Balloons in Cambridge Park: Photo Paula Grace
Balloons land
Residents of Cambridge Park were surprised when they looked skyward early on Saturday morning to find several hot air balloons hovering over the Leamington suburb. So when the balloons landed on the Oval, the word quickly got around.
French connection
The Le Quesnoy participants, from left are Piper Boreham, Chelsea Bau, Kaitlin McGuire, Zara Baker, Edie Simmons, Bella Green, Betsy-Scarlett Ingram, Maddie Hyslop, Cambridge Community Board representative Alana McKay, holding Mia, 2, Waipā councillor Philip Coles, Danielle D’Ath (holding Monty), Pip Feast (organiser), Alyssa Eady, Elise Langman, Abigail Hopkins, Tayla McCullough, Hayley Taylor, Elin Gainsford, Calie Oliver, Austin Savage, Milla Seath (partially obscured) and Isla Read.
The next time all these people will be together again will be in France for Anzac Day commemorations at Cambridge’s sister city Le Quesnoy. The 28 students and four teachers from Cambridge High School leave on April 12 for to Paris, Nîmes, Gimont, Annecy and Le Quesnoy. They will stay in homestays while doing the traditional tourist visits to the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles and Paris Disneyland and return on May 1. Cambridge Community Board’s Alana Mackay and Waipā councillor Philip Coles will represent Cambridge on Anzac Day.
For the kids
Children’s Day on Saturday will be marked by Te Manawa o Cambridge with a picnic at the town’s newest playground in Bridleways Estate. Music, games, colouring competitions, a sausage sizzle and community stalls feature in Papatakohe Park from 2pm.
New priest
Philip Billing has taken over as St Peter’s Parish Catholic priest from Monsignor Leonard Danvers who had been in Cambridge since 2013 and recently celebrated 50 years as a priest. A Book of Memories with messages from parishioners will be presented to Danvers.
Refs issue SOS
Cambridge’s rugby referees association, which recently celebrated its centenary is warning it may not have the numbers to cover games this season. The association held its annual meeting on Monday. “The decline in on-field officials has become a critical issue, to the point where we may soon struggle to field enough referees to keep games going,” association president Gareth Coogan said.
“To help address this, we are launching a recruitment campaign aimed at attracting new referees— from retired players to young adults who want to follow in the footsteps of legends like Nigel Owens, to anyone of any age keen to give back to the game. No prior experience is necessary – just a passion for rugby and a willingness to learn.” Coogan leads the association into the 2025 season. Other posts filled this week were vice president Kelvin Scown, secretary Ivan McIntosh, treasurer Mike McLarn, executive committee and sponsor liaison John Gould, appointments officer Kevin Clarke, Cambridge High School liaison Anna Voss, media liaison Gareth Coogan, Brian Ley.
Road closure
Work to rebuild both lanes of a section of State Highway 3 between Rukuhia Road and Narrows Road will involve reducing the road to a single lane for about four weeks.
Helping out
Christian Cullen and Glenn Metcalfe
Two former international rugby fullbacks, Christian Cullen and Glenn Metcalfe, spoke at a Te Awamutu Sports fundraiser breakfast auction on Sunday. The event was held to raise funds for a senior rugby trip to the Scotland-based Melrose Sevens tournament in May.
Saddler celebrates
Sophia Stratford at Capel House College with some of the work she has done during her first year. Photo: suppliedCambridge saddler Sophia Stratford has won an award at the Society of Master Saddlers’ national competition in England. The former Cambridge High School student left for Enfield, north London in late 2023 to start her Worshipful Company of Cordwainers diploma in saddle, harness and bridle making at Capel Manor College.
Road work almost ready
Works on the intersection of State Highway 1 and Karāpiro Road are near completion. New line marking and signs have been installed near the intersection, including electronic signs that will display safety messages.
“The intersection at SH1-Karāpiro Road can be very busy, with local traffic heading towards Karāpiro School, the Mobil service station, and residences, interregional traffic connecting to State Highway 29 and heavy vehicles heading towards the quarry,” acting regional manager Infrastructure Delivery for Waikato/Bay of Plenty Darryl Coater said.
Since 2020 NZTA has been installing a range of safety improvements between Cambridge and Piarere. This has included widening the road, having wider centre lines, installing turnaround bays and median barriers, and other safety treatments.
Thunder on the horizon
The Frankton Thunder Automotive and Community Festival will feature a start in Cambridge.
One of the festival’s traditional features is the Cruise-in ‚ which leaves from the Cambridge Race Course and allows participants to choose their own route into Frankton.
Streets then become a flood of automotive colour.
Organising committee chairman Ken McGeady says organisers are looking forward to a record number of cars, motorcycles, military and vintage machinery for the March 9 event.
“We have interest from a number of Auckland car clubs along with steam train experiences offered by the Glenbrook Vintage Rail which links into Frankton’s past as an historic rail junction,” he said.
Glenbrook Vintage Rail is planning two days of steam excursions run from Frankton Rail station.
O’Dwyer wins rowing gold
Cambridge rower Tegan O’Dwyer was a member of the Waikato team which won the women’s eights at the national rowing championships competed last weekend.
The series was held in the South Island on Lake Ruataniwha where the Christchurch based Avon club dominated.
