The Weekend Lifestyler, March 22nd 2024

THE WEEKEND LIFESTYLER IS PUBLISHED WITH PRIDE BY INTEGRITY COMMUNITY MEDIA, A PRIVATELY OWNED NORTHLAND COMPANY.

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Editor: Deb Wright 021 639 696 deb.wright@integrity.nz

Journalists: Ann van Engelen | Amy Fifita | Liz Clark

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One Tree Point, Ruakākā, Waipū, Mangawhai, Kaiwaka

u by Ann van Engelen

The team at Kaiwaka Playcentre is excited about this Saturday’s gala, as they fundraise to purchase new items for families to enjoy at the centre.

“We have seen a lot of growth at the centre with many new members coming along and we are loving seeing our premises come to life again,” says Playcentre mum Sarah Malcolm.

“My children Harper and Beau enjoy our time there each week. Our new enrollments include a five-week-old baby and children who are nearly five.”

Kaiwaka Playcentre is located at 17 Hastie Lane and sessions are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9.15am until noon.

“Playcentre is open to anybody with children between zero to six years old with three free visits. There is a recommended donation per term of $20 per child or $30 per family but we can discuss that if need be.

“If you see your child enjoying something, you can join in, and then we can help with that, such as creating activities with their interest. The centre belongs to everyone who enrolls and you can make it your own.

“It’s a great place to meet other parents and have adult conversations because it can be isolating being home alone with children every day. Meeting others in the community at the same life stage is nice, especially for newcomers to the area.

The gala is on this Saturday March 23, from 9.30am-noon rain or shine.

“We will have quite a bit going on on the day with pre-loved clothing for sale,

“We are a new team of mums running it and really are enjoying seeing the centre expand”

a sausage sizzle and bake sale and free play at the centre for children.

“With the funds we raise at the gala, we want to update toys and equipment for our members to utilise while they are on-site. We follow the early childhood curriculum and get a small amount of Ministry of Education funding, but it’s never enough to get through the year.

“One of the items we want to purchase is a ride-on digger for the children to play with in the sand pit, which costs around $300.

“Playcentre is a great place to spend time with your children and learn with them as you watch them.

“Magical Moments face painting is coming along and an incredible amount of local businesses have given us donations for raffles and spot prizes. We’ll accept cash or bank transfers on the day.

“We are a new team of mums running it and really are enjoying seeing the centre expand. It’s going to be an awesome day, and we look forward to having community time together and meeting people we may not know yet. If you’re thinking of coming to Playcentre, Saturday is a great time to come and have a look.” ¢

p Beau Malcolm enjoys playing with the toys at Kaiwaka Playcentre on a weekly basis

When community combine

u by Ann van Engelen

Marama Ahomiro has been involved in the Ruakākā Volunteer Fire Brigade since seeing a Facebook post looking for volunteers in 2020.

“I thought this would be cool to join,” said Marama.

“My kids said, ‘You’re too old to join’. That was a challenge to me, and I decided to prove them wrong. After the Covid lockdowns I started turning up to training, haven’t looked back, and still love it.

“The brigade is like being in a big extended family. They’re people you can totally trust and they’re always there for you. I think it’s because we go to the same call-outs together and support each other to ensure we’re OK, especially after difficult events.”

Marama says the social events they do together usually include the whole family.

“Without our family’s support, we wouldn’t be there. It’s all about giving back to the community. I’ve lived here since I was young, and it’s very important to me to be available to help others and, at times, the community help us.

“Recently, we had a house fire, which happened to be my aunty’s, and we thought my cousin was still inside. Thankfully, he wasn’t, but that’s one of the hard things about being in the brigade. We’re all aware that we will possibly know people at call-outs we go to.

“If we do know people involved, we have support, and that’s important for everyone. At that event, Bronwyn Ashby,

one of our team, was trying to find the closest fire hydrant. The neighbours grabbed the hose and helped her, going through their yard to the hydrant there.

“It was amazing because there are lots of hydrants, but theirs was in the position that night for the situation. We were very thankful they knew exactly where the hydrants were as it made our job a lot quicker.

