Bream Bay's winning parents' swimming relay team: Susan McKegg (left), Selina Gordon, Thomas Rickey and Clinton Brown. Photo/Denise Guy
Gala day fun
Everyone waited with great anticipation for the cow to produce the goods, but the Poo Lotto star at Ruakākā School's gala day last Saturday refused to co-operate under pressure.
Beef heifer May waited for the crowds to disperse more than an hour after the fundraiser had finished to appoint the competition winner by making a deposit in their square.
Organiser Wendy Rowsell says the eventual winner was "absolutely stoked" with her prize, a $700 Bay of Islands family adventure package.
Rowsell said guests Matilda Rice and Art Green (from television programme The Bachelor NZ) judged the Pumpkin Bake-Off and were amazed at how much could be done with pumpkin.
The Garden to Table Cafe was a great success and the school hopes to run it again more often. Rowsell said singer Tammy D'Ath and Bream Bay College steel pan band The Panimals provided fantastic entertainment for the crowd and noted MC Ra Toia is also a performer to watch out for in future.
Bream Bay parents star swimmers
Bream Bay's parents relay team ensured the last Northland swimming carnival of the season wasn't all about the kids.
The Rising Stars carnival runs over two days in the Bay of Islands and is an event targeted at younger swimmers who haven't made national qualifying times. The final event is always a 200m freestyle relay for teams made up of parents whose children have swum during the weekend and this year Bream Bay's team lined up against teams from Dargaville, Bay of Islands, Manaia and Whangarei clubs.
Bream Bay's Clinton Brown swam a strong first leg, with Susan McKegg and Selina Gordon keeping Bream Bay in touch with the leaders. Anchor Thomas Rickey brought it home, touching the wall ahead of second-placed Manaia.
Sign for peace
Hundreds of Bream Bay College students, along with staff, gathered on the school's sports field to create a visual message and tribute for people affected by the Christchurch mosque killings.
Head boy Jamie Lymburn says the hashtag #421 stands for "forever, together, one" which he says is an important message at this time, and the peace symbol signifies what New Zealand is known for.
Gold for Surf Life Saving Masters
Waipū Surf Life Saving Club's Men's Masters canoe team picked up a gold medal for their efforts in the Masters Short Course Event at the National Surf Life Saving Championships in Mt Maunganui last week.
Dan Welch, Rick Stolwerk, Gordon French, and Martin Morris are all long-standing club members aged in their 50s or 60s. Waipu also had an U19 womens canoe team and a single competitor Josh Baker.
Club captain Kath Manning says the girls had a lot of fun and enjoyed the experience of their first national event, while Josh Baker made a couple of finals and has started planning his training for next season and setting himself some new goals.
Waipu tennis prizegiving
This year's winner of Waipu Tennis Club's Peggy Huntly Trophy for Most Valuable Club member was Paul Ramsay who received the award this year for his contribution both on and off the court.
Championship winners were: Ngatiira Meade (junior girls), Ben Donaldson (junior boys), Harris Lymburn (intermediate boys), Greg Miller (senior mens), Chris and Greg Miller (senior mens doubles).
Special awards: Jed Green (junior sportsperson), Arya Setiawan (junior endeavour), Emily Stuart (junior most improved), Niamh Gooseman (intermediate sportsperson), Harris Lymburn (intermediate endeavour), Noah Martin (intermediate most improved), Yann Gublin (senior most improved).
Bream Bay cricket prizegiving
Bream Bay Cricket Club held its senior prizegiving last Saturday at The Porthouse in Ruakākā – the trophy for best batsman went to Ranvir Singh who scored an average of 34 runs per game through the season; best bowler was Rob Nisbett, taking 20 wickets; and as players' player the team chose Satinder Singh who scored 362 runs, took 13 wickets and helped organise the team each week.
Most promising player was Caleb Karl and best moment of the season went to Jordan Torkington for when he took his first wicket for the club.
Fire brigade open night
Bream Bay's fire stations are looking for volunteers and holding open nights so people can find out more about how they can help. From firefighters to administrators, any role is vital to keep the stations running efficiently which in turn helps to keep our community safe.
Full training is given and there are many ways people can contribute – urban and rural firefighting, medical response, accounts, administration and more. Overseas deployment is also a possibility.
If you would like to check out what being part of a close-knit team while learning new skills looks like, head along to Waipu Fire Station on Nova Scotia Dr or Ruakaka Fire Station on Princes Rd from 5pm on 4 April to find out more.
* Email Julie Paton at moojoy@xtra.co.nz if you've got Bream Bay news to share with Northern Advocate readers.
The latest news bites from around the region.