Twenty-six of New Zealand's aspiring young opera singers will converge on Wanganui from January 3 for the 12th New Zealand Opera School.

As a consequence, the Wanganui public will have an opportunity to see the creative process in progress and to hear some of the country's most amazing young voices.

On Friday, January 5, from 7.30pm, the students attending the school will perform in local Wanganui restaurants and cafes. This is a chance for diners to enhance their evening with a side dish of opera.

On Saturday, January 6, and Tuesday, January 9, at Prince Edward Auditorium, Wanganui Collegiate, there will be two Masterclasses conducted by international vocal consultant Paul Farrington, and renowned New Zealand soprano Margaret Medlyn, with selected students from the 2007 New Zealand Opera School. These Masterclasses are open to the public and are always very popular. Admission is by door sales only ($10) - be early or possibly miss out.

On Sunday, January 7, at 11.30am at Wanganui Collegiate Chapel, there is a one hour chapel service dedicated 'to music'. This will be performed by Opera School students and admission is by 'koha'.

The next day, Monday, January 8, at the Sarjeant Art Gallery, students, with piano accompaniment, will perform arias. $25 entry includes a light lunch.

Opera Week culminates on Saturday, January 13, at the Royal Wanganui Opera House with an evening of selected arias and ensemble pieces. Entry is $25 and bookings can be made at the Opera House.

Donald Trott, Director of the New Zealand Opera School, says of the students, "There is so much for them to learn from mixing with top opera professionals and experts, so they can be truly inspired and work at their craft. It's also great that the public can experience the process, not just the finished product".

When Wanganui's Cooks Gardens hosts the pre-season Super 14 warm-up game between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs, it'll be more than just a game of rugby.

The two Super 14 teams will play in Wanganui on January 18 and it will be the city, not just the teams, who will be out to prove something.

We'll be hoping that Cooks Gardens and Wanganui meet certain criteria, criteria which are still very much unknown. We'll be hoping that, having hosted a game of this calibre, Wanganui will be recognised as having the qualities needed to be a part of Rugby World Cup 2011. Perhaps to be a venue for one or more of the games, or maybe a training base for one of the international teams.

Whatever the outcome, we'll be hoping for some kind of spin-off from this pre-season, but still prestigious game in mid-January. So get behind it Wanganui. Fill Cooks Gardens to capacity and let the rugby hierarchy know that this city has what it takes to be included in this huge international event.

Mobility scooter toilets ready

No fanfare, no fuss, no crowds – just the completion of months of work and the realisation of a good idea. That's how it was at the 'grand' opening of Wanganui's first mobility scooter toilet facility in Victoria Avenue on Friday, December 15.

Richie Minnell, Town Centre Operations Manager for Mainstreet, and Bruce Falk, Wanganui District Council Project Officer, quietly removed the tape barrier and made it ready for the first client.

Waiting in the wings on his mobility scooter was Jamie Jackson, the man who had earlier expressed a desire to be the first to use the facility. It was he who would give his seal of approval to Wanganui's newest amenity.

The mobility scooter toilet was constructed by DML Builders (2003) Ltd after the need for such a facility was put before the Wanganui District Council. It was built as an addition to the existing Orient accessibility toilets in Victoria Avenue. As there are no current legal standards covering specifications for toilets for mobility scooter use, Barbara Lett, of Joe Lett Ltd, loaned a scooter for measurement purposes.

Apart from a couple of minor improvements needed on the sliding entrance door, Jamie Jackson gave the facility the 'thumbs up'.

Mayor Michael says:
"From my family to yours... We all wish you a happy and prosperous 2007"

Back row: Ella (stepdaughter), Ruth (son James' fiancee), James and Lucy (son and daughter), Jack and Rachel (grandson and daughter), Mayor Michael.

Front row: Noah (stepson), Helen and Keith (parents), Leonie and Zoe (Mayoress and daughter).

On now at the Sarjeant Gallery

GIVEN: Jewellery by Warwick Freeman

A survey of the work of one of New Zealand’s foremost contemporary jewellers. Curated by Damian Skinner for the Troppen Museum in Amsterdam. This exhibition is open until February 18.

Photo credit: Warwick Freeman Circle Necklace 1982

Vacancies

Property Officer
Applications close 23 January 2007

Parks Officer
Applications close 23 January 2007

Rates rebates

Remember that you can apply for a rates rebate at any time during the 2006/07 rating year. The income threshold is $20,000. A rebate of up to $500 can be claimed.

Before we can process your application, we need to see:

• Your Community Services Card.
• Evidence of all income (before tax) for last tax year (this includes income from interest, pensions etc).
• Your Wanganui District Council rates notice for 2006/07 and your Horizons Regional Council rates notice for 2006/07.

Eligibility for a rates rebate is determined by:

• The ratepayer’s income for the tax year preceding the start of the rating year and
• The amount of rates and
• The number of dependents.

Holiday services

The following are the closures for the Wanganui District Council for the 2006/07 Christmas and New Year holiday period. However, you can still contact us at any time on phone 349 0001.

The Council will be operating with a minimal number of staff over the Christmas-New Year period. Please be aware that for services such as building applications, we will only be able to do routine processing during this time.

Municipal Office Building

The Municipal Office Building will be open on Thursday, December 28, and Friday, December 29, from 8.00am to 5.00pm.

The building will then close from 5.00pm on Friday, December 29, to Tuesday, January 2 inclusive. Normal opening hours of 8.00am to 5.00pm will resume on Wednesday, January 3.

Information Centre Phone 349 0508, Fax 349 0509

Davis Central City Library

Mobile Branch Library

Alexander Heritage and Research Library, Queens Park

Cemetery Circuit Exhibition: The First 25 Years
The Cemetery Circuit Exhibition celebrates the early years of Wanganui's annual Boxing Day Motorcycle Road Races.

Heritage Research Services

Sarjeant Gallery

Normal opening hours of 10.30am-4.30pm Monday to Sunday and public holidays.

Royal Wanganui Opera House Booking Office

Normal hours of Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5.30pm, resume from Tuesday, January 23.

War Memorial Hall

For all booking enquiries contact Wanganui Inc, phone (06) 349 0380, fax (06) 348 8210

Whanganui Regional Museum

Normal opening hours of 10.00am-4.30pm Monday to Sunday and public holidays.

Whanganui Regional Museum Archives hours of operation are 10.00am-1.00pm, Monday to Friday. Archives are closed on weekends and public holidays.

Recycling

The ‘SaveMart’ Wanganui Recycling Centre in Peat Street, opposite the netball courts, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your cardboard, newspapers, plastic bottles, aluminium cans, steel cans, plastic bags and textiles. Free drop-off.

After hours services are listed in the telephone directory under ‘Wanganui District Council’.