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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Changes ahead for youth scholarship fund grants
Applications to the Otago Peninsula Community Board's youth scholarship fund have prompted suggested changes to the grant criteria. The board recently heard from applicants and approved funds to two young people. Esme Liesbeth Blaker has received $1000 to help her attend the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in Croatia later this year as a member of the New Zealand team. In her application the 16-year-old year 12 Bayfield High School student said she started taekwon-do at age 8, but a video of board-breaking at a local club sparked her desire to specialise in power breaking. In the years after the Covid-19 pandemic, Esme began improving her skills and increased training hours. "I realised, oh, like, I'm actually getting better at this, funnily enough. There is more than just doing it casually." By last year she had began training five times a week. Working with coach Dean Jenkins at the University of Otago she discovered a "new intensity". Her efforts paid off at her debut national competition, where she won three medals. That success was only the start, as she earned a black belt with distinction last December and was chosen to be part of the New Zealand team at the ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships. The grant will help cover some of the costs of competing at the championships. A second recipient, Liesel Tolson, has likewise secured $1000 to support her plan to study at the University of Otago. The 17-year-old year 13 Otago Girls' High School student plans to take health sciences in her first year, then specialise in pharmacy or pharmacology. Liesel listed her sporting pursuits, from regional and national aerobics events to captaining the school rowing club. She also volunteers as a peer supporter and as a science tutor for younger pupils. "I've hosted visiting international students at home and have been so proud to show them around the peninsula." "I also founded and now run the school's French club." Liesel said many "wonderful young people" in the community were just as deserving of the scholarship, but she tried her hardest to make the most of every chance she was offered. After awarding the grants, the board discussed reviewing the youth scholarship fund. From the next financial year it agreed to split the fund into two awards: an academic scholarship and an ambassadorial award. It also resolved to publish clearer guidelines explaining the purpose of each. The remaining $252.82 of the board's discretionary funds was granted to the Portobello Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Clarity sought over sea lion conservation
Sam Henderson outlines highlights from the Otago Peninsula Community for tackling weeds The Otago Peninsula Community Board has granted just over $1700 to Save The Otago Peninsula to buy tools such as loppers, saws and gardening gloves. Volunteers will use the tools for weed removal and native planting, especially the ''Gorse Force'' team clearing gorse in the Smith's Creek revegetation area. Sea lion management discussed The board has written to the Department of Conservation (Doc) seeking more detail on sea lion management on Peninsula beaches. Although the board was strongly supportive of sea lion conservation, it asked whether a longer-term management strategy existed. Board chairman Paul Pope said after a low point of one mainland sea lion birth in 1992, there were now roughly 30 each year. ''What I would like to see is like a memorandum of understanding between the [Dunedin City Council] and Doc around who does what and how it is managed. ''Let's plan out the season, what's happening, who's doing what.'' The board hopes to invite a Doc representative, such as coastal Otago operations manager Gabe Davies, to its next meeting. The board supports increasing sea lion numbers but wants a strategic approach that helps local organisations work together. Thanks for doctor's dedication The board has written to Otago Peninsula Medical Centre GP Dr Peter Cooke, who is retiring after 43 years, to thank him for outstanding service to Peninsula residents. Funds for museum The board approved a grant of just over $260 to the Otago Peninsula Museum and Historical Society, which is running an oral history project. The museum sought funds to buy a digital voice recorder and transcription kit to interview longtime Peninsula residents. The grant will help the museum preserve local memories for future generations. Youth scholarships extended With no initial applicants for the board's annual Youth Scholarship, the deadline has been extended to May 31, 2025. The $1000 scholarship is earmarked to support a local young person in education, leadership or community service . The board urges eligible Peninsula youth to apply before the new deadline so the money can go to a worthy recipient. An extra board meeting is planned in June to consider any late applications. The board will also decide how to allocate the remaining balance of its project fund at that meeting.
