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Young muso recording demo
Emma Rankin, daughter of John and Heather of Molesworth Four Square, is currently recording a demo CD (her third) of all-original country rock music which she intends to send off to various record labels.

"Dad, and Chris Gore, my teacher at Mangawhai Beach School, really inspired me, and I began composing songs and poetry before I even started playing the guitar," says Emma.

Now she is strongly motivated to follow a career in music, having played at Golden Guitars in Gore, Bay of Islands festival, numerous gigs including the local RSA, and is determined to play wherever and whenever she can to gain valuable experience before an audience. What's more, Emma is only 14, a year 10 student at Epsom Girl's Grammar.

"But I want people to judge me on my music, not my age," she stresses.

The Focus will keep you updated on the progress of this talented young music maker.

Daffodil Day support grows
Daffodils are making a quite a statement at this time of year, reminding us of the annual Cancer Society fundraising Daffodil Day. Here in Mangawhai, you can share in morning tea and bingo on Wednesday August 28, 10am at the Golf Club. Support for Daffodil Day just grows and grows in Mangawhai, and numbers now have to be limited to 400! Tickets are just $5, available from Four Square and at the Saturday morning market. Molesworth Four Square are this year sponsoring a 'Grocery Grab' raffle – $500 grocery grab, with $100 vouchers for 2nd and 3rd. How enticing is that?

Lecture at museum
A number of events to mark in your diary for August, including a lecture at the Museum on the background to the 1825 battle of Te Ika a Ranganui, presented by Roi McCabe.  This is on Monday August 26, at 1.30pm. Not to be missed.

Gala evening opens art awards
Calling all artists. Entries for the 2013 Gilmore-Brown Kaipara District Art Awards are now being called, with a closing date of August 23. Judging takes place on Friday August 30 with a gala opening evening at the Kauri Museum at Matakohe, the public exhibition running through until September 25.

There are five categories: Painting and Drawing, Photography and Printmaking, Adornments (jewellery, clothing etc), 3Dimensional (sculpture, pottery, glass, metal etc), and Wood. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Kauri Museum website, or contact Mangawhai Artists president Jan Grover 431 4649.

This prestigous event receives generous sponsorship from Ian Brown of Gilmore Brown Ltd, Mike McGarry of A1 Coastal Real Estate Mangawhai, Peter Fredricsen of Mangawhai Processing Ltd, Brett Hewitt of Westmoreland Homes, Allan Mortensen of The Kaipara Lifestyler, and the Kaiwaka Cheese Shop.

Art activity funding available
And it is also time for applications to the Kaipara Creative Communities Fund. This scheme – funded by central government and administered locally – supports and encourages local communities to create and present diverse opportunies for accessing and participating in art activities. Individuals or groups can apply, with applications closing on August 30. Total funding allocated for Kaipara is $8000. Download a form from the KDC website, www.kaipara.govt.nz, call in to the office, or phone 0800 727 059 for more information.

Range of courses available
NorthTec are running popular ACE short courses here in Mangawhai, Wellsford and Kaiwaka between August and December. Themes are: Pruning your fruit trees (2 days), Design your own home orchard (2 days), Bread making (1 day), Organic gardening (2-4days). Costs are $25 per day and many are held over weekends. Also look out for Floristry workshops (3 days) coming up in November and December. For a programme with dates and prices, or more info, contact Martina 431 5161 or email mtschirky@northtec.ac.nz
 

SNIPPETS ■ Wood St petrol pumps are back in operation – and we welcome a new family to Mangawhai. ■ Mangawhai Beach School gardening pupils say 'thank you' for the response to a request for black plastic worm farms. They are now collecting food scraps to get things growing! ■ Korowai (cloak) making classes are being offered at Te Ao Marama. They will be run over eight Sundays at Te Hana, at a cost of $100. Register your interest in learning this traditional craft by contacting Jenny 423 8701 or email tehana@xtra.co.nz ■ And another Mangawhai granny has a grandson who plays Inline Hockey. Helen McDonald's grandson Vincenso Cistrone has just returned from LA where he played in the NZ Under 21 team. NZ got a bronze! At home, Vinnie plays for Auckland Sabres and also plays ice hockey for the West Auckland Admirals... ■ Local boy and former Rodney College student Sascha Tschirky has graduated from Waikato University with a Bachelor of Management Studies with First Class Honours in strategic management and tourism. Naturally, his parents are very proud, even more so that he got a job as well. ■ Abstract in Realism and Vica Versa is the title of a one day painting workshop to be held in Mangawhai by the renowned Lance O'Gorman on Saturday August 17, and you can register by contacting Jeanette Vickers 431 5668. ■ Apologies to Jim Wintle. He may be one of our 'stars' but he's certainly not a sextant! Jim is the sexton of the Tara Road cemetery. I'm surprised no one contacted me to complain about my error! ■ And Avocado Place? Mangawhai Grove, off the Mangawhai Tomarata Road. Hillside Avenue is first right off Parklands Avenue, Mangawhai Heads, and Fernbird Place is off Pearl St. And you know where that is don't you?

Mangawhai wins best dog club award
On Wednesday evenings, you'll hear a lot of barking down on the Domain, not just from dogs, but owners barking orders!

Mangawhai Dog Training Club has close to 30 human members, and many times more dogs, meeting regularly to hone their skills with obedience, agility, fli-gility, and a relatively new activity called rally-o which is somewhat like dressage for dogs.

You only have to visit the Domain during training sessions to see how much fun it is for owners and dogs alike. In fact, Mangawhai Dog Training Club recently won an award (and a cheque for $500) as Best Dog Club of its size in New Zealand.

Membership is just $60 per annum, and there are many events held around the country to extend activities with your dogs.

Camper vans were parked up at the Domain earlier in the month for a weekend of Fli-gility Championships which Mangawhai held in conjunction with Whangarei club – great spectator interest too. There's another coming up on September 8-9 featuring agility, obedience and rally-o; well worth taking the family along to watch.

Puppy classes start at three months (after the last innoculation) and are held when around six puppies are ready to take part. Older dogs can come at any time and are most welcome. As one passionate member says: "All dogs benefit from being in a controlled environment with other dogs."

How about making contact with the Mangawhai Dog Training Club now, and reap the benefits of having a dog both you, and your neighbours, enjoy! Contact either Rob Leslie 0274 984 008, Della Welch 431 5336, or Helen McDonald 431 5885.

■ News and views to share through this column? Contact Jo Roberts 431 4711, email jo.roberts@xtra.co.nz
 
- Jo Roberts
 

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