Giving careers a Hell of a kickstart
A nationwide initiative is giving Timaru man’s career a Hell of a start.
The Active in Hell traineeship programme, which has been running nationally by Hell Pizza and IDEA Services for about four years, has reached the Timaru branch this month.
The paid training programme teaches young people with learning disabilities skills to help them transition into the workforce.
Kegan Patterson is Timaru’s first Active in Hell trainee. He works two twohour shifts per week during a six-week programme, with the possibility of a securing future employment. ‘‘It’s been interesting,’’ Patterson said. He works in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and preparing pizzas with toppings, sauce before putting them in the oven.
Patterson hoped to use his new skills now help his grandmother make pizzas when he visited her in Waimate.
He made his own pizza at the end of the shift - Meatlovers or Mordor.
Duty manager Amber Lily has been working with Patterson for the past couple of weeks. Together, she taught him how to make and pull the dough through the roller machine ‘‘He’s amazing at chopping,’’ Lily said. She hoped it helped him into work as he was always busy working while he was at the store.
Store manager Satwant Singh said it was a good opportunity for young people to learn new skills to help them get work. ‘‘It’s not easy to get jobs,’’ Singh said. He hoped to run the programme again, which had been well-received by everyone, he said. Singh encouraged more stores to pick up the programme, which 32 stores across the country had volunteered to do.
About 54 young people with learning disabilities had been paid to train since the programme was launched in 2013, with 36 people graduating last year.
Seven graduates received permanent employment with the company.
Tree removal
A number of trees affecting power lines in Fairlie are set to be removed. According to a post on the Mackenzie District Council’s Facebook page, the trees on Denmark St were the ones set for the chop. The affected trees included a large yellow conifer opposite the Fairlie Museum, a Norway maple behind it and Norway maples opposite the Ayr St entrance and opposite 13 Mount Cook Rd, along with a silverbirch opposite the BP Service Station. Work on the trees would be done by Netcon in conjunction with Mackenzie District Council. The work was being done to protect the power supply to Fairlie. The Community Board intended to carry out future tree plantings of a lower growing variety that wouldn’t impact on the powerlines in the future, the post said.
Community grants donated
More than $30,000 has been donated to community groups across the region. The Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury donated $5000 to the South Canterbury Rugby Union to go towards its women and girls rugby development programme. The Geraldine Toy Library received $3270 towards the painting of its building. St Mary’s Church Timaru’s choral production of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ got $2157, while the Southern Alps Country Music Awards had a guarantee against loss of up to $3000 for its annual event at Easter. Two croquet clubs, the Waimate Croquet Club and Ashbury Croquet Club in Timaru, received $2680 and $1600 respectively to assist with lawn maintenance.
Police notebook
Incidents reported include:
A Timaru male, 16, was stopped while driving on Old North Rd and found to be driving while forbidden at 10.40pm on Tuesday, Senior Sergeant Dylan Murray said. He also had his vehicle impounded.
A Timaru man, 50, was issued with a police safety order following a domestic incident on Forth St at 9.30pm on Tuesday.
A resident on Matilda St reported a burglary which was believed to have occurred about 4am on Tuesday. A person has entered the property and taken a laptop and mobile phone. Inquiries are continuing.
A kerbside collection red wheelie bin was reported stolen from the Glenwood Home on Glenwood Ave at about 9am on Tuesday. Inquiries are continuing.
A Timaru man, 55, was stopped while speeding on Evans St and processed for drink driving at 12.55am on Tuesday. Police are awaiting the results of a blood test.