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.

The best amongst the worst

This week’s horrific attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney illustrates the pointless violence that unfortunately is far too common and has been far too common for far too long. Yet, amongst the horror and the mayhem, human beings showed that there is another side to carnage and hatred – selflessness, connection, care, and incredible bravery. When so many ran away, as so many will do in terrifying situations like that – a notable number of people tried to disarm the killers, some losing their lives in the process.

So often, it is easy to think the worst of us based on the daily occurrences where people are killed for no reason at all, except for bigotry, hatred, greed, and indifference. When you see a man run toward someone with a gun and put him in a chokehold so he drops his weapon, or you see two people try to prevent a killer from even beginning a spree you realise that there is so much good in us as well. People care for each other, people are affected by danger imposed on others, people will do brave and selfless deeds to protect strangers, people will run as fast as they can toward harm, to try and make a difference. That is what I find inspiring about human beings.

5 stars – to all of the people who put others above themselves. Just amazing.

Cyclist blitzes record

I’ve driven between Auckland and Wellington in one go a good few times. It’s a lovely ride but it’s gruelling. One Kiwi recently covered that distance, in one go, in a day, on a bike! Powered by gingernuts, carrots, a can of coke, and bananas, Sam Shaw got from the city of sails to the capital in an amazing 17 hours .

“Shaw’s average speed was an incredible 38kph. He left Auckland at 4am and finished in the capital just before 9.30pm. ‘It is a dream to even do it. But to do it so fast is so good,’ he said.

“The apprentice builder was inspired to do the ride after Australian endurance rider Lachlan Morton set a new fastest time for the trip earlier this year. ‘Since an Aussie got the record, I was like ‘hell yeah, I’m going for that – I will be the guard dog of New Zealand for that’,’ Shaw said.

“Shaw’s time of 17 hours, 21 minutes and 34 seconds is now the fastest known time. It was more than an hour faster than the Australian’s. (Morton did it in 18 hours 26 minutes and 58 seconds).” (Source: “Bananas, biscuits and a bird attack: How Kiwi cyclist smashed a record (and didn’t even stop to pee),” by Paddy Gower, December 16, www.stuff.co.nz).

5 stars – great effort Sam – even if the ride was hampered by an errant kereru smashing his helmet!

School band does it again

St Andrews College annual prize giving is a little different from most. Each year the Christchurch school rows the boat out with amazing performances from its band. You may have seen their frankly incredible performance of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ a few years ago. This year they performed to over 3500 people at the Wolfbrook arena – performing a medley of New Zealand songs.

“This year’s show stopper was a heartfelt tribute to Aotearoa, with a medley of iconic Kiwi anthems, including Crowded House’s ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ – sung in te reo Māori and English – Stan Walker’s ‘Aotearoa‘, Shapeshifter’s ‘In Colour’ and ‘Don’t Forget Your Roots’ by Six60.

“The show featured 100 students on stage, including about 60 in the orchestra, and the rest in the choir and rock band. They are a mixture of ages – some of the soloists are year 13, while others like electric and bass guitar are year 12, and the drummer is year 9.