“We’re also grateful to people who turn up at the station with baking and things because, after a call-out, we’re often exhausted, so we sit for a moment and regather ourselves. The treats make a big difference.”

The Ruakākā Volunteer Fire Brigade has a recruitment drive coming up on Saturday, May 4 for people interested in joining the team.

“People can volunteer from 16 years old with parents’ permission. There are various roles to fill, not just being on the trucks. At times, we are short-crewed due to work commitments and things, so the more people available — the better.

“The open day is at the station at 58 Marsden Point Road from noon until 2pm. Everyone is welcome to come and chat with us. Children and partners are welcome, too, because without them, we couldn’t do what we do.” ¢

p The Ruakākā Volunteer Fire Brigade team members appreciate community support

Connecting through water

u

Ann van Engelen

World Water Day is this Friday, March 22, and local organisations Mountain to Sea Conservation Trust’s Wai Connection programme and the Kaipara Moana Remediation programme are celebrating together as they prepare to join forces to fast-track efforts to restore the mauri of Auckland and Northland waterways flowing into the Kaipara Harbour.

“Water is life, and we all have an obligation to care for our waterways,” says MTSCT Poutokomanawa/codirector Kim Jones and KMR Pou Tātaki Justine Daw.

The theme for the day this year is Water for Peace.

“Both Kaipara Moana Remediation and Wai Connection aim to bring people together in a common cause to protect and restore local waterways that are important to them.

“We’ve already worked together on community planting days alongside waterways and are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding formalising efforts towards more collaborations around boosting waterway health in the Kaipara Moana.

“Wai Connection supports community groups at an earlier stage of their formation and development, while KMR co-invests in sediment remediation projects once groups are operational.

“Ultimately, our projects help grow community connectivity and resilience and an appreciation that water is essential for our wellbeing in so many ways.

“New Zealand communities care passionately about their local waterways, and there’s a strong call for support to

build an understanding of catchment issues through localised support and funding to take action on the ground.”

Kim says KMR and Wai Connection can build on their strong, existing networks.

“The important aspect of this MOU is the fact two organisations with common goals are working together in the freshwater space for the good of our communities and the environment,” says Kim.

“We are both focussed on community engagement and connecting people in targeted catchment restoration and freshwater remediation, enabled by good science.”

Justine believes this partnership will result in earlier and more comprehensive reductions of sediment into the Kaipara Moana.

“KMR is already working with over 50 groups across the catchment. Since we began, a new group has joined KMR every fortnight on average,” she says.

“It will also create a greater understanding across the community of the benefits of taking action to protect local waterways.

“Together, KMR and Wai Connection will help groups in the Kaipara Moana catchment identify issues in their local catchment area and find local solutions

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“The project aims to empower community catchment groups by providing knowledge, tools and expert support to help identify issues in their local catchment area and connect people with their waterway. It will also

enable collaboration between local catchment groups, NGOs, iwi, hapū, regional councils, central government agencies, landowners and primary industry working in the catchment.”

For more information, visit kmr. org, email hono@kmr.org.nz or visit waiconnection.co.nz or email info@ waiconnection.co.nz. ¢

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p Kaipara Pou Tātaki Justine Daw and Mountain to Sea Conservation Trust’s Poutokomanawa/codirector — freshwater lead Kim Jones are excited to join forces

Easter carnival fun

u by Ann van Engelen

The Waipu Easter Carnival team is gearing up for a day full of fun, food, live

people of all ages on Easter Saturday, March 30, from 9am to 2pm at the Caledonian Park, Waipu.

“We are so excited to be back in 2024,” says carnival coordinator Dee Field.

“While the situation with the closure of the Brynderwyns in the lead-up isn’t ideal — we’re grateful that it will be open for Easter weekend. This is the major fundraiser for Waipu Primary School and it’s an awesome event for the wider community and visitors from further afield.”

The Waipu Easter Carnival is in its 16th year and has proven to be a huge hit with locals and holidaymakers alike.

“It is run entirely by volunteers and has grown to be one of the biggest events on the Waipu summer calendar. It is thanks to the generosity of Waipu Primary

School mums, dads, grandparents, teachers, kids and helpers from the community. They pull out all the stops to man the huge array of entertainment, food stalls and sideshows.

