Hello Everybody,
Merry Christmas to you all, and best wishes for a happy holiday season. Special greetings to my friends near and far, especially those from the sauna. I will miss you while we are closed.
MONEY MATTERS: Our Treasurer is having a few problems with your remittances, and reminds you of the following points:-
1. Send your full name and current address. You would be surprised at the number of names and initials which are duplicated in the membership list, and it can be very time consuming trying to work out exactly who you are. Some members use the address sticker cut from their newsletter envelope. If you change your address, the Post Office supply cards for notifying the change of address - FREE! And you can also post them FREE! So we should never have any problems with wrong addresses, should we?
2. State what the money is for. A number of people just send a cheque, or worse still, cash, with no indication what it is for.
3. Don't forget to put the cheque in! We get about as many without the money as we do without the name. Please make out the cheque or postal note to 'Free Beach Group, Auckland', not to the Treasurer or Secretary.
At this time of year more than fifty letters a week pass through our mailbox, and it doesn't take many problems to slow the processing right down.
COMMITTEE: Phone numbers - Evan Chugg 453-656, Paddy Leggett 559-626, Lois Kennedy 450-037.
LOCAL ORGANISERS: Two more Local Organisers have been appointed. They are for Northland: Bill Main, Bland Bay, R.D.4, Hikurangi, phone Whangaruru 875; and for Waikato: Jack Dickinson, 35b Chequers Ave, Chartwell, Hamilton, phone 78-489. Would anyone in Napier like to volunteer?
BEACH LIST: I thought of including some photographs with the new beach list, and would like any good shots you have of our listed beaches, especially photographs of ourselves "in action" on these beaches. I visualise a reasonably presentable booklet, and need help to get it together. Please give your directions in detail, and do send some more in!
HAWKES BAY: The following events have been arranged by your Local Organiser, Margaret Soper, phone 67-351, Hastings.
Sunday, 6 December. Barbecue tea at 1011 Sussex Street, Hastings (Margaret's own home).
Sunday, 17 January. Bush meeting. Phone Margaret for directions. If wet will be held on 24th January.
All FBG members are invited to attend these outings.
CAMPING: Six of us enjoyed a few days at Muriwai over Labour Weekend. I told you the site was sheltered, and we were very snug even though it rained a little. We'll go again sometime - don't be so faint-hearted!
Suggested camping areas for this summer are:-
Waikawau: Drive through Thames right up to Colville township, then cross to the east coast. Go right to the far end of the beach, turn right through a gate into a paddock where the camp rubbish tip is, drive along to the second large puriri tree and camp beyond that. DYO toilet, water available from stream, supplies from Colville or by rural delivery. Charges about $1 a night. No dogs allowed (Lands and Survey Farm Park).
Bland Bay: Two camps in this area, Hauraki Maritime Parks Board Camp at Whangaruru North Head, and the Maori Marae on the Bland Bay isthmus. Neither of these offer nude camping, but there are numerous delightful small bays around where you can swim and sunbathe to your heart's content. Do contact Bill Main when you get there, phone Whangaruru 875.
Uretiti: Unmarked side road 8 kms north of Waipu, 2 miles south Marsden (Ruakaka) turn-off. Choose a secluded site among pine trees, DYO toilet, water tap at entrance to Ruakaka Motor Camp (car wash). Shop first left past Camp. Discretion, please.
Pakiri North: 'No Camping' area on the shores of Lake Tomorata. Fires in barbecues only (forest area). Legal camping at Te Arai car park. Let us know what you think of this one.
Dargaville: Try the lakes north of Dargaville, turn left at Maropiu into Kai-iwi Lake Road. Camp at Taharoa Lake.
Hamilton's Gap: From Waiuku drive north past Pollok, turn left at top of next hill into West Coast Road, drive right down and camp on paddock at beach. Stream for washing water, DYO toilet. Water, supplies and petrol at Matakawau, 2 miles further on.
Orakei Korako: Geyserland Leisure Park. Pit toilets, supply own drinking water. Caretakers: Rotorua Sun Club, P.0.Box 1007, Rotorua, for further information.
Papamoa: Camping facilities available at Charles Saggers, 218 Papamoa Beach Road, R.D.7, Te Puke. Phone Tauranga 57-497.
Mapua Leisure Pack: c/o Post Office, Mapua. Phone 666 Mapua.
SAUNAS: Final night at Clive Green's will be on 20th December, with a social evening from 5 - 10 p.m. Free wine, tea, coffee and biscuits. A contribution for supper would be appreciated. Our own sauna at 104 Fanshaw St. will finish on 13 December with a Christmas social. BYOG and a plate.
