September 2017 Volume: 14 Issue: 07

Omokoroa Community Board Report by Murray Grainger Chairman Trees... on how it will approach erosion and subsidence of Council-owned coastal land. Council says that is willing to consider suggestions in Trees are a common subject of conversation around relation to tree trimming and pruning where there are concerns about Omokoroa at present. People who were here 50 years potential subsidence. However, any requests will need to be balanced ago tell me there were very few trees on the peninsula against the protected status of the trees under the Reserves Act 1977 then, because the peninsula was grass and dairy farms. and the District Plan. Council will need to consider the advice of A little later came the orchards and shelterbelts and thus the trees. qualified arborists prior to undertaking any work on trees along the Move ahead a few years and the people came in greater numbers so the embankment. Get in touch with Council’s reserves staff if you want to orchards made way for subdivisions and houses. It is a sad reality that discuss any concerns about trees on Council land. the economics of development mean that large areas are denuded of While on the subject of trees; the preservation/creation of bird corridors trees to allow roads and other infrastructure to be built, but ultimately and the planting of tree species which feed and shelter native birds are people buy these new properties, move in, establish gardens and plant issues that we as a community need to push for in our submissions on new trees. the Long Term Plan and the coming review of the Omokoroa Structure There is another reason for trees being discussed at the moment. Did Plan. the trees contribute to some of the recent slips or did they anchor Last Community Board meeting for 2017 is 7pm, 21 November the cliffs and prevent even more damage? Council has adopted 2017 its Coastal Erosion Responses Policy, which sets out a framework

Next Community Board Meeting - 7pm, Tuesday 10th October, 2017 at the Omokoroa Community Church Hall, Hamurana Road.

Omokoroa Omelette 1 September 2017 Letters to the Editor... Residents of Omokoroa... We seem to have dried up with our letters to the Editor. Is this a clear indication that all is well within Omokoroa??? Express your thoughts, grievanes. It doesn't all have to have a negative aspect; let us know about something good, wonderful that has happened locally! Love to hear from you! Omokoroa Print & Copy Update Hello everyone, The guys at Allied Picford Movers The Omelette's NEW home Fuji Xerox local staff / technicians We have now moved into our new DB Signs premises at the end of Prole Road. We are Russel Goodwin still settling in but all go to help you with and a biggy to Kale Print Tga... who what ever you need printed, laminated, printed our little paper when we enlarged, reduced or created! Just walk in couldn't. and receive that prompt friendly service All of these people and businesses have that we have always strived to supply. come to our aid, or given us extra help Nancy and Graeme would like to give a and support with our business move, out special thank you to: of, and then back into Omokoroa. Andy and Comfort Air Conditioning Business for sale Linda and Simons Carpets Yes... we are still looking to sell Richard Bell Electrical Omokoroa Print & Copy to a local, if we Thomas from The Hire Centre can. We currently have two interested Diane from Diane’s Décor party's, but it's still not to late if you are genuinely interested. Peter Passifield our retired painter The business has great potetial for someone who is keen to expand and employ staff, or, it will give a good income just maintaining it how it is. In the 15 years we have operated the business, it have given us a good income and shown steady growth every year. As we have stated in earlier issues of the Omelette... you don't have to have printing experience, just a passion for Omokoroa and a willingness to learn. We are happy to stay on for a resonable period of time (a number of months if required) to get the new owners use to the software, use to how we have run the business and how to use the equipment. Look at these advertisers below!

Omokoroa Omelette 2 September 2017 Omokoroa Omelette 3 September 2017 Run Faster, Jump Higher & Throw Further by Ali Lawrence The summer season of the Omokoroa Athletics Club kicks off on Wednesday 25th October with our opening night starting at 5:15pm at the Western Ave Sports Ground, Omokoroa. There will be games, a free sausage sizzle and lots of fun. At Omokoroa Athletics Club we provide track and field events for 5 to 14-year-olds, encouraging children to set their own benchmarks for personal achievements. For the Minis (2 to 4-year-olds) we have a fun filled 40-minute session with children and their parents. The Club meets every Wednesday at 5:15pm. Children do a rotation of events from running to shot put, discus and the long jump. Afterwards, a sausage sizzle and juicies are available for purchase. Each week children get the opportunity to gain points which accumulate towards the end of season trophies. These are awarded to the overall winner of each age group. We have ribbons nights where each child has the chance to win ribbons for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place, for each activity. Over the Athletics season, there are regular events such as; the Jennings Cup and Colgate Games which give our club the opportunity to compete with other teams within our region and countrywide. Not only will kids become better athletes but they will improve their skills in other sports as well. We are a voluntary organisation with a dedicated committee and amazing parents that help every week to make sure our children get the best opportunities to improve their athletic skills. So, come along on Weds 25th October to see what we have to offer and you can go to: www.omokoroa.net/athletics to register online today.

Opening Night We kick off the summer season on Wednesday 25th October with our opening night at 5:15pm at the Western Ave Sports Ground, Omokoroa. Come along to check out what we have to offer, there will be games, a free sausage sizzle and lots of fun. Go to: www.omokoroa.net/athletics to register online today.

Rex Whistler - Reversible Face Scotsman & Englishman

Omokoroa Omelette 4 September 2017 Looking for fun summer activities for your kids? byproduct... Help Raise Money for New Sports Pavilion By Simone Rose Last year’s Omokoroa Coastal Challenge raised $6,800 which was donated towards the building of a new Sports Pavilion in Western Ave, Omokoroa. As this would benefit such a large proportion of the Western Bay community, we are again donating all funds from this not-for- profit event to a new pavilion. However, this year we are aiming for $10,000! Register today at: www.runrunrun.co.nz to support your community and help achieve this goal. The Omokoroa Athletics Club is one of the many local groups who will benefit from a new and improved Sports Pavilion. Athletics is such an iconic kiwi hobby, which provides fun for a huge cross section of ages and abilities. The Omokoroa club is for boys and girls aged 2-13 years and meet every Wednesday at 5:15-6pm throughout the 4th and 1st terms of each school year (this year kicking off on 25th Oct). Speaking from personal experience after having been involved last season with my 3 boys, it’s a fun and social atmosphere for both kids and parents. Stay afterwards for their weekly sausage sizzle and it means dinner for the kids is taken care of too! Kids participate in all the traditional activities like running races, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus and cricket ball throw. Some children go on to represent the club at regional interclub meets. The minis program is tailored to the 2-4-year olds with fun, age appropriate activities that develop motor skills and include events like throwing foam javelins, obstacle courses, throwing bean bags into buckets, hula hoops, kicking goals, sack races and more. Club members are strong with 120 children competing last year. About 40 of those were in the minis program and the rest aged 5-13 years. Children come from Omokoroa, Pahoia, Whakamarama, Te Puna, Bethlehem, Aongatete & Katikati. Alastair Ussher, an athletics committee member commented, “we are a really good community club: we rely on parents to help the committee to supervise groups and run the events. Parents of the minis help out with their own children. It means that it’s a really good way to meet other families”. Alastair’s 2 sons, Benjamin aged 8 who attends Pahoia school and Isaac aged 4 who attends Whakamarama Kindergarten are keen athletics members. Alastair’s community spirit and admirable goal to, “try to get the boys and myself to take advantage of as many sports clubs and activities as we can manage”, means his family is tackling the Omokoroa Coastal Challenge. Encourage a love of sport in your own kids by getting them involved in fun activities like athletics and the Coastal Challenge. Register them today for our 2km fun run at: www.runrunrun.co.nz . Or show real community spirit like Alastair, who will not only be running the 2km event with his kids, but has also registered to compete in the 10km run afterwards. For those wanting to support our fundraiser but unable to participate in the actual sporting events, we need some volunteers on the day to help marshal around the course or man the bouncy castle. If you can assist please phone me on 021 834 343 or email [email protected]

The Daily News hands over the 50 bucks and says "good job," One liners... The brunette looks guilty and says "I'm sorry, Every morning is the dawn of a new error. Once a Blonde and a brunette were watching here's your fifty bucks back, I saw the earlier the news when they saw a man at the top showing and I knew the man was going to If it weren't for electricity we'd all be watching of a building threatening to jump off. The jump off," then blonde says television by candlelight. - George Gobel Brunette said "I bet you fifty bucks he's going "don't worry, I saw it too, I You never really learn to swear until you to jump off, what do you say?" The Blonde just didn't think he'd do it learn to drive. said "sure," They watched carefully for 10 again." I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left minutes when the man jumps off. The Blonde me before we met.

Omokoroa Omelette 5 September 2017 Tauranga Society of Artists... Original Art Expo Tauranga Society of Artists are proudly presenting an Original Art Expo at the end of October at the Community Centre, Elizabeth St West, Tauranga. We are delighted that we have so many talented artists showcasing their work. There will be approximately 75 artists displaying a myriad of disciplines from mixed media, water colour, acrylic, oils, ink, charcoal, pencils and pastels put together for a spectacular display. Dates Wednesday 25th October 2pm to 5pm Thurs 26th, Fri 27th, Sat 28th 9:30am to 5pm Sunday 29th October 9:30am to 4pm

Here is the opportunity to experience some beautiful art you make take home for some personal or emotional satisfaction. Entry is by gold coin. The exhibition us cash and carry. Eftpos is available. Thank you to our sponsors: Creative Community Scheme, Farmers Autovillage, TECT Tauranga, Heartland Bank, Cross Family Trust, Jenni Stevens of Eves Papamoa, Bethylehem Pharmacy Judith Robinson and Brian Frank, looking over the beautiful works on display.

Small school enjoys great success Matahui School All sixteen year seven and eight students at Matahui School enjoyed the amazing opportunity of competing in this year’s AIMS Games. They prepared themselves over four months to participate in three sports; Six aside hockey, Indoor bowling and Table tennis. The results were outstanding with the hockey players finishing sixteenth out of forty teams. The bowlers and table tennis competitors performed to the highest standard and girls table tennis representative Rose Bruning qualified for the semi-finals in the singles competition. “It was an awesome experience and I will remember it for a long time”. ~ Grace J “There was some tough competition but that didn’t stop us from performing at our best”. ~ Bridget “I was fortunate to be Goalie and the experience was beneficial for my future”. ~ Connor “It was fun competing and meeting other students of the same age group with similar interests”. ~ Johnny “It was an amazing opportunity and we were very lucky to be a part of this event”. ~ Kiera Written by the Year 7/8 students of Matahui School.

Above left: Rose Bruning competing in the girls singles Above: Prime defence on the hockey turf Left: On the attack Omokoroa Omelette 6 September 2017 Omokoroa Community Policing Group Report Would you like to help? By Glenn Whittaker It is now 10 years since the fledgling Station and the point of contact, Community Constable Paul Wrigley. Omokoroa Community Patrol launched The broad aim - to maintain safety, security and care for both residents its first Community Patrol (CP) service using a loan Western Bay and property throughout the Omokoroa peninsula. When the CP of Plenty Council vehicle. Not everyone was enthused - some local vehicle is operating, regular communication is maintained with the youths expressed their opinion on the need for the new service with Police via the radio or phone through to the Auckland based Police a barrage of citrus fruit and the occasional rock hurled at the patrol Communication Centre, Northcomms, or direct to the Tauranga vehicle. It did take a few months, but finally the initially reluctant Police Station. youths began to wave to the volunteers – probably once they had The OCPG is currently looking to rejuvenate its committee and would become aware that the CP had acquired its own clearly sign written like to make contact with individuals who may be able to contribute vehicle fitted out with Police radio, spotlights and infra-red video to the activities of the group. cameras. Anti-social behaviour and crime which had been on the The OCPG operates through a committee of 10 which meet around increase in Omokoroa diminished significantly following the CP’s 4/5 times each year so the commitment is not great. arrival. It continues to remain at relatively low levels by Western Bay of Plenty standards. If you would like to find out more about how you may be able to contribute to a group which plays a significant role in association Building on the success of the CP, the Police Information Centre was with the Police towards safety, security and care of residents and established in the Council Library, then a revised Neighbourhood property within the Omokoroa community: Support network launched and finally a Graffiti Busters operation. The horizontally integrated structure, highly regarded by the Police, Contact without obligation... operate as the Omokoroa Community Policing Group (OCPG). Tony Hawkins 548 2454 , Bill Jacobs 548 2061 The 200 volunteers involved in the OCPG Team today operate under the guidance of the Police. The link is to the Central Tauranga Police |Glenn Whittaker 548 0987 or Carol Dodd 548 2314.