“Proceeds from the carnival will go towards improving resources and expanding opportunities for children in the school. Previous carnivals have funded the structured literacy programme, new chairs, a stage for the hall, scooter tracks, plus a whole range of smaller projects around the school — all of which benefit the children.

“This year, organisers say there has been a real focus on creating a fun village vibe, with lots of space for the community to meet up and enjoy

fabulous free entertainment, delicious food and tractor rides, along with many games and, of course, grab a bargain at the white elephant stall.

“There are more activities for older kids, such as a dunk tank, climbing wall and a surfboard challenge. Entry to the carnival will be by koha donation only.

“As always, local businesses and community groups have been extremely supportive, and this is a golden opportunity for sponsors to get involved in our school’s biggest fundraising effort to date.

“We are still keen to find locals who might like to volunteer to help out for a few hours. The carnival crew promise it will be a fun way to meet new people and get involved in the community.

“It’s shaping up to be a great day, and we are really aiming to capture the essence of summer holidays and relaxed family fun.”

For volunteer or sponsorship enquiries, email waipucarnival@gmail. com. More information can be found at waipucarnival.com or by searching on Facebook. ¢

p The Waipu Easter Carnival is set to be a fun day for people of all ages

p Creating a fun village vibe, there will be lots of space for friends to meet up and enjoy fabulous free entertainment

The golden season

u by Liz Clark

Flowers

Pull up any spent annuals well past their best and put them into the compost heap. Those remaining, if there’s enough of them, deadhead spent blooms, give them a feed of fertiliser so they can put on one last burst of growth before dying off. In the garden, plant angelica, Anthriscus Ravenswing, snapdragons, asters, Bellis Pompoms, calendulas, celosias, Centranthus Jupiters Beard, cornflowers, cosmos, cyclamens, dahlias, dianthus, lupins and pansies.

Roses

Roses will put on a further show of blooms throughout the season, often into early winter. Deadhead spent flowers, prune off weak, dead and diseased branches. It’s also a good time to give your prized treasures a good feed of blood and bone, compost and a top-up with some mulch to keep the roots protected. Spray with a preferred combined spray to keep off the pests and prevent any fungal diseases affecting the leaves. Now, onwards, is

also the time to plant new acquisitions in a sheltered, warm spot, and well staked against the strong winter winds. New releases for 2024 include Bee Scene, Blue September, Adorable, Allison Scott and Little Sunset.

Vegetable garden

Remove spent tomato plants as they start to die off. Any remaining, feed well with blood and bone for the remainder of fruiting. Pick the tomatoes green once the plants are close to dieoff. Green tomatoes can be placed

With the summertime stepping aside to welcome in the cooler months of autumn, it’s a good time to take stock of things in the garden.

on the windowsill to ripen or used in homemade chutney to enjoy later on with a meal.

Turn over the gardens after harvesting any remaining summer vegetables. Lettuces can be planted to provide extra greens before the winter chill sets in — plant seeds for winter carrots, swedes, turnips and radishes. Beetroot can also be planted and will survive the winter well. Also put in Swiss chard, cabbages and other brassicas for a good supply in the colder months. ¢

Kiwis flock to multisport

u by Ann van Engelen

The 2024 Northpower Wild Kiwi multisport event organisers saw nearly 800 avid outdoors enthusiasts take part in the annual competition, with all participants deemed winners for giving the event a crack last Saturday at Whangārei Heads.

Competitors arrived from as far afield as the Far North to Wellington with event organiser Total Sport receiving vast amounts of positive feedback from competitors, sponsors and supporters, and expect the 2025 entrant numbers to climb.

“Whether you were on the course or at the finish line, there was a blaze of bright orange Northpower T-shirts, combined with great attitudes, which added to an awesome atmosphere,” said Total Sport’s Mark Fordham.

“Plenty of Northland companies want to challenge others to enter their staff as part of a wellbeing programme.

“As well as being our major sponsor for the Wild Kiwi, Northpower has been leading the way with this concept since 2018 when their sea of orange flooded the Taupō ultra-marathon, and the Northpower crew of participants topped 100 again this year.

