Young Fighter Beats Leukaemia

Author

Storm Grimwood
March 17, 2025

Morning, Scoopers!

Hope you had a chill & relaxing weekend.

In the news, Bay of Plenty rugby pros are making waves in Brazil, helping grow the game and create opportunities for Kiwi players. And in an inspiring comeback, 5-year-old Roman Cebalo just celebrated his birthday after beating a rare form of leukaemia, with the Child Cancer Foundation calling for support.

We’ve also got a couple of cash drops happening, so if you wanna get in on the action—Follow us on Instagram or Facebook:
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Heaps going on, so stay tuned, back the locals, and get in!

In today’s edition:

✅ Bay rugby pros helping grow the game in Brazil 🏉
✅ 5-year-old Roman beats leukaemia 🎗️
✅ Cash drops happening – Follow us on Insta or FB 💰
✅ What’s on in Tauranga this week 🎉

Stay locked in with Tauranga Scoop! 👀🔥

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Roman’s Fight: From Leukaemia to Living Life

5-year-old Roman Cebalo just hit a massive milestone, celebrating his birthday after beating a rare form of leukaemia. Diagnosed at 11 months old, he went through intensive chemo and a stem cell transplant from a Melbourne donor in June 2021. Now, he’s living life like any other 5-year-old, with six-monthly check-ups to make sure everything stays on track.

His mum, Courtney Cebalo, says the Child Cancer Foundation (CCF) was a lifeline, supporting them through every step with financial help, check-ins, and practical support. Now, CCF is calling for donations, aiming to raise $6.5 million to keep helping families like Roman’s.
Want to support? Donate at a collection site or online at childcancer.org.nz.

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Bay Rugby Pros Helping Grow the Game in Brazil

A crew of Bay of Plenty rugby pros are putting in work to grow the game in Brazil, where rugby’s still finding its feet professionally. Ben Donald, Aoturoa Seeling, Crystal and Brent Kaua are helping open doors for Kiwi players while developing the sport in a country where most rugby is still amateur and barely played in public schools. Donald, a former Mount Maunganui player, now plays for Cobras Brasil XV and works for the Brazilian Rugby Confederation, building connections with high-performance programmes like Bay of Plenty Rugby. He reckons Brazil is a solid opportunity for young Kiwi players who get stuck after Under-20s rugby, offering a bridge between club and NPC rugby.

Seeling, who played for Bay of Plenty Toa and was part of the Steamers setup, is now with Cobras Brasil XV, calling it a life-changing move. Crystal Kaua, former Chiefs Manawa head coach, is leading Brazil’s women’s sevens team (the Yaras), while Brent Kaua is working with Brazil’s national squads. They reckon the Bay of Plenty mindset fits well in Brazil, where players have massive hunger to learn despite having fewer resources. With rugby growing every year, they see huge potential for the sport in Brazil.

Photo by @jmanyphotography

Check all the events below! ($$ - Ticketed Events)

Music & Concerts 🎵

Nick Hyde - "New Horizons" Album release tour

  • When: Tue 18 Mar 2025, 7:00pm–8:30pm

  • Where: Waipuna Park Pavilion, 25 Kaitemako Rd, Welcome Bay

  • More Info: NickHyde

  • Cost: $$

Hot Potato Band

  • When: Wed 19 Mar, 7:30pm - 11:00pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui

  • More Info: HotPotato

  • Cost: $$

Dave Alley

  • When: Thursday 20 March, 7:00pm - 9:30pm

  • Where: The Jam Factory - Music Platform, The Incubator, Historic Village, 17th Avenue

  • More Info: DaveAlley

  • Cost: $$

LSB & DRS - Space Age Tour

  • When: Fri 21 Mar 2025, 9:00pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: SpaceAge

  • Cost: $$

Flaxxies

  • When: Sat 22 Mar 2025 8pm - 11:55pm

  • Where: 11 Totara Street, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: Groove

  • Cost: $$

Comedy & Screenings🎭

Kitty Flanagan Live

  • When: Wednesday 19 Mar, 8pm

  • Where: Baycourt Addison Theatre, 38 Durham Street, Tauranga

  • More Info: KittyFlanagan

  • Cost: $$

Open Mic Standup Comedy Night

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 8pm

  • Where: Voodoo Lounge, 315 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui

  • More Info: Voodoo Lounge

  • Cost: $$

Comedy Night at Miss Gee's

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 7:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.

