Community Service: Boulder Bank Clean Up

On Sunday, my two brothers, my cousin, Dad and myself travelled to the Boulder Bank and set off on a rubbish clean up.  My cousin and brothers decided to slide down rock slides!  I grabbed my bag and focused on the little amount of rubbish to be found!  There were mainly drink bottles, an onion bag, alot of plastic tags and even a small dead eel!  I was very surprised with the little amount of rubbish that I had collected.  We walked about 4.5km and filled one and a half bags in total. This surprised me!

The Boulder Bank is a natural sea wall stretching 13km along the Nelson coast and is made entirely of rocks.  It is one of only two such natural structures in the world.  The other is in Japan.

Community Service:  17.5 hours to date

Mmmm.... where is all the rubbish?

"Keep up Sam"

Trying to annoy Dad!

Not far to go now

Pretty pleased with the lack of rubbish

Community Service: Neighbourhood Food Collection

Earlier this week my brother and I ran down our street and put 70 flyers (see below) in the letterboxes of our street.  So we waited until Sunday and then started our food search!  Dad and my little brother helped me collect the cans, they were on one side of the road and I was on the other.  The first letterbox had sliced beetroot.  A quick look in some more letterboxes and all of a sudden there were quite a few cans and other goodies to fill our bags.  Upon opening one letterbox I discovered a big bag of cat food along with a very generous $5 for me!!  The message on the envelope was "for you to keep Josh"!  

I was very impressed with the generosity of the people in our neighbourhood.  I will deliver the food to the SPCA and Night Shelter this week.

A HUGE THANK YOU!!!!

Community Service:  15.5 hours to date

My Flyer

What a great neighbourhood!

Community Service On ANZAC Day

ANZAC.  Australia and New Zealand Army Corps.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served." Originally 25 April every year was to honour the members of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at  Gallipoli in 1915. 

Source:  Wikipedia

Today I woke up early around 5:30am and marched along with Nelson's current and retired soldiers to ANZAC Park in Nelson city where we stood in the squishy, rain soaked, muddy grass.  We stood in silence, listened, sung, laughed and remembered those soldiers who have given their lives for this country.  After the formal ceremonies, I jumped in the car with Dad and motored down to the Nelson Suburban Club's R.S.A (Returned Serviceman's Association).  I met up with one of the staff and was asked to clear the glasses, cups and the napkins.  At first there was not much to clear but then 8:00am struck and it was all on, with napkins screwed up into a ball, beverages having been drunk and cups with tea stains on them.  I cleared that up.  In no time it was time to leave, but first I met Mr Derek Nees who is in charge of ceremonial duties and Mr Barry Pont who is the President of the Nelson R.S.A.  I got a photo and had a chat, then shook both their hands numerous times.  Mr Nees commented on my firm handshake!

I have attended the ANZAC parade with my family ever since I can remember and will continue to go as long as I can.

The ANZACs

ANZAC For Kids!

The Little Red Poppy

Community Service:  13.5 hours to date

Me taking the coffee jugs to the kitchen.

More dishes going to kitchen!

We Shall Never Forget Them.

"Can I please take your cups?"

Mr Pont and Mr Nees.

A Willys Jeep.

Update On My Garden And The New Pets

Today I went up to the garden to take a photo and noticed that my silver-beet had grown alot since we fertilized it and have had a lot of rain lately.  So I showed Mum and we picked some for dinner, Mum thought they were great so we got a couple pics.  We had to put a net over the young plants because birds and butterflies were attacking 'my babies'!!!  Since last year I've also been caring for our lemon tree by using fertilizer such as blood and bone, citrus fertilizer, Mum's favourite cafe Morrison Street's used coffee grindings and my personal favourite.... plain 'ole' wees!   I saw that on the movie 'The Worlds Fastest Indian'!!!!

My mum with the fresh goodies for dinner.

Look what's under the net.

What's for dinner tonight?

Another tree I look after, a lemon tree.
I water it like only a boy can!

 Just an update on my mice from Natureland....
they are doing well and loving their wheel!

Community Service has gone to the Birds, Fish and also the Mice!

Earlier in the week I spoke to Gail, a manager at Natureland about doing some community service.  So on Saturday at 7:00am, I woke up bright and early, slipped on some old clothes and set off for my four hours at Natureland - our local zoo.

I arrived and met with one of the staff, Stacy.  Stacy politely asked me to clean out the ducklings' container from the sick bay.  I grabbed the hose and some hot, soapy water and proceeded to scrub and scrub until it was spotless.  Then for good measures the hose came into action to just give it a squirt in case I had missed a spot.

After that stinky experience I went outside and uncovered Sadie in the chickens cage and fed her some fresh food.  Sadie was also raising five Guinea Fowl chicks.  Following that I fed and cleaned Tweetie, the talking yellow bird.

My day also consisted of feeding fish, cleaning cages, putting food in, taking old food out, but the one thing that stood out for me was cleaning out the cages of mice and shifting all the three day old mice to the other side of their house.  It made me think about the mice, as their future here as Meerkat food is not very bright :-(  After heaps of texts to my disagreeing mother, we finally compromised and I ended up bringing home two female mice as pets!  I have named them Portia and Star.

Natureland is Nelson's 'little zoo' and has been around since before my Mum and Dad were born!  Dad says it is in some financial trouble and is in danger of closing.  I would hate to see this great place close down as they do so much valuable work.  Please, if you are in Nelson get along and support them and keep Natureland going.

www.naturelandzoo.co.nz

A huge thanks to Stacy, Gail and all the staff at Natureland 

Community Service:  12 hours to date 

Washing out a dirty food bowl

Uncovering Sadie's hutch while the clean up crew do their job

Mrs T the 40 year old tortoise

All the baby mice huddled up keeping warm

Great photo of me and the Tui

The annoying but funny talking Cockatoo - Bloody Aussies!

The one-legged whistling Magpie

Look What I Grew!

Today I pulled out my first fresh lettuces and we placed them in our wraps that we had for tea tonight. The best thing about them was how tender the veggies were.  I am very happy because the garden has started producing veggies!  Yummmmmmm!!!!

Lettuce for dinner

Community Service: Stacking Wood

Two days ago I went and helped my aunty stack firewood.  It is the first time I have ever done this because our family does not have a fire.  I really enjoyed it because it was hard work and also pretty good fun picking up all the little bits of wood.  My aunty found a big hairy bush spider so we safely rescued it back into the bush.  Thanks aunty for letting me help you so I can keep my hours ticking over.

Community Service:  8 hours to date