WELL DONE EDGECUMBE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 82, 19 June 1945, Page 5

WELL DONE EDGECUMBE

SUM OF £2300 RAISED ASSISTING PATRIOTIC FUNDS >► An indication of just what it is possible to do within the limited confines* of a comparatively small district is illustrated by the conclusion of the successful drive for funds by the Edgecumbe Patriotic Committee. The dual campaign of running a "Grandmothers' Defby" and an amateur race meeting was fostered by the commitete as recently as April 7 and both projects exceeded all expectations as* far as success was concerned!. Most spectacular was the original Idea to run a Grandmothers' Derby, which, emanated l'rom an accidental remark by one of the Grandmothers concerned that she was unable to nominate an entry for the baby contest. Thus the schemc started, anil was encouraged by the fertile brain of the chairman, Mr D. S. Radcliffe. After three months, the successful effort culminated in a spcctacu-; lar climax at midnight, June 4, when the four Grandmothers, Farmers'—, Mrs A. Marx; Services'—Mrs Goldsmith Snr.; Industries' —Mrs J. Rutherford'; and Sharemilkers' —Mrs I. -Campbell, representing all sections of the community, were hailed by an excited crowd as representing the most popular and remunerative effort ever put forward by the Edgecumbe district. That it was successful is borne -out by the fact that the Grandmothers' Dei'by caught *on like wild fire and netted a sum of no less than £1670 lis lid. From the outset, when each Grand--jnother formed a strong committee to push her it was obvious that the- idea could not fail. The Grandmothers themselves were, indefatigable and novelties galore were introduced for money-making purposes. We have it on record that r some of our leading citizens readily paid a guinea.for a cup of afternoon tea and further that one such victim even declined to partake of his dearly bought beverage. As the campaign proceeded, the pace became fast and lurious. Money Tolled in from all directions, and ~ supporters backed tlieit fancies to "the last minute. Each Grandmother ran. a stall and side shows at the «ifece meeting, and staged competitions throughout the Derby. One of the features at the Race Meeting was the Mock Court j held ■ in the interests of the Industries -Grandmother where the judge himself who bore a strong resemblance to a well known. M.P. was fined a : guinea. The secretary of the Services' Grandmother followed Montgomery's methods of bluffing his opponents by pretending he was holding .substantial reinforcements up his sleeve. The campaign concluded at the Derby Ball, where amidst the most intense excitement each beaming •Grandmother' produced her doubloons lor the benefit of Mr R. E. Blair, the. official accountant. However the result was so subsantial that ho had to secure the. services of sev- . eral members of his staff to up the innumerable pennies ;vnd threepences. It was not till his. assist.i its had completed the job that tV.«" bomn- : shell of the evening really took place. This was when, the reserves handed up by the gmirlting secretaries were laid on the table. First a cheque for £S0 fairly staggered the assemblage, and reverse* the whole position of the votes. II was offset, however, by anothei cheque for £75 by the oppositior Grandmother. The climax came when the Farmers' Grandmother's secretary produced, in a very nonchalent manner, a cheque for £240. When these announcements were made, the root fairly lifted with the applause, whilst the treasurer and his staff . suffered momentary collapse. The final results were given out .as under: — Farmers' Grandmother 49 270 votes. Services' Grandmother 31,997. Industries' Grandmother 26,632. Sharemilkers' Grandmother 25,748. The combined effort of both the Race Meeting and the Derby, resulted in a gross total of over £2300, but it is patent to everybody, that without the Grandmothers, the Race

Meeting itself could not have been' the success it was. We understand that Edgecumbe is to do i'u 11 honour to the Grandmothers concerned In the near luture. If we know anything oi Edgecumbe and its this- will be a generous gesture to the lour -ladies who richly deserve recognition. The Grandmothers' Derby f for originality for and for final achievement has beaten any- ; tiling helcl in the district of which ! we are aware.