Reporter’s Diary (Press, 7 September 1981)

Meals on Wheels are now being airlifted daily to 16 residents of Waiheke Island, with meals prepared at the National Women’s Hospital in Auckland. The process involves transferring the meals by courier van to Mechanics Bay and then flying them via See Bee Air floatplane to either Surfdale or Oneroa, depending on wind conditions. Red Cross volunteers collect the meals upon arrival at the beach and deliver them throughout the island. The entire process takes about two hours, ensuring that the food remains at the right temperature in insulated containers. However, inclement weather can disrupt flights, leading to local rest homes providing alternative meals if necessary. The operation relies on about 60 flexible volunteers who must adapt to unexpected pick-up locations. In another note, efforts by a small team at Canterbury University are underway to document personal experiences related to the controversial Springbok tour. So far, around ten contributions have been collected from various individuals, including a sharemilker from Taranaki and school teachers. Mrs Elizabeth Gordon, part of the initiative, expressed a desire to gather personal writings to enrich understanding of the event beyond what is reported in newspapers. Those wishing to contribute are encouraged to contact Peter Simpson, Mrs Gordon, or Patrick Evan at the university's English Department. On the topic of legal matters, the New Zealand gay rights magazine "Pink Triangle" reported that same-sex marriages might soon be legalised in Sweden. A parliamentary committee has recommended the legal recognition of homosexual marriages, and the Swedish Parliament plans to draft legislation based on this recommendation before 1982. The committee suggested a clear legal framework concerning issues like heredity, joint taxation, pensions for surviving partners, and rights to social services benefits. Notably, in 1873, Swedish Parliament accepted same-sex couples into society, and Sweden was the first nation to reject the World Health Organisation’s classification of homosexuality as a mental illness. An amusing incident occurred recently with a young bus passenger who attempted to travel from a bus stop to New Brighton. Upon requesting a ticket, the driver clipped it off but required payment. The boy, presumably around 12, handed over a 50c piece, resulting in the return of change consisting of one-cent coins, much to the amusement of other passengers. Lastly, a reader shared some amusing examples of the jargon used by real estate agents. These included phrases like "distinctive," referring to an eccentric property built in 1931, and "ideal for redevelopment," implying the current owner could not secure planning permission for improvements. Other descriptions included terms like “idyllic,” hinting at low beams and dry rot, or "near public transport," which humorously indicated the property's proximity to a busy railway line.

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