If my body were a car... slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My If my body were a car, this is the time I should be thinking about whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. trading it in for a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull… But My fuel rate burns inefficiently. that’s not the worst of it. But here’s the worst of it? My headlights are out of focus and it’s especially hard to see things Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter… either my radiator up close. My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and leaks or my exhaust backfires!

Omokoroa Omelette 7 September 2017 Commemorating Passchendaele 100-year anniversary This year marks the 100-year On Sunday, 8 October, all children of WW1 veterans can take part in anniversary of WW1 Battle of the Children of WW1 Veterans Afternoon Tea at the Mount Maunganui Passchendaele, and commemorates RSA to remember those who served during the war. New Zealand’s darkest day, 12 On Saturday, 14 October, join the Hauraki Patriots at the Passchendaele October 1917. Approximately 900 Memorial Service at the Mount Maunganui Cenotaph. The service New Zealanders died on this single day, which is regarded as New will include a Parade Guard and Flag Party followed by an address, Zealand’s greatest loss of men for any battle in any war. wreath laying, the Ode to the Fallen and the Last Post. Join us in Tauranga to commemorate the Battle of Passchendaele The First World War was one of the most significant events of the through a number of special events, and remember those whose lives 20th century, and had a deep and lingering impact on New Zealand were changed forever because of their involvement in the First World society. Ten percent of our population of one million served overseas, War. of which more than 18,000 died and over 40,000 were wounded. Nearly every New Zealand family was affected. Full event details: Passchendaele: A Panel Discussion on New Zealand’s Darkest Hour with Dr Damien Fenton & Dr Cliff Simons Graham Young Theatre, Tauranga Boys’ College Thursday, 28 September 2017, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, gold coin donation with proceeds to RSA For Bravery in the Field. Tauranga City Library, Research Collections Friday, 29 September – Thursday, 30 November 2017, open 7 days, library hours I Died in Hell, Passchendaele: From Tauranga to the Trenches exhibition. Mount Maunganui RSA: Friday, 6 October – Sunday, 15 October On Thursday, 28 September head along to Tauranga Boys’ College for an informative Panel Discussion on New Zealand’s Darkest Hour. Phoenix Carpark, Mount Maunganui Road: Join in on the discussion with Dr Cliff Simons, Lieutenant Colonel, Monday, 16 October – Sunday, 29 October New Zealand Defence Force and Tauranga born historian and author Outside Greerton Library: of ‘New Zealand and the First World War’, Dr Damien Fenton. Monday, 30 October – Thursday, 16 November From Friday, 29 September to Thursday, 30 November stop by the open 7 days, 9:30am – 3:30pm Tauranga central library and learn about Charles Southey who was awarded a Military Medal. For Bravery in the Field explores the Children of WW1 Veterans Afternoon Tea. experiences of 2nd Lieutenant Southey, who returned to Tauranga Mount Maunganui RSA, 544 Maunganui Road after the war. He went on to make a significant contribution to his Sunday, 8 October 2017, 2.00pm – 4.00pm home town, including becoming headmaster of Tauranga District High School in 1942. Passchendaele Memorial Service, Hauraki Patriots DFMC. Between Friday, 6 October and Thursday, 16 November experience Cenotaph, Marine Parade, Mount Maunganui the exhibition I Died in Hell: From Tauranga to the Trenches, which Saturday, 14 October 2017, 2:00pm – 2:40pm will be on display at three different locations across the city. The exhibition tells the story of Carl Jordan through his own words and More information available at: those of his friends, and includes excerpts from personal letters, as www.mytauranga.co.nz well as WW1 film footage.

Omokoroa Omelette 8 September 2017 Constable Paul Wrigley, Tauranga Police Greetings all, opportunity for burglary and dishonesty, so it is something to keep in It’s with optimism that I look forward to mind. A well-placed security light or cutting back a tree that obscures the warmer months, there are so many your home from the road will do wonders to improve your security reasons to be thankful for living in the this summer. sunny Bay of Plenty. And if this summer is like the many previous years I have policed Now is the time to start thinking about in, summer brings an influx in crime, driven by increased alcohol having a street BBQ and inviting any consumption leading to youth offending and disorder, so if there is Community Constable new folks that have moved into your someone in that category in your lives, any positive role modelling Paul Wrigley neighbourhood. and influence would be helpful to us in preventing crime and keeping communities safe. It is also easier to have those casual but valuable contacts with neighbours over the fence while you are trimming the hedge or Consider these; mowing the lawns. Time to party? Advise your neighbours of your plans, (or better still, After a couple of months in my new role as your Community invite them too), parties are good times to celebrate but bring up Constable, I can’t understate the value of knowing the people in your issues like street parking, drinking in the street and noise complaints. immediate community and been on simple friendly terms with your Maybe a backyard fire or burn off? Consider if the neighbours have neighbours. their washing out. This season is when DIY and maintenance gets done on residential Painting the roof? Maybe ask the neighbours to move their cars to properties and there will be the inevitable dispute on the height of avoid paint splash. overgrown trees and hedges and issues with the building of property CCTV installation? A great tool to prevent crime, but is it unfairly or border fences and retaining walls. These are not Police issues, intentionally abusing your neighbours right to privacy. although many of you may be surprised on the numerous occasions I Of course, the list is endless, but in the end we all live exceedingly am called to mediate on these common civil issues. I am in no doubt close to each other, applying a bit of common sense will help you that already having good terms with your neighbours will go a long arrive at the right outcome. way to solving some of these issues amicably and to the satisfaction of both parties. Take care of each other and support your local Neighbourhood Support volunteer. Also, it is normal that windows and doors to your home are more likely to be left insecure as we enjoy the warmer weather, creating Kind Regards, Paul Wrigley, Tauranga Community Constable Tauranga Police

Definitions... HANDKERCHIEF MOSQUITO BEAUTY PARLOUR Cold Storage An insect that makes you like flies better. A place where women curl up and dye. TOOTHACHE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS CHICKENS The pain that drives you to extraction. A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority. The only animal you eat before they are born YAWN and after they are dead. An honest opinion openly expressed. SECRET A story you tell to one person at a time. COMMITTEE OLD A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours. I very quietly confided to my friend that I SKELETON EGOTIST was having an Affair. She turned to me and A bunch of bones with the person scraped Someone who is usually me-deep in asked, "Are you having it catered?" off. ... and that, my friend, is the definition of conversation. RELIEF 'OLD'! TOMORROW What trees do in the spring. INFLATION One of the greatest labour saving devices of RUBBERNECK Cutting money in half without damaging the today. What you do to relax your wife. paper. Look at these advertisers below!

Omokoroa Omelette 9 September 2017 Pahoia School The beach clean-up by Peggy Bradley Pahoia School’s Waipapa pod’s inquiry for Term 3 has been all around ‘Water and the effect man can have on our environment’. After new learning, knowledge was gained about marine litter. Our children were very upset to learn what was happening to our sea and bird life and decided it was time to take action and try and make a difference to our local environment. We went to Omokoroa Beach with the support of all our fabulous parents and grandparents. Our mission was to pick up all the rubbish. We were extremely pleased to find there was not a great deal of rubbish and looking further we now realise that is because the local community take great pride in their environment. We also noticed that some areas of the beach were covered in smelly green sea lettuce. So, armed with large black sacks, we cleared the of the whole beachfront and returned back to school with bags in tow. The following day the children worked very hard covering some of the school gardens with the sea lettuce. The children all felt proud that we had ‘made a difference!’

Open for Learning!

On Tuesday 5th September, we opened our new modern learning environment here at Pahoia School. After the blessing by Kaumatua, Rick Kuka, the ribbon was cut by National MP Todd Muller, Neroli Hoskin (whose family home housed the original school) and Tristan McLachlan (our youngest student) to officially open our new space. This long-awaited project has been in the pipeline since 2014, and involved the removal of two older classrooms to make way for this collaborative teaching space. Our Year 4/5 Aongatete learners are now enjoying this great new space.

Captions... Above & Top Right: The ribbon cutting - Neroli Hoskin, Tristan McLachlan and Todd Muller doing the honours! Far Right: Our Principal, Mike McKee is on the stage. Near right: Inside the new unit.

Two snowmen are standing next to each other in a yard. One says to Q: Johnny ‘s mother had three children. The first child was named the other, “Funny, I smell carrots too.” April The second child was named May. What was the third child ‘s name? Q: Why do bicycles fall over? A: Johnny of course A: Because they are two-tired! Q: What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly? Q: What has a face and 2 hands but no body? A: Incorrectly A: A clock Omokoroa Omelette 10 September 2017 Friends of the Blade By Colin Hewens The team working at the Blade have noticed an increase in rats as shown by the chew cards on various lines, so we plan to have a three-week blitz with Ditrac to reduce these rodents at nesting time. In the meantime, the possum numbers have now reached a total of 392 killed, since the 5th of August when we began last year. They will always continue to filter into our pest-free area from the vast reservoir in the Kaimai – Mamaku SFP surrounding us. However, fortnightly kill has dropped from around 12 to 6, so that has been an encouraging sign for our volunteers. Recently the 40-minute track currently under development by Whakamarama Community has been given a new name by the local Iwi. Watch this space. Our volunteers had a get together recently, and received thank you gifts provided by Bay Trust, one of our kind funders.

Some of our volunteers and partners at their thank you pot luck.

You are welcome to join this good work, phone Colin [seated centre] 552 6771

At an art gallery, a woman and her ten-year-old son were having a lately!” tough time choosing between one of my paintings and another artist’s A police officer jumps into his squad car and calls the station. work. They finally went with mine. “I have an interesting case here,” he says. “A woman shot her husband “I guess you decided you prefer an autumn scene to a floral,” I said. for stepping on the floor she just mopped.” “No,” said the boy. “Your painting’s wider, so it’ll cover three holes “Have you arrested her?” asks the sergeant. in our wall.” “No, not yet. The floor’s still wet.” I once gave my husband the silent treatment for an entire week, at Where there’s a will, there’s a relative. the end of which he declared, “Hey, we’re getting along pretty great