“They have taken wellbeing to the next level by encouraging staff, friends and whānau to get active and healthy, and they have helped change lives as a result. It is a great model for other workplaces and individuals to follow, and I would love to hear from people wanting to take part in the lead-up to next year. There is something really

special about hosting an event like this in Northland, and we can’t wait to be back in 2025, with the support of the Bream Head Conservation Trust and the Jagger family, of course.”

Brent Lewis won the Wild Kiwi Individual Multisport in a time of 4:36:33. Tahlia Spink took out the Mild

Whangārei Heads and Parua Bay Primary schools, with lots of students taking part from both schools. The winner will be announced this week, with the trophy being awarded in person where it will remain until the next event.”

For full results and to order action shots — go to thewildkiwi.co.nz/ results-photos. ¢

Kiwi Individual in 2:55:53 and Sam Rout won the 21km run in 2:09:01. Ben Keyte finished first in the 15km run in 1:32:18, and Alex Gimring was the winner of the eight-kilometre run by crossing the finish line in 38:31.

“The results are still to be compiled for the inaugural school challenge between

p The winning 2024 Northpower Wild Kiwi Team, The Saddle Sniffers — Jason Stokes, Jason Cresswell and Liam Tressler

Girl’s weekends matter

u by Ann van Engelen

Grabbing your bags, gathering your girlfriends, and prioritising your time by getting out of town often does more for your wellbeing than you think.

A girl’s getaway can give women the break that recharges them and refreshes their mind, body and soul in a way nothing else can.

Being with friends, chatting over coffee and a meal, or walking the beach gives you space to think, answer some of life’s questions and make positive plans for the future.

not only burns calories but it relieves stress, relaxes our body, and can improve circulation.

Life can be too serious, so having time together with friends should be a time of acceptance and love. Good friends don’t allow room for criticism or judgement. They do allow a few hours of shopping and trying on anything from jewellery, bras and formal wear together or getting makeup lessons.

Girl talk can leave you feeling like a load has been lifted from your shoulders

There are many health benefits of time away, full of laughter with your girlfriends in your world. It is said when female friends spend time together, increased levels of oxytocin and serotonin are released, helping to alleviate stress levels in our bodies.

Finding funny movies, comedy shows or playing board games that make you laugh until your sides hurt. Laughter also triggers an increase in endorphins, the feel-good chemical. They say laughter

We all need space to vent at times, so talk about issues you may be having with your trusted friends, and see what you can solve before finding a spa pool, indulging in a massage or perhaps walking through a public garden.

Girl talk can leave you feeling like a load has been lifted from your shoulders. Remember, time out helps to inspire you. That may mean joining in on a local art

lesson, weaving session or cheesemaking course.

Places such as Heart Place Hospital, The Mangawhai Artists Gallery, the local golf or bowling clubs and the Bream Bay Combined Arts Group all have interesting activities available at times.

A girl’s weekend should be a safe place full of encouragement while boosting your confidence.

Chat about your favourite books and hair tips and share your love of life’s simple or not-so-simple pleasures. ¢

p Girlfriend time should be relaxed, encouraging and a safe place to chill

Ladies Weekend

Ladies’ time away

u by Ann van Engelen

When it comes to taking care of ourselves, planning time out alone or with loved ones, whether you stay local or travel a short distance away, there is joy to be had.

An adventure with your mother, aunt, grandmothers, daughters, sisters or girlfriends can make for a refreshing break and bonding time with those close to you. It is also a way to create memories as you get to know newcomers to your life.

Enjoying a beachside escape is easy at places such as the Taipa Beach Resort, ideally located on the water of Doubtless Bay Northland. Perfectly positioned to explore the area’s numerous attractions and offering modern and stylish facilities, it is a destination where you can relax in comfort with on-site options including a cafe, restaurant and bar, swimming pool, spa, barbecue and tennis court.

Planning your trip doesn’t have to be expensive. Stopping in at places such as Helena Bay Art Gallery and Cafe on Russell Road as you make your way north is the perfect stopover for brunch while browsing the vast amount of artworks for sale by local and not-so-local artists. A walk in the on-site garden never ceases to amaze visitors.

