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The McCombs Performing Arts Centre has provided many fond memories for generations of Cashmere High School students.
Nowβs your chance to give future generations that same opportunity.
A large part of our school has stood the test of time, however, some buildings including the Performing Arts Centre have had to be replaced following the Christchurch earthquakes. The building is being replaced but the spirit and history remains.
The Performing Arts Centre will contain approx. 575 seats and our aim is to raise $71,000 by asking for gifts of $125.00 per seat. In recognition of your gift we will attach an engraved name plate on a seat recognizing your contribution.
Pay online banking on or before 31st August 2019 to:
Cashmere High School Foundation 031594 0196091 00
Reference: Your Name, Phone Number and Seating Donation, then email: alumni@cashmere.school.nz
with your name and seating plaque details (containing no more than 2 lines of 36 characters total). If your seat name is different to payment name please advise this in your email
Your gift will make you part of the past, present and future of Cashmere High School.
On behalf of all students, thank you for your support!
Call Michelle Corkindale on 027 544 5111 for any questions
NBLY Conversations: What is the etiquette for bin day?
We think there are unspoken rules for bin day, but are we adhering to the same ones?
Do you think twice about dragging your bin to the pavement in the early hours? Do you mind if neighbours put excess rubbish in your bin? Share your bin day etiquette and let's compare notes!
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
Shamla
βI am a reader. I didnβt grow up with siblings, I had a lot of free time. From my childhood, I read lots of books. One of my favourite authors, sheβs Enid Blyton. I grew up reading Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers β they constituted a big part of my world. The first thing I did when I came to New Zealand was to hunt down libraries nearby.
I usually visit TΕ«ranga. Lot of events happen there. Being inside four walls doesnβt light up your mood, so I come out to TΕ«ranga and spend my time there surrounded by people. It makes me calm. I borrow books and go for a walk around the city. Thatβs my way of getting to know Christchurch. I just close my Google Maps and explore. So far, I havenβt got lost! Itβs very easy to find my way around. In Christchurch city, everything connects.
I earned my Bachelorβs in Environmental Science. I am also passionate about conservation, which made me join Conservation Volunteers. One of the first things that I did when I came to Christchurch was to call them and ask how I could participate.
Moving to a new city could be intimidating. But these volunteering events have helped me a lot to put myself out there and talk to people. People are usually nice and warm. When I say Iβm new to Christchurch, they ask about, like, how are you doing? Settling down? How do you find Christchurch? I found a lot of people who are like-minded as well, a lot of people who do conservation work like working outdoors. I also get to go to new places, like Amelia Rogers Reserve and McCormackβs Bay.
And Iβm enjoying it very much, thatβs the most important thing. When youβre volunteering you should enjoy and really kind of get into what youβre doing. So, Iβm happy. Iβm learning a lot. Iβm getting to know a lot of new people, new environments.
Iβm grateful that we moved to Christchurch; itβs one of the best decisions that we have made. I feel welcome in New Zealand, in Christchurch, particularly.β
- Shamla
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org...
Dark sky nation: Tourism minister backs move to attract stargazing travellers
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Transforming Aotearoa into a dark sky nation could attract stargazing international tourists, creating huge economic benefits, Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says.
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand believes New Zealand could become a dark sky nation, an idea Doocey says he supports.
To become a dark sky nation the country would need to cut light pollution, such as outdoor lighting, to allow for greater stargazing and astronomy.
Tourism New Zealand research indicated more than 70% of people thinking about visiting New Zealand were interested in stargazing, he said.
The best times for stargazing were during the off-peak and shoulder seasons for tourism, which meant protecting New Zealandβs night skies could provide an economic boost when tourist towns were otherwise quiet.
"It is something I am keen to encourage," Doocey said.
ββWe want to grow tourism because we know it brings jobs to rural New Zealand.
ββTourism is very seasonal, so we need to be looking at how we can market and promote New Zealand during those shoulder and off-peak periods.ββ
The Waimakariri MP said an economic impact report commissioned by Enterprise North Canterbury last year showed a dark sky trail would provide an economic boost in the region.
The report said a dark sky reserve could generate $4.6 million of visitor spending in Waimakariri and create up to 24 jobs.
The Oxford Dark Sky Group obtained dark sky park status in January for the Oxford Forest Conservation Area from the Dark Sky International.
Oxford Dark Sky president Raul Elias-Drago said there was no cost to the group, thanks to support from the community, the Waimakariri District Council, Oxford-Ohoka Community Board and Government agencies such as the Department of Conservation.
The group was now planning to apply for dark sky reserve status, which would incorporate the town of Oxford.
Doocey said the Oxford example showed how communities coming together could achieve economic benefits at little cost.
Enterprise North Canterbury has been working with other regional tourism organisations (RTOs) to develop a Canterbury dark sky trail.
The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was established in 2012, while the KaikΕura Dark Sky Trust is about to apply for dark sky sanctuary status and interest is growing in other Canterbury communities.
ββI would encourage RTOs to think about whether dark skies should be part of their destination management plans,ββ Doocey said.
ββThere is real potential for a ground up approach and I would be really supportive of that.ββ
Elias-Drago, who is also the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) secretary, said a national approach was needed, perhaps led by the Department of Conservation.
ββThe Department of Conservation has been very supportive regionally,ββ he said.
ββThe Rangiora office supported our application and other regional offices have supported other applications, but every time each regional office is doing the same thing.
ββIf the work was done nationally, we wouldnβt have to replicate the work in every region.ββ
Doocey has accepted an invitation to speak at the New Zealand Starlight Conference in Tekapo in October, which is organised by RASNZ and the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve board.
ββWe are hoping to use the conference as a springboard to advance the discussion around becoming a dark sky nation,ββ Elias-Drago said.
Niue became the worldβs first whole country to become an International dark sky nation in 2020.
β LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.