Marlborough Youth Trust Farewells Their Calm ‘Anchor' Of 25 Years
Senior constable Russ Smith is stepping back from the vibrant centre and community he has helped build in Marlborough for the past 25 years.
The Blenheim community constable has served as a chairman and trustee of the Marlborough Youth Trust for a quarter of a century, and was instrumental in creating the trust's MySpace youth centre.
Smith was celebrated by supporters of the trust at a special farewell morning tea at MySpace on Wednesday.
Sonitani Kula, youth worker for the Marlborough Pasifika Trust, which made use of the space, said there would be no Marlborough Youth Trust without Smith.
'Youth work has been a lifelong dream career of mine.
'To be able to enter it ... was only possible because there was a village that was willing to stand behind me that was led by Russ.'
Members described Smith as the humble and calm 'anchor' of the trust, and a dedicated advocate for the youth of Marlborough.
'It's definitely not just me,' Smith said.
'I'm just one of the little cogs in a big, big machine.
'Without the support of our wonderful trustees, and all the work that goes into this organisation [...] it just wouldn't happen.'
The MySpace centre opened in 2019 as a place for youth to meet and connect with each other.
Smith, who was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017 for his community work, described the opening of the centre as his most 'joyful' moment.
'We'd probably worked on that for at least 10 years, trying to convince [Marlborough District] Council and all the organisations that were invested in us that this was definitely something that was needed,' he said.
Smith said the MySpace Youth Centre was one of the best youth spaces in the country.
'Our youth love it because it can go from a meeting space, to a play space, to a study space.'
Smith planned to enjoy the 'sunset years' of his job as Community Constable, and would continue to support the trust as a friend and volunteer.
The council owned the MySpace building on the corner of Kinross St and Redwood St and covered the cost of the lease for the youth trust.
'We pushed for this one for a long time, and if it wasn't for Russell it wouldn't have happened,' said former Marlborough District councillor Graeme Barsanti.
'I remember him coming to council,' Barsanti said. 'And we kind of stood around him. Two policemen and a couple of other policemen at the back were dragged in, and we made it work.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Photo: supplied Lloyd McCallum Winton For services to the dairy industry and the environment. Winton dairy farmer Lloyd McCallum, 65, was not looking for any recognition, nor did he expect it. But being included in this year's King's Birthday Honours was "a nice surprise", Mr McCallum said. "The world's full of doom and gloom these days, but yeah, it was a nice surprise. "It puts a little bit of a skip in your step." The former three-term Environment Southland councillor was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the dairy industry and the environment. "It's not the end of the journey. There's still more to do," he said. Mr McCallum is a church elder, an award-winning dairy farmer and active community member in Southland. He was one of the original Southland sheep and arable farmers to convert his property to dairy production in 1991, a move that helped to bring prosperity and growth to the region. He has won several farming awards, including Westpac NZMP Dairy Farmer of the Year in 2002 and Ballance Farm Environment Award for best dairy farm and Lincoln University Farmer of the Year, both in 1997. He was a member of the original Fonterra Shareholders Council (SHC) between 2000 and 2013, providing leadership during a period of significant change in the dairy industry. He has been involved with many industry bodies including the South Island Dairy Event committee, Livestock Improvement Co-op, and the Southland Demonstration Farm. He was elected as an Environment Southland councillor in 2013 and became deputy chairman in 2016. Significant improvements in the Southland waterways are now visible due to policies made by Environment Southland in his tenure. He has been instrumental in leading farmers in best practice farm management and taking responsibility for environmental effects. Mr McCallum was one of the first co-chairs of Whakamana te Waituna Charitable Trust, which is focused on improving freshwater quality in the Waituna region of Southland.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Search and rescue dog trainer recognised
