You can learn self-defense, and play indoor  bowls at the Massey Birdwood Settlers Hall. You can also get fit.

On Tuesday nights from 7pm Pilates classes take place, with Tanya as the instructor.  You can contact Tanya on 02102379150 or [email protected].  The classes are very popular and men and women participate.

The other exercise class is held on Fridays from 9.30am till 10.30am in the morning. The Fitness League run a class, mainly for the older lady. Brenda is the instructor and word has it that these classes are more than just exercise but also a great date on the social calendar for the older ladies that live in Massey and the surrounding districts.

The Massey and Birdwood Settlers Association Hall is the scene for many activities.  Two of the activities  involve classes for self-defence.

Aikido classes take place on Monday night starting at 6.30pm. The instructor is one the Associations executive members, Craig Andrew.   The classes start with very simple warm up exercises before students start practicing some of the moves. Students have the ability to work through the grades from white belt to black.

This is similar to the other self-defence class, Kung Fu. Like Aikido Kung Fu is classic martial arts class. The Kung Fu instructor is Jason King and Kung Fu classes are held on Thursday nights starting at 7pm.

The photo shows Craig Andrew demonstrating an Aikido move.

http://www.rotarywaitakere.org.nz/

Every year in March, the Rotary Club of Waitakere hold the annual soap box derby.

This event has proven to be an overwhelming success on all levels, including fund raising, sponsor’s satisfaction, schools participation and community entertainment.

Local businesses sponsor a kit set car into 20 nominated west Auckland schools. The school requirements are to provide a team of 5 – 10 students from year 6 to 10, and a teacher to oversee the project. The students then assemble the car, paint it in the sponsors and/or school colours and logos (with assistance from friendly panel beaters and signwriters), and race it on behalf of the sponsor.

The winner and the car of the National event, held in April, goes to America to race in the International event.

The Rotary Club of Waitakere City sees this project as an ideal opportunity to bring businesses and schools together, to the benefit of the local community. The funds raised from this event go towards supporting our current projects – many of them Youth Projects in Waitakere City.

Due to it’s success we have many enquiries from both schools and businesses wishing to participate each year and endeavour to include as many interested parties as possible. To avoid disappointment, we would like to hear from all those interested as early as possible.

To continue reading more about the Soap Box Derby look up the All-American Soap Box Derby web site www.aasbd.org

2017 West Auckland Soap Box Derby Sunday the 26th of March at Westgate Massey Library cvbn