FairhavenSchoolteacherDanaPiggott andherhusbandBaidaAliareheading toGermanytorepresentNewZealandat theWorldDragonBoatChampionships inGermanynextweek.Theywillbe joiningAli’sbrotherandsister-in-law
ontheteam,makingitafamilyaffair. Whilethemainpurposeoftakingupthe sportwastofindanotheroutlettobuild onhersportingbackgroundandfitness, nationalhonoursquicklybecameagoal. Piggott’sselectionforthenationalcrew
atthe2025championshipscomesafter disappointmentwhenshetrialledforthe lastworldchampionshipsquadtwoyears ago.Sincethelastnationaltrial,shehas focusedonimprovingherownpaddling techniqueandstylewiththehelpofthe
coachesatBayofPlentyDragonFlyers who,shesaid,havebeenamassivepartof herjourney.PicturedistheBayofPlenty DragonFlyers,ateamPiggottispartof, competing.Readmoreonpages4and5. Photo/Supplied
TePuke NEWS Attheendofthemonth,it’s TePuke’sturntoexperienceSirens andServices.
Thelocaleditionofeventsbeingrunby WesternBayofPlentyNeighbourhood SupportwillbeheldinTePukeWar MemorialHallonJuly26.
Eventco-ordinatorRebeccaLarsensaid theeventwouldbeanexpowiththe focusonsafety,securityandcommunity services.
Theemphasiswillbeonprevention.
“We’relookingforlocalcommunity servicestosignupandpresent themselvesatthisevent,whetherthey wanttosharetheirinformationwiththe communityoraskthecommunityfor resourcestheymightbelookingfor,such asvolunteerstheymightneed.”
Community Larsenwasalsoonthelookoutfor anyoneinvolvedinsafetyandsecurityin thebroadestsense.
“WWe are looking for community organisations providing services for
TePukeNeighbourhood supportco-ordinator ColleenPye. Photos/Supplied
thecommunityorlocalbusinesseswith afocusonsafetyandsecurity.That couldbewatersafety,safetyinthehome likehandrailsforelderlypeople,online securitygatesandsystemstokeephomes safeandsecure,alarms,firealarmst things like that ” Those attending the expo will
getapassporttofillinwithrewardsin theformoficecreams.
TePukeNeighbourhoodsupport co-ordinatorColleenPyesaidthe emphasiswasonthosewhowerelocallybasedwhocouldprovideservices.
“Atthesametime,wejustwantto makesurepeopleinTePukeandthe greaterTePukeareaareawareofwhat’s availabletothem.”
Safety Shesaidtheintentwasforthe definitionofsafetytobeverywiderangingandholistic,tocoverareassuch aswellnessandwellbeing.
“So,it’sfromthepersontoproperty.”
Peoplewouldbeabletolearnaboutthe workofNeighbourhoodSupport.
Anyonewantingtofindoutmoreabout attendingcansendanemailto: events@wbopns.org.nz
TePuketheatrestalwart’striumphantreturn AppearingontheLittParkstage nextweekwillbethefinalstepina longrecoveryforDiLeach.
LeachisastalwartofTePukeRepertory Theatre.Shehasacted,directedplaysand pantomimes,beenacommitteemember, isalifememberandformanyyearsran achildren’sdramaschoolandholiday programmes.
Butallthatcametoanendsevenyears ago.
Shecouldnolongerdoanyofit,nor couldshedomanyoftheother,everyday thingspeopletakeforgranted.
“WhenIwasreallyunwell,Icouldn’t leavethehouse,answerthephone,write properly,havevisitors…Iwasamess–I wasthecompleteoppositetowhatIwas, butthen,bitbybit,I’veimproveduntil thekidssaid:‘We’vegotourmumback’.”
Repertorywasherpassionforcloseto 40yearsandshesaidshealwaysimagined shewouldbeinvolved“forever”.
Harddecision
“So,itwasabigthingtosay:‘No,I don’twanttogointothetheatre,Ican’t handleit’,”saidLeach.
“Ihadthis,notpanicattack,butthat feelinginyourstomach,thatnervous anxietyinyourstomachatthethoughtof goingtothetheatre.”
