New Plymouth News and Views - Jim Hick
A collection of my news-stories and opinions
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Wednesday 21 November 2012
Thursday 27 September 2012
Taranaki Charity Worker visits Uganda
Charity work: Dympna Hart recently returned from a trip to Uganda where she delivered aid and saw poverty first hand. |
Mrs Hart spent June in Uganda working with local Christian ministries to deliver food, clothes and money to poverty stricken children outside the capital Kampala.
The part-time worker at the Good News Centre Christian bookshop on Devon St has previously spent a month working with charities in India, but the destitution she saw in East Africa was different.
“I thought I’d seen that in India, but this was poverty they were living in thatched huts and cooking with charcoal embers,” said Mrs Hart who worships at the C3 church in the city and New Zeal at Okato.
While in Africa Mrs Hart also linked up with children’s charity Imani and took part in three "crusades", delivering food, clothing and money to poor people in rural areas.
“We did a clothing drive to the east from Kampala, almost to
the Kenyan border. Two people carriers absolutely loaded with clothing,” she
said.
Mrs Hart said she felt privileged to be able to connect with
the two charitable groups.
“They’re both totally dedicated. They live in their own
country amongst their own people. They’re changing lives daily, offering people
hope, let alone clothes and food.”
As well as experiencing how the Ugandan people live, Mrs
Hart also squeezed in some sightseeing, travelling to the source of the Nile to
fulfil a childhood dream, and while in Kampala she also visited the
Presidential Palace, home of former dictator Idi Amin.Now that she’s back in New Zealand, Mrs Hart hopes to set up permanent links between the groups she worked with in Uganda and the churches she is involved with here.
“I wanted to see their ministry working, and connect what
I’ve got here with what they’ve got on the ground over there,” she said.
Mrs Hart said her Ugandan experience left her feeling like a
local, and she hopes to return and see how the ministries work is going.
“It’s a given I’ll go again one day.”
Jimmy Hick is a Witt journalism student
Austin Martin Win Gold in Los Angeles
Solid gold: Musicians Lee Martin (left) and Karl Austin had their instruments stolen in Los Angeles - but still managed to bring back the gold from the World Championship of performing Arts. |
By Jimmy Hick
Taranaki musicians
Lee Martin and Karl Austin played up a storm at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles – despite having their instruments stolen just
before the show.
Austin said
the pair were enjoying a few drinks at a Los Angeles bar before the contest when
their guitars were swiped from right in front of them.
“We were having a bit of a good night,
hanging out with some local kids,” he said.
“We played them a mini concert, then they did the old smoke and mirrors
and took off with our gear. I chased them and fell down some stairs.”
The World Championship of PerformingArts is a global talent quest, where singers, dancers, musicians and actors compete
for medals and exposure.
Luckily the New Plymouth duo who use
the stage name Austin Martin managed to get new instruments before the
competition.
The effort was worth it as the duo snared 14 medals, 12 of which were gold.
Austin Martin, were selected to perform
in Los Angeles as part of 14-strong New Zealand contingent of competitors.
Now they're back home, they want to keep up the momentum.
“The plan is to write an album and
get back over to the States,” Austin said, “although there’s definitely some
Taranaki gigs in the pipeline.”Jimmy Hick is a Witt journalism student
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