Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Brigade's Sky Tower Challenge team in all their gear ready to climb during last year's event. Photo / Marlene Trigg
Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Brigade's Sky Tower Challenge team in all their gear ready to climb during last year's event. Photo / Marlene Trigg
BREAM BAY COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Every week six children and adults in New Zealand are diagnosed with a blood cancer – Bream Bay's firefighters are doing their part to help by racing up Auckland's Sky Tower this Saturday.
Four firefighters from Refining NZ's Marsden 22 brigade and six from Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Brigade are makingthe climb in full kit to raise funds and awareness for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC).
To give a donation and show your support for the teams go to: https://firefightersclimb.org.nz – search for Marsden 22 or Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Brigade and donate to a team or an individual firefighter.
Marsden 22's Paul Austin is dedicating his climb to a 4-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy, after he met her grandmother while he was training at a local park.
Every cent raised goes towards supporting LBC patients and their families.
Firefighters making the climb are: (from Marsden 22) Austin, Andrew Hughes, Jonathan Hoori, Russell Gavin; (from Ruakaka): Jason Tanner, Simon Lindsay, Nate Kitto, Darrell Trigg, Oscar Channings, Laurence Walkinshaw.
New dance school for Bream Bay
Dance teacher Briar Taylor is keen to bring the joy of dancing to her home town, and is offering lessons in jazz, tap and ballet for children over 2 years through to adults in Bream Bay.
Some of Briar Taylor's Whangarei dance students: Olivia Moore (left), Tayla Lambert, Mia Ross, Caitlin Lambert, Isla Wild. Photo / Supplied
Born and raised at One Tree Point, Taylor began dancing locally at 5 years old and competed throughout New Zealand until age 21. She returned to Bream Bay after completing a four-year sport and exercise degree in Dunedin and, together with Sue Beu, started the Dance Collective Performance Academy (DCPA) in Whangārei, teaching jazz, tap and ballet to all ages.
"I wanted to carry on dancing and give individuals the opportunity I got when I was young to enjoy the art of dancing," said Taylor. "I believe dancing is an amazing tool for both children and adults to express themselves – if I'm in a bad mood, I put on my dance shoes, some music and I dance," she said. "It makes everything better."
Taylor is a fully qualified and registered New Zealand dance teacher and also has level three first aid qualifications. If you would like to register your child or yourself for her Bream Bay dance classes, call 021 029 79072 or email info@dancecollective.co.nz.
Skies clear for golf fundraiser
Marsden Lions Charity Golf Tournament organisers were slightly nervous to wake to rain on Saturday morning, the day of the tournament – but thankfully skies cleared.
"Everyone had a great day," said Gladys Rowsell of Marsden Lions.
Craig Dackers and Matt Dackers, the Marsden Lions Charity Golf Tournament's winning Rockcote Resene team, enjoying ninth hole refreshments. Photo / Gladys Rowsell
The Bream Bay Realty golf team of Heather Fitzgerald (left), Mike Fitzgerald, Margaret Pennington, John Pennington. Photo / Gladys Rowsell
Numbers were slightly down this year, with 52 golfers taking part in the tournament held at Waipū Golf Club, but she said everyone enjoyed playing the new ambrose format in perfect conditions.
Rowsell said Marsden Lions was grateful to the tournament's many sponsors for helping to raise more than $7000. All funds will be distributed between the Northland Rescue Helicopter, Ruakākā Surf Life Saving Club, St John Bream Bay and the Ruakākā Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Waipū golfers win pennants
Waipu's golfers came out on top in an epic battle against Bay of Islands 1 on the fairways of Whangārei Golf Course last weekend to decide the champions of Division 1 and Division 2 for 2019.
Waipu's winning men's golf team: Joe Young (left), Murray Douglas, Paul Irwin, Doug Shadbolt, Greg Shanahan (team manager), Liam Young, Bob Glen. Photo / Supplied
Playing in gusty and tricky rain showers throughout the day, the matches remained tight until the final hole. Waipū's final pairing holed a five-foot putt to secure the winning point and the championship, five points to four.
Big week for music
It's a big week for music in Bream Bay – tonight is Bream Bay College's annual music night, when all the school's musicians show off their talents in the auditorium from 6pm.
Entry is $2 for students, $5 for adults or $10 for a family pass (two adults, two children). Children aged under 11 are free.
There will be food and drink for sale. On Sunday three of the school's bands will compete in Northland's Rockquest heats, from 2.30pm at Tikipunga High School.
Two of Bream Bay College's bands playing at Music Night are the Panimals and Steel Panda, New Zealand's only high school steel pan bands.
Under the tutelage of music teacher Scott Brown, the Panimals and Steel Panda have been practising and fundraising for their trip to the PANZfest international steel pan band competition in Brisbane later this year.
Quiz night for spirit voyage
The Razza Kitchen Waipū is holding a quiz night fundraiser to support 10 Bream Bay students to take up the opportunity of a Spirit of New Zealand voyage.
Teams of six per table, $10 per person for the evening on May 29 starting at 6pm so sign up now to secure your table.
There are prizes for the first, second and third placed teams in the quiz and a prize for the best-themed table, along with raffles, meals from 5pm and a cash bar.
Contact Shelly at the Razza Kitchen on 432 0028 or via their Facebook page.
Email Julie Paton at moojoy@xtra.co.nz if you've got Bream Bay news to share with Advocate readers.
