Talent quest to thank hard workers

To celebrate five years of the Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme a school talent quest is being held to thank the hard working team.

The team has worked the past five years in Kawerau, Te Teko and Te Mahoe and to celebrate this milestone, the "Stop Sore Throats Hurting Hearts" school talent quest is being held on Saturday November 19 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Kawerau Town Hall.

Rheumatic Fever is a preventable disease that is triggered by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) sore throat. A GAS sore throat can be identified by a simple throat swab.

In 2010 the Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance Kawerau Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme team and several doctors, nurses, and pharmacies joined forces with whanau of local schools to identify and treat the GAS sore throat.

Almost every student in the Kawarau, Te Teko and Te Mahoe communities has been enrolled in the programme since 2010. The team have taken over 23,856 throat swabs, and 2,392 GAS throats have been treated.

Event coordinator, Kahurangi Wineti wants whanau to celebrate this accomplishment.

"We want to thank our amazing whanau, doctors, nurses and pharmacies with this fun, free event. We have many prizes for those with talent as well as spot prizes for those that come along. There will be a free sausage sizzle running for an hour and outdoor karaoke for any spontaneous displays of singing talent."

Singer/songwriter Maisey Rika is joining the celebration as one of the guest judges. The audience will also be treated to a performance of her impressive vocal talent.

Students who have entered the talent quest will be performing pieces to the "Stop Sore Throats Hurting Hearts" theme.

"We have so much local student talent out there to showcase, it'll be awesome to see what our tamariki come up with. Having Maisey Rika join the day is the icing on the cake," said Ms Wineti.