Winners announced
Jane Thompson and Valentina Di Maio of Cambridge won the open and youth categories in the Paua Architects’ sponsored Autumn Festival photography competition.
The announcements were made at a launch function in the Cambridge Town Hall last night.
Thompson’s photo showed her niece Bridget Burmester, husband Dane and son Blue on the slide at at Karāpiro Domain. Valentia, 13, a year nine student at Cambridge High School won the youth section with her photo of cousin Nina Di Maio, also at Lake Karāpiro.
Liana Bailey was second in the open showing her daughters at Lake Te Koo Utu in summer while Trent Ganley’s striking Kaipaki sunflower farm with Mount Pirongia in the background was third.
Jan Mackenzie was first in the Autumn Festival short story competition watched by sponsor David Cooney and festival chair Alana Mackay.
Meanwhile Leamington writer Jan Mackenzie won the Cooney Insurance and Maurice Trapp Group sponsored short story competition – the first author from Cambridge in the 12 year history – with her Harry Gone Away short story.
The short story competition theme was “The Dilemma” with a 1500 maximum word count. A record 202 entries came from all over NEw Zealand with Tauranga’s Deryn Pittar second with Living is hard and Christchurch’s Tristan Whitfield third with August.
One of the judges wrote this summary, which the other judges concurred with.
“This was just so beautifully portrayed, with a clever story line and very well-presented dilemma. Beautiful portrayal of Meg’s life – the sparse language in the first paragraph sets the scene very effectively. There’s no wallowing, but the sparse language, understating, speaks volumes – very effective. Beautiful use of language. For example, ‘She flung aside the shawl of her wary stillness’ ‘The collective conscience of the village shuddered and held its tongue.’ Just beautifully crafted throughout!”
The entries are on display in the Town Hall from today along with the art exhibition of New Zealand artists brought to town by the Cambridge Art Society. Entry is free today, Saturday and Sunday.
Jane Thompson with her winning photo entry at the Autumn Festival. Judge Michael Jeans is in the background in front of his exhbition in the Town Hall.
Karāpiro Domain slide fun: Bridget Burmester, husband Dane and four-year-old son Blue on the slide at Karāpiro Domain in the award-winning photo by Jane Thompson.
Intrepid explorer Nina Di Maio taken at Lake Karāpiro by youth photography winner Valentina Di Maio, 13, year nine Cambridge High School.
Our Summer at Lake Te Koo Utu by Liana Bailey was second.
Kaipaki sunflower farm with Mount Pirongia in the background by Trent Ganley was third.
Last hurrah
Hamilton County Bluegrass Band.
The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band will play its last ever concert in Cambridge on March 23 during the Autumn Festival. The band has been around since the 1960s when it was founded by Paul Trenwith and Alan Rhodes. The lineup has changed over the years – Dave Calder on mandolin, Colleen Bain, who later married Paul, on the fiddle. She died in 2021 and her two sons – Sam and Tim – now feature in the band.
Miho’s Jazz
Miho’s Jazz Orchestra
A group formed by Japanese-born Kiwi Miho Wada will feature with its J-pop, Cubano and Pacific infused jazz in The Woolshed at the Autumn Festival. Wada has performed internationally with artists such as Nigel Kennedy, Jarvis Cocker, Ska Cubano and recorded a series of TV adverts with Iggy Pop. She formed Miho’s Jazz Orchestra in 2011 and will be on show on March 22 from 7pm at Te Awa Lifecare Village.
Art Trail
Carole Hughes
The Open Studios Art Trail will return this year. The art trail will see six artists and two galleries open to the public on March 23 and 24. The artists are Jo Beckett, Faith Thomas, Janet Smith, Catherine Haworth, Carole Hughes and Lea Wotersen, and the galleries taking part are Heritage Gallery, and Sinclair Barclay Gallery.
Mana in the Blues
Mana Blues
Blues man Grant Haua (Ngāti Pukenga) will present anl acoustic solo performance at the Cambridge Autumn Festival on March 21. Haua regularly tours in Europe and Australia.
People’s Choice
The judges’ decisions have been made in the Cambridge Autumn Festival’s photo competition and the top entries are on display at the Cambridge Town Hall. Voting in People’s Choice Award is now open. The theme this year was Capture your Waipā adventure.
Ukulele Workshops
Nukes
The Nukes ‘original ukulele trio’ will run workshops for children and adults. The musical miscreants will also appear in The Big Family Show in an evening performance on Saturday.
Author talk
Harp and the Lyre
Cambridge author Holly Christina will speak and play music at Cambridge Library on March 23. Her presentation will focus on the second book in her Harp and the Lyre series.
Bricktopia returns
Lego’s Bricktopia returns to Cambridge as part of the festival on March 24. The event is part of Cy-Co’s Brain Injury Awareness Month fundraising.
International magician
Zero Magician
Zero Xiao will give a free family magic show at Te Awa Lifecare on March 24. The event will also include Biàn Liǎn or Face-Changing magic, an ancient Chinese dramatic art.
