A major part of the Te Ara Rimu Pathway project in Kihikihi will wrap up this week with work completed on Whitmore Street and the road fully open. Construction of the other phases of Kihikihi’s new walking and cycling pathways will be completed in three months.
Fruit trees planted at the end of the newly formed cul-de-sac on Moule Street.
Construction will start on two raised zebra crossings outside the Space Centre and bus stop, and at the Whitmore and Rolleston Streets intersection. Contractors will now move onto building the new roundabout at the Herbert Street, Flat Road and Rolleston Street intersection on Monday. This will take six weeks to complete.
Medals for butcher
Expleo Butchery in Te Awamutu has scooped three medals in the 100 per cent New Zealand Bacon and Ham Awards. Expleo was category champion for their dry cured streaky bacon and sliced ham and won a silver medal for their boneless ham.
History book
A book revealing the history of 30 Te Awamutu commercial buildings has sold 210 copies pre-publication and is close to breaking even. A Bricks and Mortar Legacy – Stories of Commercial Buildings in Te Awamutu 1890-1997 tells the story of the economic history of Te Awamutu. A print date is expected to be announced soon.
Help at hand
Outdoor enthusiasts will put up their hands to bring more local knowledge to search and rescue operations in the King Country bush. At a meeting held at Waitomo last week 20 people put down their names to assist Lansar – NZ Land Search and Rescue. Some will train as Lansar members, while others will join search teams as guides.
Shaky Ground
Janine Krippner’s On Shaky Ground column will return next week.
On his bike
St Peter’s Cambridge school student Brady van der Bijl cycled for 12 hours and covered 265 kilometres as his contribution to the school’s fundraising for St John last weekend. A total of 45 students, all boarders at Oliphant House, took part and raised almost $3500.
The event garnered tremendous support from the school’s staff and the boys themselves, who kept each other motivated with cheers and encouragement throughout the day. The event was also streamed live, allowing friends, family, and supporters from afar to join in and witness the determination and teamwork in action. St John Cambridge staff made special appearances, adding to the enthusiasm and camaraderie.
During the downtime between cycling, the students also took the opportunity to learn 3 Steps for Life, an essential first aid skill set. This training was overseen by Rob Chisholm and Margaret Vincent from St John, further enriching the experience and adding another layer of community service to the event.
Another round
Shakespeare-Cook Sts Roundabout. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The independent safety team which reviewed the design of the Shakespeare/Cook Street roundabout prior to construction has returned to undertake a post-construction safety review. The outcome of this review will be reported back to council mid-August. Changes at the roundabout have drawn strong criticism.
Nifty shades of Gray
Francie Gray
Hamilton Operatic Society life member and regular Waipā repertory supporter Francie Gray was farewelled on stage this week at the Clarence St Theatre – two days after the Hunchback of Notre Dame opened and with the set in place. Society chair Caroline Gill said she could not think of a more appropriate farewell for Gray than for her to have one last audience. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which features several Waipā people in the cast, runs till August 10.
Lots of Lego
Cambridge’s Riding for the Disabled is one of two organisations which will benefit from the Hamilton Lego User Group’s ninth show next week. The August 10-11 event at Claudelands will feature 78 exhibitors and highlights are expected to include the Waikato Schools Brick Masters competition and a Lego Star Wars 25th Anniversary display.
Almost 6000 people attended the 2023 show, and profits will also assist Clothe Our Kids Waikato. Sunday will also feature an hour-long morning sensory session where there will be no noises or lights operating on the displays, reduced lighting in the venue and reduced numbers of people.
