Climbing 3 World Trade Centre for the New York Memorial Stair Climb with 400 first responders earlier this month was a fantastic experience, says Bream Bay firefighter Paul Austin. Getty Images
Climbing 3 World Trade Centre for the New York Memorial Stair Climb with 400 first responders earlier this month was a fantastic experience, says Bream Bay firefighter Paul Austin. Getty Images
Eighty-floor climb fantastic experience Climbing 3 World Trade Centre for the New York Memorial Stair Climb with 400 first responders earlier this month was a fantastic experience, says firefighter Paul Austin (42) of Refinery Marsden 22 Brigade.
Bream Bay firefighter Paul Austin just before his climb, standing by Gregg Atlas's name at the 9/11 South Tower Memorial in New York. Austin's helmet, originally red, was painted especially for the climb by Dean Lovich from Waihi. PHOTO/NOEL AUSTIN
He enjoyed it so much he climbed the tower's 80-floors a second time. Thefirst ascent put him in 10th place overall and third in the 40 year-plus age group, earning himself a memorial coin, with a time of 20 minutes and 19 seconds.
On his first run he carried the tag of fallen first responder Gregg Atlas of FDNY Engine 10 to the top of the tower. The second run took 25 minutes and 13 seconds, and he carried the tag of Rubin Correa, former marine and a firefighter from Engine 74 on New York's Upper West side.
Both Atlas and Correa were killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001.
Fellow Bream Bay firefighter, Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Brigade's Darrell Trigg, 48, is still travelling overseas after the climb, but he placed 31st in the 40-plus age group with a time of 33 minutes and 20 seconds in his second year of the climb, carrying the tag of Tarel Colement of FDNY Squad 252.
The event, now in its fourth year, sees 400 first responders climb the tower to honour the firefighters and police who fell in 9/11 and also memorialises fallen first responders and military personnel worldwide. It is also a fundraiser for families affected by 9/11.
Surf Life Saving Awards Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club's Stolwerk family cleaned up at last weekend's Northern Region Surf Life Saving Awards of Excellence, held in Auckland.
The award-winning Stolwerk family (from left): Rick, Emily, Angela and older daughter Ella. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Rick Stolwerk was awarded a distinguished service award, his wife Angela a service award, while daughter Emily beat finalists from large Auckland clubs Red Beach and Mairangi Bay to take out the Rookie Lifeguard of the Year award.
Ruakaka Surf Life Saving Club's Connor Mackereth and Kyran Gillespie were part of a Far North Rescue which won Rescue of the Year. Along with four other lifeguards from various clubs, they helped recover the body of a missing diver near Cape Reinga last September. "It was a great night of celebration for our hardworking volunteers," said Waipu Club's Kath Manning.
Great Waipu milk off Although she can't drink milk, Natalia Orchard, 13, is quite an expert at getting milk out of a cow.
Kelly Sandford celebrates her win over husband Wayne at the Great Waipu Milk Off. PHOTO/JULIE PATON
The youngster topped the children's competition at the fourth annual Great Waipu Milk Off at Yourvet last Saturday night. The event is part of Winter in Waipu's celebrations.
This year for the first time there was a children's competition, with 14 competitors milking two artificial cows, Morag and Agnes, for all they were worth.
The winner was the one with the most milk in their container after three minutes, and Natalia cleaned up the kid's competition filling her container to the brim, beating Alex Kite, 11, on 180ml and Samantha Cowpland, 12, with 150ml.
She wasn't sure what the secret of her successful milking technique was, saying "I just squeezed hard." She did admit to having sore hands. Natalia then entered the adult competition, beating two adults to make the semifinals.
Doug Gibson, the fastest milker in Bream Bay, with his winnings. PHOTO/JULIE PATON
Sixteen adults took on the solo competition – the fastest to fill their container with milk and drink it is the winner, so Natalia required a milk-drinking assistant to complete the challenge.
Competitors have the option of starting with a slug of whiskey in their container which gives them the advantage of a head start - but may also impair them in later rounds of the competition.
Previous year's fast-milking champion Damian Dixon was knocked out in the early rounds by Josh Preece, while Kelly Sandford's first-round win saw her competing against husband Wayne in the quarter-finals.
Kelly beat Wayne and, thanks to their private competition, earned herself a week off milking.
Kelly made it to the final round where she faced Doug Gibson, who had easily beaten all opponents in earlier rounds. At this point they met the "wheel of misfortune" to find out what handicap they might meet in their milking efforts – a teat pea, colostrum, mastitis or the small chance of a healthy udder.
Both Kelly and Doug drew colostrum (condensed milk added to the udder). After a slow start Doug hit his stride and finished ahead of Kelly to win the coveted milk-off trophy plus around $1000 of good including drench and calf meal, while Kelly took home around $800 of sponsors' products.
Housie night for league club If you enjoy playing housie, head along to Takahiwai Rugby League Club's fundraising Housie Night to support their under-15 and under-17 teams, on July 26 at the McEwen Rd clubrooms, Ruakaka. Doors open 5pm, competition starts 6pm.
You could win more than $500 in prize money – as it is a fundraiser, calling will be slow and beginner friendly. Game books (15 numbers) are $10, and you can buy multiple books. Pre-sale game tickets are available – call Ari on 021 02872417.
There will be plenty of prizes and raffles on offer, the club bar and kitchen will be open and eftpos available, cakes and slices for sale, tea and coffee are free.
Tartan golf tournament Waipu Golf Club's Golf in Tartan nine-hole ambrose day in celebration of Winter in Waipu is coming up on 26 July. Entries close tomorrow, so find something tartan and enter at waipu@golf.co.nz, phone 094320259 or pop into the club golf shop. Prizes for the best-dressed team, so bring the clan and join the fun.
