Jazzy Christmas time
Cambridge High School’s jazz trio of, from left, Hunter Davis (guitar), Grace Vivian (vocals) and Cameron Diprose (bass) entertained the Cambridge Women’s Club at its Christmas function last week. Several pieces were also accompanied by their teacher Lisa Norman on tenor horn. Some of the tunes played were Moon River, Honey Suckle Rose and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. The group will be playing at the Sydney Opera House next year and Women’s Club members wished them every success.
Signing off
This is the last edition of the year and we will be back on January 9, 2025. Keep your eye on our website cambridgenews.nz and the Cambridge App for any breaking news stories. Email [email protected]
Queen of the castle
Cambridge Racquets Club celebration day. Maisy-Rose Smith.
Bouncy fun at the club: Maisy-Rose Smith, 3 next month, was having fun getting away from her father Jon on the Bouncy Castle during Cambridge Racquets Club celebration day on Sunday to mark its titles as Waikato tennis and squash club of the year.
Perfect score
St. Peter’s IB Diploma Cohort 2024
A St Peter’s School, Cambridge student has become the first student from the school to achieve a perfect score of 45 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme. School dux Zach Macaskill-Smith was part of a cohort of 58 students to participate in the programme and the first from the school to ever get a perfect score.
See: A perfect score
New chair
Tammee Wilson – Chamber of Commerce chair
Tammee Wilson is the new Cambridge Chamber of Commerce chair replacing Tracey Olivier who stood down earlier this month. She is the regional Engagement manager for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
David Natzke, an executive committee member for six years, was appointed deputy chair at a special meeting last night.
Past and current: Cambridge Chamber of Commerce board members, from left: Blair Paterson, Jim Goddin, Tammee Wilson, David Natzke, outgoing chair Tracey Olivier, Monique Medley-Rush, Debbie Simes, Jo-anne Jogia and Jason Tiller. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
A cold Mo-ment
Cambridge Community House general manager Gabby Byrne
Cambridge Community House general manager Gabby Byrne did her bit to raise funds for men’s health by jumping in an ice bath at the annual Movember Tradies BBQ Brekkie. Around 40 people gathered at Cambridge ITM for the second Movember Tradies Brekkie run by Cambridge Community House with support from businesses. As well as hearing from speakers on a range of health-related topics, they tested their strength in a rowing competition or helped swell the Movember coffers by jumping in an ice bath. There were also spot prizes for those sporting the most outrageous moustaches.
Pin presented
Mayor Susan O’Regan lets Devon Briggs wear her mayoral chains at the celebrations for Olympians.
Cambridge’s Devon Briggs received his number 229 pin from Paralympics NZ at the New Zealand Grand Prix held at the Velodrome in Cambridge. After setting a world record and picking up medals at the 2024 Para Cycling Track World Championships in Brazil, Briggs was part of the New Zealand Paralympic Team at Paris 2024.
Ambulance donated
An ambulance donated from the estate of the late uncle of a Waikato resident was presented in Cambridge last week. The ambulance is being gifted to Manukau. Sidney Wilkinson, who served in the Navy and was a nurse, spent most of his life in South Auckland after moving from the UK in the 1950s. He later moving to a retirement village in Hamilton to be closer to Dave Wilkinson and his wife, Lynn.
Piarere update
Piarere Roundabout December 2024
Construction on the new 60-metre roundabout at Piarere reached another milestone when the first completed approach roads opened this week. The roundabout opened to traffic in September and two temporary approach roads were used while work continued on the three permanent approaches.
The change this week sees traffic from all three of the legs approaching the roundabout – the intersection of highways 1 and 29 – using the roundabout. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) acting regional manager Infrastructure Delivery Waikato/Bay of Plenty Bruce Waugh said the temporary layout had operated well and planning was made with a view to keeping the road open during the switch.
The opening of these approaches results in the current tie-in road for Tīrau traffic becoming an access lane for nearby properties.
The temporary Hamilton approach road will remain in use while work continues on the permanent configuration, which is expected to be finished in early 2025.
With the flow
Lake Te Koo Utu waterfall
A waterfall which has been out of action at Cambridge’s Lake Te Koo Utu for some time because of a bore issue, could begin flowing again. The council is working with designer Ian Trousdell to repair parts of the asset.
Weeds winning
Bamboo can be seen from the Camellia Walkway.
Large areas of Te Koo Utu reserve have been overtaken with weed growth including bamboo, convolvulus and jasmine prompting community concern. Waipā Community Services manager Brad Ward said staff do not have the resources to manage the weeds, particularly those on steep banks. The areas will be incorporated into a Vegetation Management Plan and considered for the Long Term Plan.
Help at hand
A Waipā Networks owned company which has celebrated 10 years of donations to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is encouraging others to follow suit. Waikato Tree Services donates five days of arborist services every year to maintain walking tracks and help protect the sanctuary from predators on the maunga.
Sports off
The Sports Field Lease Model project has been taken out of Waipā District Council’s 10-year Long Term Plan. A total of $5.159 million was to be spent on the council taking control of the district’s 17 ratepayer-owned sports fields and employing a sports liaison officer from 2027.
Gotcha
Teenagers caught vandalising Terry Came Drive playground in Cambridge North have given time back to the community by painting over graffiti in other locations. Vandalism at the playground has decreased since the installation of a security camera.
Correction
Cheers: from left: Town Hall Community Trust’s general manager Simon Brew, Monique Susilla and chair Kirsty Johnson with Lions’ repre-sentatives, Ian Crabb (trust chair), Karen Johnson (vice president), Julie Mayes (past secretary), Brent Montgomerie (president). Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Brent Montgomerie is Lions Club Cambridge president, not past president as we published in last week’s story about the donation of a piano to the town hall.
On patrol
Waikato Regional Council maritime officers will be patrolling coastal and inland waters in force this summer as part of the annual Operation Neptune. The annual operation from Boxing Day to January 12 covers coastal, lake and river boating areas across the Waikato region. This includes Raglan and Kāwhia in the west, the Coromandel Peninsula, along with the Waikato River from Port Waikato through to Lake Karāpiro and Lake Arapuni down to Lake Ōhakuri. Last summer, Operation Neptune staff identified 393 bylaw breaches and issued 94 formal warnings issued and 299 infringements.
Black belter
From left: Alex McIvor, Gerard McCarthy, Nidaime A Nakamura, Michael McIvor and Matt McIvor.
Te Awamutu Karate Club Alex McIvor, who practices law in Te Awamutu as a director of Gallie Miles, achieved his Yondan – 4th dan black belt – grading in Christchurch last weekend, capping off a successful year for the club.
