St Dominic’s students were treated to a winter wonderland last month when Ice Skate Tour set up their mobile ice rink in the school hall. The children from the after-school programme were transfixed as they watched, sparking plenty of questions – particularly about what it’s made of - which is not ice! The majority concluded wax – again incorrect. It’s actually made of a type of plastic.

Thursday morning began with lessons for the littlies and proceeded throughout the day and Friday with 40-minute sessions for each class. They were taught the basics of skating, balance, as well as health and safety.

The majority of children started off holding onto a chair, and by the end of the session were skating independently.

 “We’ve seen children petrified of going on and once they get their ‘wobbles’ sorted it’s hard to get them off the rink!” says rink owner Lisa Brogden. “It’s heart-warming to see the children actively learning the life lesson: ‘when you fall, you get up; you fall again, you get up.’”

The rinks are also wheelchair-friendly, as the wheels are not affected by the artificial surface, creating a wonderful experience for those who are wheelchair-bound.

As a fundraiser for the St Dominic’s, on Friday night the rink was turned into a mini disco with activities and food stalls outside the hall, and on Saturday morning it was again open to the public, where many repeat visitors turned up for some more fun.
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Ice Skate Tour has been operating since 2014. It’s 100% mobile and available any time of the year. Contact Lisa at lisa@iceskatetour.co.nz to find out more.

No, it’s not about the Government banning every semi-automatic bigger than a BB gun. It is about something far more destructive to the well-being of community.

I’m talking about the increasing intolerance for voicing any opinions other than the current PC group-think and some people being “triggered” and getting their feelings hurt. Suddenly people have to consider carefully whether they say out loud and discuss what they actually think. Of course we should always have been polite and respectful of others but in the past we have been able to agree to disagree and still be friends. Some people have been rude and not played by those rules of etiquette and that’s when the fights started because they became belligerent.

In the new world, yesterdays oppressed have become today’s oppressors, intolerant of any dissent. Language is being weaponised so those who wander off the accepted path are quickly socially shamed until their thoughts and speech can be made illegal. 

It would be a tragedy if NZ became as polarised as the USA now is, with two deeply divided sides shouting at each other but never listening. Instead of trying to bully others into submission, how about a dose of kindness and agreement to live and let live.
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Do you feel secure enough to talk honestly about your perspective on issues? Join the discussion with BEACON on Facebook. ​

Join EcoMatters every Wednesday 2.30-4.30pm until 10th July, for Cycle and Recycle goodness at the old 3 Guys site, 1909-1949 Great North Road at the Avondale Town Centre.

Cycle: EcoMatters Bike Fix
Got a bike that’s not working right? Bring it to the free EcoMatters Bike Fix Drop-in Session by the pump track! Get tips and tricks on maintaining your bike and pick up free cycling maps. Hop on our BMX bikes and give the pump track a go, or try out our novelty bikes.

Bike donations welcome. Donated bikes are restored and made available again to the community at a low cost. This helps to fund the EcoMatters Bike Hubs' free services.