Raewyn Kingsley-Smith

Lord, this is an amazing place to live. In 1957 or thereabouts, I was a member of the Women’s Surf Club, up by the four square dairy at the eastern end of Ōhope’s Pohutukawa Avenue.

It’s gone now, along with my glorious youthful days of being in the ocean whenever I wasn’t on “patrol”. How I loved the water.

I owned what was known as a “surf-ski:, which was a bit like an “aircraft carrier”, and just about as heavy,  made of ply – could kill you in a big wave if you didn’t let it go, and get out of the way.

Well, I still love the water, I just don’t like getting wet now!

So, on Saturday, I went to Ōhope’s West End with every other ocean enthusiast to watch others getting wet and to share the atmosphere and to delight in the “Wiggles” Surf competition.

It was a great fun day, happy people, enjoying a glorious warm, sunny day on our beautiful beach, with good food and coffee on hand while soaking up the excitement of some extraordinary longboard surfing by all the competitors from around the country.

Our local lad, Oliver Dobbin had a great day and made it to the sem-ifinals, which brings me to the main point of this letter.

I wish to support Mr Dobbin’s appeal to council for “speed limits” at West End – it’s a no brainer. It’s a road to nowhere, except great waves and a splendid beach. There is “no” call for speed.

Also, it strikes me that much of the grass verge could become angle parking areas.

This is such a priceless asset. It is super special and I know I’m the luckiest person alive whenever I land there.