Maniototo Catholic Women's League life member Cassie Weir,
of Ranfurly, prepares to serve one of the league's final
lunches at the Maniototo A and P Show on Wednesday, as
fellow members look on. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Maniototo's Catholic Women's League members are hanging
up their aprons after 56 consecutive years of catering for the
annual Maniototo A and P show.
The group's 12 core members have shared a few laughs in the
kitchen since helping their mothers cater at shows from 1954,
but yesterday said it was time to retire.
"We would love to see a young group come in behind us and
carry on the catering.
We've had a lot of fun over the years and all really enjoy
it, but it is time for a change," member Trish Hore, of
Ranfurly, said.
League president Joan Dowling said most of the group's
members had been involved in catering for most annual shows
since 1954, having missed only one or two years.
Mrs Dowling, of Ranfurly, said no members had catered every
show for each of the past 56 years, but a couple had been
made life members of the league having been involved in the
original catering.
All food was donated and dished up by league members for
morning tea, lunch, and an afternoon or Devonshire tea.
Traditional country fare prevailed, with home baking and
sandwiches followed by cold meats, potatoes, vegetables, and
salad.
The afternoon spread included more home baking, tea, coffee,
juice, and fruit.
Baskets of food were also made and taken around the show to
stall-holders, organisers and judges.
Catering involved making sandwiches the previous evening ,
working shifts in the kitchen from about 8am to 5pm, and
co-ordinating supplies.
Setting up a serving and dining area also took time, as did
the hundreds of dishes.
Proceeds from the catering were channelled into community
projects each year, benefiting organisations and services
such as the local hospital, rest-home and St John.
Member Francie Morrow, of Ranfurly, said the league also ran
the opportunity shop in Ranfurly, and helped the community in
general, whenever it could.
"We always find someone to give money to," she said.
This year, some profit would be sent to Haiti to help
earthquake victims.
- rosie.manins@odt.co.nz
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.