Strumming up ukulele talent
A new event in Geraldine aims to hit the right notes in giving less experienced ukulele players a chance to shine.
Summer Strum is the brainchild of Geraldine Ukefest codirectors Fi and Hugh McCafferty who ran their fifth annual Ukefest in July last year, an event which has grown considerably in size since its inception.
Hugh McCafferty said they hope the Summer Strum, which will kick of on March 9, will provide less experienced ukulele players with a platform which they did not really get during the winter event.
Fi McCafferty said it would also give them a chance to scout some new talent along the way.
While the pair planned on keeping the summer event more lowkey than Ukefest, a couple of friends from overseas have got wind of it and are planning on attending.
One was Survivor Girl Ukulele Band founder Laurie Kallevig, based in Kolkata.
‘‘She works in a hostel for girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking,’’ Hugh McCafferty said.
Kallevig teaches the girls songs on the ukulele, which gives them a sense of achievement, he said.
One of the rewards of donating to the organisation - which Ukefest has done during the previous three Ukefests, was that Kallevig would come visit.
While in New Zealand she will speak about her work with the girls and promote the Survivor Girl Ukulele Band’s first CD.
The three-day-long Summer Strum will begin with an early bird jam session.
On Saturday morning, players would be invited to play at the Geraldine Farmers’ Market, followed by a Big Strum at the Village Inn Green. Later in the afternoon there would be the Summer Strum Concert.
On Sunday, there will be another jam session, and things would wrap up with an open mic at the Village Inn.
A ukulele group from Waimate, which Fi McCafferty believes may have never performed on stage before, have signed up to take part.
‘‘They’ll be practising like mad,’’ she said.
The McCaffertys said the event would run at the end of March as it would be a bit quieter in the township, and there would be accommodation available for people that wanted to come and stay.
The pair were both grateful for a Creative New Zealand grant of $1600 which they received through the Timaru District Council Local Arts Scheme Committee in December.
The money had enabled them to hire good quality sound and lighting equipment for the event.
Waitaki River Bridge repairs
The Waitaki River Bridge, on State Highway 1, will be reduced to one lane while it is repaired, the New Zealand Transport Authority says. The repairs started on Monday and were expected to be finished by 5pm on Friday, January 26. Road users travelling through this area were advised to expect delays and to proceed with caution.
Funding applications sought
Applications forms are now available for a range of funding schemes from the Timaru District Council offices in Timaru, Geraldine and Temuka or on the council’s website. Grants from the AD Hally Trust, donations and loans from the Timaru District Council, the Creative Communities Scheme, Thomas Hobson Trust and youth entertainment are available throughout 2018, with several different deadlines.
Superbike racing marks halfway stage
Superbike racing at Levels Raceway at the weekend marked the halfway stage to the 2018 New Zealand Superbike Championships and an end to the South Island section of the calendar. It wasn’t such a good weekend for local rider Harry Parker. The 17-year-old from Timaru only managed fifth, sixth and seventh in his three outings, positioning him seventh overall. Canterbury men James Hoogenboezem and Jake Lewis shared wins in the 600cc Supersport class and strengthening their respective positions at the top of the standings.
Giving community in Temuka
A Temuka 9-year-old’s wish to give to those in need at Christmas had a positive response. William, and his mother Elyse, were behind a community pay it forward initiative in the town. William decided he didn’t want any Christmas presents, preferring to give to those less fortunate than him. His mother said the family had been ‘‘floored’’ with the response from the community, with 51 people - a mixture of adults and children donated to. As the scheme was an anonymous one, she was unsure how many people had donated to it but said there was plenty to go around with every family getting a food hamper, and each child receiving a couple of gifts each.