Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.
A man who loved milk tankers
This a lovely tale about a Kiwi with a rare illness and how one of our biggest companies went out of their way to give him a great deal of joy. Born with a very rare genetic disease, Andrew Oliver had a mental age of six as well as a number of other ailments but he lived a life to the full where his favourite things meant everything to him.
“Milk tankers were Andrew Oliver’s favourite thing in the world. Local tanker drivers knew that Andy – as he was known – wouldn’t go to bed until they had made their nightly visit to his parents’ Te Rapa farm, near Hamilton. Fonterra changed its milk tanker schedule in the entire Te Rapa district of Hamilton so Andy would go to bed on time.
“For 20 years he had a special relationship with Fonterra tanker drivers. His father Ken Oliver told RNZ that Andy discovered the tanker when the farmer went onto the night shift for milk pick up. ‘[He] learned what it was, came out to see it occasionally and once in awhile would talk to a driver. But then with Andy, the normal thing is with something like this – it would become a habit. And so he had to be out to see the tanker. That became part of his nightly routine.'” (Source: “Andy was New Zealand’s biggest milk tanker fan. He had a very special send off,” July 28, www.rnz.co.nz).
Unfortunately Andy passed recently but his send off was something special. His hearse was followed by a Fonterra tanker, driven by Kevin Healey who had developed a bond with Andy over the years.
5 stars – just a beautiful tale of connection, effort, and dedication to give a little to someone who didn’t want for that much at all.
Kiwi board game wins big award
Two Kiwis have won one of the top prizes in the Spiel des Jahres – an annual competition for the best board games in the world.
“Kiwis Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray have won the Expert Game Award for their game called Endeavor Deep Sea. The game has players representing an institute of oceanographers doing research and conservation work. Players can compete competitively for a score or cooperatively, which is where the trend for expert games has been heading.
“de Visser said he and Gray had been working on the game for a while before it reached its award-winning form. ‘[We] were part of a board game group in Wellington and we sort of put our heads together and said well, let’s get something published. Our first game was called Endeavour, which Endeavour Deep Sea is sort of based on, and that was in 2009.’
“Currently Endeavour Deep Sea is available to buy or order from various hobby and board game shops, as well as a deluxe version which is available on Kickstarter to people who make a pledge.” (Source: “Kiwis take home top board game award,” July 23, www.rnz.co.nz).
5 stars – great to see people taking a great idea, putting in the time and effort, and then reaping the rewards. Total upside!
Road worker’s antics make delays bearable
For the past three years major road works in Eastbourne, Wellington have tested the patience of drivers but one road worker has made the situation better with his attitude, positivity, and engagement with commuters who are effusive in their praise of him.
“But among the sea of construction activity, they said it was impossible to miss Ciaran Hogben, a traffic management worker on a mission to greet every single car with a mana wave, a shaka or something more traditional. His antics have made him somewhat of a local hero, with a post of appreciation about him on the community’s Facebook page triggering dozens of comments – calling him a ‘drop of sunshine and lamenting the days when he was not at work.
“Resident Brendon Walton said ‘the bugger’ was worth his weight in gold. ‘Mr Wave we call him… he’s a character – sort of can’t stop waving at people, he’s great.’
“Site supervisor Geraint Lewis said he was glad to see Hogben entertaining the public – making people smile and setting them up for a good day. What’s more, locals said Hogben’s antics have made the roadworks more bearable, with one person claiming Hogben’s exuberance had him forgetting the frustration of the traffic jams. (Source: “Roadworker ‘Mr Wave’ sparks joy throughout Eastbourne’s coastal community,” July 25, www.rnz.co.nz).
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