Out Of The House And Onto The Ice

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30839, 26 August 1965, Page 2

Out Of The House And Onto The Ice

Stagnating round the house is out for good as far as a group of Christchurch mothers is concerned. They have cast off their aprons, exchanged their flatties for skates and taken to the ice.

Every Wednesday morning, about 30 women see their children off to school and then go along to the Centaurus road skating rink, where they are taken in hand by a slim darkhaired Englishwoman, Mrs Kathleen Craven.

Many have found that their hobby has solved the problem of what to do with their children during school holidays. Yesterday children of all ages were on the ice with their mothers.

“Women from all sections of the community have joined the class,” said Mrs Craven. “Many caught the bug from their children and joined in because it is something all the family can do together. “Skating is a disease,” she laughed “We came to live in Christchurch from the North Island because of the rink here."

Both Mrs Craven and her husband have been skating for years and gained their silver medals in Britain before turn-

ing professional. They taught at the Earls Court rink in London and also skated in ice shows. “We skated round Britain and Australia before the children came and settling in New Zealand,” she said. The Cravens have three children and they are now all of school age. Mrs Craven has been teach-1 ing in Christchurch for the! last six years. She fits her teaching schedule to her children’s routine. “I’m always at home when the children come home from school and my husband takes them over after work so I can teach at night. I love doing it,” said Mrs Craven. LEARNING TO DANCE She is very pleased with the progress of her housewives. “Some who had never been on skates before are now

learning dance steps,” she said.

One of the group who has been skating most of her life is Dutch-born Mrs Bas Van der Griend, the mother of three children. She has been in New Zealand 12 years. “In Holland they put you on the ice at four and you skate along with the others,” she said. Skating is a family affair with the Van der Griend’s. The children all skate and Mr Van der Griend coaches the ice hockey team. Mrs Van der Griend has started dancing and says she enjoys doing what she can.

Mrs Barbara Milacek is an American from California. Her husband is with the communications unit of the United States Antarctic support force. She and her four children have been here 18 months and expect to remain for a further 18 months. Mrs Milacek became interested in skating through the Van der Griend family. “Last year my son was in the same class at Mrs Van der Griend’s boy and we all went along to watch an ice hockey match. One thing led to another. Skating is a wonderful outlet.” One thing that skating hasn’t done for Mrs Milacek is to alter her vital statistics. “My figure hasn’t changed in the least. Skating might be good for reducing if you don’t eat,” she laughed. Mrs Olga Van Roosmalen is a New Zealander married to a Dutchman. They have three children. She was the only non-skater in the family and decided to take an interest. { “Once the muscles I never I knew existed stopped being sore 1 found it a wonderful

exercise. We have a lot of fun skating,” she said.

Now in her second season of skating is Auekland-born Mrs Janet White, the mother of two children. “A friend started me off. Skating makes me feel so good that when 1 go home I’m ready to tackle anything from dusting to window cleaning,” she said.