Omokoroa Omelette 11 September 2017 Omokoroa Peninsula Club Speakers for September Club Speaker: Joan Jackson tour. Because most people on a camping holiday hate putting up and taking down tents it was arranged so that tents were erected before the tours arrived. Joan spoke about her early life with horses. She When Greg was a tour leader most of the tourists on the tours were Australians started bareback on a pony at age three then with a few New Zealanders, Canadians, South Africans and the odd American. graduated to a sheepskin and was very excited when she received her first Nearly 80% of the tourists were female which made it very appealing for a saddle. When she was old enough about eight she rode six miles to school on young male tour leader. One rule that Greg had was that there was to be no horseback and said it was sometimes difficult to catch the horse after school moaning. He also made them introduce themselves to everyone on the bus and to ride home. Joan had lots of adventure while riding to and from school had great delight on saying how an American stood up front and introduced including magpie attacks and thunder storms. She also loved jumping her himself by saying “Hi I am Randy” and the young man couldn’t understand why horse and jumped a barbwire fence to explore a neighbour’s property until one the mainly Australians and New Zealanders roared with laughter. day her horse got tangled in the barb wire. Greg then took us on a tour through France, Italy and Spain. Left London Joan loved competing in A&P shows and gymkhanas but there were no fancy travelled down to Dover crossed over on the ferry to Calais and then on to Paris. horse floats in her day. Her father transported her to these events in a When taking the guests through Paris he had to be able to tell them what every homemade horse float. She loved jumping horses and training horses to jump. building was if someone asked him. If Greg didn’t know he said it was an When Joan left school, she worked for a time as a land girl on her father’s farm. administration building. They left Paris and travelled south past vineyards but She said she could do anything a bloke could do but drew the line at killing a never stopped at these. He knew when they were going to stay at some places sheep for dog tucker. which had issues he would warn them first so if the place wasn’t as bad as Then Joan thought she should really train for something so she went nursing they expected they would be surprised. They went to the Rivera which unlike but left after a year as the call of working with horses was louder. A couple Paris had signs up telling dogs not to use the footpath as a toilet. The beaches asked Joan to paddock train their race horses which she enjoyed doing and here were either pebbles or had some sand which had been brought in. In the then she was asked to prepare yearlings for the yearling sales. This was a evening going to the Casino at Monte Carlo was popular as casinos were rare fantastic experience and the yearlings sold well and most went to Australia. in those days. The young tourists would drape themselves over expensive cars A good friend of Joan’s was going to England, and stopping off in what was in the car park to have their photos taken. then East Pakistan. She invited Joan to join her. They travelled on a cargo ship On to Italy and Pisa with the leaning tower of Pisa. There was a competition with sheep two dogs and a few other passengers. When they arrived, they went to see who could buy the tackiest souvenir. Then on to Florence where in the to stay on a tea estate. A groom waited every morning with a horse to see if evening they would go to a disco. The young Italian men realised that these Joan wanted to go riding. There was tennis and parties. Joan had a wonderful tours were made up mainly of young women and they would beckon the girls to three months there and then returned home. come and dance with them. Joan enjoyed playing other sports and she still enjoys playing golf. They visited Rome and the Vatican City where if there on a Sunday would go to St Peter’s Square for the Pope’s blessing. Guest Speaker: Greg Brownless Confessions of a travel guide. They tried not to stop in Naples as it was known as the crime capital of Europe. In his early 20’s Greg did what many young people do he went to England on Instead they stayed in Sorrento at a hotel which Greg thought was run by the his O.E. In England, he taught for a year in the East End but found that very Mafia. He said they didn’t have to worry about locking the bus when they difficult so then he got a job with a funeral company. He wanted to travel and stayed there. so he became a travel guide which meant he got to travel and be paid for it at The only place they stayed in Spain was in Barcelona in an interesting two-star the same time. He worked as a tour guide for the tour company Contiki which hotel where the waiters were like Manuel in Fawlty Towers. had been started by a New Zealander John Anderson. Greg enjoyed his time as a tour guide but after five years he decided it was time The Contiki tours offered tours from 10 days to eight weeks. The ten-day tour to move on to something else. was called the blur tour and everything went past the window in a blur. At that Members really enjoyed the entertaining and humorous way Greg presented his time, there were two types of tours offered, the camping tour and the hotel talk and also his excellent musical interludes on the piano accordion.

Omokoroa Omelette 12 September 2017 Omokoroa Community Tennis Club Hello Everyone, this month’s lucky victim... errrr member is Keith ‘lucky bounce’ The work on the 2 new courts is progressing at Bardwell. great pace now and hopefully we will not be too IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH KEITH ‘LUCKY BOUNCE’ far away now from having courts 3 & 4. There BARDWELL will be an opening ceremony of some sorts and an open day to be Handsome, talented, athletic and modest are 4 words that no one arranged for anyone who wants to come down and have a swing and would ever use to describe lucky bounce Bardwell! Keith was born a look around, times and dates will be announced as soon as the i’s in the small Hertfordshire village of Braughing and believe me no and t’s are dotted and crossed. We are now officially affiliated to the one was laughing in Braughing when he came along, but let’s not Western Bay of Plenty Tennis organisation which brings with it many let facts get in the way of a good story! Keith had a very low birth benefits. weight and the doctors were very alarmed at how slow he was to gain With the new season upon us Omokoroa Junior Tennis will be any weight, over the first 4 weeks of his life he only gained an ounce starting up very soon. Saturday mornings will see the return of the and the consultant said to his mother “that was a very lucky ounce junior coaching programme lead by our ever-popular coach, Jackson Mrs Bardwell, without that gain he may not have survived”! Currie. The first sessions will be run on Saturday 14th October. He was raised in a rough area where people would often just dump If you are a returning player or wish to begin your first steps towards shopping trolleys, old bikes and old mattresses left, right and centre. Wimbledon then these sessions throughout term 4 are for you. If you As a toddler Keith was once playing in his upstairs bedroom with his would like your son or daughter to join this programme then please dolls house when he went over to the open window and somehow fell contact Steve Wall [email protected] or tel 548 2037 for out, fortunately he bounced onto a mattress that had been dumped in further information and an application form. Registration for places his parent’s garden. His mum took him to the very same hospital to will be taken from 1st October. be checked over where the very same consultant said to his mother KEITH ‘LUCKY BOUNCE’ BARDWELL “that was a very lucky bounce Mrs Bardwell, without that bounce he may not have survived”, little did the consultant know that it was to be the first of many thousands of lucky bounces throughout his life. Keith plays many sports, none of which he is very good at but lady luck certainly follows him around. He is the only golfer that I have played with who I have seen hit a ball into the trees that takes so many ricochets that it sounds like a Cozy Powell drum solo only for it to bounce out and land on the fairway. At this year’s club tennis champs, he hit a ball at a pivotal moment in the match that was going out only for it to hit the floodlight post and bounce back in! He was in our team at twilight bowls earlier this year and at a vital stage of the game he sneezed as he released the bowl causing it to travel up the green at around 50KPH only for it to hit 3 of the oppositions bowls out of the way and land right next to the jack! Keith has a very casual approach to sport and will often turn up to events in his smoking jacket and cravat whilst smoking his beloved pipe, in fact his house is full of the aroma of his piped tobacco and other aromas that stem from his love of home brew and baked beans, although Monty the family dog often gets the blame for the latter aromas! His wife Michelle fully supports his sporting exploits and actively encourages him to leave the house as often as possible! Continuing the ‘In the Spotlight’ series, that proves to you all that You see what I mean, just another normal law abiding citizen! our members are fine upstanding members of our community, Happy tennising everyone, Jeff Warren

Omokoroa Omelette 13 September 2017 Omokoroa & District Pakeke Lions Stargazing by President Peter Hartles Since our last dinner meeting in August, our club have had two main items of interest and funnily enough both fell on the same day, Friday 25 August. Firstly, during the day most of us were involved with collecting for Daffodil Day. There were two sites, one at our Pharmacy and the other at the Fresh Choice Supermarket. This proved to be a very productive day with over $1,000 raised for the Cancer Society - so a big thank you to the Omokoroa Community. Later that day, about 20 of our club members went to the Tauranga Astronomical Society, who has a very good facility at Ferguson Park. Luckily, we had good breaks in the cloud cover and through three different telescopes were able to get good views of our moon showing some of its many craters, Jupiter with four of its 69 moons visible and Saturn with its amazing rings around it. From the talk and slides we all learnt a lot about our night sky and how very small our Earth is in comparison to the rest of our galaxy. Thank you, Koi for organising this night. It was thoroughly enjoyed by us all and I would highly recommend it. The community can once again enjoy the great view from the Lynley Park seat. Thanks to Brian and his team for giving it a facelift.

Above: Ngaire Black and George Miller collecting on A very interesting night at Daffodil Day Tauranga’s Astronomical Society Observatory. Left: Daffodil Day collectors Keith and Rosemary Searle

Next Pakeke Lions Don't forget we Lions do Betty Gane collect a lot of things too! Ph: 548 0845 Omokoroa Market Days We collect... Sunday Oct 8th & Nov 12th - Screw top wine bottle caps Contact Betty or - Can tabs any local Pakeke Come along for some good deals, - Unwanted Spectacles Lions member to give them to! some good food and some great company! - Old and foreign money

Pakeke Lions’ Health Aids / Equipment Available on Loan

The Pakeke Lions’ Club of Omokoroa maintains a wide range of health aids equipment which is available to community residents on a loan basis when needed following illness and/or surgery. To enquire about the equipment contact Mary Klein 548-1600 Bed Hoop (1) Heat Lamp (1) Shower Stools (8) Bedside Table (2) High Stool (2) Sock Putter-On (1) Bedside supports (help out of bed) (1) Knee Supports (2) Spenco Cushions (5) Bed / Shower Access Aid (1) Long Shoe Horn (1) Stroller Walkers (9) Bedpans (2) Monkey Bar (1) Toilet Seats (7) Chair for Rehabilitation (4) Moon Boot (5) Transfer Board (1) Chair Raiser (3) Nebulisers (3) Transfer Cushion (2) Commodes (4) Non-slip Shower Mat (2) Urinals (4) Crutches (7 pair) Picker Upper (7) Walkers: Wooden / Metal (5) Eating Tray - cushioned (1) Protectors for Plaster Cast when shower- Walking Aid, 4ft. (2) Elephant Feet (2 set) ing (2 leg, 1 arm) Walking Stick (5) Electric Fan (1) Ring cushion (2) Wheel Chairs (7) Exercise Cycle (1) Sheepskins (2) Softech Full Chair Cushion (1)

Omokoroa Omelette 14 September 2017 Friends of Puketoki Two Possum Two Different Types of Traps! Great start to the trapping season, John caught two bonny possums on Line 5. (2x photos) Donna Watchman (Bio Security Officer) and Hamish Dean accompanied John along his line, what a cracker day to have an extra person for recording the catch. Some great photos were taken of the life and living organisms thriving in Puketoki Reserve.

Photos John resetting traps. A nice sheet web spider home Spring seedlings in the top of a ponga A moss-covered log

Omokoroa Omelette 15 September 2017 Matakana Island to Remain a Western Bay Taonga Western Bay of Plenty District Council is pleased with the outcome of the recent Environment Court decision that confirms the forested part of Matakana Island is extremely important from a landscape perspective and should be protected from development. Matakana Island is known for its pristine beach which is 22km long with no buildings; a vista that is enjoyed by the wider community when viewed from the mainland, harbour, open coast, Bowentown Heads and Mauao. The decision brings to a close a long process that began in 2009 when the Council sought to include in its District Plan tighter development controls to recognise the ecological, environmental and cultural significance of the Island. In 2014 Bay of Plenty Regional Council (which is responsible for the type of activity that can take place in coastal and harbour areas and their margins) also sought to increase the level of environmental protection by notifying in the Regional Coastal Environment Plan that the whole of the forested sand barrier of Matakana Island was to be classified as an Outstanding Natural Feature and Landscape. The decision was to protect a strip along the open coast with no landscape controls on the remainder. Western Bay of Plenty District Council lodged an appeal with the court seeking to increase this protection and have it applied to the whole of the barrier part of the island. The court decision to formally extend the levels of environmental protection for Matakana Island from inappropriate development is important for the wider Western Bay community and Matakana Islanders. Most importantly this decision reinforces the position of the Island as a treasure in the Western Bay of Plenty. Alistair Gray Communications Team Leader www.westernbay.govt.nz

My three-year-old sat in the bathroom with over by a steamroller? me, watching as I removed my dentures and A: “Curses! Foil again!” brushed them. After a few minutes, he asked, Q: What kind of coat is always wet when you “Can you take your ears off too?” put it on? Q: What did the Tin Man say when he got run A: A coat of paint. Whakamarama Hall The Hall Committee needs You… Positions have become available on the Whakamarama Hall Committee and we’d offer a warm welcome to anyone who may be interested in joining. Anyone seeking to be more involved in the community, please contact Mike Carter, Sylvia Birkett, Clare Green, Debbie Allen or Liz Davies if interested or email: [email protected] AGM – 16th October 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend the Whakamarama Hall Committee AGM. Come for supper, meet the people involved and see how the committee works. WHAKA HALL LIBRARY - www.whakalibrary.com Opening times are… Thursdays from 9am – 12 noon, and every 3rd Friday of the month (TWIF night) from 6:30-8pm. TWIF (Thank Whaka it’s Friday) – Every third Friday of the month from 6-9pm. All welcome. Bring your dinner, a bottle or two and meet the community. A great way to meet the locals and get to know what’s happening in Whaka. PLAYGROUP – A free no pressure group for pre-school children. Come and have a cuppa and let the kids enjoy a wonderful range of toys and the outdoor playground. Thursday mornings 9:30 to 12pm. WHAKA NEWS VIA EMAIL - Colin Hewens informs Whaka residents of news in our community which includes: - police reports, lost & found animals, items for sale, excess fruit/vegetables, rentals wanted etc. if you would like to receive these emails please contact Colin on: [email protected] HALL BOOKINGS – Call Sylvia Birkett, the booking officer, on 578 7015 to hire the hall, chairs and tables at very reasonable rates. If you need a clean, light, spacious affordable venue for a special function, IT’S ALL HERE! Give Sylvia a call 578 7015.

