Murrays Bay

Murrays Bay

On Monday 11th August, a group of young, eager, and musically gifted students from the Te Awamutu Intermediate’s Symphonic Band got involved in our annual event where we travel up to Murrays Bay, Auckland, to share our talent with the Murrays Bay Intermediate’s band. Before the event we had been practicing and getting ready for weeks! Our band deserved a fantastic trip to extend our knowledge in music and reward us for the hard work and effort put into our weekly band practices. Most of our senior band players (students who have been their instrument for over a year) participated in this event, as well as a few talented year sevens who had been involved in music before 2014. We arrived at school at 8am, kissed our parents goodbye and excitedly chattered with our friends. After a 2-3 hour trip on the bus, we arrived at Waiwera Hot Pools where the swam in warm pools, watched a movie in the movie pool, rode on the hydroslides and enjoyed the lazy river. After about 1-2 hours at the pool we left and drove to Murrays Bay Intermediate. At Murrays Bay Intermediate the students from our school who were getting billeted met their hosts and went to their hosts house while the students who weren’t getting hosted stayed at Murrays Bay Intermediate. The students getting hosted stayed with their hosting family for three hours and had dinner there. I personally, was taken to BurgerFuel for dinner. After our three hours was over we walked back up to Murrays Bay Intermediate to have a band practise from 6pm-8pm. At 8pm the parents of the Murrays Bay Intermediate students took their children and the students that they were hosting. My family took me out for ice cream at a dairy and we went for a walk down by the beach. I had heard later that some others did the same. After a good night sleep at the hosts house or the school, everybody got their instruments ready for the next rehearsal which started at 9am when class started at school. We practised right up until morning tea where Murrays Bay Intermediate provided all the students participating a bag of chips, an apple and a juice box. After morning tea we practised until lunchtime where we were provided with hotdogs, chips, canned sparkling juice and lolly cake. Some kids who brought money also bought themselves and a few friends a treat from the school’s canteen. Everybody who brought money bought themselves, and maybe their friend, some spicy wedges with ketchup and slushies!!! We were very fortunate as the slushie maker at their school was broken for a long time and was only then fixed the day after we arrived, meaning that we got to enjoy a delicious, refreshing mango/lime slushie. Unfortunately, after lunchtime, it was time to head back home. After we waved goodbye to our new friends at Murrays Bay Intermediate we packed our bus and prepared ourselves for the long trip ahead. Luckily some of us are still in contact with the lovely people that we met at Murrays Bay Intermediate due to the fascinating presence of social media. We sure do miss the amazing views from the Auckland Harbour Bridge though!!!