Staying safe refresher for older drivers

Jacqs (Jacqueline) Wilton, who describes herself as a “Life Curve Navigator” for Aged Concern Wairarapa, has offered an opportunity for older drivers who are facing two-yearly medicals for driving licence renewals.

She’s providing a course to help fill in the (missing) details.

Here’s her pitch: 

“Had your licence for decades but never refreshed your Road Code knowledge?

“Feeling unsettled because you have a medical coming up to renew your licence? … Continue Reading

THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

By Brenda Channer –

Martinborough Bookshop

“The Ministry of Time” by Kaliane Bradley

The eye-popping cover draws readers like a moths to a flame…and then if you are not hooked by the end of the first page I will eat my hat! 

This is a clever, wry, mind-bending novel that delivers all that it promises. This is also a debut novel and it sets the bar very high for other debut novelists this year.

Set in England in the not-too-distant future, the world is indeed going to hell in a handbasket. … Continue Reading

SWDC had its hand in the Pain Farm till

For the past 12 years South Wairarapa District Council has been quietly filtering excessive amounts of cash out of what are known internally as the Pain Estate accounts _ and has suddenly admitted its financial filching by returning $302,000 to the Martinborough Community Board. 

New council Chief Executive Janice Smith turned up the financial finagling by council officials, noting in a report last month to Pain Estate’s governors, the Martinborough Community Board, that the excess funds transfers began in 2011-12 “where a significantly increased level of internal charges occurred.” 

How it “occurred” was not mentioned.

“As the farm is leased as well as the dwellings, it is appropriate that some form of allocation of

administrative costs occurs but the difference that occurred between 2010-11 and 2011-12 was

significant at $14,384. 

“This increased level of allocation continued and increased over time until the total allocation in 2023-24 became $59,237. This level of internal recovery is not appropriate,” Smith wrote in a three-page report to the Community Board. … Continue Reading

Young players make the sound of music

“It showed us what we could do in the future!” 

That was the excited reaction from Wairarapa Youth Orchestra player Kathya Meier (Kuranui College) after a recent workshop held by Martinborough Music Festival.

For 25 young Wairarapa students, the first day of the July school holidays was filled with the sound of music as they took part in a day-long workshop for string players — a first for the Festival as part of its community outreach programme.

Tutors Lucas Baker and Haden Nickel (violin), Lauren Jack (viola), Esther Lee (cello) and William Taber (double bass) started the day with a rousing rendition of the theme from Pirates of the  Caribbean—a favourite with the young players.

Separate sessions with the tutors followed for each of the string groups, preparing a piece to be presented at a brief concert for friends and family later in the day.

“I’m the only viola player in the Wairarapa Youth Orchestra and have been playing for 18 months,” said Kathya. “Today was about really improving my skills and learning how to sing with my viola.”

For Levi Martin, who has learnt the cello for seven years, meeting the tutors who had been through university training was the highlight of a hugely enjoyable day. “I got some good tips!” he said.

Alex Bunny (Tararua College) had come down from Pahiatua for the day. He has been learning the cello for just over a year, taking it up after listening to the Croatian performers 2cellos. He particularly enjoyed the Pirates theme, and the opportunity to learn from professional musicians.

Kathryn Seagrave, cello tutor with the Youth Orchestra and a volunteer with its organising committee, said a big plus for the day was for the participants to be with young professional music players so they can see there is a future in music.

“They were fabulous tutors and so approachable, making the day really exciting. The students were just soaking up what they had to say,” she said. “It’s an inspiration to have a day with others who are like you.

“We are a young organisation—just in our third year—and working with tamariki who have been playing their instruments for a short time. The strings workshop was such a shot in the arm for them and we are so grateful to the Festival for having something like this to come to.”

The Martinborough Music Festival’s outreach programme is an increasingly important part of the Festival. After several years of presenting free concerts for schools in the region, a workshop was seen as an important way of encouraging young players to continue their studies.

This year’s schools’ concerts take place during August, with the string quintet playing to 12 schools on 8 August, and a woodwind quintet playing to three schools on 22 August.

Plans are already under way for another workshop next year. 

Caption: Playing for friends and family in the concert at the end of the workshop, led by Lucas Baker.