Ashburton is a great place to live, work and play.

And yes, we might have some problems with potholes, the second bridge not being built yet, covid ruling our lives etc, but are they really big problems?

The war between Ukraine and Russia and other conflicts around the world are affecting our district.

We have people living in our district who are directly affected by those conflicts, maybe they are from or have family and friends in those areas and do not know what is happening with them. Even the high price of petrol we are paying is a consequence of the war on the other side of the world.

This made me think of growing up in the Netherlands. During the late 1970s, a young man was drafted into the Dutch army (compulsory at that time) and he became a sergeant in the Dutch Queen’s Infantry Regiment and spent most of his army time in Germany with the big NATO exercises.

While it was peace time, the tension was there all the time, you could feel it all around you.

It made him think, and talking to his team during the long nights he realised that his team was like him, they would give their lives for their loved ones if needed but why would they kill other young men on the “other side” who have also girlfriends and maybe wives and children.

You learn pretty quick that dead or alive decisions are not made by soldiers Ivor or Bob, it is done by the so-called leaders at the top.

After leaving the army, the young man was lost, he loved his family and country but wasn’t sure where to live. After marrying his darling wife, they decided to emigrate to New Zealand in 1982 and arrived in Ashburton.

Forty years later they are still living in Ashburton with their whanau and loving it. He still has his army tag with the name and number: L.G. Braam 560319049.

It is a privilege to be a Councillor in this district and yes, I am certainly trying to make the best decisions for this district. I don’t like potholes either but sometimes the picture is bigger than only this amazing district.

All we are saying is give peace a chance (John Lennon).