Camberley School, Hastings

Wellington’s wild weather finally reached Hawkes Bay on Friday, but even that wasn’t enough to dent the enthusiasm of the 120 kids at Camberley School, Hastings – at the official opening of the new cycle tracks at the school and round the adjacent Kirkpatrick Park. The sky opened just as things kicked off, prompting a mad rush to the cover of school hall for kids and visitors.

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But it didn’t dampen the excitement!

Camberley as an area has had some hard knocks in the last couple of years. But principal Pat Watson said that the school now had a unique community asset that was already being used by not just kids but also by their parents and others in the community too, and that he’s been surprised by how popular path the path has become already. The school itself has a limesand track round its own playing field, which joins a longer concrete path winding it’s way round Kirkpatrick Park next door – built by Hastings District Council as part of it’s iWay project.

Hastings Councillor Sandra Hazehurst said that paths like this were all part of HDC’s wider investment in getting local people cycling. This joint school/council collaboration has worked really well at Camberley School and it would be great to see similar elsewhere.

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Councillor Malcolm Nixon threw down the gauntlet, challenging principal Pat Watson to a bike race. But although it was just too wet to race on Friday, we’re going to hold him to that one. Watch this space! Thanks to Eastern And Central Community Trust for their contribution – it is much appreciated. Also to Sport Hawkes Bay for their help with the initial cycle skills training, and to the Rotary Club for helping assemble the bikes.

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