Omokoroa Omelette 16 September 2017 Minnows Kindergarten... Giving your child a great start in life By Louise As you can see from our photos, at Minnows we wellbeing), which are learnt through these important relationships - believe that having friends and learning how to be young children need consistent caregivers and social circles so they a good friend is one of the most important skills a can learn about sharing, co-operating and family groupings. child needs to support them through their school Small is beautiful! When the number of children is small in an years. Friendships help children feel like they belong ECE setting, each child gets more individual attention and teacher - making/having positive relationships is essential interaction. At Minnows, we pride ourselves on being a small centre in of a child’s development. Through both structured and spontaneous a mixed age setting – This ensures our teachers get to know you, your imitative play our children are able to practice their social skills. In child and family. Our families are able to build long term friendships a small mixed age centre opportunities to develop a sense of social that continue when our children transition into school. responsibility and a sense of togetherness is supported. The nature of Minnows Kindergarten is Omokoroa’s longest running quality early children’s interactions in mixed-age settings like ours are empowering childhood centre next to Cooney Reserve in Omokoroa Village. We for each individual as they provide opportunities for the younger to provide a safe and stimulating learning environment for children aged learn from older, while older and more experienced peers can lead the 0 - 5 with flexible hours, small numbers, low student to teacher ratios group and an innovative teaching programme, including our transition to In studies of teacher-child relationships, children who had a secure school programme (4-year olds). We are open 7.30 to 5.30 Monday to relationship with their preschool teachers demonstrated good peer Friday inclusive of school holidays. interactions and positive relationships with teachers and peers when they reached primary school. Moreover, children who had secure Call in and see us anytime to see how we can help prepare your child relationships with their preschool teachers demonstrated lower for future learning through play and nurture. 3 Margaret Drive, phone levels of challenging behaviours and higher levels of competence us on 548 2040, email: [email protected] in school. Our Minnows children are always developing their social or visit: www.minnowskindergarten.co.nz and emotional skills (which influence children’s mental health and Minnows Kindergarten ‘Where kids can be kids”

Above Left: Harry and Caleb plan the adventures they are about to undertake Above: Hollie, Sahib and Laila enjoying their walk together Above Right: Laila and Sahib play hulahoop together Left: Cahlaya, Cooper and Armani dig for crabs together Right: The children play together at Cooney Reserve

Omokoroa Omelette 17 September 2017 Omokoroa Women, Making fun and challenging themselves – after World War Two Omokoroa History Group For the women of the Omokoroa district, the Country Nora Flawn, and Mrs Boyd, Women’s Institute became an important part of their Marj Plummer always took the part of Freda’s mother in plays. Marj’s lives. Freda Barrett became involved in after arriving mother attended every rehearsal and play. here as a young bride after World War Two when CWI started putting Practices were held in the CWI building (between where the Beach on plays and entering in Eistedfodd competitions. Store and the changing sheds are today) and at Settlers’ Hall. Freda “The first play (I think it was called ‘Strange Refuge’) took place on a remembers performing in the Tauranga Town Hall, in Katikati and at stormy night with a howling wind. To get the effect of a howling wind Hamilton’s Founders’ Theatre. a lady blew on the end of a pipe. She blew and blew and nearly blew Freda filled in once at Tauranga Repertory who wanted her to join, the audience and adjudicator out of the Town Hall. Needless to say we but she was too busy working at the hospital and with children at came last with advice on what not to do with sound effects. From then Omokoroa No. 1 then Pahoia Primary schools. on Betty Francis took over producing things with fantastic results.” Costumes were made by the actors, though Freda was fortunate to have Freda remembers the names of some of the women involved: Violet sister-in-law Barbara who was an excellent dressmaker to make some Plummer, Noline Foster, Marjorie Plummer, Freda Barrett, Barbara of hers, including the gowns for the two queens in Carnival of Steel. Barrett, Ina Allan, Joan Barrett, Evelyn Thompson, Lucy Hansen, Carnival of Steel Mrs Q front left, –, –, Lu Hansen, Freda Barrett –, Hazel Gamman mid back, Barbara Barrett (dark with neck ruffle – or Molly Layzell?), Ina Allan, Freda Barrett, Doreen Curry – some repetition and poor order in names...

CWI Play - Elizabeth Refuses

CWI Play - The Trap

CWI Play -The Baker Omokoroa Omelette 18 September 2017 Kotuku Garden Club... Annual Fashion Parade By Chris Kelly 63 members of the garden club met at the Omokoroa Bowling Club on 18th August for our Annual Fashion Parade. This is always a popular & fun event with our gardening ladies doing all the modelling. This year we again had clothing kindly supplied by George Edward & Urban Vogue from Bethlehem with shoes from Sabot in Te Puna. Morning tea was enjoyed on arrival followed by the Fashion Show with background music by the very accomplished Max Cleaver. A beautiful lunch followed, this was catered for by Juz Caterers of 11th Ave Plaza. We then enjoyed a very informative talk by Marc Anderson who is the new convenor of the Tauranga Art & Garden Fest. Some very exciting ideas to look forward to. Thanks go to Sue Stewart & Gillian Osbourne for a great day.

Far Right: Sue looking glamorous in Black & white Right: Christine brightening up things Left: Helen – always looking good!

Omokoroa Omelette 19 September 2017 Pest-Free Omokoroa aka the Rat News By Josie Law At the end of June, I was invited to attend the A.G.M. of the Aongatete Trust and it was interesting to listen to the Field Manager’s report for the past year, which highlighted the difference in the methods and poisons used to control pests in a bush area compared to those we use in our urban area. Barry outlined a busy year with 10 stoat box traps being added to existing stoat lines and the cyanide application in June 2016 which could only be left out for 3 nights, with light rain destroying some of the potency, giving a tally of 100 possums killed on a circuit covering 15K. In August, there was a very successful rat and possum poisoning using Feracol paste in bait bags placed into Philproof bait stations. The following monitoring of rats and possums gave a negative result. Rat baiting was repeated in September and again in February, with volunteers later removing 80% of the bait put out. Stoat busters has gone well with tallies of: Mustelids 20, rats 208, hedgehogs 12 and cats 13 (in cat traps); the traps being cleared monthly through winter and fortnightly for the rest of the year. Three years ago, Barry set up 20 Timms traps around the ‘Short Loop’ to help educate school groups and from January 2017 these have been loaded permanently and cleared every week, with 126 possums being trapped. With this success, a further 70 Timms traps have been laid on bait lines inside the Short Loop because of Barry’s concern the Kereru population is not increasing as it should, probably due to possums eating the eggs and young. Omokoroa residents who love the bush, have some time to volunteer and are moderately fit are welcome to contact Barry Pethybridge - 552 0397. Regional Council has an overall plan for the restoration of the Kaimai Ranges and the pest control programmes in Puketoki, the Blade, a new one in the Quarry, and Aongatete, as well the Omokoroa urban programme, are all part of this plan, providing areas where rat numbers, and possums are controlled to low levels allowing the establishment of reservoirs of native bird species that can travel between these areas, so it is important that Pest Free continues the work to maintain our bird numbers. Our Peninsula has a continuing, heavy re-infestation of rats coming in from all surrounding areas and it is IMPORTANT that all residents realise that because of this re-infestation our biggest problem is providing attractants to rats with human food i.e. vegetable and fruit scraps placed directly into gardens, compost bins and worm farms that mostly have to be modified to make them RAT PROOF. Rats have a highly developed sense of smell and will bypass any bait to go directly to a preferred food source. Residents can ring 548 0423 for any help or information regarding rats, and also a simple method to recycle your scraps to be used for compost. Some information about our program for new residents: Before the programme began in 2005 we did a large amount of research into bait toxicity, safety with pets, design of bait stations and method of laying baits. Our bait has a low toxicity, stations are spread 50/70 metres apart, each having only 3 baits which are firmly secured. A small dog would have to be presented with bait physically removed from 8 stations i.e. from over 400 to 560 metres, with a large dog the number is, bait taken from 14 stations over 700 to 980 metres. Both Andrew (our mentor) and I originally placed bait in front of our dogs and their reactions were strong aversion, recently I put our new flavoured bait down for my boy and his reaction was still the same. Over 25 years we have never had a report of a worry, and if there is ever a concern, a simple injection of vitamin K is the answer. There are many different poisons available in the retail market, most having little or no instructions how to put bait out safely or toxicity and some property owners in Omokoroa do use these poisons. Pet owners should be aware of this and keep your dog away from private property and on a lead if you have a concern. Lastly some really good news: Our “protective lines” along the foreshore where there is a continual high bait take due to re-infestation, have all continued to work really well, keeping rat numbers to very low levels within the Peninsula now that the massive land clearing is slowing down.

Walking on water grandmother. ‘Grandma,’ he asked, ‘it’s my Bobby had long heard the stories of an 21st birthday, so why can’t I walk ‘cross the amazing family tradition. lake like my father, his father, and his father before him? It seemed that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all been able to walk on Grandma looked deeply into Bobby’s water on their 21st birthday. On that special troubled eyes and said, ‘Because your father, day, they’d each walked across the lake to the your grandfather and your great grandfather bar on the far side for their first legal drink. were born in July, when the lake is frozen, and you were born in January, you flamin’ So, when Bobby’s 21st birthday came around, idiot!’ he and his pal Marty took a boat out to the middle of the lake, Bobby stepped out of the boat… and nearly drowned! Marty managed to pull him to safety in the nick of time. Furious and confused, Bobby went to see his

Omokoroa Omelette 20 September 2017 PARKINSONISM SOCIETY TAURANGA INC Several opportunities to get information and meet our area nurse/educator... By Christine Mercer Do you or someone you know have Parkinson’s disease? When a friend or family member is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, there are many battles that need to be tackled. Most importantly, support, love and understanding are imperative for the sufferer, the carer and the families.... Do a lot of encouraging and try your hardest to continue on in a normal way. GABRIELLA ROGERS, Living with Parkinson’s... Parkinson’s (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition with the most common symptoms being tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement. Parkinson’s can also impact on people’s thought patterns and emotions and can affect their ability to communicate. There is a vast range of symptoms, and everyone is different. Someone with Parkinson’s may struggle with mowing the lawn. Others think they have had a stroke, or their slurred speech or unsteady walk give others the impression of drunkenness. Parkinson’s can affect anybody at any age, including people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. However, it is more prevalent in the older age groups. Regardless of the stage of Parkinson’s, the local Parkinson’s Society offer a range of groups and services dedicated to assisting you on your journey with Parkinson’s. We have regular meetings/seminars to inform you about Parkinson’s and how to keep yourself healthy and well at Katikati and in the city. Exercise classes and a singing group are also available to assist you to gain more volume in your voice and train your facial muscles to maintain facial expression. All of these groups offer FUN and a chance to meet others socially. The younger age group has other activities which we can share with you including an annual team going to Outward Bound at Anakiwa. Parkinson’s Awareness week is being held 1-7 November. There is a range of displays/activities that are occurring in your area, and where you may find more information • KatiKati District Council - 30 October - 10 November • Tauranga Hospital main corridor - 30 October - 7 November We are also kicking off Parkinson’s Awareness Week...... with a movie night 29 October at the Rialto Theatre, ... organising a Parkinson’s Awareness walk in the BoP, ... and a Garage Sale in Papamoa 4 November During these times, you will be able to meet people who support or are interested in PD.

