Last year's Octacan effort caned
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Taieri College students stand around a New Zealand made out of cans the school collected for the annual Octacan appeal.
Teacher Gerry Fuss said the school collected 3200 cans, smashing last year's effort of 2800.
Just over 500 cans would go to the Mosgiel foodbank, and the remainder would go to Presbyterian Support Otago, he said.
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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
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Octacan support ‘huge'
Winter support for those in need is in the can following yesterday's annual Octacan campaign. Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) team leader Jollene Warrington said the event in Dunedin's lower Octagon supported the Family Works foodbank, and she was delighted more than 17,500 cans had been counted so far. "And more are continuing to come in. "Our target was 18,000, so I think we're definitely going to reach that. "It's been a phenomenal, phenomenal day. King's High School student Gregor Watts, 15, displays some of the 3685 cans collected by his school for the Presbyterian Support Otago Octacan appeal, in Dunedin's lower Octagon yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY "The amount of schools, churches and community groups that have got behind this — it has been huge. "And I just think we are so privileged to live in this community. "This is my sixth Octacan event and it blows me away every year." Mrs Warrington was impressed with the support of schools — particularly King's High School, which collected 3685 cans for the appeal. "That's a super effort for one high school. "They were phenomenal, and then they came up and helped unload them at the Octacan collection point as well. "So between them and Taieri College, and a number of other high schools, they've probably helped us max out our numbers. "Each year we can rely on those guys." Family Works general manager Nicole Devereux said this winter, more than ever, people would need extra support because the cost of food and other essentials had soared, and more and more families were using foodbanks. "Kai security is becoming a significant challenge for an increasing number of whānau. "Our data for January to April this year shows that we have had a 53% increase in new clients seeking budget advice and support. "High costs of living, low wages, health issues and housing instability are just some of the factors placing increasing pressure on individuals and whānau with less support services available. "These aren't people living beyond their means — they are people whose means are no longer enough to live on." She said the Octacan campaign was Presbyterian Support Otago's major winter food drive, which aimed to help restock the Family Works foodbank with canned and non-perishable food. About 18,000 cans were needed to keep up with demand over winter until the annual Christmas appeal, she said.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
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‘Father of gardening' puts away his trowel
Nichol's Garden Centre Dunedin senior shop assistant Davie Dijker holds a garden mum plant at the store in Timaru St yesterday. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN Dunedin's "father of gardening" is hanging up his gloves after almost 50 years. Nichol's Garden Centre Dunedin senior shop assistant Davie Dijker, 65, is retiring after working as a shop assistant in gardening shops for 48 years. Mr Dijker said it felt "a bit weird" to be retiring. "I think I'm going to miss the people after seeing all the things on Facebook." A post on Facebook about Mr Dijker's retirement had attracted more than 100 tributes in the comment section appreciating his work. He said he knew a lot of people and it made a difference in his role. He had served some customers for more than 40 years. "A lot of them are my friends. "People remember me from back when I was at Arthur Barnett and that was over 30 years ago. "That gives me a bit of a buzz." He loved solving people's gardening problems and was referred to as "Dunedin's favourite father of gardening". People often showed him photos of their successes gardening using his tips. Every now and then there were photos of their disasters as well. Mr Dijker said not much had changed with gardening in all the years he had worked in the industry except there was a lot more variety in plants these days. He said gardening was in his genes because his father was Dutch. He got his first taste of it doing horticulture at school at Taieri College and started a job at Arthur Barnett's garden shop in George St when he was just 17 years old. Mr Dijker said he had never wanted to do anything else. "I find gardening quite relaxing." Mr Dijker said he loved planting vegetables, especially potatoes. He was looking forward to helping people in their gardens, fishing and offering his services to the Dunedin City Council to maintain its walking tracks after retirement. "I want to put something back in the community." His last day at Nichol's will be on Wednesday.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Last year's Octacan effort caned
PHOTO: SUPPLIED Taieri College students stand around a New Zealand made out of cans the school collected for the annual Octacan appeal. Teacher Gerry Fuss said the school collected 3200 cans, smashing last year's effort of 2800. Just over 500 cans would go to the Mosgiel foodbank, and the remainder would go to Presbyterian Support Otago, he said.
