Drunk’s bid to steal Pupils’ kind project for children’s ward truck mars weekend
A drunk Waimate man has tarnished an otherwise perfect weekend in the town, according to mayor Craig Rowley.
Thousands of motorsport fans converged on the town for the 60th celebrations of the Waimate 50 over the weekend but it was the actions of a 43-year-old which have annoyed Rowley.
Police confirmed yesterday that an intoxicated man had entered the High St property of Waimate transport company Interfreight, stealing three sets of keys, and attempted to drive a truck out of the compound.
He was stopped by a member of the public, a Waimate 50 competitor, who entered the truck and took the keys out of the ignition.
A struggle ensued and the member of the public, who has since been congratulated by police for doing a ‘‘great favour’’, was assaulted.
‘‘It’s annoying that we get this very small minority who take the gloss off a very successful weekend by doing mindless things around the town,’’ Rowley said.
Acting Sergeant David Phiskie said the man had been charged with burglary and refusing to give a blood sample.
No other arrests were made at the event, Phiskie said, adding: ‘‘The Waimate 50 was well controlled and well behaved.’’
Rowley said he was especially annoyed to hear a local was responsible, adding that from what he had heard ‘‘the weekend went very well and the crowds were very well behaved.’’
Event organiser Rob Aikman was aware of the incident, confirming it was a Waimate 50 driver who had intervened.
‘‘The trouble is when you have a big event you will always have an element of trouble,’’ he said.
‘‘One of our drivers seen a truck start up and seen him try and get away, the truck got stuck, and he got him out of the driver’s seat, just as well ... he did a very good job.’’
Nine pupils of Beaconsfield School pupils have delivered a special gift to those receiving care in Timaru Hospital’s children’s ward.
The year 5 and 6 pupils wanted to give back to the community so set up a mufti day, with craft and cake stalls raising $300.
They then went on a spending spree to purchase the toys, dropping them off at the ward last week.
Beaconsfield School principal Hamish Brown said the group of 9 and 10-year-old pupils had organised everything from concept to delivery.
‘‘It was good to see them take the initiative, communicate, stand up and give back to the community,’’ he said.
Brown said he was proud of the pupils.
They were not allowed to interact with the children in the ward, to ensure the patients were kept safe from any contamination, but gave the new toys to charge nurse Mark Liddy to pass on.
On the way back from the hospital the group of pupils were already discussing their next venture, Brown said.
South Canterbury District Health Board spokesperson
Karen Berry said the children in the 11-bed ward were grateful for the gifts.
‘‘It was very kind and thoughtful of the kids from Beaconsfield School to think of the children’s ward to donate the lovely new toys to.’’
Over the weekend the children in the ward had already had lots of fun playing with the new toys, she said.