This will also give you the opportunity to meet the Community Educator in your area. Liz Rapley-Jones is a Registered Nurse. She has been working for Parkinson’s BoP since June, and has already had an impact on the Parkinson’s Community from Tauranga central to Waihi Beach. Don’t hesitate to call Liz for a chat and some advice whether it for yourself, a loved one, or if you are a partner of someone with PD and you are not sure what to do. There is a lot of practical advice available and also information on groups available to us here in the BOP. The sooner you are well informed about Parkinson’s, the sooner you will feel better and have support to guide you and your family to an enjoyable life Contact details for the Bay of Plenty Community Educators Liz Rapley-Jones (Tauranga Central to Waihi Beach ) Email [email protected] Phone: 027 844 566 Inspirational office quotes Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity. If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaos… then you probably A person who smiles in the face of adversity probably has a scapegoat. haven’t completely understood the seriousness of the situation. Plagiarism saves time. Doing a job RIGHT the first time gets the job done. Doing the job If at first you don’t succeed, try management. WRONG fourteen times gives you job security. Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether.

Omokoroa Omelette 21 September 2017 The Centre By Marlene Mackenzie I feel a touch of spring in the air – time for our sparkle and bounce to return – roll on summer with long evenings and BBQs. Grab a plant, for that summer gardening session, from our great little selection of plants always on display outside out shop. All locally nurtured so they should all love their new homes. The Volunteers voted on their ‘suggestions of choice’ for distribution of their allocated Grant Money of $3000. This money will be shared between the following groups. CHILDRENS PLAY GROUND FUND beside skate path FRIDAY FRIENDSHIP GROUP equipment and trip OMOKOROA BAPTIST YOUTH GROUP equipment LOVED FOR LIFE supporting new babies in Omokoroa This is a good opportunity to remind locals what ‘The Centre’ is all about. The shop is entirely run by volunteers with a wonderful co-ordinator, Sandra Hunt, who keeps us all in order and on track so we have a smooth running, attractive shop. Our Trustees (also volunteers) do all the official work and legal decision making. Over the years The Centre has changed its ‘face’, upgrading fittings and presentation, being infinitely fussy about keeping quality high and variety wide. Clean and in good condition is our constant with interesting presentation for a quick turn over. We keep prices low and put a ‘fair’ price on extra special items. It is a very exciting marketing concept as one never knows what is coming through the door, as a donation, next. We try to make the shopping experience fun and rewarding while assuring the volunteers an enjoyable shift, though we all work very hard when on duty. Remember, tea and coffee with a biscuit is always available to enjoy while you make use of our leisure area for a chat. There is a play area safely confined so grown-ups can browse and search out that bargain you can’t resist. Almost everything in the play area is for sale, toys, books, wall-hangings, we have an amazing selection for children. Lastly, we have hand knitted children’s garments, crafts, plants, cards, pickles and jams, oh all sorts! These are sold ‘on behalf’ with The Centre getting a percentage. Come along, one and all, and enjoy our lovely shop, browsing for that hoped-for bargain and treasure. Be safe, be happy!!

Safe child corner, all toys, books etc for sale

Tidy presentation to display our new bargains

Our beloved Pippa enjoying a day out (we miss her so much)

Omokoroa Omelette 22 September 2017 Te Puna Community Kindergarten Sustainable Learning/Teaching Together By Simone Jenkins, Administrator The generosity and kind exchange of home grown produce is a constant reminder of our living philosophy. AKO – Community of Learners. As a connected community, we foster sense of belonging at our kindergarten. Rachel, an ex-parent brings us the surplus bread from the bakery. Gordon (Farmer Burr) shares the apples from his orchard and today, Seb, shared his excess oranges from home that he picked himself (all 24 of them). Experiencing the Sense of Adventure at Farmer Burr’s Paddocks.... Last week the children and teachers had the wonderful opportunity of walking across the nearby field where tamariki had a ride on Farmer Burr’s Ute. Farmer Burr had stacked it up with hay bales for a safe and comfy ride. It was like an expedition trip as children were able to observe nature from a different angle. It was a bumpy journey filled with giggles in beautiful natural surroundings. Nature is a tool where children get to experience how to measure risk and learn how to take responsibility.

McKenzie cutting an orange. We are currently open for enrolments. Please feel free to come and visit our amazing kindergarten where our teachers are all fully qualified. We are a rural kindergarten based on Minden Road, Te Puna in a beautiful natural learning environment. Our kindergarten promotes sustainability and we value the strong relationships we have within our community. The ages of our children range from 2½ years to 5 years old. We are very whānau orientated and welcome your involvement. Come and experience Te Puna Community Kindergarten. It has a relaxed supportive atmosphere. Please feel free to come and visit us at 45 Minden Road, Te Puna or contact us for any enquiries Ph: 552 5736. Kids in the back of Farmer Burr’s ute

My mother, a master of guilt trips, showed me a photo of herself daughter who never calls, press 911 because the shock will probably waiting by a phone that never rings. give me a heart attack." "Mom, I call all the time," I said. "If you had voicemail, you’d know." Ah, marriage... I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror one Soon after, my brother installed it for her. evening admiring my reflection, when I posed this question to my wife When I called the next time, I got her message: "If you are a of 30 years: “Will you still love me when I’m old, fat, and balding?” salesperson, press one. If you’re a friend, press two. If you’re my She answered, “I do.”

Omokoroa Omelette 23 September 2017 Omokoroa Point School Poems and Speeches Each year we have a focus across the school to present memorised poems and formal speeches. We were incredibly proud of our Te Kakano and Te Tipunga students’ poetry recitations. The range of poems and the use of props was awesome. We also had three different languages represented. Rooms 3 and 4 Te Tipunga Room 2 Te Kakano Room 1 Te Kakano 1st - Maia Lewis 1st - Maia Groucott 1st = Vivienne Apanui / Ethan St Clair / 2nd = Jake Cresswell / Ruby Taylor 2nd - Vanessa Moncrieff Molly McGowan 3rd - Mia Stephenson 3rd - Ewan Briggs 2nd= Fraser Neilson / Marisha Schabrun. Highly Commended – Cohen Watts, Griff Baldwin, Emma Mackie and Caitlyn Ayres Moving up the school students learn how to write and present a formal speech. Our awesome Year 3 and 4 speech finalists blew us away with their poise, expression and clear delivery of interesting and informative speeches. Congratulations to... Maia 1st place year 3 Findlay 2nd place year 3 Mason 1st place year 4 Myesha 2nd place year 4. At Year 5 – 8 level the expectations lift – speeches are required to have a research component and have a strong message – either to inform, entertain or persuade. The senior speech finals were an absolute treat. We got to hear from our finalists on a range of thought provoking, inspiring and sometimes very moving topics. Congratulations to... Year 3 finalists Year 5 winner Dhansheel – Why kids should rule the world Year 6 winner Michael – The importance of strong passwords Year 7 winner Jason – Life is important Year 8 winner Paige – Against animal testing for cosmetic research. These students went on to represent OPS at the next round of competitions. We’d like to thank our junior judges Sharlene Williams and Vi Parker and our senior and middle judges Steve Wall and Jim Boyes for the superb job they did judging our finals. Masquerade Ball - This year our Year 7 and 8s travel to Northland for a 6 day tour of the historic north. The fundraising required for this trip is enormous but we are lucky to have a small group of dedicated parents who have been coming up with some innovative events to raise money. They are Year 4 finalists planning a Masquerade Ball for Saturday 4 November – Live Band – 5 O’clock Shadow, Cash Bar, Travelling Photo Booth and supper provided. $30 a ticket available at our school office. This term we’ve been proud to support the annual Foodbank Schools Appeal and the NZ Cancer Society Daffodil Day. Our enviro-team have their produce stall up and running – bags of produce can be purchased for $2 a bag.

Year 3 on Daffodil Day

Year 5 and 6 and finalists

Year 7 and 8 finalists Omokoroa Omelette 24 September 2017 Te Puna Quarry Park News Shirley Kidnapped by Volunteer?? Shirley, who has been unwell lately, was 'kidnapped' and taken on a tour by Meyrick, one of the volunteers who treated her like fine china on a 4WD drive of the Quarry. This newsletter registers her reaction to the experience. What a ride!!! So kind of Meyrick to show her round what she - and the volunteers she recruited - have made over the last twenty years. On Tuesday, 19th September Meyrick invited me to come with him outdoor home. on a tour, in his car, of the main track to the top terrace of the Quarry Meyrick drove slowly past the entrance to the Butterfly Terrace. Park. Being a Tuesday there were numerous volunteers all working We will return their anon. The lovely sculpture ‘Synchronicity’ has in areas of their choice, almost lost to view in the luscious growth of been remounted after being vandalised. Now secured on a plinth, native and exotic plantings. We heard the sound of a chainsaw being it stands proudly alongside the track which leads up to the ‘Great used high up in the steep slopes as wattles, small pines and dead trees Balls of Wire’. We also will surely return to the Fuchsia garden, were felled. Peter and Paul were responsible, I was told. missed because we found Anne working alone in the natural bush The bromeliads planted on the steep bank above the stream on the area below the water tank. She showed us where a colossal rock had main track leading up to the Junction are doing well and will become tumbled down from the cliff above, bouncing through the bush, and very attractive as they mature and increase their cover. The Daisy coming to rest alongside the track. More large rocks have dislodged Sculpture adds to the interest. recently, no doubt due to the frequent rain and temperature changes. Then the higgledy-piggledy bank of signs at ‘The Junction’ came into Our tractor drivers have nudged them off the track or have taken view! They badly need a tidy up and a uniformity sometime soon. It them, on the front-end loader, to other areas for landscaping. (There was not a good look. Meyrick drove up the steep track into the nook is a sign advising people of the danger of falling rocks.) where our volunteers have used the backdrop of rocks left by the Mike McCarthy’s fantastic ‘Wind Wand’ stood out against the sky. quarry workings of yesteryear as a landscape for showing the cacti Requested by Barbara who, with Mark, has rejuvenated the Bonsai and succulents to their best and most spectacular advantage. It is a garden, it adds a magic touch to this upper corner which has been magnificent area of quiet intimacy and interest. It is just one of the neglected for a time. beautiful, special enclosures one finds in the Quarry Park. A small, Meyrick then took me along the top terrace, alongside Brian’s wall stepped pathway leads from here through the Geddes plantings down as far as the Lions steps. The ‘Peace Garden’ developed, planted to the Frog Pond. and maintained by the Baha’i group was exactly that. Peaceful, Continuing on up the track I see other bromeliads being cared for quiet and special in its difference to traditional gardens, it occupies by volunteers who have stepped into Alec and Linley’s shoes. My a special place on the top terrace. The day was sunny and clear and thoughts are with Alec and Lindsay, who tended the ‘broms’ in sparkling. There was not a breath of wind. The view was spectacular the Quarry for many years. In those early days strange, exotic and in its clarity. On the horizon of the ocean Tuhua (Mayor Island) amusing animals appeared from time to time, made from recycled was clearly visible and further to the east our very recognisable and materials, only to disappear months later after becoming weathered special landmark Mauao (Mount Maunganui) reminded us of exactly and worn. where we were. The broms merge effortlessly into the orchid plantings, now coming Directly below us we could see many of the volunteers working into flower and cascading in long, colourful sprays down the banks, in the numerous areas of the quarry development. What a glorious attracting the eyes with their beauty and looking as though they know day. What a wonderful, worthwhile and exciting COMMUNITY this is exactly where they belong, where they can grow and flower DEVELOPMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ARTS. and multiply in big clumps. The quarry banks and rocky supports Shirley Sparks Phone 5525874 were left just for the orchids to thrive and thrill. This is their natural,

3 Words Test words in a sentence." A US Border Patrol Agent catches an illegal alien in the bushes right The Mexican man of course agrees. by the border fence. He pulls him out and says, "Sorry, you know the The Border Patrol Agent tells him, "The three words law, you've got to go back across the border right now." The Mexican are: green, pink and yellow. Now use them in one man pleads with him, "No, noooo, Senor, I must stay in de USA! sentence." Pleeeze!" The Mexican man thinks really hard for about two The border patrol agent thinks to himself, I'm going to make it hard minutes, then says, "Hmmm, OK. The phone, it went for him, and says "OK, I'll let you stay if you can use three English green, green, green... I pink it up, and sez yellow?"

