CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS' OUTING

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 37, 8 March 1940, Page 47

CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS' OUTING

Ten Thousand Children And 4ZB

) MOST ambitious scheme was carried out at Wingatui on Tues- ) day, February 20, when the Centennial Schools’ Outing proved an unprecedented success. It was attended | by about 40,000 people. Ten thousand school children were ‘transported to Wingatui and entertained all day long by many artists, prominent among whom were such 4ZB personalities as Peter, Dennis Sheard, Airini, Alex McDowell, Don Donaldson, Bernie _ McConnell, Len Bates, Jack Bremner, Lionel Sceats, and several members of _Brook’s 4ZB Accordion Band, | The children simply flocked to whereever 4ZB were performing, and Peter in particular had a hard day’s work, because wherever he went he was trailed _by hundreds of children. Beside the items from the stage, 4ZB presented what was considered by many the highlight of the day, in the form of a novelty bicycle race for the 4ZB Cycling Championship. Mounted on oldfashioned bicycles, tricycles, scooters and 7

tandems, the 4ZB team raced up the straight at Wingatui with 40,000 spectators laughing themselves hoarse, The commentary on the event was broadcast through the amplifier system on the ground and over 4ZB by Lionel Sceats. The winner of the race was Bernie McConnell, riding a bicycle with wheels lft. in diameter. The judge was "Whang" McKenzie, 4YA Sports Commentator, and he had little difficulty in picking the winner, The colourful costumes of Peter, dressed as a toreador, and Bernie, as a Scotsman, created a great deal of attention, while Len Bates, as a schoolboy, was a " howling" success. Broadcasts were relayed from Wingatui from time to time throughout the day, and listeners were given a firsthand account of the entertainment provided for the children. At 7.15 in the evening, Arthur Barnett, Chairman of the Centennial Schools’ Committee, and Stuart Cameron, Deputy-Chairman, thanked everybody over 4ZB for their help. ~---