Editorial: Marlborough's shining lights

Anyone who watched the Attitude Awards on television on Sunday night would have been in for a treat.

Included in the awards was Marlborough company Blenheim Foods, which was acknowledged for its employment policies towards the disabled.

Not broadcast were comments from Television New Zealand presenter Peter Williams, who publicly distanced himself for comments made recently by the channel's breakfast television host Paul Henry.

Congratulations to Mr Williams for his stand. Enough has probably been said about the detail of Paul Henry's comments.

But it is possible that the best answer to Mr Henry's musings is something like the Attitude Awards.

Blenheim Foods won the employer award on the night, sponsored by ACC. Shelly and Mark Witchalls were acknowledged for the "support, commitment and innovative" approach taken to the employment of New Zealanders with disabilities.

Specifically, the company has been applauded for putting people ahead of wringing profit out of every pore of the company, such as using people in jobs instead of automated machines.

Accepting the award, the couple gave a nod to their daughter, Emily. The husband and wife have firsthand experience of the barriers that exist for people with disabilities – Emily, 14, has autism.

The awards are designed to recognise the achievement of people overlooked by society. Or in some cases scorned. They did their job very well.

As are the people behind the Selmes Garden Centre project. On Friday organisers of this scheme held a thank you evening for all the people who have supported and assisted them in recent years.

Selmes Garden Centre was re-born after IHC decided to close down the nursery which employed disabled people. A group of local people got together to try to keep the project going. New land was found, and the people who bought the Selmes Rd location allowed it to carry on for some time.

The re-located Selmes Garden Centre opened in November at its new location on Battys Rd, after 21 years association at Selmes Rd, Rapaura.

The project has been a credit to Marlborough and those who decided that such a successful venture, that supplied jobs and independence, was worth fighting for.

But there was also a warning on the night. A project such as this needs ongoing support and to this end a Friends of Selmes Garden will be formed.

While schemes like this often start with much razzle dazzle, unfortunately support can taper off as the years go by.

Some jobs, such as administration, need a great deal of effort. The Friends organisation is designed to share the load.

Hopefully both the Selmes Garden Centre and Blenheim Foods will prosper for some time to come. They are an asset to Marlborough.

- The Marlborough Express

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