Old-fashioned picnic

GOOD old-fashioned family fun is promised at the annual Donnellys Crossing Sports and Picnic Day to be held at the athletic club grounds tomorrow, starting at 10.30am.
It is a day when traditional entertainment and family enjoyment is the focus and the chance to soak up the atmosphere of competitive fun is offered.
Computer-generated games give way for the day in favour of egg-and-spoon races, tug-of-wars, gumboot throwing, needle in the haystack, egg catching, three-legged and other novelty races, and the much anticipated lolly scramble.
Colouring competitions, a water slide and a slippery pole will be on offer plus the famous Donnellys Dunker is always a crowd pleaser.
The West Highland Pipe band will perform during the lunch break.
Claybird shooting is available throughout the day, so if you have ever wondered just how sharp a shooter you might be - give it a go.
Seventy-two years ago the Donnellys Crossing Sports and Axemen's Carnival was a highlight of the Northern Wairoa area. A special train ran from Dargaville to the venue where eager participants vied for prizes in the various events.
The event was once held on a farm field before farmer Mr Quilty gifted the grounds to the Athletic Club around 1950.
Since then the committee have gifted the grounds to the Kaipara District Council.
In those earlier times the social event of the year was the evening dance held after all the other activities had finished.
Those in attendance never begrudged the admission fee of three shillings for gentlemen and two shillings for ladies, who were asked to contribute a `plate'.
Sadly because of a lack of volunteers to assist with organisation, the chopping and sawing events no longer feature on the programme and the `buggy rides' have also been omitted. However, the rest of the activities remain reasonably unchanged from those heyday years when the event gave the community a chance to mix and mingle.
Organiser Michele Cobb said the event is not a fundraiser; entry fees are to try and cover the costs of running the events.
"We want to keep the tradition alive," she said.
"Everyone is welcome to attend and those that do always have a great time. The day has a great feeling about it."
Refreshments are available throughout the day.
Gate fees are $3 for adults, $2 for children over 12 years, $1 for 5-12 years and under-5s are free.