Murray Cleverley was the original MC for the first few events which started in 2008.
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Julian Blanchard will MC this year’s Christmas On The Bay with Felicity Bruce. (File photo) He said about eight or nine years ago organisers brought Clarke on board to replace him as MC to “bring a bit of buzz”. Then a few years later Stevens joined her as co-host, and they had been the face of the annual event ever since, he said. “They were national celebrities, and it lifted it to another level.” Murray said he was “all cool” about the changes to this year’s lineup.
Timaru’s Senior Citizens community support co-ordinator is calling for banks to take “more responsibility’’ for sectors of the community that don’t have the skills or technology to transition to the digital system, as banks phase out cheques.
In a move to help vulnerable households, the total funding distribution for foodbanks in the region by the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury in 2021 has come to $121,900. The trust decided to broaden its support in an effort to combat food poverty in 2019 and set up an invitation-only funding round. After community research and discussion eight main foodbanks were identified and contacted and all eight applied in 2019, and in February 2020, were granted multi-year funding by trustees.. St Andrew’s Food Bank Geraldine, Presbyterian Support South Canterbury (PSSC), St Vincent de Paul Timaru, The Salvation Army Timaru, The Salvation Army Waimate and Foodbank Canterbury have all benefitted from the funding.
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Two Syrian refugee families who touched down in Timaru in June were greeted at the airport by more than 30 people.
Timaru is expected to welcome another refugee family within the next few months as the Government resumes its refugee quota programme. Presbyterian Support South Canterbury (PSSC) refugee settlement manager Fiona Jackson said she did not yet know exactly when more refugees would be coming to Timaru – but was “excited” by Immigration New Zealand’s announcement that in the coming days, displaced families would again be arriving in the country for a fresh start. “We’re ready, capable, and looking forward to welcoming more families into our wonderful community,” Jackson said.