There are many ways to serve a community, and Cantabrian Ron Ealam has been doing it for the last few decades at least with trusty dogs at his side. On Monday, the Oxford man was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work with Land Search and Rescue over more than 50 years. For half of that he has been working with rescue dogs - developing the official search dogs training programme and becoming a national trainer and assessor. "I just quite enjoy being out there, and to actually train a dog up to achieve what we've achieved is just quite amazing," he told RNZ. He brought with him Skyla, a border collie beardie cross - one of those he has trained over the years. "They're actually a light, a very light dog that can work pretty good hours and just stop and have a rest and keep going again, and they're just full of energy." Rescue dogs were trained to recognise human scent, Ealam said. "We train them initially right from when they were a pup to indicate and follow human scent, which are skin follicles that fall off your body."And not every dog has a nose for it, he said. "It's just a matter of finding a dog that has got a good nose, and we developed that and enhance their natural ability… they're pretty amazing... once they pick up a scent, they lock onto it and they'll just stay on it." One of his most memorable rescues was an early one at Lake Kaniere in the South Island. "We got a call at 11 o'clock at night for a missing multi-sport runner at Methven, and we drove through the night and we got to Methven about six o'clock in the morning and they put us in a helicopter and took us up onto the tops. "And we searched down for probably four to six hours, and then my dog indicated on the footprint that went down a creek, and we followed the scent down to the last party and she was there - she was very cold. "And I can always remember my dog sort of cuddled up to her." The woman was airlifted out by helicopter. The full King's Birthday Honours list To be Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Ranjna Patel for services to ethnic communities, health and family violence prevention Emeritus Distinguished Professor Alison Stewart for services to plant science and the arable sector Catriona Ruth Williams for services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport To be Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Mark Leslie Smith Cooper, KC for services to the judiciary Brendan Jon Lindsay for services to business and philanthropy Ewan Francis Smith for services to Cook Islands business and tourism To be Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Catherine Joy Andersen for services to the music industry Wayne Robert Boyd for services to business, philanthropy and sport Professor George Charles Clifton for services to structural engineering Anthony Edwin Falkenstein for services to philanthropy and business education Steven Leonard Joyce for services as a Member of Parliament Donald Angus Mackinnon for services to sports governance Professor Emeritus Ian George Mayhew for services to the veterinary profession, especially equine medicine Dr David Edwin McKee for services to New Zealand Sign Language and the Deaf community William Charles Nathan for services to Māori Dr Lesley Kay Rameka for services to Māori and early childhood education Ruth Margaret Richardson for services as a Member of Parliament and to governance Dr Ai Ling Tan for services to gynaecology Dr Mark Greenslade Thomas for services to people living with HIV/AIDS and antibiotic research To be Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Emeritus Professor George David Baxter for services to physiotherapy and health Gillian Lorraine Bohm for services to health Associate Professor Philip Michel Jose Brinded for services to psychiatry Fergus Graham Brown for services to the tourism industry Graham Vincent Brown for services to the venison industry David Paul Burton for services to food writing Peter Hardy Ballantyne Carty for services to fly-fishing Suzanne Noreen Cato for services to music, television and education Hohepa Conrad for services to Māori, particularly kaupapa waka Peter Michael de Blois for services to music Dr Celia Jane Devenish Giddings for services to women's health and education Sophie Frances Monique Devine for services to cricket Judith Mary Dobson for services to the community, broadcasting and historical preservation Professor Bernadette Kathleen Drummond for services to dentistry and education Daryl Kelvin Eason for services to wildlife conservation Susan Elizabeth Elliott for services to the arts and governance Rear Admiral James Leslie Gilmour, (Rtd) for services to the New Zealand Defence Force Kirk Brian Hardy for services to drug abuse prevention and education Dafydd (Dai) Morgan Henwood for services to the entertainment industry and charitable fundraising Professor Patria Anne Hume for services to sports science and injury prevention Gary Rodney Lane for services to conservation and philanthropy Julia May Marshall for services to children's literature