Drive safely on ice
Ican’t believe how fast this year is going, we are just about a quarter of the way through it already and yes, we have had our first frost. Frosts signal the start of autumn and winter, a bleak time for our roads and also for some of our families.
At this time of the year our roads become far more risky, frosts, icy roads, rain, fog and unexpected sun strike. All of these things contribute to crashes and when you add speed to this it is a recipe for tragedy. Please slow down this winter, and most importantly, always drive to the conditions.
Family violence also increases at this time of year as the costs of Christmas and enjoying the summer catch up with us. Financial pressure is massive in some homes and often ends up in violence. If the bills are getting you down seek help. There are many and varied support agencies in our towns and as you know there is always someone to talk to – if not talk to us. I would rather have our staff talking to you about how to resolve a problem than coming to your house in response to family violence. Remember prevention is the key.
As you know my youngest son Caleb is presently away with AFS in Denmark and in keeping in touch with him I am reminded of how big the world is and of how small it is.
Just last week we met Tony from Greenland who has been hosted in Tokoroa as part of AFS and he told my wife that he had met Caleb in Denmark, in fact he helped to sing him happy birthday. Wow, what are the chances of that? At present Tokoroa is hosting four AFS students which once again demonstrates our willingness as a community to share and give. The experience these young people enjoy in the South Waikato will stay with them for life and will be shared and recounted throughout the world. We are a small community but we punch well above our weight on the world stage.
Talking about punching above our weight, congrats to all who competed in the Super Sports and more so to the organisers, well done. This event has been around for many years and for me demonstrates who we are as a community. We are fiercely competitive in the heat of battle but gracious in defeat, well most of us anyway.
First and foremost we enjoy the company of each other and Super Sports is all about the people. Blood, sweat, tears, boasting and bragging, it has it all in truckloads.
Huge thanks to all the support for my last article about the R18 shop. I have heard many and varied tales of the misery that this rubbish has inflicted on South Waikato communities. Trust me in that I am doing all that I can to address the issues associated with the sale of synthetic cannabis.
On top of an increase in family violence, crooks are burgling houses and sheds for money to pay for this stuff. This last week alone I have heard from three independent sources of crooks offering meat or meat packs for sale in and around our CBD. Come on folks, enough is enough. If you see or hear of crooks offering cheap property call us straight away. The item they are selling would have cost you or I 10 times what they are asking for it and I can assure you the money will be going straight to the R18 shop.
The roar is just around the corner again so for all of you hunters out there it is now time to look at where you are going, lawfully of course, what you will be wearing and how you are going to act. Remember that you must always assume that what you are stalking, or is stalking you, is human until proven otherwise. Humans make noise and move in the bush, they even roar like a stag (some better than others admittedly) at this time of the year so make sure of your target before you pull the trigger. Better safe than sorry.
The other thing to remember is that poachers love our forests and they do not care much for rules, trust me they are putting all of our lives at risk. On that note a recent police/forest security operation saw six arrests for poaching, 14 trespass notices served and nine traffic infringement notices issued. Well done guys, it will take time but the message will hit home one day.
Most frustrating is the fact that many in our community know who is poaching but wont spill the beans. Please tell us who they are so we can make our forests safe and allow genuine hunters to continue to hunt. Remember it is a privilege to hunt in exotic forests not a right.
Be safe, drive safe and hunt safe always.