New Sallies officers visit Timaru
When Jacob and Emma Howan last visited Timaru, they had no idea they would be back as the town’s new Salvation Army officers within a decade.
The Wellington-based couple, both 26, will take over from Majors Murray and Wendy Sanson, who have lived in Timaru for about five years.
The Howans had passed through Timaru in 2009 whilst on tour with the Wellington South Band. He plays the euphonium, a tuba-like brass instrument, while she plays a cornet.
As they would be on deck from January 12, the couple had visited South Can- terbury as part of an informal orientation from Thursday to Monday.
Jacob Howan said ‘‘it’s the way the Salvation Army works, there’s a bit of consultation but ultimately it’s send and go’’.
He has a Bachelor of Industrial Design and worked in project management while at Kiwibank.
The Howans have spent the past two years as Salvation Army Training College cadets and will finish off their training later this year before they move.
Emma Howan was looking forward to her first assignment as a lieutenant. She studied a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in political science and religious studies, before working in several gov- ernment relations teams. ‘‘I’m excited to be coming to Timaru.’’
The Sansons will move to Waihi, at the bottom of the Coromandel, to start their new positions in January.
Murray Sanson said he had ‘‘grown to love the people’’. It had been an interesting start of the Sansons ‘‘hatch, match and despatch’’ assignment in Timaru.
He remembered when he had first met with some of the South Canterbury parishioners and an older man had told him: ‘‘Sonny, you haven’t lived enough to sin enough and repent enough to tell me what to do.’’
Wendy Sanson said they had met fantastic people and enjoyed their time in South Canterbury.
Vehicle crash
A man has been taken to hospital after the vehicle in which he was travelling in hit a pole. A St John spokesman said a man was taken to Timaru Hospital after his vehicle hit a pole on Clayton Rd, Fairlie at 4.38am on Sunday. The man suffered moderate injuries. No other information was available.
Motorcycle crash
A teenager was taken to hospital after coming off his motorcycle. A St Johns spokesman said a man came off his motorcycle at Haldon Rd, Tekapo, at 11.27am on Sunday, October 23. The man was taken to Timaru Hospital with moderate injuries. No other information was available.
Waimate considers recreation
The Waimate District Council has been working on a new sport and recreation plan for the district, which it has opened up to the community. To assist this process, the council launched a new sport and recreation plan community survey to gauge which sport and recreation activities people took part in and what they would like to do in the future. Survey forms can be picked up from the council office, the library, information centre or they are available for download from the council’s website.
Jobs uncertain
Some 15 workers in Timaru face an uncertain future after a contractor did not to seek a new contract to install ultra fast broadband fibre in the district, an E Tu union organiser says. They are among about 50 nationwide whose jobs are affected in the wake of Downer not re-tendering for a fibre installation contract, E Tu national industry organiser for telecommunications and power, Joe Gallagher, said. Downer national communications and brand manager Brooke Dahlberg confirmed the company was ‘‘transitioning’’ its fibre activities and ‘‘some roles are affected by the change’’. ’’In Canterbury we are consulting with approximately 15 employees as part of the transition.’’Chorus spokesman Nathan Beaumont confirmed Chorus contracted Visionstream to take over fibre installations in Timaru this month. ’’However, with demand for fibre increasing significantly, technicians may have opportunities either to move to Visionstream ... or remain with Downer and continue to work on the copper network.’’ Visionstream’s Australian-based communications and marketing manager Louisa Graham said the company is looking for technicians with relevant experience in the fibre connection work in Timaru.