Mahurangimatters 13 November 2013 | 27

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Pirates, trains and a petting zoo are just some of the new features that will be part of the Wellsford Country Show this year.The show will take place on November 24 at Centennial Park, and a huge turnout is expected if the weather is fine.Organisers have signed up several new acts for the entertainment, including a singing pirate named Captain Festus McBoyle. A ride-on steam train called Sammie will ferry the little ones around, and In2it Street Games will provide activities for all ages. Old Macdonald’s Travelling Farmyard will also be visiting for the first time.Although Wellsford is a rural town, not all local children are able to get up close to farm animals, says organiser Lynette Gubb. “Children just love feeding the animals,” she says.Wellsford Four Square is sponsoring a lolly scramble, and there will also be plenty of other favourites, like mini-Jeeps, the Warkworth and Wellsford Pipe Band, and paintball target shooting. The Albertland Pony Club and the Cattle, Calf and Lamb Club will also feature, as usual.The Wellsford Lions Club will have a huge raffle, and Darryl Ovens from Kumeu will be displaying his vintage engines and machinery.Although popular band Tempus Fugit will not be appearing this year, plenty of local talent will be on hand, including singer Emily Lentino, and acts organised by A+ Music, the Te Hana studio run by music tutor Martin Worthington.Plenty of food stalls have also signed up, although

organisers are still keen to hear from people interested in taking craft and trade sites. There will be prizes for best trade stand, best community group, and best craft or food stall.Local businesses Poland Motors and Wilmot Toyota will be showing off their wares “and they always tell us it’s worthwhile”, says Lynette.Key sponsors include Quik Auto Services, Wellsford Pharmacy and Wellsford Sports & Leisure. Lynette says sponsors are vital to the event, which is run by a team of volunteers with no public funding. “We’re always keen to hear from more potential sponsors,” she says.Donations include vouchers for SheepWorld and the Ti Point Reptile Park.The show began as the Wellsford A&P Show in 1910. It was renamed the Wellsford Country Show in 2011 after a brief hiatus.“We want to keep it as part of the fabric of the community. The more support we get, the more we can offer people in the future,” says Lynette.Pre-sales at early bird prices will take place by the Hospice Shop in Wellsford from 11.30am to 1pm on November 19, and from 11am to 2pm on November 20. Under 5s are free, but early birds can get tickets at $5 for adults and $2 for each child.While organisers are still frantically working behind the scenes to ensure the show is a success, Lynette says one thing she won’t be worrying about is the weather — as that’s one thing she can’t control.“There’s a myth that it always rains for the Wellsford

New attractions planned for Wellsford Country Show

Show. But the day for the last two years has been wonderful. I got as burnt as a badger last year.”Info: wellsfordcountryshow.com or phone Lynette on 021 116-8437.

Captain Festus McBoyle

Saturday 23rd November 2013, 9am – 4pmCentennial Park, Wellsford

See www.wellsfordcountryshow.com for more information phone Lynette 021 1168 437 or Edwina 09 423 9266

email: wellsfordcountryshow@xtra.co.nz

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| Mahurangimatters 13 November 201328

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Preparations for Wellsford’s Santa Parade on Saturday November 30 are underway, and organisers are promising the event will be “terrific”.Last year there were 27 floats, involving 240 people, with 1000 spectators. This year the number of floats is expected to rise to 30.The parade will begin at 11am and is expected to finish shortly after midday. The route will take in Station Road, Olympus Road, Matheson Road, Rodney Road, Harrison Street, and back onto Station Road. A cup and a trophy worth $600 and funded by former Local Board member June Turner and the BNZ bank will be awarded for the first time for best business float and best overall float.Organiser Tony Sowden says the event has been run since the Queen’s Parade in 1948 with the exception of one or two years due to bad weather. Wellsford is believed to be the only town in New Zealand that shuts SH1 for a Christmas parade.The centrepiece, Santa’s sleigh, used to be twice the size of the existing one and required six men to lift it when it was built 30 years ago.Former local firm Irwin Industrial

New prizes planned for ‘terrific’ Santa Parade

Tools made it shorter and gave it a trailer 20 years ago and two years ago it had an upgrade including two new reindeer. Santa also got a makeover, with a new suit with Maori motif borders created by Tony’s fashion designer daughter Kalya. The sleigh received new upholstery,

new wheels, skirting around the trailer, and false grass carpet. It has been living in Tony’s back yard and a new home is being sought. “There’s no springs and the reindeer are very fragile so it can’t be taken too far,” he says.Tony has been running the parade for the past six years and says preparations

start in February with quotes for the road closure.The Wellsford Promotions committee seeks funding from local businesses and usually raises around $1500. Costs cover $600 in prizes, $300 in advertising for the road closure and $400 for a computer, paper and lollies.Floats fall into three categories: youth, community and business. First place in the community and youth sections gets $150, while second prize gets $100, and third prize gets $50.Tony says new Auckland Council health and safety is 60 pages long and “onerous” to put together. “It’s very strong on lost children. A man and a woman have to escort the child to the Police Station. It’s stupid because there’s nobody at the Police Station. They’re all in the parade.”He says the beauty of the parade is that it involves kids in a major extravaganza for the first time in their lives.“To start with they’re scared and pensive. It’s a new world and there’s crowds of people. By the end of the parade there’s a lolly scramble and it’s all over. By the next year they’re waving and into it. It makes you warm inside knowing you’ve done something for kids to help them come out of themselves.”

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Mahurangimatters 13 November 2013 | 29

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Wellsford’s inaugural Twilight Christmas Market will be a fun evening out for the whole family. Around 40 stalls are expected as well as a barbecue, bouncy castle and carol singers.The idea for the Tomarata School fundraiser was born at the town’s Women’s Expo in June.Ingrid McCracken of the school’s SWAT (Support Work and Achieve Together) team says feedback from the expo, which was attended by 135 women, was “we need something like this before Christmas”.She contacted all those selling products and received a positive response.The event will be held at the Wellsford Community Centre on Saturday November 23 from 6pm to 9pm. Bing Crosby tunes will get people into the festive vibe, and lights will decorate the building. Stalls will be set up outside, while a bouncy castle donated by Angela Brady will be available inside for children aged up to 8. The room will be supervised by student teacher Ashleigh Reid and there will also be art and craft activities for older children, allowing adults to browse the stalls in peace.School supporter Gail Collins is baking six large cakes and 18 smaller cakes with $100 worth of ingredients donated by Dayne and Jolie Riddell of Wellsford’s Top Four Square.Ingrid will be selling bags on behalf of retiree Janece Walton from Waipu.“I met Janece at the Waipu Market. She makes bags out of secondhand leather jackets and other interesting fabrics. They’re incredibly creative and made with ‘75 percent love’. The most expensive is $40 and everything is lined.”

Twilight Christmas Market offers something for all

Ingrid McCracken (left) and Gail Collins put the final cherry and icing sugar onto a trial Christmas cake.

Kerri Topp of Whangarei will sell wheatie bags and double-sided aprons. “Kerri’s an organiser of Whangarei’s annual St Francis Market which made $68,000, and has been a fantastic mentor,” Ingrid says. “Her wheatie bags are filled with a natural smelling product which is so comforting it makes you want to go to sleep.”Designer Jo May’s locally themed beach paintings and cards will be on sale, as well as Mia Bergren’s soaps that look like slices of cake. “The crafting is beautiful,” Ingrid says.Other confirmed stalls include sophisticated cake toppers from Jenny’s Cakes and educational games from Edex Toys.Farmlands is supplying the barbecue and Woody’s Winners Lotto Shop is donating Christmas wrapping paper.

wonderful wellsford