News from the Valley

When more than 500 people signed a petition asking Dunedin City Council to “liberate the loos” at Chingford Park the council took notice, and will now unlock the toilets in the pavilion on a daily basis. North East Valley resident Kaitrin McMullan organised the petition after running an event at Chingford Park. She found the process to have the pavilion toilets unlocked time-consuming and frustrating. “This is fantastic news,” says Kaitrin. “Everyone is very pleased the toilets are going to be open. This is great democratic action.” Chingford Park is an excellent community asset and used by many people, …

Organic gardener Michelle Cox is running two workshops in North East Valley about how to create and support a healthy living soil. Caring for the soil is the most important thing you will ever do as an organic gardener and is the key to producing an abundance of healthy, nutritious food, she says. Her first workshop is about knowing your soil and participants will discover its gifts, shortcomings and challenges too. "We'll do some hands-on tests and you'll learn why soil life is pivotal to the health and abundance of your crops," says Michelle. The second workshop, Heal Your …

An innovative skateboarding programme in schools is the brainchild of Otago Polytechnic student Jimmy Hay, whose passion for skateboarding inspired his community project at Opoho School. The project is part of his third-year study for a Bachelor of Applied Science. As nobody currently teaches skateboarding in Dunedin, Jimmy saw an opportunity that could even lead to a small business eventually. The skateboarding lessons are part of the school’s Discovery programme. With options such as yoga, cooking, digital technology and cardboard construction, it is a time for pupils to explore their own interests and learn self-management. As eight children raced …

Malcolm Law is no stranger to crazy ideas and the idea of running up and down Mt Cargill in the cold and dark until the last runner was left standing appealed to his wackier side. It was also a great opportunity to add some mileage to his current challenge of climbing one million feet (304, 800m) in a year to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Even so, he hadn’t been particularly looking forward to the Crush the Cargill Longest Shortest Day event, but found himself really enjoying it. It was very friendly and low …

It takes a certain kind of delirium to come up with an event in which participants get to run up and down Mt Cargill every two hours over and over again on the shortest day of the year. Add to that a level of cruelty to start the event at 8pm on the night before, and you wouldn’t expect people to bother turning up. However, turn up they did! Last month 26 runners lined up at 8pm to start the Crush the Cargill Longest Shortest Day event at Bethunes Gully. As the very long, cold night dragged on the …

The Transition Valley 473 initiating group meets monthly to discuss how we can make our community more resilient in the face of climate change, environmental and economic threats. We welcome new people to these meetings or to any of our activities. Contact Philippa on 473 9293 or see us on Facebook at ‘Transition Valley 473’. community orchard Our community orchard consists of fruit and nut trees and berry bushes planted on six different sites in Pine Hill and North East Valley. Come and join a winter working bee to prune and mulch our trees! Phone Philippa 473 9293 or …

After three years on the beat Mary Waymouth is passing the newsletter bundle to a new generation of Valley Voice deliverers. Mary delivered the Valley Voice to over 450 homes in North East Valley at the start of every month. Mary says she will miss doing the deliveries as she always enjoyed it, but life has been busy for her lately. She passed on a little advice to the new crew and says she met many lovely people and animals on her long walks around the neighbourhood. Taking on her round are Iris Gallagher (12) and Marian McMullan (7) …

Should the Valley Project apply for funding that comes from pokie machines and other gambling? It’s a debate that has polarized the Valley Project executive board with some members saying definitely not while others believe without this source of funding the future of the project could be in jeopardy. Community input invited With the project’s annual general meeting coming up later this month the board invites community input on the issue and will facilitate a discussion at the meeting on 19 June. The Valley Project is a community-led development project which aims to improve life for people and whānau …

MEET VALLEY PROJECT BOARD MEMBER NATASHA MURACHVER, A COMMUNICATION DESIGNER FROM OPOHO What do you love about your local community? We're diverse and welcoming to that diversity. What's the best thing about living here? Everything's in walking distance, and the hills, views and green make for lovely walking. What do you love to do in your spare time? Pretty boring stuff when I'm not at work. Favourite book? The answer is almost always whatever I'm currently reading (False River by Paula Morris). What prompted you to join the Valley Project executive board? I'd been a reader and follower of …

Nominations for the Valley Project’s executive board are now open! Make a difference in your community and become part of the team who set the direction of the Valley Project. There are up to 12 positions on the board which is made up of community members. The board is responsible for the governance of the Valley Project and meets monthly. This year the board is also in need of a new treasurer as well. Board member Ian Telfer says it has been a great experience being on the board for the past two years. “There’s a strong core of …

Homemade sushi, chickpea curry, sticky cinnamon rolls? What is your favourite dish that you could bring to a community multicultural potluck dinner? Get cooking and join us this Sunday! Try lots of different foods and enjoy cultural performances and kids activities. Try new kai and meet new people - homemade sushi, chickpea curry and sticky cinnamon rolls are just a few of the items already on the multicultural potluck menu. This month the Dunedin Refugee Centre and the Valley Project are hosting a multicultural community potluck complete with cultural performances, kids activities and of course food! Dunedin Refugee Centre …

Hundreds more homes in North East Valley are now eligible for FREE ceiling and underfloor insulation from the government! HUNDREDS MORE homes in North East Valley have become eligible for installation of free ceiling and underfloor insulation and a vapour barrier as the government extends the ‘warm-up zones’ to include more areas. The Warmer Kiwi Homes insulation subsidies are available to home owner-occupiers who live in a designated warm-up zone. Home owner-occupiers who have a community services card or a Gold Card with community services card endorsements are eligible regardless of where they live. Warm-up zones extended Previously parts …