Afterseeingavarietyofspecialistsand counsellors,shewasgivenadiagnosis–Post-traumaticstressdisorder,knownas PTSD.Aseriesofsignificantlifeevents, includingheartsurgeryandbuildingand movingintoanewhouse,werethought tobeamongpossibletriggers.
“Onceyouknowwhatyou’vegot,at leastthere’sareasonforit,butyoustill
don’treallyunderstandit–thebraindoes whatitwants.Youdon’tknowwhyyou’re notlikeyounormallyare.
“Itfeltlikebeinginafishbowlhere [athome],Ihadtowearheadphones. Iwantedtoslamwindowswhentraffic wentpast,itwashorrendous.Idid knowhowtoconnectwiththekidsand grandchildren–itwastough.”
Encouragingstories
Itwasalongroadtorecovery,butLeach wasencouragedbythestoriesofothers thatshelearnedviapodcasts.
“Hearingaboutotherpeoplemoving on,andgettingbetter,thathelpedme,so I’mmorethanhappyforotherpeopleto realisethatyoucangetbetter.”
WhenLeachheardMichaelJoneswas todirectaplaywithPamChapman,his assistant,shedecidedshewouldatleast goalongtotheinitialreading,whichwas atJones’house,notthetheatre.
“Iwentalongtotheplayreading,and itwashilarious.Evenjustreadingit, wewereinhysterics.Iwantedtowork withMikeandPamagainandallthese thoughtswerethere,withoutthatanxiety inmystomach.”
Shetalkeditoverwithherhusband Bryan,whowasveryencouraging.
Asuccessfulauditionsawhercastinthe roleofAngela,oneoffourresidentsina privateretirementhome.
Sofar,sheishappywithherpartinthe play.“Itfeelssogoodtobeabsolutely backatthetheatreafterseveralyears recoveringfromPTSD.
“I’vemadesureI’mnotdoinganything elseapartfromthisroleandIprobably won’tgobackonthecommittee.The teamisgreat,andwe’vehadsomelaughs.
“It’sagoodproductionteamandthat makesadifference,andtheplayisfunny.”
‘CallGirls’
WrittenbyNewZealandplaywright JamesCarrick,‘CallGirls’hadbeen describedasabrilliantupliftingcomedy addressingtheproblemsandchallengesof asmallretirementhome.
TheplotgoesthattheBeachHaven RestHomeisstrugglingandunderthreat fromadeveloperbutthewomenwholive thereusewitandcunningtokeeptheir happyhomealive.Theyareupagainst Leonard,apompouscouncillor,andJack,
anincompetentreporter,alongwitha burgeoningbureaucracy.“Theshowis fast-paced,fulloffunnyone-linersand withabunchoffascinatingcharacters thattheaudiencewillbewonoverby,” saidChapman.
“Ourproductionincludesagreatrange inagesfromthreeTePukehighschool studentsuptoour77-year-olddirector MichaelJones.Wetakeprideinour theatremantratoinvolve,educateand entertainourcommunitiesinavarietyof artforms.”‘CallGirls’opensJuly15and runsuntilJuly26.Ticketsareavailableat: eventspronto.co.nz
Droneoperatorsnapsfirefightersoncamera TePukeVolunteerFireBrigadehashad 185callsforthecalendaryeartoJuly7. Plus,ithadbeenanotherbusyfortnight with13calls.
Amongthesewerethreemotorvehicle crashes,sadlyoneofwhichwasfatal.
Therewerefourcallstogivemedical assistance,withthreeoftheselastFriday eveningbetween8.25pmand11.55pm. Wehavehadfouralarms,asmoke investigationtoacontrolledvegetationburn, andonecalltoafallentreeattopofTeMatai Rdthatrequiredclearingtomaketheroad safefortraffic.
WehadabitoffunSundayafternoonJune 29.ArunMehanofBayleysRealEstateisan
amazingsupporterofus,donatingaportion ofeverysalehemakestoourbrigade. Mehanbroughthisdronealongtotake somephotos.Wehadagreatturnoutwith onlyfivemembersunabletomakeit. ThereanunashamedpoachingofWhakatāne FireBrigade’sphotocompositionforour effort!
Wefollowedtheshootwithabarbecue andsomerefreshments,anditwasagreat afternoon.HugethankstoMehanforhis incrediblygeneroussupport. Checkoutaselectionofphotosfromthe shootonourFacebookpage:www.facebook. com/Te.Puke.Fire.Brigade
DaleLindsay ChiefFireOfficer
ThemajorityofTe Puke’sVolunteer firefighterscapturedin a drone photograph byArun Mehan.
