Hawke's Bay
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Plants for living rugby legends
St Augustine’s Guides and Brownies took part in this annual event in August to enhance the area around Ahuriri Estuary, which is a unique and valuable habitat that resulted from land form changes associated with the 1931 earthquake.
We joined with local volunteer groups, Rotary, The Warehouse team, banks, parents and children under the supervision of Kaye Eade of DOC.
Last year we planted 4200 plants, alongside the estuary. This year we planted another 3200, which are all germinated and grown on, from locally produced and collected seeds.
Each planting is dedicated to a regional “rugby legend” who has made an outstanding contribution to rugby in New Zealand. Ian McRae is Hawkes Bay’s living legend.
He helped the children with their task of digging in the stony ground and answered numerous questions about the number of goals he kicked and games he played. He is generous, patient, and so approachable, a delight to chat with.
After welcoming the group on a chilly damp morning, Ian thanked the volunteers and off we trundled to the planting area, splashing through the puddles on the path, carrying buckets of Crystal rain and fertiliser pellets for each plant.
The DOC volunteers had arrived at 7.30 am to place out all the plants so we were able to begin digging holes for each small plant suited to the environment.
Flaxes, carex, shrubby groundcover, with a few kowhai, will enhance the area and provide nesting shelter for birds.
This year we planted along the embankment below the railway bridge line over the estuary.
Even a Kiwi Rail safety track truck team was there to make sure we kept off the rails.
The girls found some treasure - broken NZ rail crockery, a whole light bulb and several shoes. We wondered if these had been missiles from past year’s train journeys from Napier to Gisborne.
All enjoyed a fantastic local community service, as much laughter and chatting flowed around the girls. The morning ended with free sausage and drink for the girls while the adults enjoyed hot drink and baking for a donation.
A couple of girls had never held a spade, dug a hole, or planted anything, so next term we can repeat these skills as we prepare for camp. All good learning experiences.
Margaret De La Haye
Guide Leader, St Augustines Guides
Focus on ANZAC Day
Our
first night back at Brownies this term we focussed on ANZAC day.
Firstly we talked about ANZAC Day and read some stories about the
ANZACs. Then we made two poppies out of bow-shaped pieces of card,
straws and pom-poms. Next we iced Guide biscuits and we overlapped them
so they would make the shape of a wreath. We placed one poppy in the
middle/outside of the wreath.
On ANZAC Day we marched down to the clock tower, where our local
service is held. Two of the Brownies placed our wreath with all the
others during the service.
Hannah Johnston, Age 8
On
Monday night at Brownies we made red poppies out of paper, pom-poms and
straw. We then took turns at icing Guide biscuits. After that we put the
biscuits together to make a wreath.
At the ANZAC service in Taradale, we put our wreath down to remember the solders.
Jaime Kinder, Age 8
St Augustines Brownies
Tamatea District
What has Hawke's Bay been up to in 2012?
Why not tell us what you have been doing in your unit so far this year?
I know you have been out camping, doing Community Service and generally having a lot of GirlGuiding Adventures - lets show everyone what we have been doing!
Forward any stories or photos on to your Leader, District Co-ordinator, Regional Co-ordinator or the Lower North Zone Office so they can be published here.
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