24-10-94 Wigr sport Wigram Air Force Base is being pushed as a venue for a national sports training and coaching centre by Councillor David Buist. Cr Buist says the financial outlay would be on a smaller scale than the nett cost of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra of $9.5million for 1992 to 1993. In a recent letter he asked to meet the Minister of Sports, Fitness and Leisure John Banks to discuss the possibility of establishing a sports centre at Wigram to enhance the performance of New Zealand athletes in international competition. Cr Buist says the key to the viability of the venture is the existing sports and accommodation facilities at the base including two, three-storey accommodation blocks. The facilities are conveniently located close to each other in the south-west sector of the base, he says. At the base are outdoor sports grounds for footbail. rugby, rugby league and hockey anda 1300sqm gymnasium for martial arts, volleyball, gymnas- am suggested as s training venue tics, basketball, boxing and wrestling Indoor training facilities also exist in the number six and number seven hangers which havea combined surface area of 8600sqm. Other facilities include a swimming pool, squash courts, recreation rooms, rifle range, library, storage space for equipment, seminar rooms and tennis courts, fitness centre, hall recreation block and cafeteria. Cr Buist says ine existing base facilities would be used in conjunction with other services such as QEI Park and the University of Canterbury sports science and medicine units. While the recently announced exchange programme for New Zealand athletes at the AIS is commendable, a national centre has its advantages, he says. Cr Buist says the Wigram facilities are of a high standard and would benefit New Zealand sportsmen and women without relocating them away from their own country, culture and coaches. He says the establishment of a national training centre in Christchurch would benefit the city and the South Island. But MP for Selwyn David Carter says Wigram is unlikely to be the venue for an institute. Mr Carter says he was advised by Mr Banks that the current Government sporting policy would not support the project as it is not economically viable. "This year alone the AIS has a budget of $A21 million. Their facilities are estimated to be worth at least $A200 million. Our sports budget cannot.compete with this," he says. Mr Carter says with Wigram no longer being utilised as a defence base it is important that it is exploited to national advantage. 29-12-94 E OBITUARY Mrs Sybil Archer WELLINGTON — Raci proprietor Sybil Arche first woman motor me on Monday after a sho Mrs Archer, forme trophies racing MGs ar and early 19505. ing car driver and garage er, who was New Zealand's echanic, died in Wellington ort illness. erly Lupp, won about 160 nd Jaguars in the late 1940s She was born in 1916 and was brought up on a Marlborough farm where she took a correspondence course in automotive maintenance and looked after the farm machinery. She left home at 17 and went to Nelson, where she became an apprentice motor mechanic, the first woman to do so. In the late 1930s she died in 1945 of a war-r war she worked as an years later, she married After the war Mrs Arc won trophies for variou: hill climbs and sprints. 1950 Lady Wigram Trop • married Jack Lupp, who elated illness. During the air force mechanic. Four Mr Lupp's brother, Percy. cher began racing cars and is events including rallies, She came second in the hy race. In 1951, Mrs Arch Dunedin. In 1953, she In 1955 she moved and was in partnersl Archer and Lupp till 1! in 1971. ner set up Jag Services in bought her first Jaguar. the business to Wellington hip with Lionel Archer as 980. She married Mr Archer The firm is now Mrs Archer was sell her house but She owned about 4 was known as M run by Mrs Archer's son, Danie. once quoted as saying she could couldn't be without a fast car. -O sports cars and in Wellington Irs Jaguar. She also admitted knowing many traffic officers. Though Mrs Archer aged 69, she continued consumer survey. Dest worked voluntarily for and delivered food parce retired from the garage working for a motor car pite severe arthritis she the Mary Potter Hospice is for her church till about three years ago. Mrs Archer is survived Danie and daughter Bever brated in the Cathedral of Street, Wellington, on Jan by husband Lionel, sor ley. A Mass will be celethe Sacred Heart in Hill uary 5. -NZPA