Mountain safety Be aware of avalanche danger

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 10

Mountain safety Be aware of avalanche danger

Making it happen

MOUNTAINS

Because of the recent weather pattern, the avalanche risk in the mountains is high for the next few years. Those who spend time in the mountains need to know what creates risk, how to recognise avalanche terrain and how to avoid accidents. The Canterbury Mountain Safety Committee is running a one-day Avalanche Awareness Course this Saturday, August 26. This will be of interest to back country skiers, trampers, climbers,' and ski patrollers. A morning of theory will be held at the Craigiebum Forest Park headquarters, and the afternoon will be spent on practical exercises. The fee is $2O. Registration must be in by this Wednesday. Pick’ up a registration, from from the Outdoor Recreation Centre in the Arts Centre. For more information phone Julie Simpson at 327-646. Schizophrenia Imagine nurturing your child or partner for years when suddenly they undergo a personality change, becoming argumentative, morose, or even violent. Imagine that the strange behaviour continues so that family friends no longer call and other family members move out. This is often the pattern of schizophrenia, a mental illness that affects many thousands of New Zealanders. Some relatives of schizophrenics learn to roll with the punches, and

eventually some kind of normal family life is restored. But for others, the grief is too much and they become prisoners of the schizophrenic. Families of schizophrenics are not alone however. Much support and practical advice is available through the Schizophrenia Fellowship. Contact them at P.O. Box 25-068, Christchurch, or phone 662-195. Loving Relationships LOVING RELATIONSHIP TRAINING was founded in the United States by Sondra Ray 11 years ago, and now has devotees throughout the world. It is based on the principle that your relationship with yourself affects every other relationship you have — with your partner, your friends, your family, at work, and in the world. Participants are encouraged to open themselves to the things they most want in life and to practise creative thought. One of the first Loving Relationships Training workshops in the South Island will be held in Christchurch on Sunday, September 3. This is an introduction to the full week-end workshop. It runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and costs $lOO. It will be held at the George Hotel, 50 Park Terrace. For more information and bookings phone Abby and Greg at 811-381, or Anne and Grant at 515188. Voluntary organisa tions Mr Michael Cullen, the Minister of Social Welfare, will speak on the Future Funding of Volun-

tary Organisations at a public meeting this Wednesday, August 23. Voluntary groups — and there are more than 400 in Christchurch alone — play a vital role in society, often helping people to help themselves.

The talk will be followed by discussion. It will be in the Canterbury Public Library’s Stringleman Room, starting at 7.30 p.m. There is no charge.

Buddhism Buddhism is not a religion of faith or dogma. Rather it is a way of understanding life. Ve.ierable Thanavara is i r Kai Kin Buddhist monk who visits Christchurch regularly, but who is soon to return to Europe to live.

He will give talks and lead discussions at the Stringleman Room of the Public Library this Friday,. August 25, at 7.30 p.m. and Saturday, August 26, at 2 p.m. On Sunday, at 2 p.m., he will give an audio-visual presentation on A Pilgrimage to India. For more information, phone Barbara at 810-605.

. Men’s courses Allan Marriott’s Male System courses are for men who want to look at their "male” conditioning, and how it affects their expression of feeling, use of power, intimacy, role expectations, and ways of relating — and to change these. Another six week course starts at Christchurch Polytechnic on Tuesday, September 12, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The fee is $27. For further information phone Allan at 650-376. To enrol contact the Polytechnic Enrolment Centre.