Newspaper Article 1998 – All the fun of the fair

All the fun of the fair

A grand celebration and fair is being held at the Havelock North Domain on Saturday, March 21.

“It will be major entertainment and serious fun,” says fair organiser Ross Lange.

It is the second grand fair that has been held to raise funds for the soon-to-be completed Havelock North Community Centre on Te Mata Road. The first fair was held in 1996. Next weekend’s event is to raise money for the centre’s furnishing, he says.

The fun begins at 11am with stalls and entertainment galore at the domain. Ross says it will be a family day, with the added bonus of a television-style Top Town competition following the fair at 1pm. About 20 teams of 10 competitors from local business, schools and community will enter the Top Town competition which is using the same equipment as the Top Town television programme. It is being transported from Wellington to Havelock North specifically for the fair by a local transport company. Television New Zealand staff will also come to set up the equipment correctly, which includes many water obstacles which the Havelock North Fire Brigade will service, he says.

There are prizes for the winning team members which include donated restaurant dinners for team members and their partners. The Top Town competition, which is being fully supported by village businesses, will probably continue until dusk.

As for the fair, Ross says there will probably be “tonnes of stock” for sale and for auction. The latter is being held under the large gum tree on the domain from 11am and often buyers can pick up antiques, jewellery, large appliances, china, crystal, glassware and other gems at bargain prices. It is an auction not to be missed, he says.

“We had 10 tonnes of stock donated by local people which was sold and auctioned at the community centre fair last year.”

Events throughout the day will be compered so visitors to the domain are fully informed of the many activities.

The Symphonic Band and Hastings Citizen’s Pipe Band will play throughout the day. Also performing is the male voice choir, the Bay Harmony Singers. There will be a balloon clown, face painting, golf, dancers, a helicopter lolly scramble, fire engine rides, a coconut shy, children’s old-time races such as egg and spoon and sack races, the traditional lucky wheel, and raffles for 12 helicopter rides. There will be three draws for four people to have a ride above Havelock North with pilot Mike Toogood, Ross says.

The entire community is getting behind the grand fair. Local kindergartens, Iona and Woodford colleges are making sweets, Havelock North schools are holding book and toy collection days for the fair, the high school is holding a lottery on the day, St Columba’s Church is providing their premises and providing barbecued food on the day, St Luke’s Church will be serving Devonshire teas, and the local Lions and Rotary clubs will be manning the stalls. Local orchardists and farmers are also supporting the fundraiser by having stock drives and donating proceeds from their apples destined for juicing, he says.

It is hoped that as much money will be raised at this fair as was raised at the 1996 community centre fair. Then, $40,000 was donated to the centre’s construction.

“It depends on the contributions for the stalls and auction that we receive from the community.”

Ross says those able to give items to be sold at the fair can deliver them to St Columba’s hall which is the depot for community fair goods until the day of the fair. The hall will be open daily and manned by the Probus Club, and they will gratefully accept donated items.

Photo caption – Village Fair organiser Ross Lange (pictured) gets a little help from his friends and co-organisers (from left) John Laurent of Havelock North Pakeke Lions and Dougal French of Hastings Lions and Havelock North resident. The trio were spotted on the Havelock North Domain erecting the sign for the fair.