Blenheim student gets Hobbit call-up

Mel Bass never thought she would be tall enough to be an elf.

But the 19-year-old, who grew up in Blenheim, has been given the nod from casting directors to be an extra in the Hobbit films which are already being shot around New Zealand.

Mel, a second-year student studying biomedical science in Wellington, got a message on her phone saying she had got the part as she flew into Blenheim this week for part of the university holidays.

"I'm really excited to be part of the production process."

At 168 centimetres tall, she did not think she was the right height for an elf who, in the JRR Tolkien series The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, are about 1.82 metres tall(six foot), slender and graceful.

She saw the unusual job posting on auction site Trade Me last week calling for female extras between 165 and 178cm and sent in photos of herself.

She was invited to a casting call with about 130 others in Wellington where more photos and measurements were taken.

"They asked if we had any special skills like extreme horseriding, but unfortunately I didn't."

She will have a costume fitting on Monday to prepare for a full day of filming on Friday in Miramar, where filming is based.

Her friend and flatmate Alice Burden, 19, and also from Blenheim, also applied for the paid role but did not make the cut.

However, she already has a claim to fame as a model on a hair salon billboard on Wellington's Lambton Quay.

Mel, also a Rugby World Cup volunteer, was not sure what to expect from filming day but hoped to meet some of the actors such as Stephen Fry and Liv Tyler and director Sir Peter Jackson, as well as the other extras.

She was not sure how long it would take to get ready for the part which would most likely include prosthetic pointed ears typical of the mystical elven race.

Mum Lynn Goodenough was proud of her daughter who she said she was embracing all opportunities while iving in Wellington.

"I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan anyway and hopefully we'll catch her in there [the Hobbit]."

The two Hobbit movies are the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy both written by author JRR Tolkien.

The first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is due to be released in 2012.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 13:00 01/09/2011

Middle-Earth bound: Mel Bass has been cast as an elf extra in the Peter Jackson-directed film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Takeaway bar burglars sentenced

Two Blenheim men and a youth have been sentenced to community work and supervision for burgling businesses.

Sean William McElwain, 18, and Michael Scott Stanley, 25, a food industry worker, both of Blenheim, admitted burglary of Mr Frys in Alana Place, Witherlea, on July 17.

The pair, along with McElwain's brother Nathan Ronald McElwain, 17, unemployed of Blenheim, also admitted burgling Asian food store, Mr Asia, in High St later that morning.

Sean McElwain also admitted burglary of Mr Frys on April 3.

Sean McElwain was sentenced to 12 months' supervision and ordered to pay $1200 reparation when they appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday. On each of the three burglary charges and one charge of possessing gloves, pillowcases used as a disguise and a crowbar, he was sentenced to 100 hours' community work.

Nathan McElwain was sentenced to nine months' supervision and must pay $200 reparation.

He was given 60 hours' community work for each of a burglary charge and another for possessing gloves, pillowcases and a crowbar.

Stanley was sentenced to 12 months' supervision, ordered to pay $800 reparation and must do 100 hours' community work for each of two burglary charges.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Sean McElwain, Stanley and two other associates were in a car outside the takeaway store about 1.30am on July 17.

They put pillowcases over their faces and went to the back of the store but could not get in so went to the front of the store and used a small crowbar to smash the window.

Chocolate, potato chips and Panadol were among the items put into a backpack as they moved around the store.

Sean McElwain and Stanley got back into the car and went to a nearby property to eat the food.

About 3am the same morning, the McElwain brothers and Stanley went to the Mr Asia store. While wearing the pillowcases, they broke in but did not take anything.

The men were seen by police, who found the pillowcases, crowbar and pairs of gloves.

Sean McElwain and Stanley's defence lawyers John Holdaway and Rob Harrison, respectively, said both defendants had begun reparation payments.

Nathan McElwain's lawyer Bryony Millar said that her client was no longer in contact with his brother.

Judge Peter Hobbs said Nathan McElwain had a limited history.

Sean McElwain and Stanley both had alcohol issues that needed to be addressed, he said.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 30/08/2011

Man burgled auto-parts shop 'to raise money'

A man who stole four catalytic converters from a Blenheim auto spares shop "couldn't help himself", a judge said yesterday.

Bradley McGregor King, 19, of Blenheim, will be sentenced for the offence, and another of breaching community work, when he appears in the Blenheim District Court on October 10.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graeme Single said in court yesterday that King scaled a 3.5-metre fence to get in to Trott's Auto Spares on Main St about 10am on August 10. He took the motor parts but was seen by a police officer, who chased him.

King had said he wanted to sell the catalytic converters to raise money, Mr Single said.

Judge Peter Hobbs said King had two previous conviction for similar offending.

He released King until his next court appearance but warned he would be sent to jail if he did any more burglaries while on bail.

Breached conditions

A 19-year-old man who breached his home detention conditions has been sentenced to 20 months jail for his original crimes.

Rangi Tiari Adrian Wallace-Tapine, unemployed from Riversdale, had been sentenced on July 25 to 10 months home detention for assault with a knife, assaulting a female, attempted burglary and breaching community work.

The assaults were committed in November last year and the attempted burglary was in Christchurch in March.

Judge Hobbs said yesterday that the substitution of the sentence was done with Wallace-Tapine's consent. Wallace-Tapine's address was not suitable for home detention, but as soon as an address became available Wallace-Tapine would be able to apply for home detention again, Judge Hobbs said.

Everything had been done to try to keep Wallace-Tapine out of prison, he said.