Omokoroa Omelette 25 September 2017 Omokoroa No1 School Choir: Congratulations to all those who performed in the choir at Baycourt on Monday night. A superb performance. We had a wonderful contingent from our school performing to a very high standard thanks to the hard work put in by Mrs Radford and the choir children. Speech Competitions: Our school speech finals were held at school, and what a night. Every single speech delivered at a very high standard. Well done to the below mentioned competitors… Year 3 Katie Power and Mya Windelborn Year 6 Nicole Power and Elsa Alexander Year 4 Catelyn Evans and Polly Hunter Year 7 Gemma Surry and Frankie Muir Year 5 Saul Keen and Grace Windelborn Year 8 Toby McGuffie and Ella Ryan Mya Windelborn, Yr 3 / 4, Toby McGuffie, Frankie Muir Yr 7 / 8 and Saul Keen Yr 5 /6 went through to the next round of competitions. Toby McGuffie and Frankie Muir who performed their speeches at the Tall Poppies Yr 7 & 8 Competition held here at Omokoroa No1 both gained first place and will now go onto the WBOP Speech Competition. The Junior School performs poems instead of speeches to an audience of parents, grandparents and other whanau. It is quite daunting for some of our little children to do this but they give it their best and produce outstanding performances. We are very proud of all the contestants. Electives: These are in full swing at school on Friday afternoons for four weeks. We have numerous parents and all the teachers offering a wide choice of activities, from bike riding, cake decorating, diving, exploring nature, art… too many things to list! Once again, a testimony to the wonderful community we live in. Our children are very lucky in being able to take part in these diverse experiences.

George, Seth, Georgie Yr 2 Poetry Recital Diving elective Annie, Mason, George Year 1 Poetry Recital

Year 0 Lucia and Jake Poetry Recital

Kayaking at Waimarino elective Cake decorating elective

Frankie Muir and Toby McGuffie going to WBOP Speech Competition

2017 Choir Festival at Baycourt Omokoroa Omelette 26 September 2017 OMOKOROA CARDS

Contract Bridge Club... ♥ ♠ ♦ ♣ Bridge Club Results Winter Handicap Singles – Played on Monday Afternoons Final Results...... Average 1st Phyl Watson 67.36 2nd Jean Sears 64.84 3rd Carol Dodd 63.93 Captain’s Open Pairs – Played on Thursday Evenings Final Results...... Average 1st David Luxton & Ranald Ducat...... 58.42 2nd Stephanie Annan & Fiona Menzies...... 54.78 3rd Susan Olson & Graeme Belcher...... 52.17

If you would like the opportunity to learn how to play Bridge Here in Omokoroa... Ph: Stephanie Annan 548 1406 or Ph: David Luxton 548 0521

OMOKOROA CARDS 500

The group meets at the Bowling Club on Monday evenings 7:15pm. We welcome any new players, if you don’t really understand the game, but would like to learn; our members will teach and mentor you. Please phone Andy on: 570-6035

21 August 4 September Winners Winners Trish Western 3480 Barbara Dowman 3390 Grant Nordick 3530 Rex Keighley 3110 Lucky Last Hugh Moleta 3110 Shirley Deane 80 Lucky Last Robert Baird 1260 Judi Mori 1150 28 August David Nielsen 370 Winners 11 September Jill Clark 2840 Winners Andy Smith 3960 Rosemary Thomson 3250 Lucky Last Brian Clark 3430 Judi Mori 460 Lucky Last Reg Deane 1150 Joy Ilsley 1040 Raffle: Colin Kurth 1230 David Nielsen 18 September Brick Taylor Winners Barbara Dowman Trish Western 2920 Shirley Deane Rex Keighley 3060 Reg Deane Lucky Last Graeme Davis Barbara Dowman 780 ♣ Andy Smith 780 ♥ We welcome any new players! ♦ ♠ Omokoroa Omelette 27 September 2017 Key Themes Emerge from Community Conversations Supplied by Alistair Gray (WBOPDC Communications Team Leader) The pace of change, building communities, protecting our environment and getting around are the key themes emerging from community conversations on the Long-Term Plan 2018-2028 held by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council earlier this year. The Long-Term Plan (LTP) is the key document that Council uses to set strategy and direction for the next 10 years. It is revised three yearly and tracked annually. In May, Council set out on the It’s About You LTP campaign, visiting nine communities and holding 14 community conversations to let people share their views with elected members and Council staff about what they want for the future of the District. Council met with more than 850 people from Waihi Beach to Maketu to raise awareness of the LTP, what it means and how the community can influence the future shape of the District. Online tools were also used. Feedback has been analysed and key topics determined for their priority District-wide, while community specific issues having also been prioritised. Mayor Garry Webber was impressed with the wide range of issues that people brought to the table. “Each of our communities clearly told us what’s important to them. We listened, took people’s views into account and now it is our task to determine where they sit in our future deliberations,’’ says Garry. While some of the community input revolved around issues outside the scope of the LTP, Garry says all would find their place somewhere in Council’s future discussions. “The nub of the planning process is to get a feel for the things that really matter to our communities in the long term so that we can do our best to set in place the building blocks to get there.’’ The next phase will be primarily focused online, with Council expanding on the key themes that came from the community conversations. We will also be discussing these with stakeholder groups. This information will be online from early October at: haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/. The final phase will be a feedback process and ‘have your say’ events in March/April next year where residents can provide direction on the key LTP proposals. Key themes from the LTP community conversations: Pace of Change: Getting around: • Housing • Cycleways and walkways • Rural subdivision • Road safety improvements • Omokoroa urban growth • Road network improvements and • Responding to climate change seal extensions Building Communities: • Public transport • Local amenity provision • Continued advocacy on • Community capacity to build communities State Highway development • Community connectivity Protecting our environment and resources • Parks and reserves development • Cultural heritage protection • Waste management and minimisation • Marae sustainability • Water quality and charging • Wetland restoration • Coastal erosion responses

All-over tan very much appreciate your wearing a bathing Joan spent almost all of her holiday sunbathing suit as you did yesterday.” on the roof of her hotel. “What difference does it make?” Joan asked She wore a bathing suit the first day, but on rather calmly. “No one can see me up here, the second, she decided that no one could see and besides, I’m covered with a towel.” her way up there, and she slipped out of it for “Not exactly,” said the embarrassed man. an overall tan. “You’re lying on the dining room skylight.” She’d hardly begun when she heard someone running up the stairs. She was lying on her Q: A juggler, a tightrope walker, and a clown stomach, so she just pulled a towel over her were lost in the jungle, when all of a sudden a rear. lion came out of nowhere and—OWP! ate the “Excuse me, miss,” said the flustered assistant juggler and the tightrope walker. Why didn’t manager of the hotel, out of breath from the lion eat the clown? running up the stairs. “The hotel doesn’t mind A: Because it thought he would taste funny. your sunbathing on the roof, but we would Omokoroa Omelette 28 September 2017 Omokoroa Artists By Melanie Wakeman Commissions Greatly Accepted Many of our members are approached to paint that special something, either for an anniversary, a special birthday, or maybe Father’s Day, don’t forget Christmas is on its way! Shown here is the result of such a commission, “paint me a New Zealand bush scene as big as possible”, for Jill Gunn that meant the only limit to her creativity was the size of canvas that could fit in her car. Jill combined several images into this wonderful interpretation of the bush. Stella Clark Workshop Full attendance for this workshop, which was highly anticipated after an introduction workshop by Carol Bisset, last month. For this workshop Stella was tasked to encouraged us to look at out process in a different way, through choice of colour, application of paint and different ways to make marks. After some drawing exercises, helping us to loosen up and see things in a abstract way, we were all keen to get to our canvases.

Other work from the workshop...

Stella with work by Cushla Whitehead Jill Gunn and her painting Stella with work by Fran Ashley

October Programme Interested? 05..... Monthly Challenge  Karen 548-1454 / 021 102 1984 12..... Preparing for our next exhibition or follow us on: 19..... Introducing my art practice - Melanie Wakeman www.omokoroabeach.nz 26..... Sketching at the Te Puna Quarry Omokoroa Artists

My fiancé and I went to a counselor to work on our communication A couple are sitting in their living room, sipping wine. Out of the issues. Using herself as an example, the counselor crossed her legs blue, the wife says, “I love you.” and her arms and exhaled loudly. I was about to say she was showing “Is that you or the wine talking?” asks the husband. signs of frustration, but my fiancé beat me to it, yelling, “I’ve got it! “It’s me,” says the wife. “Talking to the wine.” You’re constipated!” Look at these advertisers below!

Omokoroa Omelette 29 September 2017 Omokoroa Preschool Ohana means family - Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. “Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu; Adorn the bird with feathers and it will fly” Spring has arrived and the sun is out, we have movement techniques. This is great for developing co-ordination, been enjoying the beautiful sun that has been gross motor skills, respect, group participation and confidence. Our gracing our presence. We have had lots of fun filled spring activities extra-curricular activities are an integral part of our curriculum happening at preschool, spring arts & crafts, water play, exploring the programme. nature around our community and planting new seedlings and flowers This month we have also supported Blue September with a blue dress in our gardens. up day – check out Mr Cooper’s rad hair style! We love any excuse to September is a busy month for us at Omokoroa Preschool, we have dress up, especially when it’s for a good cause. The babies have been welcomed a lot of new children and families and we have also said enjoying the sunshine and getting out for walks in the field next door, good-bye to a number of children as they move on to school. We exploring nature and running free in the long grass. recognise the huge change this is in a child’s life and an important We have noticed a lot of our children lately are enjoying sensory milestone in their learning journey. We are proud to say we are sending learning so we are planning lots of different sensory experiences for confident and excited young learners into their new school environment the upcoming weeks. We are exploring how we use our different senses and would like to say thank you for spending your pre-school years and having lots of messy play. Another exciting thing is our new Mud with us. Kitchens thanks to Whakamarama Family Kitchens. The children are The tamariki are having so much fun at Playball on a Wednesday having so much fun mixing mud, making cakes and most of all getting morning. Playball is a sport and movement programme for children messy and muddy, what fun! from 2 years old. Every Wednesday Coach Sasha comes to preschool This is a snippet of the exciting fun and learning we have at Omokoroa and takes fun, positive and energetic group activities with the children. Preschool, pop in to visit us at 144 Margaret Drive to see more. Our They absolutely love the challenging and exploring new sport and door is always open, Kia Ora!

