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Bulletin Board Issue 15December 2009 FROM THE DESK OF ROGER EYNON
Welcome to the 15th issue of Bulletin Board. I promised that I would deliver an issue devoted to stories and anecdotes from Neighbourhood Support groups and here it is. These stories are not mine. They were provided by the respective Neighbourhood Support groups or Area Coordinators. I do research and gather the articles you see on the national website but these are the bread and butter of our organisation. The vast majority of these examples of Neighbourhood Support in the community generally do not make their way to a larger audience. If you want to be part of this end of year celebration - then you know what to do. If you can help me make it a celebration every time I produce a Bulletin Board, even better. Keep me in the loop with your examples and planned activities. For more information of Neighbourhood Support and associated events, go to our events page on our website. You can contact me on: roger.eynon@police.govt.nz or ddi - 04 470 7022. PLEASE PASS IT ON TO YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT CONTACTS Good NewsWell - I said I had a few and this isn't all of them. They aren't much good in my email in-box so here they are. I've taken out personal information as I am respecting the privacy of the individuals concerned but I have left the subject matter untouched: Taupo August 2009Thanks for your phone call and the opportunity to express my thanks to all the 'team' for a job well done. 18 Xxxx Street (two dwellings) has been a social nuisance for some time. However, a disgusting 'party' and its aftermaths was enough to motivate 'the team' and bring about a great outcome. Both houses are now empty. I was provided the name and phone number of the landlady and at the height of the ‘party’ 1.30am I called her and in a very brusque matter told her to contact her tenants and shut the 'party down.' I also called the noise abatement team and they called and spoke to the 'rowdies'. The noise stopped and the neighbours found some sleep. The Dog Control team was also active and took control over a shocking example of mistreatment. Called in by noise abatement team. The Principal of Xxxx School also took a very positive stance particularly about the dog, broken glass and proximity of the school to such appalling behavior. I must thank particularly Grant Tullock, Community Constable and also Neighbourhood Support Xxxx for their perseverance and strength. Xxxx Street is brilliant in so many ways, the people particularly! Timaru September 20091. Xxxx, which is a town between here and Mount Cook, didn't favour Neighbourhood Support until the snow then they realised they did not know everyone who lived there any more and there were some very isolated people who were completely isolated for some time, so after the big clean up I went and visited Xxxx and had a great meeting and now we have nearly the whole town on board. They meet regularly with the regional coordinator and then contacted me with any concerns etc. I always say we are the ambulance at the top of the hill, and if we are prepared and know our neighbours, we are ready for whatever. I also work closely with the Roading Engineer here in Timaru and often attend meetings with him and the road safety coordinator especially when they are going to narrow the street or put in grass verges etc. The members get very concerned that it is not good for them, but after we all meet normally there is a great outcome reached. 2. A letter was passed on to me, the coordinator of Neighbourhood Support, by the Project Manager of Safer Communities, which had been originally sent to Mayor Janie Annear. It was in regard to the ongoing noisy parties and street disorder problem in Matilda and Church streets. I spoke with another resident in the vicinity and she too was concerned so I arranged a meeting to discuss the issues and to attempt to find a solution. There were no Neighbourhood Support groups in this area. An invitation was put in letterboxes of the Xxxx Street and Xxxx Street residents that were affected by this problem. I chaired a meeting of 18 residents along with Snr Constable Bill Phisikie and Jane Cullimore from Safer Communities. This was an excellent meeting where everyone had a chance to air their frustrations, concerns and worries. One resident spoke of having to leave her home regularly so she could get a decent night sleep. There had been over 28-noise control notifications reported to the council over a 6-month period, and a few calls to the Police. We worked on a plan so all the residents were aware of what actions they should take when these incidents occur in the future. I know they went away feeling so much better for having been listened to, and I am sure realised that “together we can make a difference”. We passed on the residents’ concerns to Senior Sergeant Offen and he assured us that all calls from that area would be properly investigated. Phone calls were also made to noise control and their security contractors explaining that the flat in question had lookouts placed at the front fence and when the security van came in sight they would quieten the noise down until the van had moved on again and then resume their noisy party. We suggested they parked their vehicle away from view and walk in. Within a week of these discussions an abatement notice had been served on the address, which meant any further noise, notifications would result in seizure of property and or a fine. The residents were delighted with the outcome, but the most valuable part of the whole exercise was that the residents were communicating with one another and working together on this terrible nightmare that they had been living for far too long. This was to me Neighbourhood Support in action, neighbours working together and supporting one another. I know that collectively we had a "louder voice" which gave us a great advantage in gaining a prompt and