Record funding distributed
Christmas Festival Society members Linda Sutherland and Philippa D’Ath, at right, with some of the recipient organisation representatives. They are, from left, Garry Christensen and Katrina Richards (Mosaic Choir), Murray Hunt (Sport Chaplaincy NZ), Kathie Shepard (EquiPotential NZ), Police constable Kat Payne (Blue Light), Shelby McClelland and Neil Fynn (Achievement House), Ellen Heebink (Cambridge 24/7 Youth Work), Sandy Wesford (Cambridge Lifeskills) and Heidi Gleeson (True Colours). Seated from left are Lyn Toka and Pam Fisher (Leamington Croquet Club), Karen May (St John Ambulance), Colin Pearce (Interlock NZ), and Jeanette Dyer (EquiPotential NZ). Photo: Viv Posselt
The Cambridge Christmas festival crew have once again done themselves proud. Funds raised at December’s festival hit their highest in the event’s 20-year plus history, facilitating the recent distribution of $37,340 to 17 separate Waikato charitable organisations. The money is raised at the annual Christmas festival in the Town Hall where handmade decorations and gifts made throughout the year by society members are sold. The event has also become known for its eclectic array of Christmas trees, its choir performances and other entertainment.
Last week many of the recipient groups joined Cambridge Christmas Festival members for a celebratory tea at their regular meeting spot in Vogel St where festival president Philippa D’Ath thanked the town for its support and welcomed group representatives able to attend.
Each of the recipient organisations received varying amounts. The 17 groups are Sports Chaplaincy NZ, Waikato Rivertones, ChildPlayWorks Charitable Trust, Leamington Croquet Club, Mosaic Waikato Modern Choir, True Colours, Achievement House, Waikato Family Centre, Children 1st Charitable Trust, Clothe Our Kids, Cambridge Community Marae, Cambridge Lifeskills, EquiPotential NZ, Blue Light Cambridge, Interlock NZ Trust, St John Ambulance, and Cambridge 24/7 Youth Work.
St John full of colour
Paint-splattered Lisa Fisher and young Freddie were among the winners of spot prizes at this month’s Colour Run. Photo: supplied
This month’s Colour Run at Lake Ngā Roto in support of St John proved successful and was loads of fun, says organiser Tracy Chisholm.
The April 7 event attracted over 200 participants and raised around $2000 for the organisation.
Tracy, who is the volunteer secretary/treasurer of the St John Te Awamutu area committee, has spent months pulling the Colour Run together. She organised it as fun way to replace the usual street appeal type fundraising event. She told The News last week that the community event had also been great in terms of raising the organisation’s profile.
“The weather was perfect and people had a lot of fun doing it.”
New Tuia member
Tane, the son of Linda Te Aho (Ngati Koroki Kahukura) and Willie Te Aho has joined the national Tuia Leadership Programme and will receive mentoring from Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan. Te Aho, who is fluent in Te Reo and excelled at Hamilton Boys High, is set to complete his degree in Te Reo Māori and Māori Development this year.
Great advice
Claire Williamson
Cambridge-based My Mortgage director and adviser, Claire Williamson won the New Zealand Financial Services Group Adviser of the Year award in the regional category at the 2024 New Zealand Mortgage Awards.
Mahuta appointed
Rotorua lawyer Tyler Paki-Te Huia (Mangatoatoa and Mōtiti marae has joined Te Nehenehenui Board as an interim trustee. Her election comes soon after former cabinet minister Nanaia Mahuta (Te Kuiti marae) and Dean Nikora (Kaputauhi) were appointed to the Ahuahu Group, the commercial arms of Te Neheneheui (Maniapoto) as an independent director.
Fluoride watch
Kane Titchener
Anti-fluoride politician Kane Titchener, the deputy chair of the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board believes legal action taken last week will impact on Waipā. An injunction has been filed against Hastings District Council over its decision to resume fluoridating its community water supply.
Concert time
An early May concert presented by Te Awamutu Concerts Alive at St John’s Church will feature award-winning performers who share Kiwi-Korean backgrounds. Rachel Song is a South Korean-born New Zealand pianist who completed her Master of Music in classical piano performance from the University of Auckland. Yune-Sang Yune is a Korean-Kiwi flautist who made her first professional debut with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra last year.
It’s out with the coal
Fonterra has announced plans to close four plants at two Waikato manufacturing sites. The sites – Waitoa and Te Rapa – will continue to operate. Fonterra director NZ manufacturing Alan Van Der Nagel said the decision made was because Waitoa’s specialty powder plant and coal centre, and two powder dryers at Te Rapa were “ageing assets”.
They had served well but were no longer efficient to operate. “For these reasons, we have let our teams know of plans to close these plants.”
Staff impacted by the plant closures had all been offered job opportunities within the co-op. At the end of last year, Fonterra opened a wood biomass boiler at its Waitoa site allowing the co-op to transition from using coal to wood biomass to process milk.
Similar switches have seen both the Te Awamutu and Hautapu sites reducing emissions by progressing to the use of wood pellets.
At the Te Rapa site, the two dryers would discontinue operations in May. The spokesperson said this closure would impact “fewer than 10″ staff.
Menzshed help flying the flags again
Flagpoles in Te Awamutu have a friend in the Menzshed.
Having restored to glory the pole on Anzac Green in the centre of Te Awamutu just over 12 months ago, the blokes have now done the same for the pole at Te Awamutu’s cemetery on Picquet Hill Road.
It’s just in time for it to fly the flag proudly for Anzac services.
The pole, which dates back half a century, was showing its age – ravaged by rust and its moving parts seized to the point its primary job of raising and lowering flags – couldn’t be done.
Menzshed had it taken down and the metal sandblasted – a community service provided free by Te Awamutu’s Industrial Blast and Paint – before it was taken to Menzshed HQ to have its workings restored, nylon pulleys added and then given a new coat of paint – donated by Alan Patterson in his role as Territory Manager at Dulux. The project was overseen by Menzshed member Fred Steed.
District councillor Lou Brown – Core Values Coordinator at the Te Awamutu RSA – was delighted at the end of the six week project and said it was important to acknowledge and record the support Te Awamutu enjoyed from businesses and Menzshed.
The timing of the work ensured the flagpole would be in use for Anzac services – which are drawing increasing numbers of people to the cemetery each year as they remember their late relatives.
Fred Steed, who oversaw the repair work, pictured with RSA life member Ross Wardlaw, left, and Lou Brown, right.
