Raetihi centre fine example of local unity

Last weekend I attended the fifth birthday of the Nancy Winter Early Childhood Centre in Raetihi.

There were a number of members of the Winter family, whose mother the centre was named after, present, and they presented a memento of hers to the centre. Nancy Winter played an active role in the Raetihi community and was strongly involved in the activities and education of young people.

This centre is a great example of what can be done by a determined, united community who own and operate a centre forlocal pre-schoolers.

The Waimarino area is quite a way from other parts of the country and you can imagine my concern when thinking I would fill up with petrol in Raetihi before leaving to return home through Wanganui, the shortest route from there to Bulls by some 15kms and I find the power off and no petrol anywhere.

I drive on to Ohakune to find that the petrol station is being rebuilt and is closed.

So stretching the tank even further I decide to head for Waiouru where I find the new Z petrol station and get well looked after, car filled with petrol, oil checked, windscreen washed, tyres checked and pumped up and then head for home.

Other items of interest this week have been the release of a positive report by the International Monetary Fund on the Government's measures to control debt, and at the same time allow sufficient latitude to allow our economy to continue to rebuild.

This is what the Government has been concentrating on and it seems it is working as well as possible in the difficult economic times we live in.

One last thing: Fantastic Air Show at Ohakea for those that got there.

Hard to believe so many people would want to go and the Air Force put on a great day for all despite underestimating their own popularity.