Newspaper Article 1971 – Big programme planned for young people

Fantasyland promotion

Big Programme planned for young people.

Hastings’ young people will have the opportunity of taking part in sports, hobbies and social and cultural pursuits as part of a programme planned by the Crest-Birdseye Fantasyland committee during the August school holidays.

The production of a newspaper with photographs and stories of the highlights of the activities the children have enjoyed during the holidays is also planned.

The organiser of the Fantasyland committee, Mr R. Stalker, said scores of organisations in Hastings has been asked to join in the venture.

Clubs have been asked to make their facilities available to school children during the first week of the school holidays or for longer if possible.

Mr Stalker hoped the clubs would be able to provide coaching or tuition.

Children would enrol to attend some of the activities and pay a fee of 20c. Mr Stalker said each child would probably take part in an average of five activities.

Appointment cards would be given to the children to attend the various activities, so the number of children at one place could be regulated.

Mr Stalker said his committee was conscious that there was serious lack of young people between the ages of 15 and 19 in many organisations and societies.

“We feel this is one way to bring before young people and their parents what is offering in Hastings.

So many children have never got involved in sports or clubs and we hope this programme will show them what is available,” he said.

As part of the programme it was hoped to run a children’s theatre. The Christchurch Childrens Theatre had offered its support in any production the committee decided to stage.

The programme, which is to be be known as “Hastings Happening” would also benefit clubs and societies which were often wanting to interest outsiders in their activities.

The production of an eight-page newspaper would focus attention on the organisations.

“We intend to run a reporting competition and will ask the children to write about any community organisation. They will have to cover the history, achievement, present day function and any problems with which the organisation is faced,” Mr Stalker said.

PHOTO CONTEST

“There will also be a photographic competition and a best daily photograph of the activities will be chosen.”

The centre hoped to provide facilities for young people to develop and print their own photographs.

The “Hastings Happening” has been incorporated into the Fantasyland mayoral contest and points will be awarded to contestants who attend the organised activities.

TREASURE HUNT

Mr Stalker said the activities were just one part of the promotions planned by his committee to raise funds for Fantasyland during the August holidays.

There would also be a treasure hunt involving Heretaunga St retailers “with a monster first prize and thousands of give-aways.”

Mr Stalker said detailed plans for the treasure hunt would be released later. He said, however, that his committee hoped to raise $5000 through the treasure hunt.

‘FRIDAY’

The centre hoped to raise another $5000 for Fantasyland at “Fantasyland’s Fantastic Festival,” to be known as “F Day,” at Windsor Park on August 28.

A full programme from 10am until 5pm was being organised and such attractions as an overseas performer and a miniature circus would be included in the festivities.

Plans for “F Day” would also be released later.

SAVINGS SCHEME

Mr Stalker said his committee was well aware that parents would not want to be “digging too deep in their pockets” to give children money to attend some of the festivities.

So, as an added incentive for children to attend the promotions, a savings scheme would be implemented.

Young people would have the opportunity of depositing 30c a week for seven weeks from July 5 in a special account. Each child who was interested in attending the activities would have saved $2.10 in the seven weeks.

Children who had reached this target would be given a $3 concession ticket which would enable them to attend all the Fantasyland promotions.

The Fantasyland committee would also be able to determine, by the deposits what interest there was in the activities.

Mr Stalker said his committee had received co-operation from Greater Hastings in promoting the festivities, which would in no way be in competition with the blossom festival.

THE COMMITTEE

His committee was made up of employees of Crest-Birdseye. More than 400 people could be called on to help run the activities.

The committee was formed four years ago to take part in the Fantasyland queen carnival. After the carnival the committee continued fund raising and provided the bulk of the money for the erection of the Fantasyland castle.

“We think the public knows now how important Fantasyland is to Hastings, and we consider fund raising for Fantasyland a very worthwhile project,” he said.

Photo caption –

Members of the executive of the Hastings Retailers’ Association signed up to take part in a treasure hunt competition during the August school holidays. The competition will be part of many activities in the Fantasyland Festival. Heretaunga St retailers also will be given the opportunity to join. Shown above are from left: Messrs Graeme Mills, John Fussell, Brian McAra and Michael Poppelwell, and Mr Ed Taylor, of the Crest Birds Eye festival committee.