Top Left - Right... Our new mud kitchen garden Slippery, slimy gloop Brooklyn zigazag running through the cones Far Left: Throwing practice at playball Mr Cooper and his rad blue hair

Omokoroa Omelette 30 September 2017 Omokoroa Beach Indoor Bowling Club By Anne Sande Our Senior Singles Championship was played on 5th September with 14 players entering. Once again there was very little in the top two placings. Both members winning 4 games but with 3 points difference Peter Cox pipped Peter Adams to the trophy. Congratulations to both of you.

2017 SENIOR SINGLES 1st and 2nd Pictured L-R: Peter Cox (with trophy), Peter Adams

On Tuesday 12th, we were joined by Katikati Indoor Bowling Club. Peter Adams (skip), Gary Giles and Graeme Davis took out top team with 3 wins.

Coming Up: Tuesday, 19th September Junior Singles Championship 7pm start Wednesday, 4th October Open Mixed 4’s Tournament 9.30am for 10am start at Settlers’ Hall. Tuesday, 17th October Championship Fours competition with replace the Handicap Singles 7pm start Thursday, 26th October We visit Greerton Senior Citizens Club at 1pm Monday, 30th October Whangamata Indoor Bowling Club to visit starting 10am – members a plate please. If you would like to give indoor bowling a try – all equipment provided - come along to the Omokoroa Settlers Hall at 1pm on Monday afternoons or 7pm on Tuesday evenings or contact Anne 548 1636 or Jill 548 2799. It’s a great way of meeting others who live on this beautiful peninsular called Omokoroa.

Omokoroa Omelette 31 September 2017 Omokoroa Playcentre... Thanks to The Centre for our new Shade Sails Submitted by Omokoroa Playcentre

It’s been a massive month for the kids at Omokoroa Playcentre – full of new encounters and adventure. As they say, there’s no day like a snow day and our recent one was a huge hit with our very own snow peak for the kids to explore their senses. Crunchy… cold… wet… icy… frozen… melty… salty! With tobogganing, snow-angels, even a bit of snowboarding, hot milo and marshmallows, snowflake-sparkly Playdough, and lots of visitors, it was a fantastic morning had by all – kids and mums and dads alike! Thanks to Angela and Julz for all your efforts in pulling this together... and to the weatherman for holding off the rain till the end. We hope our visitors come and see us again! Some of the kids also got to discover their inner aviator at the Classic Flyers Museum where we watched a special demonstration from the fire rescue team and a couple of really loud A great turnout with 45 kids enjoying the snow

Lilah, Jimmy, Cecilia and Zdenek showing off their piloting skills Caleb and the friendly snowman

Mason giving snowboarding a go Omokoroa Playcentre air-force Texans fly in; we also rushed to an imaginary fire on the vintage fire Annual General Meeting truck, and soared on the pedal planes. A highly recommended activity for all! And with the arrival of Spring there’s all sorts of new sights and smells in the Thursday 19 October, 7:30pm air – brightly coloured blooms, fresh cut grass, giant bubbles to fit a whole Black Sheep Bar & Grill, mum inside! Our kids are learning so much about the ever-changing world 21 Plummers Point Rd, Tauranga around them. Coming up in October we’ve got our Annual General Meeting and a All welcome special movie event to raise funds for our building facilities upgrade – see our advertisement! Be sure to get your tickets today to support your local Enquiries 548 1343 Playcentre and enjoy a fun morning out at this hilarious movie. [email protected]

Omokoroa Playcentre is located behind Settlers’ Hall, 334 Omokoroa Road, and is open from 9am – 12noon - Mon, Thurs, Fri (during school terms). For more information, pop in during our open hours, phone 548 1343 or email: [email protected]. We’d love to see you sometime soon! SPACE runs on Wednesday mornings 9am-11:30am for first time parents. If your baby was born between end ofSep 2016 and Feb 2017 and would like to meet some other local mums with babies the same age, contact Ruth on 570 0085 or [email protected] to let her know you’re keen to come along.

Omokoroa Omelette 32 September 2017 Whakamarama School News By Natasha Greatorex, Principal Tauranga Girls’ College Pasifika Group How lucky were we? What an amazing visit we had from the Tauranga Girls’ College Pasifika Group on the 12th September. Ten vibrant group members performed for our students and organised an array of fantastic workshops. A rich and rewarding cultural experience that had the entire school ‘buzzing’ for an hour and a half. We look forward in having the group join us again. Fa’afetai tele lava; Malo faafetai; Thank You to Mrs. Withrington for the behind the scenes organisation of the event. ICAS English Over one million student entries are accepted from over 6,300 schools in Australia and New Zealand annually. In addition, students from over 20 countries including Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the USA participate in ICAS each year. For each level in each state or county: High Distinction (top 1% of participants), Distinction (the next 10% of participants), Credit (the next 25% of participants), Merit (the next 10% of participants) and Participation (all remaining participants). Six students were chosen to extend themselves with the ICAS English Assessment this year and six students attained results that they should be extremely proud of. Congratulations Distinction: Sarah, Haru and Michi Merit: Hayley Credit: Nina, Lia

Left to right: Back: Haru, Lia & Sarah and Front: Michi and Nina Our singers.... Tauranga Music Festival 2017 Tauranga Primary Schools’ Music Festival 2017 brought together 31 choirs from local Primary and Intermediate Schools to embrace this year’s theme “All Creatures Great and Small.” Wednesday​ 6th September hosted opportunity for our choir to sing classic songs like Beatles “Octopus’s Garden”, Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” and a toe tapping medley of “See you Later Alligator / Hound Dog” in a mass choir. They also set the bar for individual school performances. “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” – Napoleon Hill We are so proud of you Whakamarama School Choir. Whilst looking down on you from the audience we could see that you were just too busy being fabulous! ‘A community preparing and empowering lifelong learners who are confident to achieve and make a difference’ With the Ark settled safely after the flood, Noah opens the doors and 2) Frustration is trying to find your glasses without your glasses. commands the animals, “Go forth and multiply!” All the animals 3) Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad depart the Ark, except for two snakes in the back. Noah proclaims at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the again, “Go forth and multiply,” yet the snakes stay put. Perturbed, window. - Steve Bluestone Noah finally asks them, “Why have you not followed my command?” 4).Two wrongs are only the beginning. The snakes flicker their tongues and answer, “We can’t multiply, Noah—we’re Adders.” 5) Borrow money from pessimists-they don't expect it back. 6) The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the 1) Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with. bread.

Omokoroa Omelette 33 September 2017 Saving our precious habitat... Teaching school and ballet... a positive combination Omokoroa Probus Club Speakers by Gloria Herbert Rond de Jambe... Our club speaker, Carol Hayden, talked about Ballet and teaching. She taught Ballet for 34 years starting in Auckland then Whangamata and finally at Waihi where she established in 1980’s the Waihi School of Dance. Carol started learning Tap and Highland dancing at the age of three and a half in Pt. Chevalier, Auckland and added Ballet when she was five. She studied Royal Academy Dance Ballet, passing all exams and regularly competed in competitions until she was 17yrs old. When Paul Gnat arrived from Denmark and started the NZ Ballet Co. she became a pupil at his junior school and when she was 15-16 she was allowed to dance in one item when the company was on tour. (which was just at the amateur stage). There were few opportunities for dancers in NZ once they finished training, so Carol decided to follow her other passion and go to Training College in Auckland and become a school teacher. There she met her husband Mike who was in the same class. She went on to tell some of the history of how Ballet started. It goes back to Italy as early as the 1400s and came to France when Catherine de Medici married Henri 11 in 1533 but became popular under Louis X1V who famously enjoyed dancing the Ballet. Under the Royal Academy Dance rules children from seven years on have to learn names and demonstrate steps that are all in French. Ballet trains and channels many disciplines, goal setting, self-confidence, self-awareness, and striving to be the best you can be. By memorising sequences of steps and dances they have to concentrate for long periods of time. Warwick Buckman... Warwick Buckman, our guest speaker gave us a talk on what work HELP Habitat Enhancement & Landcare Partnership (Waihi) Inc. are doing. Help covers the Kaimai from Waihi to Rotorua. He talked about the Mangatoetoe Stream restoration and the work that has been done. Their aim is to rejuvenate the river bank of the Mangatoetoe, removing weeds, establishing native planting, improving the quality and raising the amenity value of the stream area. They have their own nursery. Warwick also talked about the Kaimai Environment Group and how with the help of forest and bird people, as well as professionals, they are monitoring the numbers of birds in the Kaimai Ranges. He told us a lot about the 5-minute system for counting and identifying birds in different areas of the forest and how the bird numbers fluctuate from year to year. Pest control, until recently hasn’t been reflected, but is slowly making a difference to the bird population. Warwick then went on to talk about the Kauri disease and the difficulties in controlling it. He said further that in Europe the Larch are dying of a virus and in Australia the Banksia has been hit very hard. It is not known where these viruses come from and each is different so this makes it hard to solve. Warwick also told us about the difficulty of introducing birds into a new area. A Weka was taken to a forest in Auckland and within two weeks it had walked about 300kms back to Taneatua. An interactive and interesting talk.

Omokoroa Friendship Club - “Chit Chat” The Omokoroa Friendship Club enjoyed pizzas bought locally for lunch on the first of September and they were delicious. We welcomed two new people, Pat Garner and Alvin Pearce that day. Group members, Vera Martin and Gordon Gravatt were back from holiday. Vera Lawback is in hospital after a fall and having a new hip and sadly we say goodbye to Esme Davies. Do remember, we meet at the Community Church Hall, 139 Hamurana Road from 10am-12:30pm most Fridays and you are welcome. The charges have not gone up. $3.00 for morning tea and lunch. Barbara Walls President, Phone 07 548 2899

Omokoroa Omelette 34 September 2017 Omokoroa & Area Church Services

OMOKOROA COMMUNITY CHURCH HAPPENINGS Christmas ‘Advent’ Dinner! Yes! Christmas is just around the corner! Yes! We are planning another one of our special dinners! If you were one of the 80 odd, (admittedly some of you we much ‘odder’ that others!), people at our last Indian dinner you will already know what a good time we had. If you weren’t there last time you don’t want to miss out this time! So, put the evening of December 3rd in your diaries. This is ‘Advent’ Sunday. The beginning of the Christmas season. The day you get out those Advent Calendars and engage with what Christmas is really about. We are looking at having South African type food along with some entertainment. More information will follow so keep your eyes open. Mooving Up... Our next Intermediate Youth Program is at 4pm – 6pm on October 22nd. Venue is Omokoroa Community Church in Hamurana Rd. Christmas Craft will be the theme with yummy treats being made. The goal being to give them away to someone rather than eat them all ourselves. This might be a challenge for some of us… This is about learning that there is a blessing in giving gifts rather than just receiving them. Digital Citizens Computer Course... The first course is humming along. But, if there is sufficient demand, we will continue running new courses into 2018 and beyond. Watch for advertising of future courses. This is a great opportunity for Omokoroa. Community Food Bank We continue to run this for those in need in our community. We started the year with bulging cupboards thanks to your generosity and the success our local collecting over last Christmas. The demand has been very high this year so our cupboards are getting low. Your ongoing generosity would be really appreciated. Donations can be dropped into our Church office any weekday morning, or left at the Freshchoice Supermarket collection point. 7pm Prayer And Praise Service... We have started this simple informal church service which is held on the first Sunday of each month. Healing prayer is a focus. It’s open to all. Come along and check it out. From Rev. Don Moses at The Omokoroa Community Church. Your Local Church!

