Smokin': The Waimarie gets under way on the Whanganui River.
Hospital help
Exhausted from trying to complete a lengthy and protracted daily chore a few weeks ago, when I got up this particular Monday morning after yet another very uncomfortable night, I realised I was indeed not well.
I rang my health provider, Gonville Health, and spoke to Nurse Sonya, explaining my situation, expecting perhaps that some medication would be sent for me to our local chemist. Instead, she sent St John Ambulance, who on prompt arrival set to measuring my vital signs whilst administering other relieving assistance.
I was then able to board the ambulance for the fastest ride backwards I've ever had to Wanganui and to the Hospital's Emergency Department.
There I was placed under the care of Dr Caruso and his team of doctors and nurses, where numerous tests and medications were applied, and then later in the day I was sent up to bed in the Medical Ward.
For the next four days I was given the very best help and treatment by Dr Radhakrishna, the alternating shifts of busy nursing staff, and those other members of the hospital staff whose quiet and cheerful work also contributes to the patients' welfare.
While I realise our health system has been under great strain, I humbly wish to convey to all those who cared for me over those five days, my most deep and sincere thanks.
ROSS VALLELY
Waverley
Toy Run thanks
As one of the small group of Ulysses Motorcycle Club Whanganui Branch who organised the Annual Toy Run this year to collect toys and raise money for the Salvation Army in order to help make Christmas for a lot of underprivileged children in the area better, I wish to personally thank all of the motorcyclists and others who attended the event and donated both toys and money to a worthwhile cause.
This was the best turnout we have had in a long time, and it has grown steadily in numbers and donations the three years I have been involved.
I also wish to personally thank the rest of the team involved, without whom the event simply would not have happened.
ROD ANDERSON
Whanganui
Riverboat smoke
When we have a "smokefree policy" at and around the town basin and city centre, why do we have the Waimarie belching thick, black, unhealthy smoke over the area?
JEAN MCDAVITT
Whanganui
No-work days
Can Mayor Hamish — who says he wants two days a year when people don't have to work — tell us how to feed the kids, chooks, pigs, horses, dogs, milk the cows, process the milk, man the garden centres and petrol stations and get all this done without work?
Or is he just insulated from the real world?
G R SCOWN
Whanganui
Hospital art
Re Doug Price's letter on hospital art, I should like to thank him for his kind comments but feel I must reassure him that the painting he describes in WAM is not one of my husband's art works.
I, too, wonder about the suitability of the subject matter in such surroundings. My husband's paintings have been mainly landscapes to bring the outside in when one is confined to bed.
FIONA DONNE
Aramoho
Colonial history
I see by the review of Anne Salmond's book, The Tears of Rangi, in Saturday's Chronicle, that we Maori are still captives of colonial history. Quote: "It starts 600 years ago when Polynesian explorers arrived in Aotearoa".
No, if people have been in Australia for around 60,000 years they would certainly have known that there was land in this direction by the departure and arrival of migrating birds.
The Polynesians and their ancestors were an adventurous, confident people who regarded the ocean as their home.
Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (The great ocean of Kiwa) was, and still is, what we might call our "kainga tūturu"or original home. So do we really think they would have taken 54,000 years to decide to sail west to see this wonderful land and settle here?
No, and neither did we relinquish our rights to Tangaroa when a treaty was signed.
So the reality must be that we may declare a rahui on seabed mining and indeed commercial fishing, the latter being unsustainable in its modern form.
POTONGA NEILSON
Castlecliff
Library stalwart
For some time numbers of low vision people in Wanganui have had the services of a lovely woman called Carol Tong from the Wanganui District Library.
Not only does she get to know our favourite authors, but she delivers and collects our audiobooks to the door.
Sadly, she is going to retire, and I sincerely hope the library can find someone as helpful, knowledgeable and friendly as Carol to replace her.
JENNIFER NIXON
St John's Hill
Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz