2012 hasn’t got off to the best of starts so far, all things considered. The ‘ho’ in long, hot summer went AWOL and was replaced with ‘we’ resulting in lots of happy farmers and no water shortage but not much else.
On a far more serious note, the ballooning tragedy would have to be Wairarapa’s worst accident ever. My heart goes out to the families of those killed and as well as all the staff that had to deal with the emergency. I just can’t imagine a worse situation to have to cope with.
The balloon pilot Lance Hopping was our local truancy officer and was well known to all the schools in our district. He genuinely liked kids and wanted them to do well, not waste their chance of an education. We really will miss him.
On the subject of kids, let’s not forget Featherston’s ‘youth gang’. Unlike the ballooning accident, this is a case of the story being blown out of all proportion. This ‘youth gang’ consisted of three boys, under fifteen, all from the same family. Their age prevents police from holding them accountable for their actions.
We all agree that their behaviour is intimidating and unacceptable but Council has no more power than the man in the street to do anything about this.
I understand that outside agencies are working with the family to try and give these boys a purpose before it is too late. Sadly, I think the call to give them all a hiding is the type of behaviour that has contributed to the problem in the first place.
Hitting a bad person will never make them good. They say things come in threes. Well, that’s my three so I am now looking forward to a fruitful, fun filled, fabulous 2012.
Adrienne Staples
