Children came from Southland, Upper Clutha and Dunedin on Saturday to compete in Central Otago’s biggest primary school tournament in one of the region’s smallest villages.
Millers Flat, population 90, boasts the blue bridge, a primary school with fewer than 30 pupils and an annual sports tournament that has run for 123 years, through both world wars, the Depression and centralisation of rural services.
Millers Flat primary school secretary Brooke Reichel said on Saturday 120 rugby and 40 netball teams descended on the village bringing 1500 children along with coaches and extended family.
It was a true community effort as locals of all ages in Hawkeswood Mining-sponsored hi-vis vests did everything from time-keeping and updating the draw to manning the barbecue and serving the endless queues of people at the canteen hot chips and pies.
Teachers Paula Bissett and Gillian Beel were well wrapped up as they supervised time-keeping at the netball courts.
Hats, hotties and horse blankets had all been piled on to keep them warm as the temperatures were well below freezing when the first teams took to the courts and fields.
They even had a flask of hot water to top up the hotties, Ms Bissett said.
Mrs Reichel said teams had come from Dunedin, Balclutha, Waikaka, Wānaka and Alexandra.
It was a big commitment for such a small school, she said.
The draw was done manually and former school parent Deidre Perkins had been helping with it again this year. Former pupils home for the weekend were acting as runners between the games and those adding results to the draw, Mrs Reichel said.
A big hit with the younger children was the Sport Central Loose Parts play trailer, which contained lots of equipment ready to be used for whatever activity the children wanted to do, from agility games to balance walks.
While every conceivable space was commandeered for carparking by 10am, normal service was returned to Millers Flat by 4pm and locals could safely stop their vehicles for a chat in the middle of the main street again.
