GUNDRY'S GRUMBLES with Simon Gundry

Here it is, what we've been waiting for...

Simon Gundry is a Devonport and North Shore identity, and character, who is known for calling a spade a spade. He is a director of contracting company Gill & Gundry, is an enthusiastic and active sailor (past crew-member of Ceramco New Zealand and Lion New Zealand in Whitbread Round The World races and Shockwave in Admiral’s Cup) and is a life member of the North Shore Rugby Football Club. This is his regular and lively contribution to CHANNEL.

Okay, here we go – the Rugby World Cup has started. It’s been a long time in the making, with so much work having been done by so many people.
It’s one of the great opportunities to put our small country on the world map, please let’s not miss this chance, but embrace it and show these thousands of visitors touring our country what a wonderful place we have here, and what a truly great host country we can be. My feelings are, these people who visit us should leave here having had a splendid time, full of enthusiasm to return, and telling everyone on their return to their homes what a great country this is.
I personally am looking forward to the next few weeks, with some great rugby to watch, and visitors and friends coming from overseas for the event. As we all know, within a blink of an eye Christmas will be upon us and the Rugby World Cup will be a fading memory – so let’s enjoy it while it’s here.
I read the other day, some Council official proposed the return of trams running from Devonport to Takapuna and Bayswater to Takapuna, as they did many generations ago. I can’t believe the thinking of some people. Can you believe the chaos up Lake Road, with a set of tram tracks and a tram slowly plying its way to Takapuna or Devonport? Why don’t these people get into the real world? Before opening their mouths, they should think of the ramifications of such stupid ideas. In fact when I read it, I thought, “Dear God, what is he thinking?” Just imagine the scenario, wet Friday afternoon, people trying to get in and out of Devonport and a tram running down the middle of the road at 15 kms per hour, people hanging out of it like you see in San Francisco, wind and rain beating down on them, and battle weary Lake Road commuters hurling abuse at them – what a joke. Could you imagine another three years of absolute mayhem, as our beloved roading contractors dig up Lake Road yet again to put in the tram tracks? I think the Council official who thought of this idea should concentrate on the Council providing core services and nothing more, instead of grandiose plans that are never going to eventuate.
I was down in Devonport recently, and noticed a little grey “Auckland Transport” car parked in a prime parking place, right outside the Library. It was 9.10 in the morning. I posted my mail at the Post Office and proceeded over the bridge to Auckland to have a look at a couple of jobs. I came back through Devonport just after midday and the same Council car was parked in the exact same prime position. I went back to the office, and then had to go back into Devonport just after 3pm, and the same Council car was parked in exactly the same position, in a two hour parking space. I had a quick scout round town and found the culprit, an Auckland Council parking warden, chalking cars and writing tickets. It was a bit of a cool blustery day and I noticed he was still wearing the old North Shore City Council jacket. I asked the gentleman if it was his car that was parked in the two hour, prime parking area, he said that it was but he had a special permit to do so. A case of some rules for some and some for others. He was chalk marking cars in the 24 hour parking area outside the wharf and I asked him if he was coming back on Saturday afternoon to check the chalk marks, and he replied he had full intentions of doing so. A captive market in Devonport, a revenue collection centre for the Council. I’d like to know how much money this generates in a financial year. I am hoping they’ll be a bit more tolerant this month with the influx of camper vans and tourist vehicles.
A couple of weeks ago, I did something I hadn’t done for many years, which was to get the ferry from Devonport over to Rangitoto Island and climb to the summit. It brought back many memories of spending summer holidays at a bach over there with my Uncle Jim, cousin Allen, and Auntie Beverley. We used to stay in this little tiny bach, about 150 metres from the wharf. What magical memories, no electricity, going to bed by candle light, leaving food out for the wallabies and watching them come into the back yard in their dozens and eat it. I remember the Rangitoto Island swimming competition held each summer in the concrete salt-water swimming pool, and buying and eating Rangitoto honey on thick slices of fresh bread. Rangitoto is indeed a wonderful place to spend a summer holiday, with volcanic caves close to the summit, where we’d explore for hours. The walk out to White’s Bay and the lighthouse, or to Islington Bay and then the summit. It is an island where so many Aucklanders have never ventured; it would be a wonderful place to take World Cup visitors for a great day out. The baches of Rangitoto are iconic, and it’s a damn shame we’ve lost so many in the last couple of decades. These are the baches of yesteryear that provided so much fun for so many families.
Okay, remember the rules – be polite to all our visitors, if you see someone who needs a bit of help with directions etc, ask if you can help. Offer to show them round, or take them in the right direction. Invite them home for a cup of tea. See if they’d like to park their camper van on your front lawn and share a barbecue with them. What goes around comes around, and you never know how much enjoyment comes of out something until you try. Decorate your houses with our national flag. I’d like to see all our civic buildings with New Zealand flags up for this month, it will bring a certain amount of colour to the City. Every flagpole should have a flag on it. Let’s try and do more than our best.