Community backs appeal to tune of $10K
Salvation Army Captains Paul and Jocelyn Smith with Cameron McIntosh, 19, of Oamaru, who spent eight hours collecting for the Red Shield Appeal. PHOTO: JULES CHIN
The Salvation Army Red Shield appeal in the Waitaki District made over $10,000 this year thanks to volunteers and generous public support.
The funds raised will go directly into the community through welfare support, food banks and social services.
Salvation Army Captain Jocelyn Smith was "really, really happy" with the results.
"We had Scouts and the Lions clubs, the three high schools and volunteers from all over the place.
"We cracked just over $10,000. It's great. We needed that."
Last year, the Salvation Army produced over 700 food parcels for people in need. The high cost of living had since increased demand.
Capt Smith said the appeal was also a great way for Salvation Army volunteers to be face-to-face with the public.
"People say beautiful things, such as I want to give to the Sallies, my son's in rehab at the moment and you guys are helping him to get sober. Or you guys helped me when we had no food and got us through a really tough time and we really appreciate it."
Those stories were "golden".
Capt Smith said the amount of money, resources and personnel required to keep up the community support was "big", with only one staff member working 20 hours a week and three part-time volunteers helping with the food bank.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Clean Moves Make Smooth Moves This Moving Day
As Moving Day approaches thisSaturday (SUBS June 1), it's a busy and significant time of the year for the dairy farming community in the Bay of Plenty. The first day of winter marks the traditional date when around5,000 dairy farming familiesacross the country relocate to new farms to begin new sharemilking contracts. With people, livestock, and machinery on the move,Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity Officer Nicky Oliver-Smithis reminding farmers and contractors thatstrong biosecurity practices are essentialto prevent the spread of pest weeds. 'Moving Day is a massive undertaking,' says Ms Oliver-Smith. 'We know farmers put a huge amount of planning into the shift, and good biosecurity and effluent management are key parts of getting it right. Proper machinery hygiene is always important, but it's especially critical during this high-movement period.' 'Unclean machinery can easily spread pests. Just one seed or weed fragment on contaminated equipment can lead to a new infestation.' Ms Oliver-Smith highlightsAlligator weedandNoogoora buras two of the most concerning agricultural pest weeds in the region. These fast-growing weeds can reduce crop value and pose a risk to livestock if consumed. Effluent management is another key focus. With a single dairy cow producing around52 litres of effluent per day, and truck tanks typically holding only200 litres, careful planning is needed to avoid spills on public roads. Key tips for managing biosecurity and effluent risks this Moving Day: Inspect machinery: Check all equipment for soil, seeds, and plant material before moving. Thorough clean: Clean tyres, tracks, undersides, grills, and filters to remove organic matter. Wash down: Ideally, wash machinery on-site before relocating, to contain potential contaminants. Effluent management: Stand livestock off green feed for at least four hours before transport to reduce effluent output. Prepare for transport: Schedule stock pick-up times in advance, move animals near loading ramps the day before, and provide dry feed before travel. 'Farmers and contractors play a vital role in protecting our land and waterways,' says Ms Oliver-Smith. 'By taking a few extra steps, we can all help reduce the spread of pests and keep our roads and farms clean and safe.' Background There are approximately 297,887 dairy cows in the Bay of Plenty as at June 2024. In 2023, 78,300 dairy cattle, hundreds of dairy farming families and large amounts of equipment moved in the Bay of Plenty during the 'Moving day' period of May – July. Good on-farm biosecurity is critical to prevent the spread of pest plants such as Noogoora bur and Alligator weed, which pose a significant risk to the Bay of Plenty's agricultural and arable cropping industries. With one cow producing around 52 litres of effluent daily and a truck tank holding only 200 litres, proper preparation is crucial to prevent road spills entering our waterways.
Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Community backs appeal to tune of $10K
Salvation Army Captains Paul and Jocelyn Smith with Cameron McIntosh, 19, of Oamaru, who spent eight hours collecting for the Red Shield Appeal. PHOTO: JULES CHIN The Salvation Army Red Shield appeal in the Waitaki District made over $10,000 this year thanks to volunteers and generous public support. The funds raised will go directly into the community through welfare support, food banks and social services. Salvation Army Captain Jocelyn Smith was "really, really happy" with the results. "We had Scouts and the Lions clubs, the three high schools and volunteers from all over the place. "We cracked just over $10,000. It's great. We needed that." Last year, the Salvation Army produced over 700 food parcels for people in need. The high cost of living had since increased demand. Capt Smith said the appeal was also a great way for Salvation Army volunteers to be face-to-face with the public. "People say beautiful things, such as I want to give to the Sallies, my son's in rehab at the moment and you guys are helping him to get sober. Or you guys helped me when we had no food and got us through a really tough time and we really appreciate it." Those stories were "golden". Capt Smith said the amount of money, resources and personnel required to keep up the community support was "big", with only one staff member working 20 hours a week and three part-time volunteers helping with the food bank.
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Centenarian Shirley Smith reflects on a century of life and world events
She spoke to the Bay of Plenty Times ahead of her birthday, sharing the most important piece of advice for life she had learned in her years: 'Meet the day as best as you can.' Smith was born on May 23, 1925, in Lower Hutt. She lived in Napier during the 1930s and sailed to England in 1948, spending six long weeks aboard the steamship Mataroa. She returned to Lower Hutt 18 months later and has lived in Tauranga with her family for nearly 60 years. 'I enjoy reminiscing about the past,' she said. Her first job was as an office clerk at Colonial Mutual Life Insurance Company. She also did office work at Railways Road Services in Wellington before heading to the UK. 'I used to clip the tickets for road services and rail services,' she said. 'I worked at Paddington Station, and the hygiene – there wasn't any, it was terrible." She wanted to be a pharmacist, but female pharmacists were unheard of at the time. She began nursing training in maternity and public health at Wellington Hospital at the age of 28. 'I did that for a few years, and I visited people, because they had no Plunket, of course. 'So I had to go around and weigh babies to make sure they were all right.' Asked for the most memorable world events of her lifetime, she quipped: 'I've just got to oil my brains. 'I remember when the first female pilot arrived in New Zealand,' she said, referring to Rotorua-born Jean Batten, who set several aviation records, including the first solo flight from England to New Zealand. She recalled Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and the death of Princess Diana in 1997. 'I was very interested in the royal family.' She also recalled the Challenger space shuttle explosion of 1986, which killed its seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. 'I remember that, it blew up in the sky, and there was a woman in the shuttle.' Smith had five children, including a set of twins; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She married Robert Smith in 1960, the father of her children. He died in 1980. Her youngest daughter, Brenda-Joy Newman, shared some of the many hobbies her mother had throughout her 100 years. 'Mum used to play tennis, she used to do lots of knitting, she was a singer and would be involved with theatre. Newman said her mother 'loved to entertain with her lovely voice'. 'She's been on the stage singing and was involved in her later life with the Skittle band.' 'They used to go around lots of places and perform, and even performed at the jazz festival one year.'
