Lots of give and take at the ATC

District of Napier 13 Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) Flight Lieutenant Hardie Martin (left) was joined by current and former officers Group Captain Darryn Webb and former World War II Spitfire pilot Max Collett of Napier at the cadet force's annual prizegiving and final parade for the year, staged last week.

Group Captain Webb, based at RNZAF Ohakea, and the corps' patron Mr Collett were on hand to not only award prizes but also to acknowledge receiving one, in the form of a $2000 cheque.

The money was raised at a special 75th air force commemorative dinner, which was held at the Mission Estate during the Geon Art Deco Weekend in February.

Part of the event was the auction of an appropriately themed air force painting by Hawke's Bay artist Don Wilkie.

Event co-ordinator Neville Smith said that as a result of the evening, $1000 had been passed on to the City of Napier Army Cadet Corps earlier this year, and $2000 to the local ATC unit last Thursday night. "It's all about doing something for the young people coming through," Mr Smith said.