Booking time out at a beauty therapy clinic for a facial or massage can help set the tone for a relaxed break while planning food choices can be as easy as stopping at a local bakery, cafe or restaurant. Girl time is a great time to choose delicacies that fit perfectly into a picnic hamper for an easy meal or two.

Enjoying the sculptures on the Hātea River loop at the Whangārei town basin is appreciated by many, with the local restaurants being on hand for a beverage later. The loop circles the Hātea River and is accessible for walking, jogging, pushbikes, mobility aids, scooters and pushchairs.

The walkway connects the town basin, Te Matau a Pohe, William Fraser Memorial Park, Kotuitui Whitinga, Canopy Bridge, Clapham’s Clocks, playground, Reyburn House gallery, a sculpture and heritage trail, Riverbank Theatre, Waka and Wave Millennium sculpture and the Riverside Park along the way.

p

Don’t forget, grab your camera or cellphone and make it a roadtrip of memories with stops along the way capturing images for your album. Northland is full of small and large

adventure opportunities for ladies to spend time together. Local markets, yoga groups, garden centres, cafes and shops offer a large variety of opportunities as you enjoy time away from everyday life. ¢

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To discuss your building needs, talk to Versatile Whangarei.

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Ensuring tamariki shine

u by Ann van Engelen

Matua Reno Skipper is proud to be the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāringaomatariki in Ōruawharo, ensuring through his team that the students in his care are given positive opportunities as they grow through their educational experiences.

“We are a team here, and like most of our staff, te reo is my second language,” says Reno.

“I was in my 20s when my lovely wife Thomaseena and I began having children. I thought to myself — ‘If I were to give something to my kids, that you can’t buy in shops, that’s not measured by wealth, what can I give them that can’t be brought, as an ongoing gift?’.

“It dawned on me it’s my culture, my language — it’s who I am. From that moment, I learned te reo Māori and loved it so much that I wanted to be the person who teaches the language to my whānau.

Reno is currently the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāringaomatariki in Ōruawharo.

“I am fortunate that Thomaseena’s a trained secondary school teacher and works here now. She supports the children transitioning into the school or out of our kura to attend high school.

so she did her master’s on transitional learning and tamariki that were going from kura kaupapa to mainstream and mainstream to kura kaupapa.

“I have a Māori and Italian background and never learned either language due to circumstances and felt lost in the world. My mum grew up in Australia, and they were very racist in terms of Italians, so their way of protection was to not teach you anything at all. They did what they did at the time.

“Our students have a sense of belonging and identity, which helps transition them into learning”

“My relationship with my children is very special and it came to the point where they needed other kids to talk in te reo too. They needed to see that it is valued in other people, and I loved learning te reo so much that it was clear the next step was to become a teacher.”

“We want our students to be strong and contribute in both the Māori and European world. Even in English, our kids are leaving here reading at the 15-plus age group. My father is a nurse and grew up in Wellsford, but I grew up in Te Awamutu, so we would constantly visit here. When you learn te reo, you return back to your homeland or mountain to be cleansed by the winds of the land.

“We felt that we had a responsibility back home. That’s why Thomaseena and I decided to move here.

“She was previously at Otamatea High School, but we needed her skills,

“My father’s mum was full Māori, and unfortunately, the Māori language was never passed on to him either. I knew I was Italian and Māori but didn’t know what that looked like in our own society, where we have to justify at times who we are.

“Our students have a sense of belonging and identity, which helps transition them into learning. They have a better footing and can stand confidently and express who they are,

p Matua Reno Skipper is a firm believer that tamariki need to be given opportunities to grow in a positive school environment

“If there are issues between students, we explain our family connections so they know that we’re all connected, and then they have a different understanding of accepting others”

the stories of the area and connection to the river and mountain.

“In this space here, the principal, teachers, teacher aides, cleaner and office lady are all learning and speak Māori. We allow children to be who they are without reprimand. They’re comfortable because they know everyone else is like that, and they feel safe.

