Volunteer firefighters do more than respond to emergencies in their communities. They also compete in a variety of regional and national competitions, and some of the most skilled in Northland will be at Broadwood on Saturday to show just what they can do with water under pressure. Competitions include driving, a combat challenge, road crash rescues and the water way competition, involving the delivery of water to where it is needed. Kohukohu firefighter Neil Matheson is the current national driving competition champion, while he and Daniel Milne, from Rāwene, hold the Northland regional water way title, which they will defend when the Kohukohu Volunteer Fire Brigade hosts the Northland Fire Brigade Sub-Association water way competition on Saturday. This will be the first time the event has been held in the Hokianga, with 26 firefighters, in teams of two or four, from all over Northland taking part. There will be eight events over the course of the day, from 9.30am to 4pm, at the Broadwood A&P showgrounds, testing a variety of water supply and hose-running skills, with an open invitation to spectators.
Watch for children
Northland Police would like to remind motorists to keep an eye out for children as schools begin to reopen this week. Drivers need to be extra vigilant around schools, and keep in mind that children are highly unpredictable and likely to be very excited about catching up with friends, so they can be easily distracted and not paying much attention to their surroundings. Police say to slow down in and near school zones and take care when passing school buses. The speed limit is 20km/h when passing school buses dropping off or picking up children. If you are walking your children to school, show them the safest place to cross roads, reminding them to look left and right and look out for cars. Walking school buses are another great way to keep our kids safe.
Plane spotting
Plane-spotters across Northland were treated to the rare sight of two Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules aircraft flying low over the region last week. The 'formation low-level tactical navigation' exercise began in Auckland, the hefty aircraft skimming over Waiheke Island, Whangaparaoa, Waimauku, Mangawhai Heads, Whangārei, Kerikeri, the Hokianga Harbour and back to Whenuapai. The RNZAF has been operating C-130 Hercules aircraft since 1965, using them for passenger and cargo transport, combat supplies, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, medical evacuation and Antarctica.
