Roxburgh became an unexpected host for the
Winter Games on Sunday after games chief executive Arthur
Klap, top Canadian ice-skaters Paige Lawrence and Rudi
Sweigers, two ice-skating officials and two games staff
members were caught in a snowstorm.
They were heading to Queenstown after the Winter Games
ice-skating gala in Dunedin but the blizzard conditions
trapped them and dozens of other travellers.
However, Roxburgh folk turned on some small-town hospitality
to look after the travellers.
The Winter Games group bunked down for the night in a
two-bedroom unit at the Teviot Country Motels.
The inn usually sleeps 34 guests but host Christine Callender
found room for 39 and then put the word out around town
asking for beds, couches and mattresses.
"I had 11 people in my house and another gentleman up the
road had 19 in his house.
"It was quite funny, really. A friend down the road had a
team of wee kids from a basketball competition and I sent
five around to my daughter," Mrs Callender said.
Mr Klap was still laughing about the experience yesterday.
The group went to the Roxburger for takeaways and managed to
buy the last burgers in town.
"We cleaned the shop out," Mr Klap said.
Mrs Callender said she was sorry she could not find beds for
everyone who sought help.
Caught-out travellers were "everywhere", the locals at the
Grand Tavern had a "ball" and the camping ground also hosted
extra people, she said.
"It was just another one of those days in a wee town."
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