North Mainland Notes 10.10.08

Community group training

WITH the ever-increasing amount of red-tape and paperwork involved in voluntary committees, it’s good to know there is support and training available for community group members in Shetland.

Wendy Hand at Market House, Lerwick, has a range of courses available over the autumn. She is keen to point out that although the current events are being held in Lerwick, if four or more people from one area are interested in specific courses, she would be keen to see course delivery carried out in rural areas.

In the past many courses have been held at Brae and Wendy is prepared to look at organising training courses at other places.

The following courses have already been organised:

25th October: report writing including OSCR returns, 9.30am-1.30pm.
25th October: OSCR accounts for registered charities delivered by Baker Tilly, 2.30-3.30pm or 30th October, 5.30-6.30pm.
6th November: risk assessment, 6.30-8.30pm.
15th November: making funding applications, 9.30am-1.30pm.

If anyone is interested in any of the courses please get in touch with Wendy on (01595) 743905 or e-mail wendy.hand@shetland.org

Eshaness carpet bowls

Weekly carpet bowls sessions will be held every Thursday over the winter in Eshaness Community Centre from 8-10pm.

Although the club has been running for a number of years now, they always welcome new members and would be glad to see folk of all ages who may want to try their hand at bowls.

There is a great social aspect to the game, and as well as the weekly local competitions the group takes part in Shetland-wide competitions at Brae and Ness Boating Club in the autumn and spring respectively.

North Mainland Sunday teas

This Sunday people are spoiled for choice for a Sunday teas venue in the North Mainland.

Muckle Roe hall is holding teas, side shows, a bric-a-brac stall and a raffle from 3-5pm. The hall will be open form 11am for donations and proceeds will go towards the bairns’ Christmas party.

You could also travel further north to Ollaberry where teas will be served from 3-6pm at the hall. Teas will be accompanied by a sales table and raffle.

Vidlin lunch on Sunday

Here’s a reminder that this Sunday the Vidlin hall is hosting traditional Shetland Sunday lunch using the best of Shetland produce.

Meals will be served from noon to 2pm and diners will be able to choose from an array of Shetland produce including vegetables, fish, lamb and beef.

If you still have an appetite after the starter and main course, the Shetland fudge cheesecake comes highly recommended. Booking is essential – please contact Monique Hunter on (01806) 577312.

Flu jabs at Brae

The recent snow is a sure sign that winter well is on the way and along with winter usually comes the annual bouts of flu.

Complications of flu such as bronchitis and pneumonia are more common in elderly people or those with underlying health problems.

To help minimise the impact on these groups, the Brae Health Centre will begin the annual vaccination programme with drop-in flu clinics on Monday 20th October and Wednesday 22nd October.

All patients over 65 or anyone on the chronic disease register should drop along the health centre to receive the vaccine.

Staff would ask that patients with surnames beginning A to L call along the clinic on Monday 20th October and patients with surnames beginning M to Z attend on Wednesday 22nd October.

Both drop-in sessions will be held from 2-5pm. Anyone who is unsure if they qualify for the flu jab can telephone the Brae Health Centre (01806) 522543.

Hillswick takeaway

Hillswick is once again the venue for Chinese takeaways tonight.

Food will be served from 4-9pm and bar facilities will be available while people wait.

Anyone wishing to pre-order by phone should contact staff at the hall on (01806) 533265.

Tractors down the aisle

The harvest festival service at North Roe Methodist Chapel on Sunday 28th September was a joyous occasion with Louis and Lilias Johnson from Yell leading the celebration.

They were warmly welcomed back to North Roe by the congregation.

Louis and Lilias turned the thoughts of the congregation to the well fed of the world with grateful thanks and conversely, to those who struggle for survival in poorer parts of the globe. In addition to dialogue they used songs, word-play on H-A-R-V-E-S-T and thoughtful reflections.

On Monday evening a harvest social was held in the chapel, with a programme put together by the North Roe young folk. Similarly the theme was the contrast between farming in the richer and poorer countries of the world.