satisfactory resolution. And of course they now have formed two NS groups. Palmerston North September 2009Our Junior Neighbourhood Support Programme won the Educational & Child Youth Development award at the TrustPower Community Awards held in Palmerston North last night. Snr Sgt Sue O'Neil and I (Warren Wealleans) were honoured to receive this award on behalf of P/N Neighbourhood Support at the ceremony and we are hoping for good local publicity for the Programme as a result. Rotorua September 2009Thanks for the great job you do, giving us advised & keeping us informed with your newsletters! Thought you might get a laugh out of this: I live in the upper section of Xxxx Rd & about 6 weeks ago I thought I heard smashing glass. So I leapt in my car & headed out of our driveway (leaving our house & shed wide open!) & drove to all our close neighbours (4) where I found no-one home, so I preceded to walk right around their houses, checking that there were no broken windows or forced entry. Finally I drove home wondering what it was I could've heard. As I got out of the car, I heard it again, clearly this time.... ....it was a wind chime I'd forgotten I had hanging in a tree! Oh well...better to be safe than sorry! Masterton August 20091. Have been talking with the Group Contact in Xxxx Street – as a follow-up. This group was formed in May, they are very happy that they formed into a NS Group. The issue of Boy Racers that they were experiencing has largely stopped, they would like to thank ‘traffic’ for patrolling their street, it has made a big difference. There are no more ‘dog’ issues, since they were able to voice their concerns (through NS) to dog control. The residents are feeling safer; they are talking more and keeping their eyes open. They are feeling more empowered knowing they have an avenue to address issues that doesn’t put any one individual in the spot light. 2. Dear neighbours, You will be sorry to learn that the daughter of Mr and Mrs Xxxx, at Number Xxx, had a very bad car accident last evening here in Masterton. After attending to her at our local hospital she was flown to Wellington and underwent surgery today, I understand on her pelvis. Mr and Mrs Xxxx traveled to Wellington last night and will be there until sometime during the weekend. They have asked if neighbours, together with those directly opposite their house, would keep a watchful eye on their house...especially with Friday night coming up when the usual post box hooligans are about, similar to last weekend. I'll be removing mail etc. Thank you for your cooperation. 3. If they handed out medals for fabulous neighbours Joan Xxxx would be on the top podium. In the middle of the night the Xxxx Street resident felt enough concern about her neighbours’ health that she made contact with his family requesting that they check on him. Her neighbour is a private man and Joan doesn’t know him that well, but at 3am one Tuesday morning, Joan noticed his light on, it had been on since she went to bed. While this was unusual most people wouldn’t think too much of it and go back to sleep. Not Joan, no she shrugged off the blurriness of the night and went to her kitchen, hunted for the paper that contained the phone number of her neighbours’ son, and phoned him with her concern. Joan says she was a bit doubtful about making the call and didn’t want to cause undue alarm “but a couple of days before I had seen him and he’d said he wasn’t feeling well. I just kept thinking – what if he really isn’t well?” It turned out that this was the perfect thing to do. Her neighbour had suffered a heart attack. He spent some time in hospital but now is back at home. If Joan had not taken action he would have been unattended for many more hours. The residents around her had recently joined together to create a Neighbourhood Support group. Joan says she’s lucky to live where she does “we already knew each other quite well, but becoming a Neighbourhood Support group really got us thinking about looking out for each other and taking notice when something doesn’t seem right”. When Masterton Mayor, Garry Daniell, heard of this kind act of neighbourly concern he wanted to thank Joan and he says that she is the kind of resident that Masterton can be proud of “Neighbourhood Support is starting to make a real difference in our community, Joan’s kind act highlights the importance of neighbourhood connections”. Joan accepted the invitation to have morning tea with the Mayor, and invited fellow Neighbourhood Support member Beryl Xxxx to join in the occasion. Whakatāne1. Following a spate of burglaries in a part of Whakatäne, a letter box drop warning residents about these burglaries was completed by Neighbourhood Support. One lady rang in response to the flyer – she was interested in setting up a group in her area. She also mentioned a youth who knocked on her front door the day before, trying to sell her oranges. The woman’s suspicions were aroused when the youth did not try to sell oranges at other houses. Information was passed on to Police and later that day Police arrested a youth trying to steal avocados from a property some three hundred metres away. Selling fruit to home owners was just an excuse to check out properties – an MO used by his older brother who has convictions for burglary. 