: FIORDLAND ARTS SOCIETY

Fiordland Arts Society members in earlier days. L to R: Noelene Campbell, Rachael Everett, Margo Shaw, Beverley Coppins, Margaret Knowles, Harry Hall, Geoff Milne, Margaret Hall, Ngaire McLachlan, Beverley Neilsen, Lottie Werner, Pamela Edsall.

Photo: Julie Walls

Wallace Keown, President of the Fiordland Arts Society cutting the cake at the 10th Anniversary of the society

to R: Marijke Schofield, Beverley Neilsen and Mary Climo (nee Holland) viewing the artwork situated in the Turnbull Room, THC Hotel. The venue was used by the Fiordland Arts Society for over 20years.

Photo: Julie Walls

Nick and Lesley Cantwell

Success runs in the family

     24 year old Lesley Cantwell and younger brother Nick both have busy training schedules for their sporting activities. Lesley won bronze at the New Zealand Road Champs 10km Walk in Wellington in August and this followed a third placing in March, 2011 at the NZ Track & Field Champs in the 3k Track walk.
     Lesley took up race walking again after the birth of her daughter, Brooke now 2 years old.
     Lesley began her race walking while at Fiordland College when she was 14 years old. She has had many placings in the Otago/Southland Secondary School Champs, two first placings in NZ Age Group Track & Field Champs and a 3rd placing in the Australian Track & Field Champs. She was named Southland Athlete of the Year for Southland Athletics in 2004. She also holds all Southland race walking records.
     Lesley’s next outing is the NZ Long Distance Walk Champs to be held in Palmerston North at the end of October where she will compete in the 20k walk. This will be a new event for her and came a lot sooner than she would normally have made a jump up in distance. It doubles as a trial for selection in to the Trans Tasman team to compete in Hobart in February, 2012.
     Her long term goal would be to make a Commonwealth Games team.
     She would like to thank her sponsors’ for their contribution to her travel and accommodation costs:- Te Anau Fresh Choice, Restaurante Da Toni, Trimmers Hair Salon, Perpetual Real Estate, Fiordland Dental Surgery and the Rotary Club of Fiordland.
     Nick at 16 years old in Year 12 at Fiordland College. This year Nick has represented Southland at U18 Hockey and Southland U18 Cricket.
     He was also recently named in the Southland Senior Men’s Hockey Team to play in Hamilton from the 8th–15th October. The team had four losses and three wins, one win against Canterbury which is the first time for Southland and another won in a Panalty shoot out. The loss to Wanganui was in play off for 3rd and 4th.
     Nick has previously played representative age-group hockey and cricket. He has also been successful in athletics where he placed in the Otago / Southland Secondary School 800m and 1500m which enabled him to progress to the South Island Secondary School Champs where he placed 2nd in the 800m and 4th in the 1500m.
     Playing representative sport requires a huge commitment when living somewhere as remote as Te Anau. Travel alone means Nick is on the road sometimes 3-4 times per week, summer and winter.
     Because there was no local cricket team in Te Anau last summer, Nick had to play for the men’s Lumsden cricket team. This year he will play for Metro Tigers (Invercargill team) along with two other school mates, Elliot McRae and Jackson Larrivee. The boys should benefit from playing in a team where they can be given more responsibility to develop as players and gain more experience.
     Nick’s short term goal is to get in to a final of the 800m or 1500m or both, at the NZ Secondary School Athletic Champs to be held in December. Long term, a NZ representative in as many sports as he can!
     Nick would like to thank his sponsors:: Southern Lakes Helicopters, Fiordland Lobster, Te Anau Fresh Choice and the Rotary Club of Fiordland. He would also like to thank his supporters over the years including his parents.
     Both Nick and Lesley are coached by their father, Shaun. Shaun has been a top level athlete at Orienteering and Athletics. He now concentrates mainly on coaching and has several nationally placed athletes, including a world ranked veteran (1st) in athletics, cross country and triathlon. He also coaches and manages Southland age group boy’s hockey teams. Mum, Jude has also been a NZ Athletics 1500m Champion and competed for NZ in road running. She was also a very good nationally ranked swimmer while at school.
     Best of luck to Lesley and Nick, keep it going!