Some of the South's big cheeses will be getting ready to roll, all for a good cause and loads of fun, next Friday.
The Whitestone Cheese Rolling New Zealand event, now in its fourth year, will have special significance as it will be a special tribute to Rosemary Henderson, the woman who first came up with the idea and used her family farm as the venue to raise thousands of dollars for thefamilies of autistic children.
Her husband and event chairman, Bob Henderson, said the organisers were proud to continue her legacy and he was sure she would be thrilled with line-up of celebrity "rollers" confirmed for the Waitangi Day event.
Recently crowned "Perfect Woman" Jamie McMeekan will be one of several guests to hurl a round of Whitestone cheese down the steep hills of the Wendon Valley farm for competitors to chase.
Whoever grabs the runaway cheese wins both it and a spot in the final event which will decide the champion New Zealand cheese-roller for 2009.
The first cheese will be rolled at 2pm with races held every 15 minutes.
Mr Henderson said other guest rollers include Gore radio broadcaster Bradley Craig, Silver Ferns manager Jackie Barron, world champion wheat grower Mike Solari, Gore arts and heritage curator Jim Geddes and Christine Fernyhough, who is the Books in Homes and Gifted Kids programme director.
A mystery guest celebrity will launch the Whitestone Windsor Blue cheese for the grand final at 4.30pm.
Cheeses, whitebait fritters, lamb on the spit and other food will be available.
The event will be staged on Blackhill Rd, Wendon Valley, 10km from Waikaka and 35km from Gore.
It will be well signposted, Mr Henderson said.
Gates will open at noon.