“We have a boy who sits and eats his lunch with my one-year-old and shares his lunch with her. Even though he’s only been here a short period of time, he has that pūkenga, or skill, of looking after others. In different school settings, that wouldn’t work for him.

“If there are issues between students, we explain our family connections so they know that we’re all connected, and then they have a different understanding of accepting others.”

The staff have experienced a marked growth in the school roll.

“We have three classes, with 70 tamariki attending at present, and several on the waiting list. We’re currently going through the process of establishing our new kura in Kaiwaka.

We’ve completed our consultation and commission list for the community and wider community.

“We’d love to grow to 10–11 classrooms and plan to take our pupils through to college. Currently, we cater for up to year eight, and then our students travel to Auckland or Whangārei schools.

“We hope to set up an early childhood centre, too, because if you have tamariki who are fluent te reo speakers and others from babies, we can plant the language seed earlier. When they turn five, it helps because they’re already well-versed in their language.

“We’re pushing to have the kura completed for 2025 as that marks the 200-year anniversary of the battle of Te Ika a Ranganui, which happened in Kaiwaka. That’s why we have chosen Kaiwaka as our home.

“It can be compared to Gallipoli. It was during the musket wars and we lost hundreds of people throughout the Ngāti Whātua area. We lost people who could speak the language, and it’s about survival.

“Every year we go and acknowledge those that were lost to honour them.

We’re not lost. We’re the survivors and are here to carry on our responsibility to keep our language and culture alive.

“As we build a new school and revive the language, we’ll encourage our whānau to learn their identities. We’re creating and shaping a better future than what our past was.

“Kaiwaka is the centre point of the local hapū, Te Uri o Hau, and we want to create a community of learners, speakers and caretakers of our language there.

“For the next 200 years, we’re going to focus on mitigating the generational trauma of loss of language, culture and identity. We want families to be confident in who they are and love their culture and language and use that as a way to serve our community.

“We’re part of a movement and are really excited about it. We want people from Kaiwaka, Mangawhai, Wellsford and beyond. We don’t want to be the only school.

“People overseas can speak five languages, and we need to help our people speak their own language alongside English. We need to be able to learn other languages, including

sign language, so we can communicate with the heart and the head and be comfortable in this world.

“We have a job to do and people come to our kura and see the tamariki are looked after. They love and respect each other and are passionate to learn their language on top of maths, science, sports and other subjects.

“They learn values that our country and ancestors held important. If you talk to the Ministry of Education, we have the highest statistics of attendance and people knocking at our door wanting to work here.

“We have a plan and wake up excited to come to school. When you know what you’re doing in life is changing and enriching others, it goes beyond the story of why kids attend school.

“That’s what’s hard when we lose our kids to a mainstream college. They have found it difficult, as the same aroha, support and guidance that they need isn’t necessarily in the bigger schools.

“We feed them the stories of their past in order to give them a future. The children feel like it’s a big whānau and it’s their safe space.” ¢

p As school principal, Reno interacts with the children in his care

p Whānau is treasured at the kura, and the kaiako are on hand in all aspects of the tamariki education

p The local church and river are important parts of the community’s whakapapa and daily life p During the day, Reno can often be found spending time with the students from various classrooms

Run boosts Kaiwaka sports fund

The Kaiwaka Sports Association’s major annual fundraiser saw more than 200 competitors enjoy the Top of the Rock run/walk event in Kaiwaka last Sunday.

“Cool weather provided ideal conditions for those taking part, with everyone having the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes,” says KSA secretary Lindell Ferguson.

“The oldest competitor was a determined Jewell Mills who, at 82 years old, completed the full 10km course. The first 10km male runner home was Morgan Bull, leading the group of 126, with Mishiko Cooper being the first female and placed second overall.

“In the five-kilometre run/walk, Casey Wright was the first male competitor leading the group of 95 entrants, and Pamela Minnet was the first female home. Evan Wright, the KSA Patron was on hand to thank the team and sponsors who provided an incredible prize table and generous financial donations.

