1984 Desert Fair donates to local Lions Clubs

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 4, 26 June 1984, Page 1

1984 Desert Fair donates to local Lions Clubs

At a function in Waiouru last week local Lion's Clubs were presented with the proceeds from this year's Desert Fair. Each of the four clubs — Waiouru, Turangi, Taihape and Ruapehu (Ohakune/ Raetihi) benefited from the record takings of this annual event which is rapidly becoming one of the major features in the local calendar. The first Desert Fair was held in 1974 to help local sports and culture groups in Waiouru which were having some difficulty in raising funds. Now it is altogether a much bigger and more ambitious event with a greater range of aims and objectives, said Desert Fair coordinator, Major Doug Bent. "This' year we are able to present $7500 to the local Lion's Clubs ... this is made up of $5000 from this year's profits plus a residue from last year's Fair of another $2,500," he said. The Waiouru Lions were presented with a cheque for $3000 and each of the other three clubs received cheques for $1500 from Colonel Bruce Meldrum, Commander of the Army Training Group. Lloyd Fox, president of the Waiouru Lions who compered the evening function at the A.T.G's Sportsman's Bar last week, thanked the Desert Fair committee for their generous donation and said that the money would be spent on developing the recreational triangle and rest area at the junction of SH1 and SH49 as well as the purchase of more children's, 'love-seats' for the local Plunket Society. Mr Fox outlined some of . the difficulties a small group of Lions — current • membership is 12 — had in fundraising efforts and in getting projects completed in Waiouru's harsh climate. "But despite these problems we still managed to collect $741 for the blind recently by having members working on section and paddock clearing," he said; Colonel Bruce Meldrum confirmed to the 50 or so guests at the function that this lack of continuity and

fluctuating membership was a recurring problem for any organisation based in Waiouru ... "we have a 90% turnover of ATG personnel every two years," he said. Ruapehu Lions Club president, Wally Parkes, in accepting and thanking the Desert Fair Committee for the $1500 donation, explained that $500 would be spent on developing the Ohakune playground in Jubilee Park, $500 would be

spent on Raetihi's playground and the remaining $500 would be put towards the cost of a resuscitator for the Waimarino Hospital. Taihape Lions president, Alan Smith, said that his club would be purchasing equipment which can be used by the public health nurse for testing deafness and they would also be buying some rescue equipment — jaws of life and airlifting bags — for the Mangaweka Fire Brigade. On behalf of Turangi Lions, former president Jack Gibson, explained that his club would be spending the money on an adventure camp in the bush for outdoor pursuits which would teach bushcraft and survival, sponsoring children from disadvantaged families and also sponsoring a child on the 'Spirit of Adventure.' In summing up the success of this year's Desert Fair, Major Doug Bent said that it was a great success

both in terms of numbers and finance. A total of 5,000 people turned up on what turned out to be a warm sunny day. The profit of $5000 was from renting out display and entertainment sites and running a raffle through the sale of programmes. The aims and objectives of the Desert Fair are fourfold he said. • To allow local sports and cultural clubs in Waiouru to raise funds through their own activities at the Fair. • To allow commercialk firms in the surrounding area to display their merchandise in Waiouru. • To provide families in the Waimarino with a good day out. • To allow the Central - Organising Committee to raise funds for major community projects ... such as these donations to local Lions Clubs. ( For 'Flashback' photos turrx to page 15).