Cambridge steampunker Jane Brookes was there as ‘Lady Raven’.
Steampunkers and visitors enjoyed a day of dress-up, ‘mad hatter’ teas and Victorian-styled competitions at Sunday’s third Steampunk Community Fun Day at the Cambridge Town Hall.
The event, organised by the InterlockNZ Trust and Waipā steampunk group the Tree Town Steamers, attracted several hundred people.
Cambridge’s Christina Crawford, who was one of eight Interlock members who took part in last year’s Special Olympics in Hamilton, donned her steampunk finery for Sunday’s event.
Interlock was founded in 2020 as a Cambridge-based charity aimed at providing life-changing programmes for people with disabilities. The concept, started by Cambridge resident Aaron Ure, is aimed at giving every individual the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life within their community, regardless of their challenges.
Aaron said on Sunday the community day was a major annual fundraiser for InterlockNZ. Last year’s event raised about $2400.
“It has attracted greater numbers each year … steampunkers come from all over the place. Not only is it a good fundraiser, but it lifts Interlock’s profile in the community.”
He said they wanted to apply for more formalised help next year. “We want to make Interlock bigger and more inclusive. At the moment, we are one hundred percent reliant on volunteers and donations to operate, but we will need to get help if we are to get bigger and meet the growing needs.”
Interlock members come from various centres, including Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Te Kowhai, Hamilton, Matamata, Morrinsville, Tirau and Ōtorohanga.
Visitors on Sunday came from even further afield, with some coming from Auckland, Waihi, Ōhope Beach and Tauranga.
Steampunk refers to a genre of fashion that borrows its style from the industrial and Victorian steam era of the 19th/early 20th centuries, with distinctive clothing giving a nod to time travel and often incorporating top hats, chains, keys, clocks and watches.
Sunday’s event also featured a high tea, sales tables featuring a range of steampunk clothing and accessories, and a host of Victorian-centric games.
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- Cutting a fine figure as a time-travelling steampunker was Waihi’s Stuart Munro, who has been at all three of the Cambridge events.
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- Socialising steampunkers, from left, Pirongia’s Paula McWha, Auckland’s Raewyn Tompkins, Sandy Haag and Lorraine Olsen, and Thames’ Patti Wicksteed.
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- Lisa Bearsley from Ōhope Beach and her escort ‘Ken from Rotorua’ were on the scene early. Lisa has been steampunking for about four years while Ken is a newcomer to the genre.
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- Lindsey Morgan of Tauranga advising guests on how best to tackle their limp biscuits during the tea-duelling competition.
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- Sue Olsen and Craig Ki came down from Auckland for Sunday’s event. Like most steampunkers they belong to several groups, but their main one is the Auckland Air Krakens.
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- Hamilton’s Kaye Forster-Hill was at the event for the third time. With her this time were her grandchildren, or ‘coglings’ as she called them, Tyler (11) and Megan (8) Hill.
Pirongia’s Paula McWha with some of the youngsters who took part in her school holidays steampunk workshop. They are, from left, Pirongia’s Ruby Webb, Ōtorohanga trio Hannah Court, Chloe Dady and Sophie Dady, and Pirongia’s Amy Webb.
