Volunteering a family affair

Midweek. Volunteers Joanne Gregory, and father Ross Gregory have been helping out at the Wairarapa Balloon Festival for the past 14 years, with Joanne's children and three other families. WAG 17Fe

The Gregorys, with family patriarch Ross Gregory at the helm, have been volunteers at the Wairarapa Balloon Festival since it began in 2001.

Along with three other families and their kids, the Gregorys -- Ross and wife Cushla, two daughters and five grandchildren -- have spent the past 14 years working behind the scenes at the iconic event, making sure the air giants lift off without a hitch.

Inflating a "special shape" balloon involves working with hundreds of metres of nylon -- but with three generations and an enthusiastic group of youngsters on board -- ranging from 11 years old to early 20s -- the job is much easier.

"There are about 15 kids between all the families, and they're all pretty buzzed by the whole thing," Joanne Gregory says.

"My daughter Paris is 11, and she's been coming along to help out pretty much since she was born. The balloons are so heavy and there are so many panels -- but the kids just get stuck right in."

The volunteers' duties include picking up pilots from the airport, transporting their balloons, assisting with inflation and packing down, providing support during take off and landing, and making the overseas pilots feel at home.

"We show them around, like take them out to Castlepoint, or to the Tui Brewery," Mrs Gregory said.

While their trips mostly run smoothly, the volunteers are on hand for any emergencies.

"A pilot left his suitcase behind one year -- so one of our guys, Phil Logan, drove it up to Taupo for him."

Mr Gregory said the most difficult part of the job is inflating and packing down the special shaped balloons, usually thousands of cubic metres in volume.

"You need about 20 people," he said.

"You have to take off the velcro from all the panels, spread them out, and fill them with air individually," he said.

"Once you deflate, you need to roll it up tight, like a big sausage roll."

Volunteers must also be on hand to "rescue" the pilots if they land in unexpected places -- such as the middle of a farm.

"Sometimes, they've landed in paddocks full of cowshit, or we've had to cross three fields to get to them," Mrs Gregory said.

She said the volunteers have made close friendships with the international pilots, and they regularly keep in touch.

"Sometimes they'll send us Christmas presents and cards. You meet some interesting people . They are really friendly and nice."

This year's Wairarapa Balloon Festival runs from March 12 to 15.