Hundreds of walkers, riders and wagoners converged on the
Oamaru race-course on Saturday for the finale of the 2011
Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust's cavalcade earlier this
year. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
The farewell hoedown at next year's "Dusty Trails to
Cromwell" cavalcade has been saved, thanks to a $10,000 grant
from the Cromwell Community Board.
Cromwell is the destination for the 2012 cavalcade, organised
by the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust. Four walking trails,
six riding trails and two wagon trails are planned, finishing
in Cromwell on February 25.
Host town committee secretary Terry Emmitt said the cost of
staging the hoedown to celebrate the end of the cavalcade was
concerning and the question of whether that event should go
ahead had been "seriously considered".
There was a possibility the hoedown could prejudice the
financial success of the event and it was decided to seek
grants to help with costs.
"For cavalcaders, the hoedown has a primary purpose of
propagating good cheer, especially following a hard week on
the trails. The marquee has ample room for hootin' and
hollerin' and meeting of both cavalcaders and general
public," Mr Emmitt said.
He and fellow board member Murray MacMillan declared an
interest and took no part in the discussion on the topic at
the board meeting early this week.
The public would also be able to buy tickets for the hoedown,
Mr Emmitt said. The entertainment would be the same as at the
1998 cavalcade, which also finished in Cromwell - Marian
Burns and the Glen Moffatt band.
" ... all cavalcaders who attended that event inform it was
the best ever," he said.
All host town activities, including a country fair, will be
held at the Cromwell racecourse.
Host town committee member Peter Mead said Cromwell had been
the host town twice before. The nucleus of the organising
group was involved both times.
Board chairman Neil Gillespie said he had been part of the
1998 cavalcade, which was "pretty successful".
Central Otago District Council tourism marketing manager
Alison Mason said the cavalcade was seen as one of Central
Otago's core annual events, boosting the area's economy, and
recommended the board approve the grant.
- lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz
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