In the main sketches three of the boys drove huge toy tractors up and down the aisle, while two peerie bairns donned oxen-horned head bands, made a link of arms for the yoke, and were led along by another young member of the group.

An envelope offering was made for farming development in third world countries, sponsored by the Methodist Church, and this raised £90 for the cause.

The evening ended with eight o’clocks and a sale of produce, ably auctioned by Drew Cromarty of Lochend. Taking into account gifts, offerings, sales and donations over the entire weekend, £1,022 was raised over the entire weekend.

The chapel friends would sincerely like to thank everyone who supported, decorated and gave so generously in so many ways.

Climbing Kilimanjaro

Holidays for Erik Robertson of Fiblister, Ollaberry, do not usually involve lying by a swimming pool for two weeks – he usually looks for activities and adventure while he’s away.

But Erik has taken adventure to the next level as he prepares for a five-day trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, this weekend.

Kilimanjaro stands almost 6,000 metres high at the summit and is the highest free-standing mountain in the world. In comparison, Ronas Hill is around 450 metres high.

Erik has always wanted to take part in an expedition such as this and looked at various options, including base camp Everest, before deciding on Kilimanjaro.

He said: “I looked at several locations, but I wanted to get to the very top of a mountain rather than the base of the top.”

Although his training in Shetland has given him a good grounding in steep climbs and stamina, nothing here can prepare him for the altitude or the sharp changes in temperature. Leaders of the trek acclimatize walkers with a “climb high – sleep low” ethos which involves climbing from camp to camp and back down in the evening during the ascent.

Temperatures at the base of Kilimanjaro will be over 30 degrees as the initial climb begins, dropping sharply to sub-zero as the summit is reached, so Erik has packed a vast range of clothing as well as his factor 50 sun cream.

The trek will begin on Sunday, taking Erik through changing terrain: jungle vegetation, moorland, scree, volcanic landscapes, glaciers and finally the crater rim of an extinct volcano before reaching the Uhuni Peak. The final part of the climb begins around 1am on the last day ensuring that Erik will reach Uhuni Peak, the snow-capped mountain summit, as the sun rises and dawn breaks over the Masaai plains below.

Part of his motivation for the trip is to raise money for the Red Cross and his total raised so far stands at over £3,000. As well as a sponsor sheet in the Ollaberry shop, Erik has an on-line donations site through Just Giving. Anyone wishing to make an on-line donation should do so before Sunday on www.justgiving.com/erikrobertson

The best of luck to Erik on this adventure of a lifetime and we look forward to seeing the photos on his return.

Charity begins at school

Schools in Shetland have once again set up enterprise companies to help give pupils a taste of what it takes to run a business.

“Da Lasses”, an all-female enterprise company from secondary four at Brae High school, have organised activities to raise funds for the FAB (Diabetes UK) fund, set up in memory of a much-missed school mate, Fabian Richardson.

This morning pupils, families and staff will take part in a nine-mile sponsored walk from Mossbank Primary School to Brae High School. Around 50 walkers will leave Mossbank at 9.15am and hope to reach Brae at 1pm. Motorists are asked to drive with care on the Mossbank to Brae road for the duration of the walk.

Da Lasses will also be selling FAB fund t-shirts at Mossbank Primary prior to the walk and at Brae High School afterwards. The t-shirts cost £12. They would also like to thank the Mid Brae Inn, Welcome Inn and Brae Building Centre for the support they each have given.

Brae High is also involved in the annual Blytheswood Trust shoe box collection again this year. Pupils, parents and friends of the school can donate shoe box sized gift boxes to help less fortunate people in Eastern Europe.

The content of each box should be designed with a particular age and sex in mind in order that complete boxes can be given to recipients. Boxes can be handed into Brae High School until the end of October.
Last year pupils made an excellent contribution, with around 260 shoes boxes donated to Blytheswood via the school.

Maree Hay