Omokoroa Omelette 35 September 2017 Community Notices & Events brought to you by Omokoroa Print & Copy Waipuna Hospice White Wabbit NZ Home Diary 2018 We’re delighted to announce the Featuring full week format, recipes, release of the latest Mandy Williams First Aid, reducing food waste, designed fundraising tea towel. You creating hanging baskets, weights will surely agree he’s a pretty cute and measures for cooks, the 2018 character and a refreshing change edition has something for everyone. from the avian theme we’ve had There’s even a section describing to date. (A successful local artist, the origin of some of those age-old Mandy says this design is her most expressions like ‘no spring chicken’! popular, so we will await sell-out At $18, it makes an affordable, success with bated breath!). If lovely and practical gift idea. Help you’ve followed the ‘hospice tea your friends and family look forward towel series’ so far, make sure you add this to your collection. to the year ahead. Once again, they have been beautifully packaged by a team of dexterous volunteers and are available for $14 each. The diary and tea towel are available from Waipuna Hospice, our Hospice Shops, selected outlets and the online store at: www.waipuna-hospice.co.nz, where you can also find out more about our services, upcoming events and volunteer vacancies. Oh, and follow us on Facebook ‘WaipunaHospiceTauranga’.

WHO ARE TE PUNA VINNIES ?? We are a branch of ... ‘The Tauranga St Vincent De Paul Society’ Our main branch is located on Cameron Rd, to anyone in need, especially those based around our catchment area where there is a charity shop, and a welfare of Te Puna, Whakamarama, or Omokoroa. Centre tucked in behind. Practically, we have an ongoing supply of beautiful babies and That is the hub of the local organisation, where many people walk in children’s clothes, mostly 5 and under, bedding for babies and from the street to either purchase items from the shop or to access help toddlers, a freezer full of locally prepared food, and lots of wisdom from the Welfare Centre. and experience around helping. “To be a Vincentian is a call to give personal service to the people One small request we have currently is to find beds in good suffering from all forms of poverty, (material, emotional, spiritual, and condition for a family we have been helping to get into a physical). To participate personally and directly in helping people in habitat house. need and giving them the gift of one’s heart and friendship”. That dream is nearly fulfilled, but the family do not have (Society of St Vincent De Paul National; Council of New Zealand a budget that extends to buying decent bedding. Wanted 3 Handbook) single beds, 2queens or 1 queen and 1 double. Locally, we are a small group who meet monthly, with the aim of Contact us on Ph 5783814 reaching out to those who need a hand up as opposed to those who want a hand out. Ask to be put through to the welfare centre, then if we can help you locally your name and details will be transferred to our group. We are here for all the above reasons, people suffering from all forms of poverty, material, emotional, spiritual, or physical hardship. You might have the perception because we are a Catholic based LET US WALK THE JOURNEY WITH YOU organisation that we could not help YOU. Our mission is to reach out IN YOUR HOUR OF NEED.

Omokoroa Omelette 36 September 2017 Community Notices & Events brought to you by Omokoroa Print & Copy KatiKati Tramping Club Omokoroa Settlers' Hall Society Inc. Saturday 7th October Franklin Road - Ananui Falls - Woodlands Road. Notice of AGM 8am start, Grade: Moderate - approx 7 hours. Key Swap. Tuesday 3rd October 2017 at 7:30pm If you would like to join us phone a leader - Keith Pyle in the small Hall. (552 0215) or Barry Denton (07 863 4597). Meet at car park 334 Omokoroa Road. behind Katikati Memorial Hall. Presentation of Annual Report and Accounts Sunday 22nd October Election of Officers/Committee Lindemann Track Maintenance Phone Leader Tom Carr (549 2860) for information. Whakamarama Hall Committee AGM – 16th October 7:30pm @ the Hall Western Bay of Plenty Everyone is welcome to attend the Whakamarama Hall Neighbourhood Support Committee AGM. Come for supper, meet the people involved and see how the Omokoroa residents are being urged to join a Neighbourhood committee works. Support group. Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support launched, in March, a campaign with a focus on “if you see something, Omokoroa Play Spaces Group say something”. Residents are urged to join, or start, a group Members wanted through the new website: The exciting opportunity exists for Omokoroa to have a www.wbopns.org.nz or by phoning... new community play space next to the skate path facility 0800 22 55 85 at the Omokoroa Sports Ground. Previous meetings have Rapid population growth makes this been held with council reserves manager, Scott Parker, and more worthwhile than ever, says Western recently a local designer has been engaged to undertake the Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support process of consultation and design. executive chairperson Adrienne Bruce. Members wanted – Now that the initial work has been done we require interested and enthusiastic people to join the group to help with community consultation and any fundraising that we may need to do for this exciting project. If you would be interested in being involved please email Vicki Knell [email protected]

Masquerade Ball - This year our Year 7 and 8s travel to Northland for a 6 day tour of the historic north. Masquerade Ball for Saturday 4 November – Live Band – 5 O’clock Shadow, Cash Bar, Travelling Photo Booth and supper provided. $30 a ticket available at our school office.

Omokoroa Community Cyblerlink Would you like to join our Cyberlink in Omokoroa? It is a Next Working Bee for Cooney Reserve. central hub where you email me news of up coming events; stuff you have to give away or need; community information; All hands needed and all hands welcomed for our next working bee clearing weeds in our reserve. garage sales; lost or missing pets/things. Of course the list is WORKING BEE - 1st Wednesday of each month 9:30am - 12noon as long as your imagination. Come with some tools. If you want to be informed about our community then Bring some enthusiasm. sign up and spread the word. Enjoy the camaraderie and let all enjoy our environment. To sign up: email: [email protected] with your name and email address. You can unsubscribe at any point. Phone Jan 548 2299 Your email addresses will be kept safe!

Omokoroa Omelette 37 September 2017 CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS A/Hours Book Keeping/Accounts Services Available Drum Incinerators for sale Pahoia/Apata Community Hall for Hire Do you have a Small Business? 44-gallon drum incinerators. $35.00 each. An amazing venue which also has a separate Need some help with your Accounts? Delivered between Katikati and Tauranga. meeting room and a fully equipped kitchen. I can help from Invoicing through to your Phone: 548-0823 Quality tables and chairs also available for off-site End of Year Financials/TAX. hire. Call Michele Smith 021 985 950 or Computer Tutoring Call me after 5pm. Sylvia Ph:548-1067 Email all enquiries to: [email protected] Relaxed, friendly, individual, in-home training, at your or 022 416 1960 pace, for mums returning or work or grandparents Diane’s Décor Tutoring wanting to keep up with families online. Not just curtains! Curtains, roman blinds, tracks, Reading, writing and maths for primary aged Basic to advanced, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, rods. Roller blinds, home furnishings – fabric children. Experienced, New Zealand registered how to work a computer, email/internet. samples in local Showroom. 9:30 – 5 by appointment. primary school teacher. Hannah 0273 423 977 Contact Jo: 021 628 467 [email protected] ‘Free quotes and advice’ E: [email protected] or [email protected] Now on Facebook! Ph:548-1920 / 0272 846 543 Maths Tutor Room for Rent Years 9 & 10, NCEA level 1-3 Maths and Calculus House & Garden Services 3m X 2.1m, Back room, In medical complex. Experienced, registered, Kiwi trained Kiwi teacher. Tree pruning, Weeding, hedges, water-blasting. Part time, Option for phone connection. Excellent results. Local. Text 0273 023 440 Affordable rates. Phone David on 021 131 3391 or Email: [email protected] 07 218 7003 Animal Health Care Goats milk Is your Animal in Pain, having Skin, Eye, Ear Registered Electrician Fresh or Frozen. $4 litre. Ph/text 021 297 3205 problems, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Anxiety or just unwell? For all your electrical requirements and more. Homeopathy and Bowen Therapy offer safe and Competitive rates and no obligation quote. Your Sole Clean Fill Site Wanted effective treatments supporting your animal get Solution call Paul Sole 577-0394 or 021 075 1017 If you have a site that you want filled with clean fill, back to health. Call Hannelore on 548-0824 [email protected] then ring Dave Hanlon on 0275 782 887 Line Dancing Painter Omokoroa Lions’ Market @ Omokoroa Settlers’ Hall For all your painting requirements. 2nd SUNDAY each month - Thursday Beginners… 2pm – 3pm Phone Gerard Quilty 0274 475 493 Sunday Oct 8th / Nov 12th / Dec. 10th Friday General 9am – 12noon A/Hrs 548-1337 Western Ave. car-park. 9am-12noon No partner required just join the line, get fit Come enjoy a morning out. Cakes, BBQ, drinks. & have fun. A mix of Latin, waltz, quick-step etc. Fancy That Costume Hire Good shopping and good company. plus country & western. At Aongatete. Good range of costumes, wigs Car boot and stallholders welcome $5 per 5m site. Contact Shirley 548-1633 (general) and accessories. Please phone: Lucia Knyvett. Telephone: Keith 548-2117 or Peter 548-0430 and Jean 548-2808 (beginners) on 0275 107 641

Omokoroa Omelette 38 September 2017 CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS Drum Tutor Omokoroa Settlers’ Hall Holiday or Short Term Rental Professional working musician. Available for bookings for clubs, Self-contained studio with water views, 20yrs playing and teaching experience. special functions weddings, etc. Furnished with all the essentials Beginner to advanced. Jazz, Funk, Blues, Rock. Reasonable rates and excellent facilities. Suit couple. Ph 548-0292 Paul 021 977 346 For bookings phone Heather on 548-1620 Please see the noticeboard outside the Treadmill For Sale Ease Pain and Discomfort with Bowen Therapy main entrance for “What’s on at the hall” Little use, excellent condition. Powerful 2.0hp dc mo- Are you suffering from Neck, Shoulder or Knee tor, High quality lcd display: Calories, Speed, Heart pain, Sciatica, Tennis Elbow, RSI, Migraines, Painter rate, Distance, Incline, Laps, Time. Chronic Fatigue or any other discomfort? Interior/exterior. Clean, tidy, fast. Speed range:0.8~12kph, Incline:0~15%, Can be Bowen Therapy offers a gentle and effective hands-on Living in Omokoroa. folded up to conserve space when not in use. treatment. Call Hannelore on 548-0824 Call Paul Hoskin for your free quote. 8 shortcut keys, 51 programs: 5 insert programs(10 Ph: 548-2112 or 021 977 346 levels/programs). Handlebar heart rate monitor- Green Waste Removal ing system. Safeguard system: Overload and circuit $15 per wool bale bag as required. Lyncroft Nursery break protect, emergency stop key. Mount shock ab- Loose green waste also removed. Wide range of native grasses, flaxes, shrubs, trees. sorption system. $250 ono Ph: 548-1583 Call Phil 022 333 2644 or 549-4950 Great Prices. 160 Plummers Point Rd. 548-1209 House Cleaning Services Appointment needed YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Domestic cleaning - do you need help? CALL NOW TO BE IN For prompt, reliable, honest service, Omokoroa Cleaning Services THE NEXT ISSUE! Call Nicky at POSH Ladies. 577-6948 Homes, gardens, car valet service. Add. services available. Complete Lawn & Garden Services Glass/Tile Shower rejuvenation. Classified Advertisements For all your lawn / gardening requirements. Water-blasting-Painting. Call Phil 022 333 2644 or 549-4950 Enquires welcome. Personal $6.00 Business $11.00 Ph. Ludi & Andrea 548-2657 or 021 0700 021 Price per 20 words block or part thereof. The Fitness League 40 word limit per advert. Bagot Stack System. Safe & Fun form of exercise. Craftsman Plumber Strengthen & mobilise your body. Omokoroa local, 30 years’ experience, Supply Ad in writing / Payment at time of Omokoroa Settlers’ Hall Classes: Monday 9:30am. for all small jobs, maintenance and repairs. placement. Cash / Cheque / EFTPos Ph. Dorothy on 549-3378 Phone Jason 548-0292 or 021 241 9843 PH: 548-1583 E: [email protected]

Omokoroa Omelette 39 September 2017 Omokoroa Omelette 40 September 2017