MEMBERSHIP: We continue to advertise widely and have a constant flow of enquiries and applications from new members. But our most effective advertising comes from word of mouth and from being seen on the beaches. Let your friends and workmates know what you do on the weekends - invite them along to a beach outing or sauna evening or swim night, it might be all they need to give it a go themselves.
MEMBERS' CORNER: Congratulations to Ingrid and Wolfgang Pohl on the birth of a daughter.
Hella Volz offers body massage, relief from muscu1ar aches and body toning, $15 an hour, phone 415 Waitakere.
Ossie Warhlich and Gail Maynard have purchased a shop and bake house right on the beach at Red Beach and invite members to call in. N.Z.N.F. and Free Beach stickers are displayed on the front of the shop.
Jim Gunson invites other members to sunbathe in his back garden, which is very private, Phone 576-810.
Bill Wallace of 5 Jellicoe Parade, Surfdale, Waiheke Island has a small bach and would like the company of a lady 40 - 50 for weekends. He will pick you up from the boat.
Robin McGonigal of 37 Harris St, Huntly, phone 87-688, would like female company 18 - 23 years for outings.
Robin Hoare is still hoping to have his Health and Efficiency magazines returned. Let me know if you have them.
DECEMBER DIARY
MUSICK POINT: Saturday, 5 December. High tide 2.30 pm.
Drive through the golf course to car park on right side near cliff. Steep track down cliff. Walk north 100 yards.
OMAHA BUS TRIP: Sunday, 6 December. High tide 3.20 p.m.
Bus leaves Papatoetoe at 9 a.m., 4 per seat.
TAWHITOKINO: Saturday, 12 December. High tide 9 a.m.
Via Kawakawa Bay to end of coast road. Walk east around the rocks and over hill, about 30 minutes.
HUIA: Sunday, 13 December. High tide 12 noon.
Park on road to Lookout (top of the next hill after Cornwallis, before Huia proper). Hidden track entrance on left.
LADIES BAY: Saturday, 19 December. High tide 2.50 p.m.
Go down sealed path from Cliff Road, walk round to second beach along.
LONG BAY: Sunday, 20 December. High tide 3.45 p.m.
Walk north around rocks to second beach along.
HUIA: Saturday, 26 December. High tide 11.15 a.m.
Sunday, 7 December. High tide 12 noon.
Camp ground at bottom of hill next to store. Flush toilets, hot showers. Book with Mr. Duff, 8ll8-854.
KARIOITAHI: Monday, 28 December. High tide 12.30 p.m.
From Waiuku, turn left into Constable Road, then Karioitahi Road and Gap Road. Walk south 15 minutes.
JANUARY DIARY
MUSICK POINT: Friday, 1 January. High tide 12.40 p.m.
See directions above. No access 11.45 - 1.15 p.m.
TAWHITOKINO: Saturday, 2 January. High tide 1.20 p.m.
See directions above. No access 12 - 2.30 p.m.
MOTUIHE: Sunday, 3 January. High tide 2 p.m.
Blue Boats leave from the Ferry Steps at 9.30 a.m., returning from Motuihe at 4 p.m. Adults $3.60 return, children $2.55 return.
LONG BAY: Monday, 4 January. High tide 3 p.m.
HUIA: Saturday 9 January. High tide 10 a.m.
Sunday, 10 January. High tide 11 a.m.
OMAHA: Saturday 16 January. High tide 1.30 p.m.
Sunday, 17 January. High tide 2.15 p.m.
From Warkworth drive towards Leigh, then follow the signs to Omaha. Park right at the beach. Camping at Warkworth or hide in the sand hills along the beach.
HUIA: Saturday, 23 January. High tide 10 a.m.
OPEN DAY AT NORTH SHORE SUN CLUB: Sunday, 24 January.
Take the last left turn at Orewa into Westhoe Road, drive up the hill past a water tank, continue to the end of the road. Entrance on left sign-posted "Kirikau".
MUSICK POINT: Saturday, 30 January. High tide 12.30 p.m.
See directions above. No access 11.30 - 1.30 p.m.
DYNAMITE BAY: Sunday, 31 January. High tide 1 p.m.
Via Clevedon, park at bottom of winding hill, west end of Kawakawa Bay. Walk back towards Auckland around point. No access 11.30 - 2.30 p.m. Footwear needed.
LONG BAY: Monday, 1 February. High tide 1.45 p.m.
See you at the beach!
