My Account
Dog owner thankful
Helen Nickless, Glenfield
Last Sunday, February 17, my daughter and I and my small dog were standing outside The Coffee Club in Orewa deciding which table to sit at, when a larger dog on a lead with no owner came towards us. I thought it was coming over to say hi as a lot of dogs do. But to my horror this dog suddenly attacked my dog, rolling him over and going for my dog’s throat. A passerby grabbed the offending dog’s lead and I pulled at its collar to drag it off my dog, who by this time was howling in pain. The owners of the attacking dog showed up and took it away. I was too busy attending to my dog to see who they were. They did not come back to appologise in person. I would like to thank all those people who came to our aid during this frightening situation and to the very kind lady, who is a dog breeder, who examined my dog to see if he was all right. Thankfully he was, with just a minor puncture wound to his jaw and a scratch on his stomach. People who had been eating inside The Coffee Club and staff even came over to ask if my dog and my daughter and I were ok. Thank you so much everyone.
Transport option
Trent Lash, Board Member, Age Concern Rodney (abridged)
I noted with interest, the letter from Jill Jeffs, Orewa (HM February 1), entitled ‘Elderly Costs Unfair’. I agree entirely with the author regarding her point on how programmes that are set up for one thing by local Government organisations, have unintended consequences if left as an enduring policy. However, in this case I suspect that it is another case of a financially struggling, government organisation trying to recoup costs within an under-funded and inefficient healthcare system. What Jill Jeffs is clearly not aware of, and probably the Rodney community at large, is that Age Concern Rodney operates a fleet of passenger vans to take senior patients to hospital appointments at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals and also Greenlane clinic. The service is provided across the whole of Rodney District and is based on a philosophy of providing transportation for older community members at rates they can afford – the service provides a round trip from Wellsford to North Shore Hospital for only $15, well below the parking fee charged at North Shore Hospital.
It’s all about supporting our older people and their wellbeing.
Battle continues
Marjorie Baker, Orewa
I read with dismay the story about Steve Caines of Orewa’s battle with ACC in a recent Hibiscus Matters (HM December 1, 2018). I was wondering how this is progressing for him as a lot of people I speak to want to support and help him in any way we can.
Editor’s note: Steve is currently mired in a legal process that could drag on for some time. He wants to see this through before he explores other avenues to obtain his Rewalk. He tells me he has had a lot of feedback following the story in our paper and is very appreciative of this. We will update the story in Hibiscus Matters when the next significant step takes place.
June Lamont, Millwater
What gorgeous beach weather we have had, and lots of lovely walks watching the kite surfers and people enjoying the water. On February 13, whilst walking, I noticed a large seagull and her youngster on the beach. The young gull was obviously distressed and hanging out of its mouth was a fishing line and hook. It had swallowed the lure. It was impossible to catch it, but I was upset to think of the pain it must have been in and death that will follow. I’d just like to remind fishermen to try their best to remember the bird life when the have these hooks around.
