Fourteen Waimate members were joined by five members from the Ashburton club and two members of the Timaru club to travel by bus.
Six others travelled in their own cars, so in the end the raiding party was 27 strong.
After picking up the team members in Timaru and Ashburton we turned inland and found ourselves on a magically beautiful journey.
The accommodation in Hokitika was really close to the sea which was a great asset after the all-day bus trip.
After a free Saturday morning the "Old Lodge Theatre" was visited and while the Hokitika members set up the raiders had the chance to get familiar with the venue and lay out their props for the evening show.
The "Hokitika Club" restaurant was expecting the large group, the evening meal was served and the travellers were joined by their hosts.
Showtime was at 7.30pm.
The Hokitika Savages welcomed the visitors with a traditional walk-in and greetings after which the chief Roland Urmson handed over the reins to WSEC president Pam Buckingham.
S’oup followed with When I’m something four, a playful interpretation of the song.
Two Ashburton Ia(i)ns (Smith and Tuanui) sang three songs, followed by Waimate’s team who brought a colourful cow.
After the laughter had subsided a skit was performed exposing addictions among four Timaruvians. Hilarity abounded.
Noes played her harp again, playing songs people could sing along to if they wanted. The end of the first half was formed by Mixed Spice, all the men of the raiders singing a collection of songs. Between items Pam had some funny stories to tell to entertain during those breaks.
A short interval with chances to grab some more raffle tickets was quickly followed by the opening act of the second half.
Six Waimate women stating the fact that they felt like a woman, walker frames and sticks included.
Raucous laughter was heard, especially when "men’s shirt, short skirts" was underlined by actions.
Time to calm down and two Ashburton ladies, Robin Tuanui and Tiare Tompsett, sang in harmony accompanying themselves — like the men in the first half.
Then Ina de Paauw-Fontein from Waimate sang two songs about life and its changing circumstances.
Alison L and Angie L, subsequently took us into a "travellers prayer" in which all the desires for finding things, spending — or please not spending — were requested by one lady traveller and one "bloke".
Second to last item was Ray blowing his own C-trumpet, accompanied by Ian Buckingham on piano.
S’oup finished it all of with three songs, the last one building their own world.
Pam B handed back over to the Hokitika club who finished the evening with their closing ode and the National Anthem.
It was late getting back to our accommodation, but all felt it had been a great evening.
The next morning we found ourselves being sent off in true West Coast manner: pouring rain! The driver did a great job keeping us safe and we arrived in Ashburton ahead of
schedule.
After afternoon tea it was a warm farewell to the team from Ashburton and onwards to Timaru for the last leg of the journey, tired but content. Another warm goodbye and off home!
On Sunday, September 28 there was the planned concert for our own club members and our special guests from the Waimate Senior Citizens.
"Easy peasy", since we had decided we would repeat ourselves, our co-travellers included.
They all came to do it all again and we all found that we were much less nervous than a week earlier.
Forty-five people attended the concert and the afternoon tea, which was lovely and scrumptious as always.
— Ina de Paauw-Fontein
