DISPLAY MARCHING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 44, 15 February 1946, Page 5

DISPLAY MARCHING

LOCAL GIRLS OARGANISATION FUTURE COMPETITIONAL EVENTS! The enthusiasm shown by a large number of business girls of Whakatane for competition marching, and the support accorded them by varis ous firms in the town resulted in a meeting being held on Thursday evening, and a club formed. As a result, the number of unattached marching teams in existence were consolidated into one body to be known as the VVbakatane Girls Marching Club. The meeting took place in the Wavette Salon. Some twenty girls were ’present together with Messrs. Mole, Sharpe, Bridger and Clarke who acted in an advisory capacity.

Mr 11. G. Warren, who was in the chair, opened the meeting with a short introductory talk on the formation of a Marching Club and pointed out the many advantages of there being such a body in the town. It could, he said be of considerable. assistance to many of the other groups which were already formed, and would be in demand whenever gymkhanas or gala days were being run. He assured the girls that should the proposed club be formed, it would be supported as much as possible by the business people of. Whakatane.

It' was decided to form a club, in preference to on Association as in this manner no rules already set by a main Association, with which it would be necessary to be affiliated, would have to be adhered to; the Club could be governed by rules laid down to meet local conditions. It was decided to call the Club, the Whakatane Girls Marching Club.

The election of officers took place as under;—

Patron: Mrs W. Sullivan. President: Mrs Rowson. Vice-Presidents: Otley, Hall Barry Winstone, C. S. Armstrong, Lodge and Bremner. Secretary-Treasurer: Miss Zinsli. Committee: One representative from each team.

Some discussion arose as to whether it would be advisable to nominate a list of judges who could be called upon if necessary.

The Chairman pointed out that at the various functions organised, judges were usually appointed by those running the event, and therefore. it would probably be found that such a list would be unnecessary. It was decided to leave the selection in abeyance in the meantime. ; The Chairman stated that a point which was apt to be overlooked was the vast difference between marching as practiced by teams in the larger centres and military marching. Locally’ only military instructors were available and the Club would probably have to conform to military standards for the time being. He also mentioned the method of judging marching and instanced the recent Gala Day at Ohope where this was employed. Whereas the average spectator watched only the good points, the judges commenced marking at’loo per cent., and deducted points for each error.

The question of the number of girls in each team was debated at some length. The majority of teams had already beer, organised on a basis of seven members ) and it was proposed that this number be increased to ten in order to conform to standards set by other Associations. (At a meeting of the Club in the Domain on Saturday afternoon, the above mentioned proposal was carried into effect and teams of ten girls were selected). It was decided that members subscriptions be 2/6, for business and 1/- for High School girls. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman expressed the hope that now the Club was formed, the membership would increase, and he assured the girls that if they continued to work in harmony they could be sure of a really worth while organisation.