Steampunkers a hybrid lot

Steampunk Style locals: Front row, l-r Tayla Missen, Gemma Morton-Jones, Nick Taris, Sherryl McFarlane, Kaye Forster-Hill, Lois Ure, Christina Crawford.
Back row, l-r Felix Morton-Jones, Aaron Ure, Gabriel Morton-Jones, Jane Brookes, Harriet Dixon.

If ever you needed proof steampunkers are a hybrid lot – able to seamlessly transform themselves from the 19th century to today – then their presence at the Cambridge Town Hall on Sunday confirmed it.

Steampunk, a unique array of top hats, tea pots, cogs, clocks, and corsets, was part of the Treetown Steamers Extravaganza, a fundraiser for Cambridge’s Interlock NZ Trust.

They stole the show but that is what they always tend to do, said Interlock founder Aaron Ure.

Interlock is a charitable trust that provides opportunities for people with disabilities to develop their confidence and skills to connect with their community.

Steampunk incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by the 19th century industrial steam powered machinery.

They consider themselves time travellers from the Victorian era and can take virtually anything and turn them into pieces of clothing or machinery.

Case in point was Paeroa’s Stuart Munro with Neddy his Victorian horse made up of old mobility scooter parts including an engine.

More than 500 people came to the extravaganza which included a fashion parade, parasol duelling, teapot racing and duelling, face painting, displays and Steampunk accessories.

The $10 High Tea service was also well patronised.

Stuart Munro (Paeroa) with Neddy his Victorian horse.

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