“We’re also thankful to land owners Innes Anderson and Tania Dropulich. The funds raised will go towards replacing the gymnasium and fitness centre roofs and upgrading security.” ¢

p Morgan Bull was the first male to come in on the Top of the Rock 10km run

p Mishiko Cooper was the winning female in the 10km section

p Pamela Minnet was the 5km female winner p The winner of the men’s 5km run was Casey Wright

p Children of all ages enjoyed doing the 5km section together

p Alice Croskery with Lotti and Anna Radich Murphy and Jimmy had a great time competing at the event

Photos by Teresa Brown

PUZZLE TIME

Jumbo crossword

84 Looked fixedly (6)

85 Vehement public protest (6)

86 Telephone (4)

87 Disregarded (7)

88 Intersection (10)

89 Stateless person (7)

DOWN

1 Large spiral seashell (5)

2 International humanitarian organisation (3,5)

3 Dryness (6)

4 Soldier’s award (5)

5 Raced (4)

6 Learned (7)

7 Collision (6)

8 Workers’ organisation (5)

10 Religious picture (4)

11 Plant powdered for snuff (7)

12 Knotted mass (6)

17 Doodlebug (6,4)

19 Insurgent (5)

23 Prison term (8)

24 Say (5)

25 Bullfighter (7)

27 Tidy (4)

29 Late day (7)

30 Meditate upon (6)

31 Reseller’s profit (6)

32 Go back on one’s word (6)

34 Defence of being elsewhere (5)

36 Cage for poultry (4)

37 Soothing ointment (7)

38 Ink stain (4)

44 Maintenance (6)

46 Pleasant (4)

47 Spouse (7)

48 Team spirit (6)

49 Swooped (5)

50 Turned upside down (8)

51 Excursion (6)

52 Of or relating to language (10)

53 Cautious (4)

54 Withhold patronage (7)

55 Intimate contact (4)

60 Cook under heat (5)

61 Enthusiastic (4)

65 Bringing death (5)

66 Indicating direction (8)

68 Play by Shakespeare (7)

69 Live-in school pupil (7)

71 Insect (6)

72 Tusked marine mammal (6)

73 Great fear (6)

76 Exterior (5)

78 Water lily (5)

79 Bird of prey (5)

80 Surrender up (4)

82 Roman garment (4)

Sudoku

Previous crossword solution

ACROSS: 1 Pick one’s words, 8 Ruined, 14 Image, 15 Scuttled, 16 Tigress, 17 Cross, 18 Eve, 19 Isthmus, 21 Unmarried, 22 Gullet, 25 Propaganda, 27 Pugilism, 28 Starch, 31 Marina, 33 Aviator, 34 Global, 35 Ibis, 37 All, 39 Guru, 40 Include, 41 Nectarine, 42 Dreaded, 43 Deranged, 48 Flinched, 52 Staying, 56 Nostalgia, 57 Emulate, 58 Most, 59 Ash, 60 Stir, 61 Unfair, 62 Entitle, 63 Killer, 65 Nugget, 66 Migraine, 68 Recitation, 71 Abacus, 72 Cowardice, 74 Asserts, 76 Gel, 79 Stile, 80 Cyclist, 81 Captured, 83 Tense, 84 Pewter, 85 In short supply. DOWN: 2 Incisor, 3 Ketch, 4 Nil, 5 Suds, 6 Ostentatious, 7 Dogma, 8 Russell, 9 Itch, 10 Exodus, 11 Cadet, 12 Beneath, 13 Refrigerate, 14 Isolate, 20 Upgrading, 23 Enhanced, 24 Astound, 26 Primula, 27 Pitted, 29 Rubbish, 30 Cancel, 32 Azure, 34 Glade, 36 Speed, 38 Lawn, 43 Dunes, 44 Resting, 45 Near, 46 Engine, 47 Radar, 48 Flamenco, 49 Ice skates, 50 Camelot, 51 Ensue, 52 Satanic, 53 Inheritance, 54 Gentle, 55 Butterscotch, 64 Relapse, 65 Naughty, 67 Reoccur, 69 Oatmeal, 70 Pumice, 71 Alone, 73 Deign, 75 Equip, 77 Went, 78 Scar, 82 Pus.

Insert the missing letters to complete ten words — five across the grid and five down. More than one solution may be possible.