Carrot cavalcade capers

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 13, 28 August 1984, Page 1

Carrot cavalcade capers

A very worthwhile exercise in promotion and public relations was the verdict on the 'Carrot Cavalcade' which was staged last Friday week. The cavalcade of nine vehicles, complete with Ohakune's 'big carrot' and led by the Waimarino Bulletin's 'go-anywhere' 4WD vehicle with flashing light, motored majestically up from Wellington to promote the Waimarino and the Ruapehu region. The parade with its centrepiece — Ohakune's 'big carrot' — mounted on a trailer behind local grower Frank Taylor's new carrotladen truck, assembled in front of Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre before setting off through city streets. And at each of the centres where the cavalcade stopped — Coastlands Shopping Centre in Paraparaumu, Levin's Mall, the Civic Centre in Palmerston North and Kowhai Park in Wanganui — it attracted a crowd of curious and interested spectators to the 'civic receptions' accorded to Ohakune's promotional ambassadors. "Lots of people who had been advised by their local radios that the cavalcade

was on its way turned up to see and talk to us and we distributed complimentary packs of vegetables and promotional literature to those that did." The cavalcade arrived back in the Waimarino soon after 7pm and drove through Raetihi's late night shopping crowds before

returning to Ohakune. Thanks to the up-to-date information provided by the Ruapehu Radio vehicle which was travelliug with the cavalcade, the streets of Ohakune were lined with well-wishers who welcomed the returning vehicles with a rousing reception.