EDITORIAL: Autumn Issue 2011
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If you’re reading this you already know that BeachLife was not delivered free to your letterbox this issue. You happily paid $5 at your local store and are settling down for a good read about all sorts of happenings and news about people in your local community.

The decision to start charging for the magazine was not taken lightly but was a necessary move if we are to keep the publication going into the future. The size and quality of the magazine means we simply can’t continue to provide it at no cost to readers – and make it a business worth continuing.

We tried earlier with the concept of a “voluntary subscription” campaign but that didn’t work. From the 750 homes delivered to we had less than 100 responses. And we sincerely thank those really nice people who did send in their cheques.

So for now BeachLife comes with a cover price of $5 and is on sale at the two local dairies. Of course we’re hoping there’s been a mad rush to the shops and the issue is nearly sold out already! We’ll review how the pay-to-read concept has worked as time progresses.

This issue is packed full of news and information and takes us from a lovely long hot summer into the cooler months of autumn. There’s always some sense of nostalgia for each passing summer and I am sure one day people will look back on old issues of BeachLife, as we do with the old Photo News, and reminisce about the “good old days”.

What really amazes me is how many of the new-born babies we presented in the first issues are now nearly three year olds! And we are now announcing the arrivals of their little brothers and sisters. I do sincerely thank all the mums and dads who have allowed us to go with the BeachLife Baby Photos concept – and I appreciate you letting us into your homes and private lives to share your joy at the arrival of each brand new human being – all lucky enough to be born into our rather unique little beach neighbourhood.

On the subject of neighbours, the Mason family arrived home at Christmas after six years living in Australia. Within hours of pulling into their home along Moana Road, next door to the BeachLife office, the family of eight was out in the water in front of their house on a variety of wave riding devices. Surfing, stand-up paddling, kite surfing – I’ve never seen so much energy. A few weeks later daughter Airini had won the New Zealand women’s surfing title for the second time, then little sister Sarah starting winning nearly every surf contest she entered. Next thing we know she is going head-to-head with the women’s world champion, Stephanie Gilmore, in the Roxy Pro back on the Gold Coast. The story of the Mason family is told in this issue on page 39.

The main feature of the issue is a long-awaited story about Winnie Lysnar’s horse riding holiday camp which operated at Okitu from 1955 to 1974. I have thought about writing this story for several years but, oddly, could not find any definitive historical resource and realised information about Winnie Lysnar’s later years was mostly anecdotal – just stories and memories passed along. Then I stumbled upon former Wainui resident and freelance journalist Jo Ferris, who was a “helper” at Winnie’s operation for several years in the 1960s.

Jo jumped at the opportunity to reminisce and the result, starting on page 28, is a delightful and historically significant feature length piece that not only provides lots of factual detail but also gives us a colourful view of a unique New Zealand venture, run by a wonderfully unselfish woman, from a time of innocence long since vanished. Well done and thanks Jo.

Wainui-based strategic research and planning consultant Jennie Harré Hindmarsh takes a serious look at the 2010 New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement on page 16 and asks the question: “What’s in it for us?” She also reports on the activities of a local dune care network on page 15.

On page 36 we pay a tribute to the “man in the hat” – nurseryman Rob Bayly who spend most of his years in the Wainui Beach vicinity, a legend in the garden, who died late last year. And, of course, we say goodbye to dear Muriel Jones – the “little lady with the huge soul” – who died in February at 84. I think it goes without saying that she will be hugely missed and possibly never replaced. Let’s give it some collective thought, and surely we can name one of our reserve areas as a memorial to her and a reflection back of the love she had for this coastal community. In many ways Muriel is just as legendary as Winnie Lysnar!

The detailed story of Muriel’s amazing life was the feature of the first issue of BeachLife in the spring of 2008. That story can be read online at www.beachlife.net.nz under Archived Articles.

On pages 12 and 13 we report on the road works at the south end of Makorori which have significantly altered the quiet, rural tranquility of the Makorori Point surfing area.

At first I was totally angered by the steel crash barriers and the apparent mess they have made of the surfer’s car park and general meeting place, known as” Red Bus”, which I consider almost “sacred ground” to Gisborne’s surfing culture.

But after a bit of research and thinking, talking to other surfers and a meeting with Nikki Searancke of the Ferris Family Trust– I had to agree that just one death on the roadside at Makorori would be one too many. Something had to be done to stop a fatal meeting between a half dressed surfer and a fully-laden logging truck.

We now have to turn this issue into an great opportunity. BeachLife reveals that GDC is bound to an agreement to landscape this area as part of its purchase deal with the Ferris family. There is already a Makorori Reserve Co-management Plan in a draft state at the council which has the broad aim of providing protection, maintenance and enhancement of the natural value of this reserve area for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.

Before they start anything permanent – let’s call for intensive, creative collaboration and consultation over how best to naturally landscape this land to accommodate the needs of all users. We need a car park with a grassed seaward berm allowing room for surfers to wax up and others to sit and watch the waves. We need a large grassed area to become the local “marae” for surfing events – a place to erect marquees and stalls during surf contests, and where families can sit of the beach edge and watch the surfing. But these are just my ideas – let’s get organised and work towards something exceptionally good happening here

EDITOR