Peter David Martin, JP for services to the community, particularly Pacific and LGBTQ+ communities Murray Graham Mexted for services to rugby David Ross Morgan for services to aviation Panchanatham Narayanan for services to multicultural communities Peter Arnold Nation for services to the agricultural industry and governance Gillian Christine Naylor for services to rural communities, particularly women John Daniel O'Sullivan for services to business and philanthropy Dr Fiona Dorothy Pardington for services to photography Dr Susan Parry for services to gastroenterology David Robert Percy for services to fire safety technologies, business and the community Eric Clive Power for services to swimming Timothy Grant Southee for services to cricket Gail Patricia Spence for services to language education Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley for services to sociology John Bradley Struthers for services to cycling, the cycling industry and business Mark William Joseph Vela for services to mental health care and education Jennifer Mary Wake for services to theatre and television Neil William Walker for services to primary industries and the community Sarah Louise Walker for services to BMX and sports governance Dr Richard John Wild for services to animal welfare and the veterinary sector Portia Louise Woodman-Wickliffe for services to rugby Wayne Wright for services to education and philanthropy To be Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur John Anae for services to the Samoan community Ellesse Mote Andrews for services to cycling Richard Balcombe-Langridge for services to business Catherine Juliet Bell for services to food education Dr Santosh Prasad Bhandari for services to the Nepalese community Darryl Bishop for services to mental health Victor Kenneth Boyd for services to survivors of abuse in care Anna Catherine Cottrell for services to documentary filmmaking and migrant communities Simon Eric Denny for services to art Welmoed (Chris) Duggan for services to science education Ronald Bruce Ealam for services to Search and Rescue Robert Tuahuru Edwards for services to the community and governance Susan Ann Elley for services to education Terri Jayne Fairhall (Terri Middleton) for services to the New Zealand Police and the community Allison Daphne Christina Franklin for services to people with disabilities Okesene Uili Galo for services to the Tokelau community Rez Gardi for services to refugees and human rights advocacy Alan Charles Gilmore for services to astronomy Francis Quinn Goldingham for services to outdoor recreation and seniors Elizabeth Helen Graham for services to Māori and education Patricia Pearl Gregory for services to the fashion industry Aaron Mark Halstead for services to Search and Rescue and the tourism industry Dr Nina Emilia Hood for services to education Lesley Mary Huckins for services to swimming Meleua Enda Ikiua for services to Vagahau Niue language and education Martin Kaipo for services to social services and the community Lalita Vanmali Kasanji for services to the IT industry and the Indian community Brian Patrick Kelly for services to broadcasting William James Kermode for services to governance and philanthropy Pamela Margaret Kilmartin for services to astronomy John Junior Kumitau for services to the Pacific community Laurinne Marion Laing for services to sports and people with intellectual disabilities Ross James Lawrence for services to the ski industry Lisa Li for services to the tourism industry James Eric Lilley for services to conservation and the community Janet Crystal-Lee Lilo for services to the arts Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten for services to rugby and the Pacific community Reverend David Elliott Major for services to the community and the State Ngatepaeru Marsters for services to midwifery and Pacific communities Lloyd James McCallum for services to the dairy industry and the environment Suzanne Michelle McFadden for services to sports journalism and women Ian Robert Flockhart McKelvie for services to local government, governance and as a Member of Parliament Grant Allan McMillan for services to education and the community Victoria Mary Mee for services to women and business Eugene Joseph Meredith for services to American Football Allan George Mincher for services to aviation engineering Margaret Mary Mitchell for services to the Royal New Zealand Naval Women's Association Dr Alishia Rangiwhakawaita for services to Māori culture Dr Malcolm George Davis Mulholland for services to health and Māori Khoa Truong Nguyen for services to New Zealand-Vietnam relations and the community Julia Louisa Pearse for services to governance and the community Sunit Prakash for services to the IT industry and the Indian community Dr Maxine Mariri Ronald for services to breast