Southern images: October 29-November 3, 2012

Slow trek: John Simon and son Lucas, 9, set out from Bluff as they begin their epic trek of the South Island.

Challenging time ahead: The Southern Lakes Helicopters team heading to Antarctica, from left, pilots Richard Hayes, Chris Green and Oceania Aviation helicopter engineer Dave Gregory.

Leaving: Sport Southland chief executive Richard Hoskin is stepping down from his position in February next year.

St Thomas Aquinas pupil William Hishon 12, with his photo Early Morning Footprints, which won the year 7-8 static image category at the Southern Media Arts, or Smarts, Awards.

Grinners: Southland Girls’ High School year-12 students, from left, Jamiee Thompson, Jessica Wilkie, Keely Sullivan, Julia Stevens, Latisha Lamont, and Anna Calder, from the Young Enterprise Scheme regional company of the year, Smell of Southland, made and sold scented liquid hand soaps.

Keen observer: Tour of Southland volunteer Graeme Bell.

Set for disaster: An example of an emergency kit.

LEAP OF FAITH: Martini Miller prepares for the Southland Parkour open day at the Number 10 Youth Centre. The group hopes to attract new members and change some public perceptions surrounding the spectacular, acrobatic sport.

TOUR VETERANS: Invercargill’s Tania and Mike White, of Vital Signs, gear up for their role in the Tour of Southland as neutral support drivers. They have been involved in the tour in various roles for 22 years.

UNWRAPPING: Treasurer Sharon Irwin unwraps some of the artwork that will feature at the Waikaka Art and Craft Exhibition from November 9 to 14, 2012.

FORWARD PLANNING: Choreographer Melanie Bradley and Invercargill Musical Theatre manager Jason Fraser get excited about the Invercargill Musical Theatre production of ‘Grease’ next July 2012.

MARATHON RIDE: On their way from Bluff to Cape Reinga are, from left, Margie Silich, of Northland, Brenda Noonan, of Australia, and Don and Annie Bright, also of Australia.

HANDLE WITH CARE: Senior Constable Fenton Herrick is encouraging people to be safe and responsible with fireworks during Guy Fawkes.

JAZZ FEST: Verdon College Jazz Street Boys, from left, Ben Williams, Daniel Ferguson, Sammy Seau, Robert Lindsay, Steven Edwards, Gabe Winders and Joseph Winders sneak in a final practice before their Jazz Fest performance at the Ascot Park Hotel.

WHAT-IFS: Invercargill man Marty Keen was emotional as he reflected on the possibility that he could have died when he was attacked by a group of teenagers in Russell Square, south Invercargill.

ON THE BALL: Artist Barbara Bourque is hoping Southlanders will find ways to make Christmas more sustainable. The new exhibition she and her sister Jeannie Dyer have at the City Gallery shows exactly what can be done to make waste festive.

LOAD RESTRICTIONS: A Fonterra milk tanker returns to the company’s Edendale plant. The NZ Transport Agency has granted Fonterra its second temporary exemption to overweight loading rules from October until December 2012.

NEW CAREER: 2010 Gold Guitar overall winner Saelyn Guyton will co-host a new television series that celebrates country music from all corners of New Zealand.

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS: Jacob John, centre, wife Beneta and 2-year-old son Ethan receive a native plant at a citizenship ceremony at the Southland District Council.

OUT FOR A SPIN: Quickstop director John MacDonald and his 1981 Mazda RX7 on the Coronet Peak road. The Fuchs Coronet Peak Hill Climb was revived in 2011 after an 11-year hiatus and is on its way to becoming an annual circuit fixture.

SCENT OF VICTORY: Anna Calder, left, Keely Sullivan and Jaimee Thompson, of Smell of Southland, win the award for Southland Young Enterprise Company of the Year. The Southland Girls’ High School business captured the region’s well-known scents in liquid soap form.

ON TENTERHOOKS: Blue Sky Meats workers at the Invercargill Workingmen’s Club ready to vote on whether or not they accept proposed wage cuts. Meatworkers voted in favour of wage cuts of up to $30 a day.

ALL CONCENTRATION: Competitor Faith Chalmers, 7, throws a softball during the Special Olympics athletics at Surrey Park.

CLEVER AS CLEVER: James Hargest pupil Josh Harrington relaxes online after winning $2000 for his school in the Amazing Idea Search competition.

CLEVER AS CLEVER: Members of the successful Southland Girls’ High Amazing Idea Search groups celebrate after winning $4000 for their school.

