posted by John Black on Nov 25
I go to New Zealand a lot and I really like the place. I like the people, I like the fly fishing and I like the fact that Kiwis still make real beer. Some of the nicest beers are made by Monteith’s Brewery, from a remote little place called Greymouth, on the west coast of the South Island.
At Greymouth’s local Pike River Coal Mine, 29 underground miners have died in a couple of mine explosions. They were mostly local Kiwis, with a couple of Australians.
My heart hurts when I think of their families and mates this week and over the coming months as they come to terms with what has happened to them and to their little Coasters’ community, where everyone knows someone who has lost their lives.
A trust fund for the miners’ families has been started by the company and I’ll add details to this post when they are available. A hundred dollars from every overseas fly fisherman who’s ever visited that area to arm wrestle the local brown trout would be a good way for us all to start Christmas.
Meanwhile, you can drink them a Christmas toast with a Monteith’s Black. Or several Monteiths Blacks – to help both you and the Greymouth economy.
Update, December 7, 2010.
Donations to The Pike River Miners’ Relief Fund can be made to the fund by direct credit to 06-0501-0121759-02 or by post to Pike Miners’ Relief Fund, PO Box 2793, Wellington.
ANZ bank donated $NZ100,00o into an account it opened to receive donations for the miners’ families.
People can donate at ANZ or National Bank branches (both with account number 01 1841 0052483 00).
BNZ bank also set up an account, 02 0844 0074501-00, and donated $100,000.
The ASB bank said it would be making a substantial donation to the account it set up, 12-3205-0146728-00.
The Parents Centres New Zealand also started an account fund to receive donations for a trust fund to support the families of miners who were soon to be fathers or had small children.
Donations could be made to ASB account 12 3142 0161284 01.
Variety International has received significant donations from New Zealanders living in America, following the international media coverage. Donations could be made at www.variety.org.nz.
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