House full of blokes

Well the campaign is pretty much done and dusted and lots of people have said lots of things about what they want to see for the future of Cromwell and the Central Otago district.  There have been some grand promises made by candidates, particularly those standing for the first time, and there has been lots of debate on social media. It looks like there is a high level of engagement - but current voter percentages would suggest otherwise. We just need to turn the talk into action and encourage everyone in our community to vote. I have really enjoyed being part of the community board over the last three years.  I have learnt loads and think that I have represented our community with integrity.  I think I have provided some balance on our board in debate and in decision making. One of the things that is a huge challenge for any governance board is being sure that we are actually representing the views of our community. Trying to get the community to engage in consult...

The Cromwell Mall - or town centre is the cause of much concern and debate.  Most of the criticism is about the design and layout of the space that seems to have had its heyday in the past and people would like to see it revitalised, rejuvenated and brought into the modern era.  How will we do that and what are the barriers to making this happen? My little video clip will give you a little bit of insight into my thinking or if like me you prefer to read stuff - keep reading.  I wish I had some fabulous answers to a vibrant busy town centre - but I think it is going to be much more important for us to work together with the Cromwell community to find ways to add life and vibrancy to this space. We currently see the mall/town centre as primarily a retail space and there are some successful and loyal retailers who are current mall tenants.  Retail is a globally tricky issue with the prevalence of online shopping options and the proximity of major shopping areas li...

I have written quite a lot about the Cromwell Memorial Hall over the last three years and it has been a political football kicked backwards and forwards for many years now. The previous CCB really thought that they had got the renovation project across the line.  It has then been a truly contentious issue over this current term of the board with the overturning of the decision to renovate, earthquake safety reports causing concern and ongoing debate about what will happen next. The Cromwell Memorial Hall Let's be really clear that the plans to renovate are well and truly behind us - the board voted not to proceed and there is very unlikely to be any appetite for returning to the table to discuss the benefits of upgrading the existing facility.  So what is happening instead?  The hall certainly is still very much in the minds of our community and the issue was again highlighted in the annual residents survey. The decision to shelve upgrade plans was made around the...

My last post was a bit of a reflection on the last three years and I deliberately kept it positive in thinking about the work that I have personally done in the community and about the strategic visioning from the Master Plan that seeks to steer us in a planned growth model.  I didn't really touch on what I would like to see happen next and therefore why I might be a person worthy of your vote. Cromwell - what do I have to offer for it's future? First and foremost I am a cool head in what has been some volatile situations on our board.  I bring a balanced view point and a pragmatism about what is actually going to be a workable solution.  Sure, I've been frustrated by slow progress and politicking but there is no point in holding grudges and looking backwards - it is not the direction that we want to be moving in. So what are the key issues from my perspective?  What is worthy of our time, attention and opening the Cromwell Community Board purse strings for?...

It has been an interesting and reasonably eventful first term as an elected member of the Cromwell Community Board (CCB) - but there must have been some good stuff or I wouldn't have decided to stand again - surely! Fresh faced and naive - Anna Harrison 2016 version So I thought it was timely to think back through to being fresh and a wee bit naive at the beginning of my three year term in October 2016 and actually think about the things that have been rewarding, where connections have been made or progress forged - I think it is probably always best to start with some good stuff - we can all too easily focus on the things that have frustrated, angered or upset. Three years ago the Big Fruit reserve was under construction, one side of the mall had been repaved and beautified, the Cromwell Memorial Hall was just about ticked off for a major renovation and stage 5 of the Gair Ave Estate was being considered for development.  The Cromwell Community Board found itself with four...

I haven’t posted a recipe for quite some time but I’m just home from a trip to Japan where we were had hot, humid weather to a cold, wintery Central Otago. A combination of jet lag and a craving for winter food brought out this favourite comfort food recipe.  We call this cowboy beans because it is a hearty bacon and beans stew. It could be spiced up with chipotle peppers and smoked paprika but it’s pretty good as is.  I like to use the pressure cooker for this hearty meal but it is also great in the crockpot. My pressure cooker is one with presets on it so I use a pot roast setting, check the tenderness of the hock and if needed put on for a soup setting to make sure the bacon is soft and tender.  Ingredients  Smoked bacon hock on the bone 1 litre tomato juice Large onion finely chopped  3 carrots diced 3 cans beans - drained and rinsed. Choose what you like. I used butter beans, canelli beans and pinto beans this time.  2 teaspoons dried basil Ground blac...

I haven't blogged for quite some time.  Things had been ticking along quite nicely, the Master Plan process providing a focus for my work as an elected member of the Cromwell Community Board and moving forward with continuing to build on a strong school community, as a focus for my work as a principal.  The world started unravelling for me in March and my feelings of solid progress being made in my personal and professional lives were rocked - not just a little bit - but to the very core of me. Firstly with the news of my dear friend and colleague Sharon Booth's illness and with how rapidly she went from letting us know there was something wrong to the realisation that her time was very short. Secondly with severe depression for my youngest son that left him suicidal and ended in crisis and an acute admission to psychiatric care.  The last six or seven weeks in particular have been exhausting and challenging as these two realities collided. It is when I am feeling l...