The News in brief …..

Deadline looms

About 500 Cambridge netballers will benefit from Hautapu Sports’ Golf Day to be held at Cambridge Golf Course on Friday (November 17).

Money raised from the golf day will be used to refurbish the damaged netball court at Hautapu Sports, enabling it to be used by future generations and for more sports.

Currently, the court is the club’s only training surface for almost 400 junior and 100 senior players, who use it to prepare for local Cambridge and Hamilton competitions.

While players also use the Cambridge Netball Centre courts in Leamington, the club court is used heavily on a daily basis.

The asphalt court was installed more than 30 years ago and has deteriorated, limiting its use.

And the band played on ….

Another full house in the Cambridge Town Hall greeted The Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery on Sunday. The concert, put on by the band’s major sponsor Ryman Healthcare, is a voluntary military band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest surviving military band in the country.

Surplus down

Waipā District Council adopted its annual report this week and the Statement of Comprehensive Revenue and Expense shows an operating surplus of just $1.1 million, lower than the budgeted $45.2 million and the previous year’s $31.3. The result was affected by lower fees and charges revenue, diminished levels of subsidies and grants, and much lower than budgeted levels of growth-related income in the form of development and financial contributions and vested assets. Expenses were hit by inflationary elements, increased depreciation and the cost of council’s growing debt because of higher interest rates.

Parking warning

Parking wardens are active in Te Awamutu and Cambridge in the lead up to Christmas.  Parking in Waipā is free but there are time restrictions in place in the Te Awamutu and Cambridge central business districts from 8am – 6pm Monday to Saturdays. Overstayers who ignore the time limits risk getting a ticket.

A winner

Former Waipā student Simrat Kaur took on the world and won, taking out the Sip Academy’s International Prodigy 2023 mathematics competition in Colombo, Sri Lanka last month. The Tauwhare School student is due back in school tomorrow (Friday) where she will be welcomed with a special powhiri.

Money raised

Cambridge Primary School student leaders raised $3180 for the Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade by running a pyjama day, lunchtime movie room, disco, pool session, and Lego room for all students.

Champ again

James Gill – champ again in Hong Kong

Cambridge golfer James Gill has claimed his sixth Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau international amateur title in Hong Kong. He finished with a three-round total of eight-under-par 208 (69, 69, 70), four shots clear of Hong Kong amateur champion Isaac Lee, 17. The win puts 38-year-old Gill back in the World Amateur golf rankings.

Playgrounds future

Tamariki are being given the opportunity to have their say on what they want to see in two of Waipā district’s playgrounds. Reserves in Hiskens Place, Te Awamutu, and Kings Garden in Cambridge have been identified as future sites for new playground equipment in the coming years.

Gumboot Friday

It is Gumboot Friday tomorrow (November 3) and Hautapu School is encouraging students to wear their gumboots to school and bring a gold coin donation to raise money for youth mental illness.

Check, clean, dry

A permanent wash station is now installed and operational at Mighty River Domain, Lake Karāpiro as part of the freshwater gold clam infestation response. It has a pressure sprayer to enable boaties to give their craft a good blast of water to ensure that young clams with mucous strands are removed.

Anti-social driving

An increase in late night anti-social driving behaviour has prompted Waipā District Council to propose a light motor vehicle prohibition under its Public Places Bylaw. This will give police more powers to take action in problem areas. Cambridge/Maungatautari wards: Gudex Rd, Appleby Rd, Wells Place – from Waikato Expressway to Moemoea Place. Te Awamutu/Kihikihi wards: Bond Rd and Harrison Dve industrial areas, Bank Rd (Lake Ngā Roto), Puahue Rd-Parklands Rd-Chamberlain Rd loop, Arapuni and Bulmers Landings area. Pirongia/Ōhaupō wards: Hamilton Airport and Rukuhia areas.

Charity Open Day

Kids in Need Waikato, Cambridge’s home-grown success story, is marking its 5th year in operation with a public Open Day next weekend.  The November 12 family-oriented event will feature special guests from around the region, music, bouncy castles, face painting and food, and will offer a tour of the facilities, including that of a newly-completed shed built to meet growing needs. The Open Day will run from 10am to 2pm at 118 Fencourt Road in Cambridge.

Lacrosse selections

Cambridge High School students Annelies Banks and Piper Russell have been selected in the New Zealand Under 20 women’s lacrosse team to compete in the Southern Crosse Tournament in Melbourne from January 3-7 next year.  Both girls are 16 and attended trials over a three-month period to test their stick work, fitness and game knowledge.

Colour run

Cambridge Primary School’s PTA Colour Fun Run is happening on Friday, November 10 to help raise money to reseal the school’s BMX track.

Top of podium

Ellesse Andrews in her rainbow cyclewear winning in Berlin. Photo: UCI.

Cambridge-based Ellesse Andrews stamped her class on a select field to win both the sprint and keirin finals in the UCI Track Cycling Champions League in Berlin. Andrews, the keirin world champion, won the opening round of the keirin, and repeated her win in Berlin but also added the sprint final. Both were won in dominant fashion. She was the fastest qualifier in the sprint competition, the only female rider under 11 seconds, and went on to beat England’s Katy Marchant in the final.

Dairy awards open

Entries for the responsible dairying category of the Dairy Industry Awards have opened. The award is open to farm owners, businesses and former share farmer winners, irrelevant of which dairy company they supply.  It incorporates all aspects of sustainability, including environment, animal health and welfare, financial, community and people. Cameron Henderson from Canterbury/North Otago won last year’s award.

Ditch the sugar

New Zealand’s Dental Association (NZDA) is asking Kiwis to ditch sugary drinks for the month as part of the NZDA’s annual Switch to Water Challenge. It coincides with New Zealand’s National Oral Health Day and aims to put the spotlight squarely on the negative role sugar plays in our diet. Sugary drinks are a leading cause of tooth decay and contribute significantly to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and many other health problems.

What’s the diff?

Consumer NZ stripped down two kettles with a whopping $374 price difference and found that, while they’re remarkably similar, one is much more likely to go the distance. Kettles are a staple appliance in most households. Consumer tested and deconstructed two kettles at either end of the price spectrum. At the time of testing, the Kmart kettle was $25 and the Dualit model was $399. While the Kmart model was noisier and slower to boil, both kettles performed well in Consumer’s appliance test.

Goodwood sailors

Beth Iremonger, 8, (left) and Jessica Hawkins, 7, show great skills as first-time sailors during Goodwood School’s year 3 and 4 camp at Lake Karapiro last month.

Goodwood School’s Year 3 and 4 held a  three-day camp at Lake Karapiro last month.

Led by associate principal Lynda Alton, the camp was originally planned for February but had to be postponed because of Cyclone Gabrielle.  It involved 130 students, who stayed at the Rob Waddell Centre and took part in sailing, kayaking, biscuiting, archery, high ropes, cycling, orienteering, adventure games and a pyjama party.