Bream Bay Ballet's senior group, who performed a classical ballet dance - "Rouge Classique": Kayla Carter (left), Lucy Greig, Thai-Ora Tito, Renee Allen, Abbie Jennings. Photo/Kristin Orr
Dance competition
Students from Bream Bay's dance schools competed at the Whangārei Dance Festival at Forum North last weekend, performing a range of styles – classical ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, musical theatre, contemporary and acrobatics.
Pulse Dance Studio's lyrical group dance "Let It Be" received best choreography and a nomination to compete at the national dance championships.
Dancers Darnika Williams, Danielle Dyer and Ruby Stewart all made the top five in their age groups, and dance teacher Krystal Williams-Tuhoro said the festival allowed the dancers to better themselves as performers and support their peers.
Bream Bay ballet teacher Kristin Orr felt the stand out experience of the weekend was the camaraderie and friendliness of all the dancers, families and teachers.
"The bravery needed for dancers to perform as a solo on stage is immense," said Orr. "It requires commitment, memory recall and dedicated family support."
Beach Clean Up
Bream Bay College's year 7 and 8 students collaborated with beach clean up group Sea Cleaners last week, with the students spending several hours wading through mud and shallow water to clear rubbish out of the Ruakākā estuary.
Sea Cleaner is an Auckland-based trust which began in 2000 and works with volunteers to clear rubbish from the Waitemata, Manukau and Whangārei harbours.
Waipū life savers beat the chill for bronze
Two Waipū Cove Surf Life Saving Club teams headed to the Deep South to compete in the BP New Zealand IRB Championship last weekend, racing at Waikouaiti Beach north of Dunedin.
The Waipū Vikings and Dinoco teams competed in the U19 Men's competition, but combined forces to compete in the Teams Race in the Open Men's grade where they made it to the semifinals.
Despite a spectacular IRB flip in the Tube Race earlier in the day, the Vikings won their heat, came third in the semifinal and then won bronze in the U19 Men's Single Rescue – a race known as the pinnacle of IRB racing.
Club captain Kath Manning said conditions were cold with temperatures below freezing on the beach both Saturday and Sunday, and water temperatures of 11-13 degrees Celsius.
The teams were: Waipū Vikings - Bailey Hudson (driver), Josh Baker (crewman) and Emma Baker (patient); Waipū Dinoco – Jake McClure (driver), Callum McKay (crewman) & Hayden Bartlett (patient).
New brigade volunteers at Waipū
Waipū Volunteer Fire Brigade has some keen new recruits after last week's volunteer brigade open night.
Brigades around the North opened their doors to their communities so people could come and check out what volunteering for a fire brigade is all about and learn about the different roles volunteers can take on – from front line work to behind the scenes administrative support.
Waipu's Jordan Vaile said the evening was a success with seven people putting their hands up to potentially get involved.
Four of them came along last Monday night to watch the brigade's members compete for the Alby Whyte Memorial Trophy.
Station officer Andrew Whyte organises a competitive waterways run each year for the brigade to honour his father's service as brigade chief.
This year five teams competed, with the fastest being the "legacy" team of Trevor Vaile, Andrew Whyte and Alan Vaile.
Brigade member Jordan Vaile said the team "proved to us young'uns" just how important experience is, with a time of 1 minute 35 seconds.
The run involves using a high-pressure hose to enter through a door and advance to knock down a target, then running back to set up a suction hose for the truck and running out a low-pressure delivery to knock down a second target.
If you missed the open day but still want to find out more about volunteering for your local brigade, contact either Waipū or Ruakākā by messaging their Facebook pages, and they will let you know when it is best to visit.
Power boat racing and carnival at marina
It's all happening at Marsden Cove Marina this Saturday. Head down for round five of the 2019 New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Series – the first race is at 12.30pm and the second at 1.30pm.
Both are 30-minute races. This is a free event, and the best viewing is in front of the Marsden Cove Yacht Club where they will have food available to purchase and the bar will be open 11am-2pm (a courtesy van is available for a gold coin donation).
Prizegiving is at 3pm with another prizegiving at 7.30pm, followed by entertainment from the band York Sound. Also on at the marina this Saturday is Bream Bay's first Easter carnival, which will run from 10am to 4pm, with plenty happening for all the family.
There will be a car display, bouncy castle, tug of war, Easter egg hunt, face painting, music and free barbecue sausages, supplied by G.A.S. along with other stalls.
Women's fishing competition
The action shifts to Waipū for Easter weekend. On April 20, Camp Waipū Cove once again holds its Ladies Fishing Competition, a fundraiser with all profits donated to support cancer patients.
Register by April 19 at the camp's site 93, entry is $20. Prizes are $500 cash and a trophy for the heaviest snapper, along with prizes for other heaviest species.
All are welcome to join in for a prizegiving and auction of the day's catch at the camp Village Green, starting at 5pm. If you are keen to go fishing but need a team to join, let them know at registration.
* Email Julie Paton at moojoy@xtra.co.nz if you've got Bream Bay news to share with Northern Advocate readers.
Opinion: What's more relaxing than a long weekend? An even longer weekend.