Ashburton Courier: July 11, 2024

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NEWS
Ashburton Courier, July 11, 2024
21
Historic tea kiosk at heart of raceway
SUSAN.SANDYS
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
The Harness Racing Museum at the
Ashburton Raceway has become more
unique than ever.
It has become the only museum solely
dedicated to harness racing in the
country, following the NewZealand
Trotting Hall of Fame closing down at
Alexandra Park in Auckland recently.
Curating the museum has been a
labour of love for Edith Paterson, who
took over as volunteer caretaker role
from her late husband Ron, who passed
away in 2021.
‘‘This was his pride and joy,’’ Edith
said.
The museum is in the raceway’s
historic Tea Kiosk, which is almost as
unique as the museum itself.
Tea kiosks were traditionally
constructed at racecourses as aplace for
ladies to gather, away from the throngs of
raucous betting and drinking men.
But many have been demolished;
Ashburton’s remains one of only avery
few still in use in New Zealand today.
Some of the memorabilia displayed is
as old as the building, constructed in
1915.
There are photos, drivers’ colours,
trophies, medals, books and newspaper
cuttings spanning the racing history of
Mid Canterbury and the wider South
Island.
‘‘The families donate them, they don’t
seem to have space. So here is
somewhere for them to go,’’ Edith said.
The kiosk is open on trial and race
days, for people to view the museum and
have some well­pricedfood and
beverages from the kiosk kitchen and
bar. The quaint wooden building also has
the original ladies restrooms, complete
with seating.
One of Edith’s jobs most recently has
been displaying racing colours around
the top of the museumwalls. There are
140 sets of colours worn by drivers from
throughout New Zealand who have raced
at the Ashburton raceway.
The kiosk it is often used as avenue for
functions. Recently Ashburton Pakeke
Lions Club, which Ron was amember of,
had its monthly meeting there. Today
Edith is asocial member of the club.
Edith said it was good to see the
building used for this purpose, and to see
many visiting on race and trial days, as it
gave people the opportunity to view the
museum.
‘‘It’s open for everybody to get to know
it as amuseum,’’ Edith said.
‘‘It does get forgotten about, the little
old tea kiosk, but it’s serving apurpose
and that’s what we like.’’
Ashburton Raceway’s historic tea kiosk (pictured) is apopular meeting place. Above
left ­Harness Racing Museum caretaker Edith Paterson (at left) has been hanging the
colours of jockeys who have driven at the raceway at the museum. Above right ­
Ashburton Pakeke Lions Club members prepare the museum space for dining. They
are (from left) president Malcolm McCormick, Bob Crean, Dennis Bird, Robert
Spencer, and social members Edith Paterson and Ina Divers.
Long term planning finalised for district
BY JONATHAN LEASK
Local democracy reporter
Ashburton's long­term plan with
an 11.8 per cent average rate rise
has been adopted by the district
council. Ashburton mayor Neil
Brown said it had been a
“mammoth piece of work” over
BUSINESS OWNERS
18 months to compile the 10­year
planning document.
The plan was adopted with
unanimous support late last
month and followed extensive
consultation that resulted in
changes to the plan, contrasting
with suggestions councillors had
already made their minds up,
Brown said. “We have listened to
the community.”
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan
said they considered everything
the huge number of submissions
put forward. “We now have a
Long Term Plan to take us into
the future.”
It carries an 11.8 per cent
average rate increase in the
2024/25 year. It also locks in the
introduction of kerbside green
waste collection in 2026, a
managed exit of stockwater
services by June 2027, a$23.7
million three­court for EA
Networks Centre in 2029/30, and
to retain Balmoral Hall for two
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more years and develop acar
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Meanwhile, Environment
Canterbury also adopted its longterm
plan with an average rates
rise of 17.9 per cent by a12­3 vote.
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