Fungi Report

Common Name: Honey Mushroom
Scientific Name: Armillaria

What does it look like? 
With a slime like figure on the top of the fungi cap, this mushroom ( known as the Honey Mushroom ) is just like any other mushroom with a stem, gills and spores.

Where do fungi live?
The Honey Mushroom is usually found growing on the underside of of a decomposed or decaying tree log or stump. 

What do they eat?
As the Honey Mushroom grows off a decaying log, it tends to feed off the logs roots and all of the nutrients and moisture from the wood. 

When and how do Fungi reproduce? 
There are millions of spores in the air we breath, which develop on and are released by a range of unique structures such as the Honey Mushroom,. For the spores to be available to drop, the gills of the fungi have to be vertical to the ground, otherwise the Mushroom will not be able to reproduce and grow.  

Fungal Forae Mushroom description

In the silent days of the Autumn breeze, small white toad stools appear from the overgrown forest scrub in search for life.

The leaf litter of the forest, along with the undergrowth of the soil, feeds the mystical fungal life of the dense forest.

When the sun rises over the horizon, bright sunlight beams over through the trees and into the quiet scene of nature.

Bright colors of the fungi grows off the sense and cold habitat.

From the gills underneath the cap of a fungi allows it to breath, grow and to reproduce.

Other Animals, Birds, wind and insects help the fungi to reproduce by carrying the excess and decomposed fungi by moving it around the forest floor.

My writing was inspired by the scene at  1:30 seconds of the video below.  

Willie Apiata - VC - The reluctant hero

Willie Apiata's childhood was made up of discipline, goals, ingenuity and future dreams and aspirations.
A special mixture of qualities, imagination, independence, courage, loyalty, hard work, stamina and ..... that saw Willie Apiata preform deeds that earned him the Victoria Cross.
He had to learn to overcome tough days through to years, heartbreaks and changes as he was known by a lot of step fathers and many grand fathers.
Growing up in the bush (Papakura) saw a dream come true that gained him respect in sports, school, endurance and bravery as a soldier and a man.
Willie then left high school at the age of 16 and joined the army at a very young age and every day gained strength and discipline.

First world war Mascots.

Paragragh 1

Horses, Dogs, Cats, Donkeys and other animals were trained soldiers to supply the battle with water, guns and medical wagons by the Calvary.

Paragragh 2

Animals or a soft toy such as a teddy bear was used as a so called mascot to represent a group of people or a team.

Paragragh 3

Soldiers had mascots to symblise home and normal day life, and believed that their mascot would bring them good luck and keep them safe.

Paragragh 4

In NZ
Back at home, during training camp, they also used mascots to train them and to hope that the others are safe.

Paragragh 5

Overseas soldiers find or buy a mascot also. Some soldiers fall in love with their mascots soo much that they have to leave the army to stay and take care of their mascots if they mascots cannot go in the army.

The bantam and the soldier summary

Paragragh 1

Horses, Dogs, Cats, Donkeys and other animals were trained soldiers to supply the battle with water, guns and medical wagons by the Calvary.

Paragragh 2

Animals or a soft toy such as a teddy bear was used as a so called mascot to represent a group of people or a team.

Paragragh 3

Soldiers had mascots to symblise home and normal day life, and believed that their mascot would bring them good luck and keep them safe.

Paragragh 4

In NZ
Back at home, during training camp, they also used mascots to train them and to hope that the others are safe.

Paragragh 5

Overseas soldiers find or buy a mascot also. Some soldiers fall in love with their mascots soo much that they have to leave the army to stay and take care of their mascots if they mascots cannot go in the army.

Feilding Herald Report

Apiti School Trail Ride

After being planned a week later than we had hoped for, on the 26th of April, the Apiti School Trail Ride took place at the Apiti Domain. With an estimate of hopefully 350 riders expected, the population continued to grow as another paddock of parking had to be made available, as this has never happened before in the past, the organizers and CO were busing with excitement.

As the clock struck 9:45 am, the number of riders passed the 350 mark and continued to grow throughout the day. 

All riders and parents were called in for the briefing, lead by the "Manawatu Motocross Steward" and the 'Official Track Supervisor'. Ray Ditmer'.

Firstly Maryann Pratt introduced the tracks lead riders - Caleb Jensen and Daniel Hill, followed by a speech about the expected riders' behaviour out on the track, and what is expected to happen throughout the day ahead. 

Thirdly, Ray Ditmer stepped up front to explain about the track layout and what the markers meant.

There are three different tracks marked out based on different rider abilities and confidence levels.

( Main track - Approximate 25 - 35 km loop over local Apiti Farmland undulating terrain, farm tracks with some challenging parts. This track is mostly for experienced riders.) ( Intermediate Track - 10 km loop that incorporates some of the main track.)

( Kids track - Marshaled by parent helpers at the back of the domain. )

Finally the clock ticked over to 10 am and we all set off to jump on our bikes and line up at the gate. The lead riders set off and the rest of the pack followed. The noise of all those bike was breathtaking as it echoed all over the village. Marshals were scattered all over the track on the roads and also the moving marshals that patrolled over the track on their ATV s. Time and time again as I set off on my journey, I had more and more fun each time.
As the end of the day arrived, the gates closed and the marshals and other helpers went out and clear the track. Finally, the day came to an end, and still everyone was overwhelmed by how well our fundraiser turned out to be. All the parents and children ordered some fish and chips from the local Apiti Bar and Grill and sat back and relaxed after a very tough and exciting day.   

From Huntah Digby
Apiti School.

Bottle Nose Dolphin camp research