TANEATUA STEPS OUT.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ORGANISED CELEBRATIONS Some time before the commencement of war a “Goodwill Gommitee” was formed in Taneatua. When yar was declared the committee denied. to go into recess as members elt it was most important that liey should be free to devote all of heir energies to the more important
vork of Patriotic activities. Now the war is over and the Goodwill Committee is functioning once more. Some of the old members remain while members who have eft the district in the meantime rave been replaced by new ones. The first effort by the new committee lias been the organising of celebrations and gaities over the Xmas; and New Year period and has rcen a huge success.
The town looked very bright and gay with its decorations of greenery and bunting while a huge banner vith the words “Welcome to Taneatua”, was suspended across the street.
Bright Xmas Eve
proceedings commenced on the ifternoon of Xmas Eve. Oxenham’s >.ound system was installed in the centre of the town and provided might music throughout the after,loon and evening. This was primariy the children's day and they had a <reat time. The event of the after r loon was a fancy dress parade. Once igain the mothers had risen to the ecasion and fancy dresses of all escriptions were in evidence as well
is decorated tricycles, bicycles and irams. There were brides and bridesmaids niggers and sheiks birds and ;carecrows in fact everything one :ould think of and the judge, Mrs iVinstone, of Whakatane had no :rsy task in choosing the winners n each section. Every child in lie ;own and then given tickets for free cc cream.
Santa Claus Arrives
Evening saw the town packed with >eople both young and old. ' The lighlight of the celebrations was ;lie arrival of Santa Glaus on a ile;oratcd lorry. The huge muster of liildren gave him a tumultuous veleome and were obviously thrilled ;o the core when he spoke to them mil then gave a hag of Sweets, to, svery child from his bulging sackul. After spending some time he \-as given a rousing send off as be l.eparteil on his rounds.
Singing of Carols
The children then sang Xmas; cards to round off their day, music >eing provided by a piano on a ruck. After the children had finishid the adults carried on with the :arol singing, firstly in the street mil then proceeded by truck to sing n front of the homes of some of he older residents who were not ble to be out in the street.
This ended the organised enterbut people sang and danc:d in the street to music supplied >y the sound system until midnight.
A Happy New Year
On the afternoon of New Year’s 2ve the sound system was again in r talled and gave an air of gaiety o the street. Proceedings comnencetl at 7 p.m. with, a wheelbarrow Derby t the course being from loody’s gate to the P.O. Six or even wheelbarrows lined up at the tarricr and provided a thrilling conest. Archie War/dlaw and Owen Hover ’ just managed to head off latt Doran and Jack Dunstan for rst. Noel Steer’s Jockey ,Ricketts ertainly looked the part but she idn’t weild the whip hard enough o' manage moie than a third:.; Slow Cycle Race
Next came the slow bicycle race r ith a dozen or more bikes and lads roasting the barrier. Most of them ot away well too well in fact, ut it wasn’t long before most of hem had spilled leaving Greg rev. and Archie Ward law to con r jst the title “The slowest thing on
/heels.” Greg amazed the crowd by is balance and aplomb as lie negey ated the course at rather less than snail’s pace. He was a good last
id Archie wobbled his way into a
recarious second last. Mr George ymmans at llie mike provided a inning commentary on these events id most of the contestants at the inclusion of their respective events ive their hopes for next time and leir excuses for this time. Sweets and ice creams were, again stributed to th/c children but as it as a very cold night ice cream as not in much demand,
Fancy Dress Parade
At 9 p.m. a fancy dress, procession headed by a truck complete with piano and band was formed at the hotel corner and marched to the hall. The huge crowd marched too to the accompaniment of music and singing. At the hall Mrs Winstone judged the fancy costumes as follows: Best Set “A Chinese Coolie Family” (Misses Thompson Miss Todcl } Mr Smith and Mr Goodhue). Best Lady’s costume, “Going to the Dogs” (Mrs Kixon). Best Couple Bathing Beauties Today and Yesterr day (Misses Maureen Hill and Betty Shaw). Best Original Man’s The Irish Policeman (Mr N. Semmens).
Best Original Lady’s “Grandma Goes to Bed’’ (Mrs G. Bennett).
Conclusion
After unmasking dancing occupied the rest of the evening the crowd gradually thinning as tired children were taken home to lied but there was still a large crowd to sing Auld Lang Syne and , welcome the New Year with all manner of weird noises. After the dance concluded parties gathered in private homes to carry on the celebrations, in some cases until the crack of dawn.
It was a good show and the Goodwill Committee hope that with the continued and perhaps increased support and goodwill of the public of Taneatua they will be able to reach an even better and brighter standard next year.
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 37, 8 January 1946, Page 8
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926TANEATUA STEPS OUT. Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 37, 8 January 1946, Page 8
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