2. A particularly small area in urban Whakatäne was being hit by a plague of burglaries – the offender(s) targeting only garages and garden sheds. A letter box drop warning residents of these burglaries unknowingly included the house where one main offender lived. It's unclear whether the letter box drop pricked someone’s conscience, but within 7 days of the drop, Police had arrested an 18 year old male and later charged him with 10 burglaries going back a month and located all over Whakatäne. Mangere(This made it into the local press - so there has been no need to remove details) Neighbours pull together. Residents of Tidal Road in Mangere have had enough! In recent months there have been several burglaries and prowling incidents in this usually quiet and peaceful road. “We do not have to put up with this sort of behaviour” said one affected resident, “there are ways to take control”. After a few leaflet drops in peoples letterboxes to gauge interest, a large number of residents have come together and formed the first Neighbourhood Support Group in the Street. Together, they will look out for each other and notify Police if they observe any suspicious activity on any of their own or the neighbouring properties. At the meeting they received loads of useful information on how to keep burglars away as well as a customised sheet to record any descriptions of suspicious looking people or cars. Signs have been erected in the Road, showing that this is now a Neighbourhood Support Area and that people will be calling the police if something appears amiss. In Tidal Road, residents will no longer just look the other way – they will do the right thing. "Some of us work normal business hours, while others work shift work or are at home fulltime" said Daniela, the Street Coordinator. "This is perfect as there is always someone at home in the neighbourhood whilst others are out at work – no matter what time of the day or night'. Neighbourhood Support is a fantastic opportunity to get to know your neighbours – who also makes it much easier to spot any cars or people that do not belong or look suspicious. Neighbourhood Support Groups are established all over New Zealand and a great way for residents anywhere to make a difference to the communities they live in. Anyone can get a group started. Contact your local community constable in the first instance to get going or go along to a Neighbourhood Support meeting in a neighbouring suburb. If you want to feel safe in your community, remember, you can make this happen – the residents of Tidal Road have! NelsonThe Montebello Ave Neighbourhood Support group reported seeing three youths on a neighbouring property during the day. They contacted the Police straight away who, with the help of the Police dog, arrested the youths. This was an excellent result to potentially more burglaries. The Police did letterbox drops in the areas of Stoke that were targeted by burglars and the residents of Rosaline Frank St responded quickly and started a new group within a week. TaupoNeighbourhood Support - Party in the Park at Tongariro Domain A cloudy morning on Saturday 14th November 2009 turned into a beautiful day for the Neighbourhood Support Party in the Park. 26 Organisations attended to promote their Services to the community and invite community members to learn more or even try out what was on display. Police Northern Communications Centre (Auckland) attended with their mobile display to demonstrate the 111 system; from receiving an emergency call until it is concluded. The Communications team commented on the tangible community spirit of Taupo and on the part that Neighbourhood Support and Community Patrol members that played at the event. Victim Support welcomed young and old and had their hands full in painting the faces of over 50 children. Photographs were taken to record both the event and the involvement of these youngsters and a selection of which will be the subject matter of a 2010 calendar. Life Education Trust, complete with Harold the giraffe, tweaked the curiosity of the community and encouraged them to inspect their mobile class room. Community Patrols provided further entertainment in the shape of an observation game that involved participants visiting each stand and answering a question or two based on that organisation. The prize was a ride in the YouthTown helicopter and the young winner's excitement was there for the whole community to see. Police Dog Handling Squad attended and brought a young pup with them that completely stole the show after the display by three dogs and their handler. A Kapa Haka group from two local schools received a warm round of applause from the crowd for their sterling performance. Over 300 community participants enjoyed the day looking at the boats, cars and caravans that were on display. The Coast Guard water safety programs, riding in the Civil Defence Rural Fire engine and playing games with the Sport Waikato team and much more gave the event a real feel of interaction and involvement. It was a great community day. St Johns Sunflower MonthSt John is preparing to run ‘Sunflower Month’ in March 2010 following the success of the first St John Sunflower Week held in March 2009. Sunflower Month involves St John, community organisations and other agencies joining with GPs and medical clinics and taking time to share information with their elderly patients about options for living at home safely and independently. The information is shared in a fun way at a meeting and over a cup of tea. Other organisations working with and supporting elderly in the community are being invited to join the initiative and to present at the Sunflower Month meetings. In 2010, Sunflower Month will be run with 100 GP clinics around the country. Given the popularity of the event in 2009 St John expects that the opportunity will be over subscribed by clinics wanting to be involved in 2010. St John Commercial Director Gerry Fitzgerald says, “Feedback from everyone involved with the initiative in 2009 was very positive. Medical practices and other participating organisations immediately indicated that they wanted to be involved again. Sunflower Month is becoming an important event on seniors’ and medical practice’s calendars each year.” We have been approached by St John to present around the country at the Sunflower Month meetings and are seeking volunteers to do this for us. We will provide a brief presentation for this purpose. Those wanting to be involved supporting the event should contact their Area Coordinator or the District Delegate. Next Board MeetingTwo days have been booked At Police College in Wellington - 9th and 10th February 2010
Ngā mihi o Te Kirihimete! Roger |
