Brett Dixon got up to work before sunrise so he could spend seven hours cleaning his John Deere tractor before Cambridge High School’s 2024 Las Vegas Casino Ball on Saturday.
Sophia Dixon (left) and Chelsea Stone arrived at the ball in a John Deere tractor. Photo – KeyImagery Photography.
He used the sparking farm vehicle to chauffeur his 16-year-old daughter Sophia and her friend Chelsea Stone, a Tokyo exchange student, to the event, and said the effort had definitely been worth it.
“Chelsea had never been in a tractor before, she was absolutely buzzing the whole way, it was really cool.”
More than 600 students attended the ball, held at the Sir Don Rowlands Event Centre from 6pm-10.45pm.
A caravan, fire engine and 50-year-old Plymouth were among vehicles used as transport, which ranged from modern sports cars to vintage classics.
Ball queen Grace Gillanders and king James Senior. Photo – KeyImagery Photography.
Many family members and supporters gathered to watch the year 12 and 13 students arrive and walk up a red carpet, with the crowd of onlookers swelling to more than 200 at one point.
James Senior and Grace Gillanders were crowned ball king and queen, while Reuben Stevens and Leah Nixon picked up the cutest couple award. Adam Pierce was chosen as the night’s hottest single and Saoirse Herewini won best dressed.
Saoirse wore a fitted black satin dress, a red korowai and bone jewellery gifted by her family. The outfit was planned down to the smallest detail; the fourth fingernail of each of her hands was painted with a tiny tino rangatiratanga flag. Soul Martin chose attire to match – a black turtleneck jersey, bone necklace and black suit with a tāniko band sewn into the jacket’s lapels and cuffs.
See: Viva Las Vegas
Arriving in style (from left) Annelise Bertrand, Eva McKeown, Maddi Bull and Bianca Winstanley-Mounsey. Photo – KeyImagery Photography.
