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The Counties Cycle Classic returns this year on October 13th at, Pukekohe Park raceway again using the world-famous VS track to start and finish the races. Fast become a fixture on the cycling calendar, the event organised by the Rotary Club of Pukekohe Inc. is shaping up to be even bigger and better this year. · Organiser Graham Russell says the classic has again been well supported by sponsorship from local businesses and a grant from the…

You wouldn’t believe why my grandson doubts my sanity. · ‘What did you do in the war, granddad?’ · I looked down at my grandson, about to snap, ‘I’m only 68, not 98!’ and then realised, to an eight-year-old, anyone passed middle age must be ancient and had to have fought at Trafalgar. · His question, I suppose, arose from all the news about Dunkirk on the television. · The end of General Patton’s speech on the war came back to me but I quashed…

You wouldn’t believe that it had never defined me because, once it was gone, I felt its loss immensely. Life is that simple, that complicated. · Major decisions at that time focused on where to meet for lunch, what pest was eating the passionfruit vine, which book from the library to read first. Were the grandchildren being exposed to too many electronic gizmos and not enough old-fashioned print? · Oh, the importance of such weighty matters.…

Shane Thomas never imagined he would one day end up becoming a volunteer junior football coach, let alone winning the title of 2019 Regional Junior Football Coach of the Year for Auckland, that is until two years ago when he found himself an unexpected stand in coach for his son’s football game and he’s never looked back. Shane admits that he was a little embarrassed at first (on receiving the trophy) as he doesn’t coach for the recognition,…

I’m writing this on deadline day, we print in four hours, and someone in their wisdom has decided to waterblast the office roof, think bees, many, many bees all angry and upset, disturbed and buzzing and desperate to get into your head. That is what is sounds like, not very convivial to last minute creative morsels for heroic headlines and inspiring sentences. It did though get me thinking about how we can choose to react to situations as a…

Credited with helping to advance the genre of ‘Confessional Poetry’ in the mid twentieth century; the style of writing that was written in an autobiographical manner and dealt with subject matter relating but not limited to, death, tragedy, trauma and depression, came one of America’s and subsequently Britain’s, brilliant but tortured poet and novelists of that era, Sylvia Plath. Sylvia Plath was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts,…

From his twelve years at Christchurch’s Burnside High School to now twelve months at Pukekohe High School, Principal Richard Barnett has been leading his school into its new chapter and is feeling positive about its successes and the future. As a new leader, Richard has been transparent about his plans and changes for the school that starts with looking at the legacy of the school especially as it approaches its 100th year. He says it’s a team…

You wouldn’t believe it was that easy. In the dead of night, I crept out of my closet-sized room, across the rickety wooden floor. Their door is left open a crack. I peep through; Mother is sleeping peacefully. Her raven hair spread over her ragged, stained pillow. The many lines that crease her face now smoothe in slumber. I hesitate; my throat tightens. The lurch of regret releasing me as my gaze shifts to the man beside her, snoring loudly…

This month, September, a postal vote will occur to elect members to district health boards (DHBs), the governing bodies responsible for overseeing the delivery of health and disability services in your district. It is important to use your vote wisely. Catherine Rose Abel-Pattinson, Colleen Brown MNZM, Geoff Smith and Kathy Maxwell are Team Health. They will deliver Simple, intelligent and effective community health for the Counties Manukau…

The 2019 season is nearly at an end and it has been a challenging yet rewarding season for many reasons. At the start of the year, we decided to focus 100% on local talent at first team and reserve level. For the last three years, we have been nurturing that talent, building their experience and their ability to play. This season they were ready to play in the NRFL Division 2, and Senior Men’s Head Coach Tracy Wrigley and her team, which…