  • Where: Miss Gee's Bar & Eatery, 59 The Strand

  • More Info: OpenMic

  • Cost: $$

Festivals & Special Events 🎉

No-Till, Weed-Free, Garden Construction

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 10am - 12:30 pm

  • Where: 9 Kaiwha Road, Welcome Bay

  • More Info: GardenConstruction

  • Cost: Koha or something for shared lunch

Food Lovers Masterclass

  • When: Thursday 20 Mar, 6pm - 8pm

  • Where: Mercury Baypark, 81 Truman Lane, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: FoodLovers

  • Cost: $$

PIXelated - Duality+ - Digital Art Showcase

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30pm-7pm - Sat 22 Mar, 10am-3pm

  • Where: The People’s Gallery - Toi Ka Rere, The Incubator, Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: PIXelated

  • Cost: Free

Buildings, Blocks and Stacks by Z - A Ceramic Exhibition

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30pm-7pm - Sat 22 Mar, 10am-3pm

  • Where: The Pot House Ceramics Gallery & Studios, The Incubator, Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: The Pot House

  • Cost: Free

New Original Art at The Artist Window Gallery - Launch

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30p.m. - 7:00p.m.

  • Where: The Artist Window Gallery, Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: Artist

  • Cost: Free

Clothes Swap Tauranga

  • When: Fri 21 Mar, 5:30pm-7:30pm

  • Where: Envirohub, 31B Glasgow Street, Tauranga

  • More Info: ClothesSwap

  • Cost: Free

Fermentation Workshop

  • When: Saturday 22 Mar, 1pm - 3pm

  • Where: Envirohub, 31B Glasgow Street, Tauranga

  • More Info: Fermentation

  • Cost: $$

Exploring Structure (Ceramic Workshop)

  • When: Sat 22 Mar 2025, 9:00am–3:00pm

  • Where: The Incubator Creative Hub, The Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: Structure

  • Cost: $$

26th Annual Tauranga Multicultural Festival

  • When: Saturday, 22 Mar, 10am-5pm

  • Where: The Historic Village, 17th Ave

  • More Info: Multicultural

  • Cost: Free

The Extravaganza Fair

  • When: Sat-Sun 22-23 Mar, 9am

  • Where: Simpson Reserve, cnr Parton Rd & Dickson Rd, Papamoa

  • More Info: Extravaganza

  • Cost: $$

Street Art Cycle Tour

  • When: Sun, 23 Mar, 2pm -3:30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Waterfront, The Strand

  • More Info: Tauranga Waterfront

  • Cost: Free

Wickets and Words with the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 2:30pm-3:45pm

  • Where: Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga Library, 21 Devonport Road

  • More Info: Wickets&Words

  • Cost: Free

Kombucha Workshop

  • When: Sunday 23 Mar, 1pm - 5pm

  • Where: Kiwi Homesteaders, 19 Waikite Way, Welcome Bay

  • More Info: Kombucha

  • Cost: $$

Markets 🍔

The Floral Hub

  • When: Thursday, 20 Mar, 8am-9:30am

  • Where: Holy Trinity Church

  • More Info: Floral

  • Cost: Free

Dinner in the Domain

  • When: Thursday, 20 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Pāpāmoa Pony Club

  • More Info: Dinnerinthedomain

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Night Market

  • When: Friday, 21 Mar, 5pm-8.30pm

  • Where: Tauranga Race Course

  • More Info: TaurangaNightMarket

  • Cost: Free

Gourmet Night Market

  • When: Friday, 21 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Coronation Park

  • More Info: Gourmet

  • Cost: Free

Omokoroa Night Market

  • When: Friday, 21 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Omokoroa Domain

  • More Info: OmokoroaDomain

  • Cost: Free

The Little Big Markets

  • When: Saturday, 22 Mar, 9am-2pm

  • Where: Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

  • More Info: LittleBigMarkets

  • Cost: Free

Tauranga Farmers Market

  • When: Saturday, 22 Mar, 7:45am-12pm

  • Where: Tauranga Primary

  • More Info: FarmersMarket

  • Cost: Free

Eco-Conscious Market

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 10am-1pm

  • Where: The Cargo Shed

  • More Info: Eco-conscious

  • Cost: Free

Dinner in the Domain

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Matua Park

  • More Info: Dinnerinthedomain

  • Cost: Free

Pāpāmoa Community Market

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 5pm-9pm

  • Where: Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School

  • More Info: Community

  • Cost: Free

Sports 🏉

Double-header T20 - WHITE FERNS v Australia and BLACKCAPS v Pakistan - Cricket

  • When: Sunday, 23 Mar, 2:45pm-10:15pm

  • Where: Bay Oval, Blake Park, Kawaka Street

  • More Info: Cricket

  • Cost: $$

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Thanks!

That’s it for today, Scoopers! If we missed anything or stuffed something up, let us know. And if you found something worth sharing, flick it to that friend who always says they’ll be “there in five” but operates on a completely different time zone. Catch you in Brookfield Tuesday!

Storm
-Tauranga Scoop