I hope that you have all had a great Easter break. After several kilos of chocolate, I recon that it is about time to get back to it and compare stomachs – you’re going to have to have eaten a lot to beat mine, I can tell you!! 

I suppose I am cheating though, as I have been on medication that has given me a head start – but that is all finished now and you should be starting to see shrinkage soon – I look forward to being able to see my toes again, not to mention some other parts. 

On a health front, things are improving dramatically – this new treatment protocol is working miracles and I don’t think it will be long before I am back to full steam ahead again. I am feeling very well indeed. 

This past term has been one of consolidation for most people – heads down and practise. It is really good to see the progress and I am warmed and inspired by the effort that you are all putting into your training. 

The visit by Dennis May did not materialise last term but I am hoping that it will this next coming term – he is keen to have a closer contact with us and I know that we will benefit a lot from it. He is talking about arranging a camp just for Goju Ryu clubs – I really hope that he manages to pull that off: we shall keep you posted. 

As you know, next term is going to be a bit bitty – Helena, I and the Kids are going to be travelling to Sweden for 6-weeks. We will be leaving NZ on 10^th June and will be returning on 26^th July. It is going to be a fantastic trip for us – it is the first time that I have been out of the country since we arrived in Nov 1996 and I really can’t wait!! While we are up there, I am hoping that we can tempt some more of our old students to come to our side of the planet for a visit. 

We will also be meeting up with Kevin and he has already told us that they are saving up for another trip – it may well be a one way ticket as they are hoping to emigrate here. It would be great to have a more regular access to his expertise!! 

When we return, Helena, Jake and Sam are hoping to become Kiwi’s (if you’ll have us that is). I have had duel nationality since birth, but Helena and the kids have now got their applications to convert their permanent residency to citizenship – we shall keep you posted. 

The club will be open for business as usual while we are away. Dale Hutton has accepted the responsibility for being in charge and will be assisted by Jack Akker, Rob McGregor, Jocelyn Scott and Jon Hopkins. Leighton Archer will be the official Technical advisor – thanks guys: we have full confidence in you. 

During this time there will be training as normal for the junior club. For the senior club we will have a formal warm-up as normal followed by free practise sessions. I hope all higher grades will make themselves accessible to lower grades asking for advice when they are stuck, but otherwise it is up to you to organise your own training. If any of you have concerns, please contact Helena or I as soon as possible. 

I have updated the web site with photos of the training camp in Nov 2003 – they were great memories and we look forward to the next one. 

We also have a new guest book on the web site and I would like to encourage you all to sign it and give us some feedback, negative as well as positive. You are most welcome to use it as forum if you wish. 

Helena and I would like to thank all of you who voted for us at the school board of trustee’s elections. I was re-elected onto the Deanwell school board and Helena was elected onto Melville intermediate school’s board. We hope to continue to represent all parents’ and children’s interests at these schools and please don’t hesitate to call us on 07-843 9083 if you have any school issues that you wish us to take up. 

I would like to call on any adult (purple belt and above) who is interested in helping out with instructing,  to please come along to the instructor’s meeting on Monday 26^th April at 7:00 PM at 116 Saxbys Rd.

Juniors: 

Congratulations go to the following people who passed their grades last term: 

Junior Yellow Belt

·         Meysell Downey

·         Peter Longmire

·         Jerome Hopgood

Junior Purple Belt

·         Sarinah Archer

Congratulations also go to the following juniors who won medals in the end of term kata competition:

 Blue belt & under

·         Gold –  Theresa Smith

·         Silver –  Jerome Hopgood

·         Bronze Meysell Downey

 Purple belt & above

·         Gold – Sarinah Archer

·         Silver – Rhea Petersen

·         1^st Bronze – Terri Hutton

·         2^nd Bronze – Wayne Crump

 Also: well done to the red team who won the end of term team sparring competition. It was as exciting as ever! 

Seniors 

Congratulations go to the following people who passed their grades last term: 

9^th Kyu Red Belt

·         Robert MacDonald

·         Roderick MacDonald

The dates for next term are: 

Please try to pay the term fees as soon as is humanly possible at the start of term – this saves us the hassle of having to chase people. If this is not possible, talk to us so that we can agree on another arrangement.

Cheers and see you all soon