Saturday Members travelled to Waihi Beach on Friday night for a weekend of beach life enhanced by wonderful meals prepared by Joy Whitehead and June Sinclair. On Sat 8 after the cups of tea in bed and breakfast with porridge and brown sugar plus hot bread Paul and Nelson held a briefing session covering the plan for the day, the formation of groups and health and safety instruction. This was our auspicious first day on our own ABTC tracks and the Exec who are driving the ABTC participation were to the fore with President Paul bringing guidance and leadership through his liaison with the Kaimai Community. Our club is blessed with committed Exec members and their terrific enthusiasm is making our club so vital and successful. Thank you Exec from the rest of us. We travelled in convoy to the Kaimai Park boundary at Mt Karangahake and the groups formed at the meeting set off on their assigned tasks. The summit group cleared the last summit section to the trig and then after lunch set off for the Dubbo 96. Another group continued working from the wide track end near the summit to the trig. The third group cleared gorse and overgrowth as they met it on ascent and although they were not required to reach the summit they did in style offering valuable service to the second group. Mid afternoon the groups left for the soothing spa at the Athenree camp or a swim at Waihi Beach. Joy and June served a sumptuous meal we all appreciated. Gratifying comments about our safe and productive day were made at an evaluation session in the evening. All speakers were satisfied with their work as the over grown tracks are now clear for hikers although the leader of the summit group reported that there was more clearing work of the Dubbo 96 track than his group could achieve. The Dubbo 96 will be given extra attention on our next work day. A discussion on tools established that the loppers and hedge clippers purchased by Paul for the club were wonderful assets.

Sunday In the morning we attended a service at the Waihi Beach United Church before doing a walk in the area. A second evaluation session on Sunday afternoon set the goal for us to return late September/Oct. Nelson congratulated members on their achievement especially as he had purposely given the worst case scenario in advertising "Of gorse you can do it" for gorse is awful for native plants. He advised that our clearing of the way ensured that hikers are not confronting gorse which has been allowed to spread on Mt Karangahake and while that plant will need ongoing attention future work can concentrate on more pleasant plants.

COST: Transport $30, meals $15.