They call themselves the Poo Fairies.
Arguably the happiest folk on the grounds at the Southern Field Days at Waimumu this week were members of the Foveaux Pearls and Southern Gold leisure marching teams.
The gaggle of good-natured women were also probably the most important people present, given they were charged with keeping the ablutions sparkling.
It was a big chore — thousands of people came through the gates and there were an estimated 1200 toilets to clean during the three-day event.
The Southern Gold crew, from Invercargill, were seasoned hands as it was about their fourth time doing it; it was the second time for the Foveaux Pearls, from Bluff.
It was a fundraiser for the women — "why else would you clean toilets?" Dianne Blair exclaimed — and they did five runs a day, chauffeured around in a trailer towed by a quadbike driven by an equally affable Barry Lemm, the solitary man.
Leisure marching, for those aged over 35, was all about fun, fitness and friendship.
Robyn Powell, who won her first marching medal in 1960, admitted the women were ready to sit down by the end of the day.
As for their positive approach to the task, Raewin Lake said they had to make it fun.
"We wouldn’t be doing it otherwise."
When it came to toilet etiquette, the women agreed that men were definitely worse in that department. But they received plenty of thank yous as they went about their business with their cheery smiles.
Gore Septic Tank Services owner Carol Soper said the new 100sq m permanent toilet block had proved very popular, and been "inundated" with punters choosing it over port-a-loos.
Organising committee chairman Warren Ross was pleased with the success of the event, which finished yesterday.
The crowd was estimated at between 9500 and 10,000 on Wednesday, which was "probably back a whisker" on the previous event.
On Thursday about 12,000 people came through the gates.
There were "a lot of people" around the expansive grounds yesterday, viewing more than 750 sites.
