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NEWS<br />
6 <strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>June</strong> 9, <strong>2022</strong><br />
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Cadets skills tested<br />
Army,air andsea cadetsfrom<br />
Canterburyand Otago have tackled<br />
obstacles, challenges and tested<br />
their skills at the Top Squadevent<br />
based at the Staveley Camp.<br />
Theeventfeaturednine teams of<br />
eight cadets who competed in 14<br />
activities over two days.<br />
Alongside the competitors, some<br />
25 staff ran activities andfed<br />
everyone.<br />
Activities included afirstaid<br />
challenge that featured amock<br />
gunshot wound to ahand,<br />
navigationtheorytest,map<br />
making,aleadership task focused<br />
on looking after ateamswept away<br />
in ariver, ablindfolded obstacle<br />
Army, air and sea cadets from<br />
Canterbury and Otago and staff at<br />
Top Squad based at the Staveley<br />
Camp.<br />
PHOTO SUPPLIED<br />
course,observation activities and<br />
evenalifesize Pacman game.<br />
All of theactiontookplace at the<br />
campand on landbelongingto<br />
Murray Harrison.<br />
The winningteamwas from 17<br />
Squadron in Christchurch, which<br />
took outthe trophyforthe second<br />
year.<br />
The teamfrom<strong>Ashburton</strong> took<br />
outthe Esprit de Corpstrophy for<br />
theteamthatbestdisplayed the<br />
four NewZealand Cadet Force<br />
corps valuesofcommitment,<br />
comradeship, courage and<br />
integrity.<br />
Second place thisyearwent to a<br />
mixed teamfromRangiora and<br />
Christchurch, which did not know<br />
each otherorhad not worked<br />
together before.<br />
TheStaveley Camp hasbeenused<br />
as abase for Top Squadand other<br />
events forthe past 15 years.<br />
Large letterbox ahoot<br />
Hinds lifestyle block ownerDave Thomson<br />
recentlycameback from atrip to<br />
Christchurch to discoveraneartwo metre tall<br />
letterbox in the form of an owlathis front<br />
gate.<br />
Theowl installation camecourtesy of his<br />
mateand Lowcliffe farmerKevin Jackson,<br />
who hasdevelopedareputation for making<br />
creativerural letterboxes forfriends.<br />
Jackson,who is nicknamed‘MacGyver’<br />
becauseofhis inventiveuse of junkand<br />
discarded items, haspreviously made giant<br />
letterboxesshapedlike rabbits, milk tankers<br />
and flat bedtrucks.<br />
Thebig owlhas been crafted from old 200<br />
litre drums,conesand other materials found<br />
aroundthe farm.<br />
‘‘Kevin’s abit of aprankster andalwayshas<br />
been, so Iknewwhen he rangtocheckwhere<br />
Iwas recently that he wasuptosomething.<br />
‘‘I arrived home in the dark to see alarge<br />
object skulking on the property andknewat<br />
oncewho wasresponsible,’’ Dave said.<br />
Theowl wasimpressive and even betterfor<br />
beingmadeinthe yellow and blue colours of<br />
the Highlanders, OtagoraisedDave said.<br />
‘‘It might stirupafew Crusaders fanswho<br />
visitmethough.’’<br />
Theart pieceisafullyfunctioningletterbox<br />
with aspace at the back for the post.<br />
Dave Thomson standing alongside his near<br />
two metre tall owl letterbox.<br />
2487370
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