Friday 6 November 2015
GIVE UP YOUR GOODS
FOR GOOD! Last chance to donate your quality goods on Saturday 14th November at the following locations: Z service stations on: • 11th Avenue • 15th Avenue
• Hewlett’s Road • Papamoa
AND the Countdown parking area at the Bethlehem Town Centre.
For Tauranga’s biggest Charity Garage Sale at Tauranga Racecourse 10am - 4pm Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November Please phone 578 9826 or email vanessa@homesofhope.org.nz to find out more.
The Weekend Sun
12
Festival of light; give us a glow Diwali: The Festival of Lights. It’s one of the most significant festivals in Indian culture celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. In India, houses are decorated with candles and colourful lights, while families feast and share gifts, attend firework displays, prayers and celebratory events every November. But here, more than 11,000km away, Diwali Festival of Lights will be celebrated Tauranga-style. Inspired by the Auckland Diwali Festival of Lights, Tauranga’s version of the Indian festival is at Wharf St on November 7. Tauranga man Buddy Mikaere was encouraged to organise a similar celebration after attending Auckland’s Diwali a few years ago. “My brother-in-law was just amazed at how many Indian people there are in the Western Bay of Plenty. “We thought we should have an Indian festival to, first of all, show everyone that they’re welcome here and, second, give them the opportunity to show off a bit of their culture.” Buddy shared his idea with Curry Hut owner Sunil Kumar, who is organising the event alongside Buddy’s guidance. Sunil’s in charge of ensuring Tauranga’s Diwali is celebrated in true Indian style, while Buddy
Curry Hut owner and event organiser Sunil Kumar. Photo: Tracy Hardy. steered him to the right contacts. After all, Buddy’s knowledge is limited to a taste for the music and its food. “I like curry,” laughs Buddy. “So this is going to be a learning experience for me too.” The free Tauranga Diwali Festival is
at Wharf St on Saturday, November 7, starting 11.30am. Wharf St will be closed from 12pm Friday to 10am Sunday. The event will be held in two sessions: 11am-2pm and 4pm-9pm. Zoe Hunter
New-look Katikati pool now open for summer For 43 years it’s been a focal point for Katikati’s fitness fans, school students and families. This summer will be no exception at the Dave Hume Pool which has undergone a facelift, inside and out. Barbara Martin, chairperson of the Dave Hume Pool Trust says the murals by award winning artist Shane Walker on the outside walls of the pool complex are stunning, and inside, the pool itself has been re-painted. The complex opened for this season on October 18 and with its pleasantly warm water temperature, is being well used by swimmers. During the summer school holidays when the inflatable bouncy castle is installed, the
pool is popular with families and there are even barbecues available for public use. The pool caters to many different sections of the community, and is regularly used by various groups and organisations including Katikati Primary School, Katikati College, Matahui School and the Katikati Masters Swimming Club. Opened in 1973, the main pool is 33m-long and ranges in depth from 97cm in the shallow end to 102cm deep. The temperature is varied from 25 degree C to 27 degree C depending on the season. There is also one smaller learners’ pool, ideal for pre-schoolers, where the temperature is generally just above 30C.
Available activities at the pool include public lane swimming; learn to swim programmes for children and adults, aquaaerobics, swim schools and Waihi Beach Surf Club and generally having a good time. During Term Four, while schools are using the pool, the 12.15pm to 1.15pm slot will always be available to the public, along with the 6am to 9am lane swimming slot. Other slots will also be available but their times vary from week to week due to the six day timetabling of the college. The full pool schedule can be viewed online at www.davehumepool.org.nz Elaine fisher