Friday 13th February 2026
Nicola Grigg and Rolleston College Principal Rachel
officially opened Rolleston College’s new Senior Campus on Monday 2 February, which provides the facilities for students to focus, to grow and to thrive in their learning - with more to come with Stage Two next year. The explosive growth that Selwyn and specifically Rolleston has experienced in the last decade has prioritised our focus on ensuring that we have the spaces to keep pace with growth.
OPTIMAL PLANTING WINDOWS FOR FEBRUARY
Goal
Root Crops
Garden Maintenance
Above-Ground Annuals
Crops with Internal Seeds
Best Dates
Recommended Crops
2–9 Feb Carrots, parsnips, potatoes
10–17 Feb Weeding, mulching, clearing beds
18–28 Feb Le uce, spinach, rocket, parsley
25–28 Feb Beans, peas, late-season tomatoes
Our first outing of the year was held on Tuesday, January 27 with a visit to Ribblesdale Gardens at Oxford. Denise Illingworth welcomed us and guided us around her very large gardens. There were so many highlights - the hydrangeas were so big, colourful and lush with many varieties, a long corridor of trees was stunning and used for wedding and event photographs. There were large varieties of picking flowers, lilies stood so tall and majestic, clematis poked out from hiding, thyme gardens, large hostas of all kinds in the hosta garden, dahlias, a special native garden, rhododendrons, and countless specimen trees and shrubs.
Molly the cat joined us on our ramble, too. Members were able to purchase plants from the well-stocked nursery. An early evening stroll around such a beautiful garden was a true delight, and we enjoyed tea, coffee, and food in the barn, a purposebuilt building used as accommodation but also with a full catering kitchen. Denise willingly shared her love, knowledge and passion for this wonderful garden. New members are always welcome. Contact our secretary at ann.gibson@xtra.co.nz or phone 03 318 8764.
Oliver Carter, Dunsandel Young Farmers
For all your small excavation requirements
· Site & Garden Clearance
· Lawn Construction (Small & Large)
· Driveways Give Neil a call on 022 451 7207 or email neiljudith@xtra.co.nz Nothing’s a Problem! · Hole boring (200 – 600) · Sheep & Cattle Yard Clean Outs · Shingle Supplies
Enjoying a fun afternoon at the Kirwee Bowls Open Day are (from right) Stevie Ray, Ricky, Ariana and Ethan. Club members also took the opportunity to play some catch-up games or have a practice. The afternoon finished with an afternoon tea provided by club members.
Robyn King and Tracy Fickling from Coalgate took out first prize in the Women's Bowls Pairs competition recently. After an exciting last round to decide the placegetters, the winners weren't known until the names were read out. Results as follows: Liz
CARRS Chimney Cleaning. Servicing the Selwyn district. $90 per chimney. Please ph Rodney on 03 324 2999 and leaveamessage.
CHIM Chim. We'll sweep your log-burners flue, check the firebricks, baffles, air-tubes and controls. We're experts on coal-ranges, also sweeping anysizedopenfire.Wequote and undertake repairs, flue extensions and install bird netting. Please phone us on 021939113.
SPOTTA Design. Darfield's digital design agency. Graphic design, website creation, branding and content creation. Phone: 021 025 20864. email: ruth@spottadesign.co.nz. Web:spottadesign.co.nz.
318 7450
ST JOHN Youth Cadets. Wednesday. 5:30-6:30pm for 5-10 year olds. 6:30-8pm for Year 7-13. 4 Bray Street, Darfield.
ARE your accounts taking up valuable time you’d rather spend growing your business or with your family? Let the team at Sterling Accountants handle your accounting and tax compliance—right here on your doorstep. Call AnnMaree at Malvern Business Hub:0212150981.
CARPET/Window Cleaning. Thorough job, good price, quick drying. Highly recommended. Phone/text Robert anytime on 027 299 9599.
Terrace, Darfield GROW your business with NZ Life Coaching NZ. Helping with Business Improvement and Career Development. We'reheretoguideyou,help your business grow & making sure you enjoy every step of the journey. Contact Kieron McGhie 021 276 8311, www.newlifecoachingnz.com or send an email to newlifecoachingnz@gmail.com
Anglican Parish
15 FEB 9:30am Trinity Church, Darfield WED 18 FEB 10am St Ambrose, Sheffield 7pm Trinity Church, Darfield malvernparish.wixsite.com/ malvern-parish
R K FIREWOOD Supplying wood for this season! Old Man Pine, Bluegum, Macrocarpa, Oregon.
TRY THE HOT MIX! All top quality, clean wood. Ph Rini 027 451 7300
GENERAL garden maintenance in Darfield area. Domestic hedge trimming, pruning, edging, lawns and water blasting.Kane0274676613. LAWN mowing and Garden services. Large sections a specialty with catcher or side discharge. Hedge trimming and other garden maintenance services also available. Regular or one-off jobs. Based in Darfield and servicing Selwyn. Contact Granton021619165.
BRIFORD Tandem axle tailor 10x5 with stock crate, collapsable. Hold approx. 20 Ewes or 4-5m3 firewood. Kept in the shed. Rego + WOF. Non/braked. $3700 ono. Please phone Geoff 027 651 5135A/Hrs.
NEED someone to save you some time? I offer a great service on all those jobs you've been meaning to get done. Fencing, gorse control (spray or cut and swab), other spraying, chainsaw work, mowing, and general lifestyle block tasks. We've got the gear, just give me a call. H Donaldson, 027 789 9532.
LEASE land wanted. Selwyn area suitable for cattle grazing. All sizes consider. PhoneReg0275670720.
AREyouinneedofarefinance, firsthomeloan,buyinganew home,investmentpropertyor a property development? I dealwith allthe lenders,and Icangetyouthebestdealto suityou.Ihave30+yearsof lending experience, and I am local. I can come to you. Alan Lover Loan Market 027 2516644. I bring the bankstoyou.
EMERALD FARM Native Plants, locally sourced. Lots of varieties. Call and see if we have what you need. Phone Annie0273702067.
TENDERS, quotes, budgets, increased costs, variations, progress claims, final claims, disputeresolutions.CallSteve -0212644082.
WANTED! Amalgamated Scrap Ltd. Buying cars & farm machinery.Specialisinginfarm clean-ups. Best prices Rod McQuoid - buyer. Please phoneeither0276950480or alternatively0800030712.
RURAL Tenancy Inspections. Also providing Total Rural and Residential Property Management Solutions. Please phone Rebecca 027 313 2270 or email rebecca@ruraltenancy.co.nz
AMMUNITION and reloading equipment. Powder projectiles, presses etc. Any caliber rifle / shotgun. Anything hunting related. Cash buyer. Please contact Rob033425885.
ü Retrofit Double glazing ü Frameless showers
Repairs
Mirrors
Splashbacks ü Pet doors and more
Paddy stumbles across a mass baptism at a river. He goes and stands next to the preacher. The preacher looks at Paddy and asks, “Are you ready to find Jesus, my son?” Paddy raises both hands and replies, “I am, sir.”
The preacher dunks him under the water, then asks, “Have you found Jesus?” Paddy splutters, “No sir, I have not.”
The preacher dunks him again, holding him under for two minutes this time, and then lifts him up. “Have you found Jesus now?” Paddy coughs, splutters, and asks, “Are you sure this is where he fell in?”