August 2026

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP The September book is ‘When the Dust Settles’ by Lucy Easthope Lucy is a world leading authority on recovering from disaster. In her moving memoir she reveals what happens in the aftermath and explores how we pick up and rebuild with strength and perseverance.

CYCLING GROUP August Report We have 2 organised rides each month, on the 3rd Monday and the last Friday. We ride mainly on dedicated cycleways around Christchurch and further afield. New members are always welcome. On Monday 17 August we met on Swanns Rd and cycled through the Red Zone on the new City to Sea Pathway as far as the Avon Rowing Club. It is looking great. Then we 5 continued to South Brighton and South Shore stopping for coffee at Dune Café. There were 8 of us enjoying a beautiful morning. On Friday 28 August we started in Halswell and cycled through the Te Kuru wetland area to Cashmere Rd then into the lower parts of Westmorland on to PMH. We then followed the river around to the Tannery and onto Ferrymead Historic Park and then joined the Coastal Pathway out to Sumner and Scarborough. We had coffee at Scarborough Fare before returning. There were 9 of us on this ride, pleased that the rain had cleared to a mild morning.

FAMILY HISTORY How did your ancestor or you arrive in NZ? What transport was used? Is there any record of that journey? The different journeys detailed certainly caused a great deal of discussion as each, coming from differing generations, was so different. There’s more to family history than dates and trees! If you are interested in coming along to a meeting, please contact either Carole or Julia to receive further information.

HISTORY GROUP Continuing our study of Australian History: prior to Federation. This month we read Unit 8: The Emergence of Australian Attitudes. Ros

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP At our August meeting we reviewed the challenges of taking evening sky photos and the recent photos taken by members of the moon some of which showed sharp details but no evidence of the man in the moon was found. We discussed camera settings for taking photos of the night sky and the challenges posed trying to give good focus on foreground objects.
We then took time to photograph a few flowers that had survived the recent weather plus some of the first spring flowers such as daffodils. Colin undertook to send us a Cook Island flower photograph from his recent visit there.
Our next meeting will be held on Friday 18th September at 20a Victors Road at 10am when we will look at portrait photograph including experimenting with silhouettes. Eric

SINGING GROUP Thank goodness for the signs of spring and the warmth to come! And thanks to all of you who have kept coming to singing group over the winter, braving the cold to come and sing in our warm, and now newly-painted, meeting room.
Look out for a blue outside the hall to come, apparently! We have about 25 regular singers but there’s always room for more. Last month we added 4 new songs, and practised a new song round, ‘Waters of Babylon’.
Challenging? Yes, so that’s good ! Do-able? Absolutely! New material I provide varies – it could be a sea shanty, an early (or later) pop song, a country music song, gospel, or more traditional folk ballad. If you like to sing, why not come along and see what there is in our song folder for YOU. I can almost guarantee there will be songs you know and like. And, we sing for fun ! We meet from 2 to 3pm at the Halswell Community hall on the first and third Fridays each month. See you there !
Bronwen