Old high school mates ride together again to raise funds for Cancer Society
Two long-time friends who always wanted to enter the Coast to Coast have finally made that journey – but sitting down the whole way.
North Cantabrians Douglas Moody and Gary Cassidy joined more than 240 other scooter riders on Saturday for this year's Tranz Alpine Scooter Safari, raising funds for the Cancer Society.
The pair have been friends since starting Kaiapoi High School together as 3rd formers in 1980 – 42 years ago.
Moody, based in Loburn, and Cassidy, based in Rangiora, said they were keen to help support the Cancer Society’s work in the region.
“Growing up together, we had always wanted to enter the Coast to Coast as a team,” Moody said.
“Little did we know, eventually we would fulfil that dream albeit sitting down.”
Moody said the trip - which began in Canterbury and traversed the Southern Alps to end in Hokitika - went well, despite the weather.
"Of the six safaris I have taken part in, this was probably the most difficult in terms of weather over the course of the day. We had it all from challenging winds, rain, cold temperatures, and snow on the ground.
"Had we been scheduled to ride the day earlier, we likely wouldn’t have gotten through."
He hoped to raise $2500 towards the overall goal of raising $350,000 this year.
Donations can still be made to scootersafari.org.nz...
Rangiora after-hours clinic faces more delays
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The wait continues for a promised North Canterbury after hours healthcare facility.
Work is yet to begin on the proposed new Rangiora Medical Centre at the Rangiora Health Hub on Ashley St, which was first proposed more than five years ago.
The Waimakariri District Council granted a resource consent for the project in 2022, while the building consent is still being processed.
A council spokesperson said the application was on hold while some civil construction details are resolved by the applicants’ consultants.
‘‘We hope to be able to grant the consent in the very near future.’’
The Ministry of Health entered into an agreement with South Link Health Group in 2021 to build the after hours facility, following a petition being presented to the former Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) two years earlier.
South Link Health Group is a network of 26 medical practises, and is responsible for funding and constructing the new facility.
It will include full radiology services (ultrasound, CT and MRI scans), GP services, a pharmacy, and urgent after hours healthcare.
A spokesperson for South Link Health said in December work was expected to begin on the site in March, with the medical centre on track to open in the first half of 2025.
In the meantime, limited after hours healthcare is available at Durham Health, Rangiora, and the Amberley Medical Centre, and at local pharmacies.
Residents can ring 111 in an emergency, contact their GP to speak to a triage nurse, call Healthline 0800 611116 for free advice from a nurse, or arrange online video consultations with a doctor (for a charge).
The after hours triage service is delivered by Whakarongarou and operates in North Canterbury, with access to a St John paramedic if a face to face assessment is required.
A rural after hours service, Ka Ora Telecare, offers phone or video consultations with a doctor. Go to kaora.co.nz/app/services/sub-services/3. The Pegasus 24 Hour Surgery in Christchurch is also available.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Kiwirail land rental
We pay KiwiRail a rental fee for the lease of a strip of land alongside the railway line. We use the land for vegetable gardening. However we have just received a letter doubling the rental fee plus a charge to draw up the new lease. Has anyone else been effected by this? KiwiRail do nothing with the land on the other side of the fence and the grass grows lank.
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