Sumner Bays Union Trust Newsletter 15 February 2013

Hello everyone,
I hope you are enjoying the lovely weather. Our projects have kicked off for what looks likely to be a busy year again.

Welcome aboard Beth Cohen who is running Mini Music for us this year. Beth brings a wide range of musical talents to Mini Music’s Sumner (Tuesdays 9.30 am, old school hall kitchen, Wiggin Street) and Redcliffs (Thursdays, 9.30 am, Union Church, Augusta Street) sessions. We look forward to welcoming Cathy White’s baby #4 in the next couple of months. Beth and I will be working on developing another project – a music programme for seniors. Watch this space!

Rockers of Ages Choir has relocated to the Redcliffs Community Shed at 99c Main Road and is practising each Wednesday during school terms from 10.30 am – 12.30 pm. Thanks to Nikki and Gary from the Muse.

The Redcliffs Community Shed is in the final stages of preparation before being officially open. Reg and the team have concrete going down in the mechanical workshop next week. You are very welcome to visit and take a look at the place. It’s looking pretty good! Congratulations to Reg on his recent 90^th birthday.
Have you seen the OK Corral on the Redcliffs New World site? This was the brainchild of Reg Dalley and he and Dave Kennedy were very busy building plywood skateboard ramps just before Christmas for children to use. The site requires adult supervision at all times, so see Reg if you’re interested in helping out. regenadal@snap.net.nz or 384-3830.

The Local Food Project with the Sumner-van Asch Community Garden are busy over the summer growing season. SumnerFoodSwap happens once a month at the Sumner Van Asch Community Garden and you’re invited. It’s on Tuesday February 19th 6.30 - 8pm (then 3rd Tuesday every month). Bring to swap any extra produce, seeds, or seedlings (or anything else!) There will be a pot luck and BBQ happening so bring some food to share. This coincides with the community garden’s evening session. Regular Tuesday morning sessions are held in the garden from 9.30 am. Contact Bailey on pbperyman@gmail.com to find out more.
 Redcliffs Community Garden is being looked after by Warren and family. If you’d like to get involved, contact Warren on wps20@yahoo.com. Everyone is welcome!

Sumner Tea & Talk and Redcliffs Coffee & Conversation have kicked off for the year. Thank you so much to all the volunteers who assist. Tea & Talk is held every Monday morning from 10.30 – 11.30 am at the old Sumner School hall kitchen on Wiggins Street and Coffee & Conversation is held every Thursday morning 10.30 am – 12 pm at the Redcliffs Union Church on Augusta Street. Great company and conversation, and, of course, great tea and coffee.

Age Concern Accredited Visitor Programme
I’m increasingly aware of the number of lonely elderly people in our community. Sumner Bays Union Trust will be working in partnership with Age Concern Canterbury to increase the number of accredited visitors working in our community. It’s a commitment of a minimum of one hour per week, with Age Concern staff willing to come out and run training sessions in our local area. Please let me know if you’re keen. There are currently 2 – 3 accredited visitors in our area and we need many more. Once we have enough people, an initial interview/orientation session will be held. Thanks to Liz, Rebekah and Nicki from Age Concern Canterbury for coming out to visit this week.

Redcliffs Craft Group is up and running again at 1 Bayview Road, every Thursday afternoon from 1 – 3 pm. Anyone is welcome.
As of the end of March 2013, the Redcliffs Information Centre will pass out from under the auspices of Sumner Bays Union Trust to the Redcliffs Residents Association.
 

Some dates for your diary

Senior Expo – Probably Friday 8 November – to be confirmed.
Community Carols – Thursday 12 December. Venue to be confirmed.
 

Community Notices

If you have any notices you would like me to put in this newsletter please let me know. It goes out semi-regularly – and I can be persuaded to put it out more often if I have enough material.

The Create’n’Connect Art group runs at St Andrew’s Anglican Church hall on Thursday mornings 9.30 am – 12 pm. Thanks to Beth Moore for asking for me to put this in my newsletter. It’s good to see what else is going on around our local community.

Redcliffs Public Library: (Wearing my other hat as treasurer of Redcliffs Public Library Inc.) Did you realise that Redcliffs has its own public library? It is run by dedicated volunteers who keep it well stocked with the latest fiction and we have a great children’s section too. It’s open to anyone, not just Redcliffs people, so if you’re looking for a library that is a bit closer to home, you would be very welcome to join us. We’ll be closed for approximately a month starting soon while the Redcliffs Tennis Club’s courts are repaired, but we’ll have an interim measure in place for that time – possibly a range of the latest fiction available an afternoon a week at a yet to be confirmed location. The usual site is the Redcliffs Tennis Club at 75 Main Road, 10 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday and Saturday mornings. You may have also seen our book stall at the Mt Pleasant Farmers Market. We have a major rebuild project in fundraising mode at present – if you would like to donate to the rebuild fund, we welcome you to do so.
Finally, anyone who has visited me recently will know that I share my office at the Redcliffs Community Shed with Monty. Monty is a 13 week old Chihuahua puppy and he loves people. Just a heads up in case you are surprised to meet him. He’s great with kids.

Warm regards,
Eddie Hayes

Community Development Worker

Sumner Bays Union Trust