Raetihi Market Day kicks off spring festival

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 555, 27 September 1994, Page 1

Raetihi Market Day kicks off spring festival

Raetihi' s promotion group organised a fanfare day last Saturday , with the first day of the Spring Ski Fest going off with a hiss and a roar. Rain didn't deter the enthusiasts for a superb day. Festivity was in the air, smiles beamed every where and traditional small-town hospitality made a day for all. Electric atmosphere The auction room had an electric atmosphere. Opening at 10.30am and straight away hands were flying. Some mistaken movements were met with laughter and — "keep your hand down!" calls. Over 60 people ensured most of the 1 50 items went to new homes. Buster Healy put on a great show, mouth motoring, hand gestures galore, helped out by Brad McCoubry and Bulldog Chambers. Colour of a different kind The sun broke out at 1 1 .00am and a colour of a different kind was surfacing on kid's faces. Students from Ruapehu College, Brendan Morgan, Karl Perkins and Jessie Winiata were crusading against local graffiti with a creative mural featuring 'hip hop dudes' in stylish colours. A donations box was set up to cover costs of the spray paint. From Raetihi Primary, Lora Windall, Casey Scarrow and Nicola Smith had transformed the teeny tots into a colourful array of pirates, clowns and cats to roam the streets. The uniform of the day amongst colourful hats and coats was the standard Swandri. The crowd partook of sausage sizzles by Rotary , Raetihi playcentre and other entrepreneurial groups, while a resident labrador was biding his time for a delectable morsel. Adding to the atmosphere, all the way from Taranaki, was guitarist Jonny Morris. Togged up in his cowboy

outfit feet were a-tappin'. A peculiar display of potatoes took the form of a potato carving competition, with entries from Raetihi Primary and judged by Faith Wise and Hope Vaughn. Next week at the Ohakune carrot festival it'll be best dressed carrot hat competition. Rallying behind the event were the Raetihi locals providing a $300 mystery raffle for the rest home trust after a $100 hamper was stolen the night before. Maze of colour and scent Raetihi garden club's 63rd annual Waimarino Spring Show, organised by Lynley Graham and others, this year coincided with the festival. The show transformed the R.S.A. club into a maze of colour and scent. Record entries and several large exhibitors (200 entries each ) meant work was cut out for judges Anne Carse and Margaret Brewer from Wanganui Horticulture Society. A children' s section looked to ensure promising green thumbs in years to come. Results: Garden club cup-champion bloom, Diane Martin; Jenifer Godfrey cup-champion narcissi, Marie Clemmett; Ashwell cup-aggregate narcissi, Marie Clemmett; Tizard cup-cut flowers and shrubs, Lynley Graham (3rd year running); Points prize cup-aggregate over cut flowers section, Lynley Graham (3rd year running); Children' s section First prize Button holes, Albert Tettuia Webb, Frances Ross, Nick Kavanagh; Moss garden, John Seifert; Spring arrangement, S. Todd. Finale For those who coped with the weather, the grand parade was worth the wait. The street was filled with vehicles of all varieties, horse and buggy, vintage cars, the motor bike