cancer treatment and research Gary James Herbert Rooney for services to business and philanthropy Bruce Winston Ross for services to cycling Charles Edward Ross for services to the community Morrin Jackson Rout for services to the arts, particularly literature Simon John Caufield Strombom for services to war commemoration and historical preservation Veronica Ngarutai Kaye Thompson for services to basketball Diane Anita Turner for services to governance, seniors and Māori Hariata Ann Vercoe for services to Māori, health, and the community Louise Annette Wallace for services to the entertainment industry Andrew Norman Williamson for services to agriculture Marilyn Kay Yeoman for services to education and the community Honorary To be an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Viliami Teumohenga for services to education and the Pacific community To be Companions of the King's Service Order: Dr Christopher Evan Longhurst for services to survivors of abuse in care Tyrone Marks for services to survivors of abuse in care Phillip Wayne Paikea for services to the prevention of family violence and the community Dover Spencer Samuels for services as a Member of Parliament Peter William Tipene for services to Māori The King's Service Medal Heather Jayne Baldwin for services to the community Tina May Barrett for services to the community Debra Ann Bell for services to the community Narendra Bhana for services to the Indian community Marius Jean Bron for services to Search and Rescue and the community Judith Marion Browne for services to the community Julia Mary Castles for services to language education and migrant communities John Albert Coleman for services to the community and sport Lily Coleman for services to the community and sport Ross Melville Cooper for services to rugby Margaret Jean Cousins for services to local government and the community Glenda Gaye Davies for services to the community Aperira Ngahau Davis for services to the community Deborah Grace Davis for services to the community Gavin Lloyd Dennis for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community Edwin John Eeles for services to pipe bands Anthony William Norman Enderby for services to conservation Jennifer Fay Enderby for services to conservation Zora Estelle Feilo-Makapa for services to the Niue community and the arts Penelope-Jane Frost for services to children and social work Christine Ada Gilbertson for services to midwifery Kaiaho (Butch) Kereama Green for services to music Heidi Elizabeth Griffin for services to the arts and the community Allyson Teresa Hamblett for services to people with disabilities and the transgender community The Venerable Sohim Hay for services to the Cambodian community Katerina Hauhaua Hepi for services to Māori language education Nicola Linda Hickey (Nicky Rawlings) for services to Victim Support Luen Nanette Hoani for services to Māori language education Parminder Kaur for services to multicultural communities Kevin Francis Loe for services to the community and agriculture Timothy Peter Marshall for services to the community and waka ama Audrey Myra Mattinson for services to Scottish Country Dancing and the community Annie Elizabeth McCracken for services to the community Reverend Rosemary McMillan for services to the community Clem Burnard Mellish for services to Māori art and music Graham Frederick Charles Milligan for services to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association Fergus Charles Denis More for services to the community and the law Graham (Kereama) Douglas Nathan for services to Māori Terence John O'Regan for services to nursing and the community Alison Isabel Perrin for services to the community and music Narayanan Kutty Pulloothpadath for services to ethnic communities Berry Jane Rangi for services to the community, particularly Pacific peoples Karen Elizabeth Richards for services to textiles history and conservation Papali'i Seiuli Johnny Siaosi for services to health and the Pacific community Rosemary Jan Sloman for services to the community Roberta Jane Smallfield for services to historical research and the community Alan (Curly) Rex Troon for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand Jacqueline June Watson for services to the community and the arts Dr Glenys Margaret Weir for services to health Merrilyn Joy Withers for services to youth and the Baptist movement Yuanyong Yang for services to bonsai and the Chinese community Honorary King's Service Medal Eteuati Fa'avae for services to the Pacific community Siesina Ofahelotu Latu for services to the Pacific community
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
England cricketers ride hire bikes to game after traffic jam
