When Bruce Howlett and Isabelle Lyttle of New South Wales did not win a competition by the Queensland five-piece band The Rusty Pickups for an all-expenses stay for two, they took matters into their own hands.
The competition had over 1000 entries.
‘‘We knew we probably wouldn’t win it.
‘‘[But] we thought, what a good excuse to go to New Zealand,’’ Mr Howlett said.
This was the first time the pair had ventured south of Christchurch.
Fittingly, the couple first met on the dance floor.
‘‘I went for some dancing lessons and met Isabelle there,’’ Mr Howlett said.
The pair had been doing rock’n’roll and swing dancing together since.
‘‘We’re not technical, but we have joyful memories,’’ Ms Lyttle said.
The Rusty Pickups are made up of Michael ‘‘Cookie’’ Cook, Lee Fielding, Ayden Roberts, Amily Le Brocque and Waylon Katz.
They also put on shows in Dunedin, Queenstown and Christchurch as part of their New Zealand visit.