StuartWhitaker
Angela (Di Leach) left, Pauline (Viv Brownrigg) and Mr Dinkle (Nic Reid) lookkingat t Angella’’sskkettchhes. P Photo/ / Suppllied d
‘ co Fai pla
Stubborn,determined’: Not Black co-ca
To m Ali, h the sq Wh was t backg becam Pigg 2025 when squad [worl that w Zeala Alth fruitl all ab appro some talent Elit Wh envir about of ha “I’m BaidaAliandhiswife,FairhavenSchoolteacherDanaPiggott, arerepresentingNewZealandattheWorldDragonBoat ChampionshipsinGermanynextweek. Photo/Supplied Phone075739775 69JellicoeSt(nexttoPaperPlus)TePuke Hours:Monday-Friday8.30am-5pm•Latenight:Tuesdaytill7pm
Stubborn,determinedandastrong ompetitivestreak:traitsthathavewon irhavenSchoolteacherDanaPiggotta aceatnextweek’sWorldDragonBoat ChampionshipsinGermany. tonlyisPiggottpartoftheNewZealand kDragonsseniorAcrew,she’salsothesquad’s ampaignmanager. makethingsevenbetterherhusband,Baida hisbrotherandhisbrother’swife,arealsoin quad. hilethemainpurposeoftakingupthesport ofindanotheroutlettobuildonhersporting groundandfitness,nationalhonoursquickly meagoal. gott’sselectionforthenationalcrewatthe championshipscomesafterdisappointment nshetrialledforthelastworldchampionship dtwoyearsago.“Twoyearsagowasthefirst ldchampionship]campaignpost-Covid,so wasmyfirstrealintroductiontotheNew andBlackDragons,”shesaid. houghhertrialwasunsuccessful,itwasn’t ess.“Iwantedtofindoutwhatitwas bout,thisdragonboatingworldandI oacheditasanopportunitytolearnfrom eprettyincredibleandexperiencedand tedathletes.”
televel hatshedidlearnfrombeinginthat onmentwaswhatdragonboatingwasall tattheelitelevel.Itsetherupfortwoyears ardwork,untiltheopportunityaroseagain. mabitofstubborn,determinedpersonwitha
Dutzoffersapremiumcollectionof framesthatarestylish,comfortable, andflatteringonanyface.Byusing allergy-friendlyandsolidstainless-steel materials,Dutzuses20yearsofdesign developmenttoachieveultimatestyle.
strongcompetitivestreak,soIguessIdidgointo thisthinkingI’vegotsomethingthatIcanaim for.”
PiggottwasalsopartofaBayofPlentyDragon Flyerscrewthatqualifiedforandcompetedatthe worldclubchampionshipsinItalylastyear,also withamanagingrole.
Theexperiencegaveheratasteofinternational competitionfrombothpointsofview.
“Itgavemearealeye-openerintoallaspects; intothepeople,thepurposebehindwhywedo whatwedoandjustmeetingpeopleatanother level.IcamebacktoNewZealandandfoundout itwasthetrialscomingupandthought‘I’mgoing togivethisashot’.”
Sincethelastnationaltrial,shehasfocusedon improvingherownpaddlingtechniqueandstyle withthehelpofthecoachesatBayofPlenty DragonFlyerswho,shesaid,havebeenamassive partofherjourney.
Butpossiblyevenmoreimportanthasbeenthe environment.
“Nomatterwhattheage,it’ssoinclusiveofall agegroups.Everyoneisverysupportive,andIlove that,Ilovethecommunity.Everyone’spositive andthere’ssomethingspecialabouttheDB community.
“It’snotjusttheinclusivity,it’snotjustthe support,butthewhanaungatanga[kinship,family connection]isbig.
Keyvalues ShesaidonethekeyvaluesoftheBlackDragon’s campaignhasbeenkotahitanga(unity).
“It’sallaround,thepeopleandhowwedothis together–it’sacombinedjourney.”
Piggotttookupthesportfouryearsagowhen shereturnedtoNewZealandfromoverseas.
“Idecided,whenImovedbacktotheBayof
Teacher’sjourneytodragonboatstardom Plenty,whichishomeforme,Iwantedto givedragonboatingago.”