England's players rode hire bikes through London to get to the ground for the third one-day international against West Indies as their opponents got snarled up in traffic to force a 30-minute delay to the start at The Oval. With the West Indies team stuck on their bus, England's players were seen riding electrically-assisted Lime Bikes well ahead of the scheduled 1pm start time to the amusement of fans waiting to get in. They were warming up on the outfield when the delay was announced to the crowd on a murky day in the capital overnight (NZ time). "Due to a delayed arrival of one of the playing teams, who are stuck in heavy traffic north of the river, the scheduled start of play will be delayed," an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement said. "Once all members of the playing teams arrive, the match officials will coordinate updated timings and discuss any impact on the schedule of play." 🚴♂️ England's cricket team found a stylish way to dodge London's traffic chaos for the 3rd ODI against West Indies! Electric bikes to the rescue at The Oval. #ENGvWI — Gags ⚡️ (@CatchOfThe40986) June 3, 2025 Play eventually began at 1.30pm, with England looking to wrap up a 3-0 series win after victories at Edgbaston and Cardiff. Traffic light failures and road closures near Vauxhall Bridge had caused the chaos, with England captain Harry Brook saying they had decided to take matters into their own hands. "We were on the bus for a while, then we all decided to get off and get some Lime bikes in," captain Harry Brook said after winning the toss and opting to bowl. "We were in a little bit earlier than the West Indies boys, but we're here now and ready to go." The West Indies team were staying at nearby Chelsea Harbour, around three miles away. "We probably should have walked," captain Shai Hope said. England sweeps series England completed the 3-0 sweep with opener Jamie Smith's rapid half century paving the way for a convincing seven-wicket victory. Set a revised target of 246 in 40 overs after West Indies posted 251-9 in a rain-shortened match, England sauntered to victory after Smith's ferocious onslaught of 64 from 28 balls. Fellow opener Ben Duckett chipped in with 58 and Joe Root made a relaxed 44 as England made light work of the chase — Jos Buttler joining the party with a quickfire 41 and sealing victory with a huge six in the 30th over. A series whitewash was the perfect start for England's new white ball captain Harry Brook after England had lost their previous seven ODIs ahead of the series. England's players arrived at a murky Oval on a fleet of hire bicycles to avoid local traffic problems that snagged the West Indies team coach and caused a 30-minute delay to the start. But the 24-year-old Smith set off more like an express train as his withering assault on the West Indies attack whisked the game away from the chastened visitors. He brought up his first ODI half century in the seventh over of England's reply from just 25 balls, launching spinner Gudakesh Motie over the long on boundary for six. Another six followed before Motie ended the carnage by bowling him with the next ball, Smith departing having struck 10 boundaries and three sixes in a memorable innings that earned him the man of the match award. "I enjoyed the freedom, having the backing of the team to go out and play that way," Smith said. "It's not always going to go well. It's a fine balance between being positive, not reckless." Duckett was almost a slouch in comparison, reaching his half century in 34 balls before being caught by Evin Lewis off the bowling of Roston Chase. England were romping along at more than 10 an over with their 150 coming up in the 14th over before Root and Brook kept the scoreboard ticking in more leisurely fashion with the outcome already a foregone conclusion. Root, who made 57 in the first match in Edgbaston and a magnificent 166 not out in Cardiff, was out top-edging Alzarri Joseph to his namesake Shamar Joseph at deep fine leg. After a brief lull, Butler then put the gloss on England's day with an entertaining 20-ball cameo. Put in after losing the toss, West Indies stumbled to 28-3 with skipper Shai Hope out first ball but Keacy Carty and Sherfane Rutherford fought back to move them to 82-3. Rain then forced a two-hour delay and reduced the match to a 40-over per side contest and on the resumption Adil Rashid bowled Carty, removed Justin Greaves for 12 and then Roston Chase first ball to leave West Indies reeling on 121-6. But Rutherford made 70, including nine fours and two sixes, before being flicking a shortish Brydon Carse to mid-wicket where he was brilliantly caught by the diving Brook. A belligerent 63 from the impressive Motie in a swashbuckling 91-run partnership with Alzarri Joseph (41) helped West Indies to a total that at least looked competitive. But the total proved wholly inadequate as England laid down a marker for a new era under Brook.