Disqualified driving

An unemployed Blenheim man who has already spent time in prison for driving while disqualified will be sentenced for the same offence on October 10.

Shaun Anthony Sutton, 28, admitted committing the offence on Scott St on August 4.

He had been disqualified for 18 months on March 15, 2010.

Punched partner

A man who punched his partner in the leg when she said the relationship was over has been ordered to appear in court again if called within six months.

Chad Pelvin, 23, admitted assaulting the woman on August 8 at their Spring Creek home.

Defence lawyer Nikki Utting said Pelvin accepted the relationship was over and wanted to move on. He had a new job in Nelson and would be moving there. Judge Hobbs said although it was not the most serious assault, any domestic assault was serious in itself.

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Damaged seat

A man who damaged the seat of a community probation van while doing community work has admitted wilful damage.

Ben Tangen, 23, a fisherman from Picton, was ordered to pay $200 reparation and court costs.

Defence lawyer Laurie Murdock said Tangen had not started the damage but had ripped it further.

Cannabis

A man caught with a small amount of cannabis has been ordered to appear in court again if called within six months.

Danny Skipper, 50, from Picton, was stopped by police while driving on August 23. Officers smelled cannabis and Skipper admitted having enough of the drug for two joints. Defence lawyer Laurie Murdock said Skipper was making "good progress" with issues relating to drug offences.

Community work

Tau Kaa, 53, of Blenheim, admitted breaching a community work order on July 30. He was ordered to appear in court again if called within three months.

Assault and damage

Tukia Fotu, 21, a vineyard worker from Redwoodtown, admitted two charges of assaulting a female and damaging three bedroom doors and a wardrobe on August 27.

He will enter a plea for a fourth charge of entering the Redwoodtown dairy with intent when he appears in court on September 12.

Stole headphones

Mikhail Jones, 21, a labourer from Blenheim, admitted stealing headphones worth $25 from the Warehouse on July 5. He will appear in court again on September 26.

Fine `futile'Keenan Awarangi Te Hore, 17, unemployed of Redwoodtown, admitted driving while under the influence of cannabis. Te Hore was disqualified from driving for six months. Judge Hobbs said fining Te Hore would be "a futile exercise" because Te Hore already owed about $14,000 in fines.

Driving while suspended

Troy Colin Adams, 21, from Witherlea, admitted driving on Hospital Rd on July 26 when he was suspended. He was disqualified for six months.

Mr Single said Adams had an "extensive record" of breaching road rules. Defence lawyer John Holdaway said Adams had taken the motocross bike he was fixing to the end of the road to test it.

Drink-driving

A man caught driving while more than double the drink-drive limit has been warned by a judge that he will kill someone if he does not change his behaviour.

Matthew Ryan Dickson, 20, a greenkeeper from Witherlea, was disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified and for nine months for driving with excess blood alcohol of 188 milligrams (legal limit 80mg). He must also complete 40 hours of community work. Dickson drove on Grove Rd on July 30.

Three charges

Richard Alexander McGill, 18, a pest control worker from Picton, admitted receiving a stolen mountainbike, trespassing at Marlborough District Libraries and breaching community work.

He was sentenced to 40 hours community work and nine months supervision for receiving stolen property between May 27 and June 24. He was convicted and discharged on the other two matters.

Defence lawyer Gary Sawyer said McGill had been given the bike, worth $2000, in place of a $30 debt. He had sold it for $200.

Breaches

Michael Andrew Mason, 18, a painter from Blenheim, admitted breaching his bail conditions on Saturday. He was granted bail on the same terms and will appear again on September 12.

Shane Shirley-McKay, 17, from Blenheim, admitted breaching a community work order on May 9. He was convicted and discharged.

Stole makeup

An 18-year-old woman was visiting her mother in Blenheim when she stole makeup worth $36.49. Terry-Lee Dawn Shirley, unemployed from Bulls, was in Farmers on August 20 when she put the makeup in her handbag. She was ordered to appear in court again if called within six months.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:59 30/08/2011

Brent Thornton and Rosie Waddell.

Last updated 10:27 29/08/2011

Chris Williams and Kristine Paran

Young Professionals Masquerade Ball

Last updated 10:27 29/08/2011

Phil Yuen, Yas Gee, Byron Taylor and Georgina Walton

The annual Young Professionals masquerade ball was held at Wither Hills winery on Saturday night and Rob Macinstosh was there to photograph some of the glammed-up guests.

- The Marlborough Express

Students will soon be connecting

Marlborough Girls' College students won't now be able to use pets eating homework projects as an excuse for not doing their assignments.

The college is trialling a wireless internet network which allows students to access the internet from their laptops and mobile phones from almost anywhere in the school.

A group of about 30 students is testing the network to find any glitches before it is opened next year.

Each student will get a user name and password, which will stop anyone outside the school connecting for free and using the school internet.

The network will be turned off at weekends and after about 4pm on school days. Social networking site Facebook will be blocked unless necessary.

Year 13 students Alana Parsons and Brooke Swete are among the group testing the network. They said they had not run into any problems connecting to the internet.

Using their laptops made it easier to take notes in class, they said.

"Your notes don't get crumpled in the bottom of your bag," Alana said, laughing.

It was also useful being able to use the internet during study periods for assignments, they said.

Brooke said she was told off by teachers at the start of the trial last term for having her laptop out in class, and was "still getting used to to the fact that you can bring it out and use it".

Deputy principal and information and communication technology head Sandy Wyber said the college board invested in the wireless network after the Education Ministry upgraded data and electrical cabling.


- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG

Last updated 13:00 26/08/2011