ShejoinedtheBayofPlentyDragon FlyerscrewbasedinTaurangaina competitivemixedcrew.
“IrealiseditwassomethingIloved. Icomefromasportingbackground–netballandtouchrugbyandIjustdecided Iwasgoingtogetinadragonboatand givesomethingelseawhirl.
“GettingoutonTaurangaMoanawas reallysomethingspecialformeanda reallygoodopportunityjustto,Iguess witheverythingthathappenedwith Covidandthosechanges,itwasaperfect
opportunitytoresetandrebalanceafter everythingand,moreso,doingitouton thewater.”
Challengingtransition Piggotthaspreviouslycompetedinwaka amaandsaidthereweresomechallenges inthetransition.
“Wakaamaisasix-mancrewandvery streamlinedandalightoutriggercanoe andwhatI’vealwayslovedaboutitisthe freedom.You’vegotthewateronboth sides;youcanjuststretchthebodyout.
“Myhardesttransitiontodragonboating isthereareupto22ofyouina200kg b boat sitting on a bench with someone and sprintingononesideonly.It’stakenmea longtimetoadjusttothat.
“Becauseyouaresittingsoclosetogether andtryingtostabiliseaboat,your timing, your balance the way that
youblend,andyourtechniqueareallkey components.I’vehadtoreallylearnand understandthatquitequickly.”
Piggottsaidtherewasastrangeprocess involvedinherselectionofthenational squad.“BecauseIamalsoco-campaign manager,Iwasinvolvedintheprocessup toapoint.”
Ultimately,fortransparency,shehadto stepbackfromthatroletemporarily.
“Thereweremomentswhenitfeltvery strange,whenIdidn’tknoweverything thatwasgoingon.”
Excitingnews S She was elated when she discovered shehadbeenselectedandwhenshe realisedotherfamilymembershad allbeensuccessfultoo,“itbecame extremely exciting,andIwasalittlebit overwhelmed”
Therewasamomentofgratitudeaswell. “I’vehadagoodrelationshipwiththe coaches,andIwasveryopenaboutwhat mygoalwasandtoldthemandtheysaid, Yep,we’regoingtoworkwiththat.
“So,forme,abigpieceofitwasjust gratitudeforhowmuchthathadhelped meinmytrainingtogetmetowhereI neededtobewithmytechniqueandmy strengthintheboat–justbackingme really.”
WhiletheBayofPlenty-basedsquad membershavecontinuedtotrainin TaurangaHarbour,theyhavealsojoined withWaikatopaddlerstotrainatLake K Karapiro to try to replicate the conditionsattheworldsthatwillbeheld onfreshwater.
Theworldchampionshipsbeginon July14inBrandenburganderHavelin Germany
Every twomonthsTePukeArtSocietyshowcases theworkofoneofitsmembersatits ConstablesGallery.
The workofFrancieMarshallisnowondisplay.
Te PukeNews reporterStuartWhitakerinterviewedthe artist aboutherwork.Seetheinterviewinfullbelow. How longhaveyoubeenpaintingandwhydidyou start?
I have beenpaintingregularlyformorethanthreeyears now buthavedabbledalittleinthepastaswell.Itaught myself offYouTubevideosbuthavedevelopedmyown style now.
What isyourfavouritemedium?
Myfavouritemediumiswatercolour,whichisthe hardest,butIfeelIhavemasteredit.Ilovelandscapes,but havealsodoneelectricguitars,cars,flowers,huntingand fishingthemesandafewwildanimals.
Whatinspiresyou?
Thebeautyaroundmeinourlovelysceniccountry. Whatisyourgreatestachievementinart?
IliketochallengemyselfandonechallengeIdidwas topaintflowingwater.Thatpaintingisnowsoldand hangingonsomeone’swall!
Ihavesoldquiteafewofmypaintingsanditalways givesmeahugebuzz.
ConstablesGallery,inCommerceLane,isopeneach Thursdayfrom9.30amto2pm.
Artistreflectsonjourneytomasteringwatercolour
FrancieMarshallisthecurrentshowcased artistatTePukeArtSociety. Photo/StuartWhitaker
TheBayofPlenty DragonFlyers competing.
Photo/Supplied
Stuart Whitaker
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