Whether it’s an opinion piece, an editorial, an event, or a news happening, or an advertisement in the paper – it’s a story. Our life revolves round stories – our own and other people’s stories. The sum of this newspaper is stories.
We never get the complete story – just part. We share the stories on behalf of others and sometimes I tell some of my story with you.
Some people create a lot of stories not because of their position or title, but because of what they make possible and the way they value and involve people. Recently the Coromandel Peninsula lost James Gilbert and Warren Male, two leaders in their fields whose lives told a great story. The Informer has shared a tribute to Warren Male and The Profile published a tribute to James Gilbert and his great achievements for Coromandel. CFM covered both of these men with radio tributes.
Just this last week, Warren Sly from Thames and Noel Hewlett from Whitianga have died and our communities are poorer without them. The peninsula community offers our love and sympathy to their families. I knew of Warren through the Thames music events in which he was involved. He corresponded with The Informer for publication of these fine events. Warren’s life was a great story of community contribution which we will share with readers next week.
With Noel Hewlett, the loss is much closer. Noel introduced himself to Stan and me in our first week in Whitianga, now four years ago. Soon after, we met Nicola, his wife. We became friends. Noel always had a story to tell or a project idea for the future. He was very involved in his community and wanted to keep making a valid contribution. He loved people and cared about their sense of belonging.
Noel was confident that the future could be better than the present and he always found good things to say about the present. He was easy to love and value and did a great deal for Whitianga. We honour Noel’s life in this issue through tributes from his daughter Sally, his old friend, Ron Morgan, and through Trevor Ammundsen with whom Noel shared the projects he believed Mercury Bay needed for its future. I personally believe in the wide scope of his projects – they should come to fruition.
Win a meal with The Great Winter Dine Out
In this issue of The Informer, we are offering an invitation to dine out at least once a week this winter and by putting your receipt of that meal in a box on the counter of the restaurant where you had your meal, you are in the draw to win one of two $100 vouchers at the end of July, or August or September to eat out at the restaurant of your choice. You can choose from those listed on page 5. The Great Winter Dine Out as they are the restaurants who have agreed to be part of this. I apologise that it is only covering Mercury Bay for this time.
It’s worth eating a cheese sandwich at home a few times to then be able to dine out. Nothing will help hospitality more than people sitting down and enjoying food at one of the local restaurants.
