The search for three missing climbers on Aoraki/Mt Cook remains on hold and Sevu Reece has been discharged without conviction following an incident at a Cup Day party last year.
For four years, passionate Rotoruagardener Rob Bellingham has lovingly tended and expanded a community garden that helps feed struggling families.
But now, the 80-year-old retired Baptist minister needs someone to fill his gumboots as he prepares to meet his maker after a “fabulous life”.
Bellingham, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer four years ago. Despite treatment, the cancer has spread and his prognosis has become terminal.
He stepped down three months ago as co-ordinator of the community garden at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ngongotahā – a position he held for three years.
Rotorua retiree Rob Bellingham is seeking a replacement co-ordinator for the community garden at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ngongotahā.
The production of vegetables was “prolific”, including silverbeet, spinach, beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, leeks, garlic, bok choy, broad beans, celery, beetroot, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, rhubarb, carrots, lettuce and passionfruit.
He enjoyed “seeing things grow” and “knowing they’re organic and very healthy”.
“We’ve just come through spring, and so I’ve been putting in about 20 hours a week weeding and harvesting.”
However, “living with cancer, it’s sort of beyond my capacity ... I’m weak and slow”.
Bellingham said the garden needed more participation, ideally from clients, to be sustainable.
He was also looking for a new co-ordinator to replace him.