CHECK LIST: Rain Espresso owner Megan Breen and Invercargill City Council quality control environmental health officer Lyndsay Philp look at a Food Control Plan in the cafe. The Invercargill City Council plans to tighten up regulations and inspection regimes dealing with food premises in the city.

DIGGING IN: Enrich@ILT pupils, from left, Hannah Morton, Madison Flannery, Hannah Hintin, all 10, and Kate Ryan, 11, muck in at their tree planting day on the banks of the Waihopai River, held in conjunction with Environment Southland.

SCEPTICAL: Invercargill man Ken Kennedy says the city council should be keeping the rates bills of its residents down every year, not just in election year.

MEETING REQUIREMENTS: Construction manager Wayne Ramsay, of Arrow International, and James Hargest College property manager Bryan Hughes look over plans for the remodel of the school’s C Block. The technology block at James Hargest College is having a $1.5 million makeover.

TECH SHOWCASE: Isobel Thompson, 10, and Rhiannon Pearson, 10, walk the red carpet at the ICT2LRN Southland Cluster’s media awards at the Ascot Park Hotel. The programme was a fantastic opportunity for pupils and teachers to become confident and comfortable with digital technology as a learning tool.

PLAY AND LEARN: Tracy Holloway and her son, Jackson White, 2, get their hands dirty at the Mataura Playcentre open day, as part of a meet, greet and learn through play programme.

PRACTICAL HELP: CSS Disability Action southern regional manager Joy Gunn with some of the $1700 of resources that will benefit about 20 Southland families.

PRIZED PRINCIPAL: Ruru Specialist School principal Erin Cairns with students, after receiving her Cognition Education Excellence in Leadership award.

TUNING UP: Jazz Fest co-organiser Ross Ogilvy, with students Celia Blaas, 17, Tom Khanom, 19, and Nicole Jensen, 17, rehearse for the Jazz Fest.

PRIME CUTS: From left, Affco New Zealand chairman Sam Lewis chats with sheep farmers Andrew and Norm Eason and South Pacific Meats South Island livestock manager Keith Hamill at the South Pacific Meats open day. The open day tours moved through the plant, from the slaughterhouse to the marketing department.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Danny Wyatt, a 10-year Tour of Southland sponsor and support crew member.

BLESSED: Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and Te Ao Marama kaupapa taiao manager Michael Skerrett officially open the South Alive office in South City Mall.

CUPCAKE HEAVEN: Mackinly and Eleisha Lyttle choose their cupcakes at the annual Windsor Market.

PROUD: Invercargill Sunrise Rotary Club acting president Wayne Hamilton, left, with Pride of Workmanship winners Luisa Kuresa, Shelley Glassey, Tracey Cole, Stacey Fox, Lissa Erwood and David O’Brien with rotary district governor John Prendergast.

POURING SKILLS: Nick Madden, assistant manager of the Kelvin Hotel, in Invercargill, demonstrates how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness. Guinness is looking for the perfect New Zealand pint, poured in a welcoming bar, served by a bar person trained in the craft, with knowledgeable experience.

HUMOROUS: Tapanui artist Lynley van Alphen is showing 13 paintings inspired by farming and the Tour of Southland. A striking image came to mind of cows and sheep competing for Southland territory on road bikes came to mind. Her idea was turned into artwork, starting with ‘The Finish Line,’ showing sheep ‘taking the mickey’ out of cows as they hurtle towards the line to win the prize.

TOUR DE PARK: A peloton of children and professional cyclists mounted on everything from proper road bikes through to mountainbikes and tricycles toured Queens Park for the Kids Ride with the Stars event, part of the ‘grand depart’ of the Tour of Southland.

BACKROOM WORKER: Murray Thomas, long-time Tour of Southland supporter and man behind the scenes. Mr Thomas, who works as a supervisor at Alliance Lorneville, has been a judge in the annual bike race for about 30 years.

MATES: Daniel Clinton, 9, relaxes with dog Rex at the Rimu School gala day near Invercargill.

TIGHT REIN: Lina Buhre has her calf under control at the Rimu School gala day near Invercargill.

IDEAS QUEST: Southern District Health Board chief executive Carole Heatly, left, and chief medical officer David Tulloch chat with Richard Harris and Karen Duncan of the board’s mental health and addictions services during the Southern Innovation Challenge at Southland Hospital.

LUCKY ESCAPE: From left, twins Jorja and Toni Hughes, 8, and Mikayla Hughes, 9, with the mattress that caught alight in a fire caused by an electric blanket in Invercargill. A fire alarm in the family’s Janet St house alerted the two adults and four children to the blaze and saved their lives.