Due to late apologies from presenters on the 10th of October, Shirley and Bernie kindly stepped in and provided the following. Thank you Jean for this summary.
Shirley Calvert gave an insight into her 3 terms (9 years) as a District Councillor. Her goal was to see the completion of the 43 action points identified in the first Cromwell Community Plan 2008. She considered the Plan her mandate to advocate on behalf of the community.
In her first election campaign in 2013, Shirley identified 3 Waters, The Lake and Foreshore management and Senior Housing as issues the ratepayers were most concerned about. There was also strong support for maintaining and enhancing the natural environment through native plantings.
Shirley was thrilled to oversee the native plantings at Stewart’s Ferry on Bannockburn Road, which brought together 10 different organisations. The project that Shirley is amazed about is getting the Lake Dunstan Trail completed, to date some 92,000 people have cycled and walked on this spectacular trail.
Although no longer a Councillor, Shirley is still working on community projects, one of which is the Chinese Settlement at Old Cromwell Town. This is awaiting funding for resource consent – watch this space!
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Bernie McKone spoke about staff shortages affecting all sectors. He told the meeting that following the Kaikoura Earthquake in 2016 some sole owners hadn’t had a break for 3-4 years. Bernie put his hand up to go and help along with a few others, they got a lot done, at no cost to the pharmacist, with no bureaucracy. Three weeks ago Bernie was told about a Pharmacist in Whangarei who had 54 staff, and was open 7 days a week, He flew from Invercargill to Whangarei and spent a week helping out so that the owners had a break. Many people in the health and pharmacy sector are having to cope with immense stress – as are many businesses in NZ seeking staff. We have to think whether there is anything we can do to help.