The family Sweet Pea
Ballooning truly is for all, young and old, and a Te Awamutu man is keeping it that way.
It’s been a family affair spanning the generations for one of the balloons featuring in the opening morning of Balloons over Waikato today.
Neil Aberhart has been a part of the festival for around 15 years with The Sweet Pea Balloon.
The Te Awamutu man is the owner and crew chief of The Sweet Pea, which uses the initials of his wife Patricia Elaine Aberhart who passed away from cancer.
“You’re oblivious to what’s around you in the air, it’s just peace and quiet,” mused Aberhart.
“It’s an opportunity to meet people like-minded people with the same purpose.”
The passion for flying has continued on down through the family with Aberhart having taught granddaughter Micah Redelinghuys how to fly.
“The calmness, you’re floating and the people, they make it everything,” said Redelinghuys.
Aberhart hasn’t only taught family, though, with Natalie Garcia-Gil also flying today. A part of the Sweet Pea crew at the age of only 14, Natalie has attended the festival since she was a toddler. After helping to pack down the balloons last year, Natalie is now learning how to fly.
“I’m really excited to be here this year, I love flying.”
Hundreds of spectators gathered this morning to see the opening morning of the Balloons over Waikato festival at Lake Domain. The festival has been on Hamilton calendars for the past 18 years, attracting people from far and wide with an estimated 130,000 attending over the five days that it takes place.
