Community building at the Waikato Show
Preparations are complete, now all that’s needed is the crowds at the Waikato Show.
It was all go on Thursday morning with exhibitors setting up for the Waikato Show at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton.
The show runs from 10am on Friday until 5pm on Sunday.
Co-ordinator Ralph Evans is the “go-to” man for the Wellbeing Show and the inaugural Clubs and Creativity Showcase, a total of 57 exhibitors.
This year, clubs and groups are mainly from around Hamilton, with a few from outlying areas such as Huntly and Te Awamutu.
“Exhibits range from tramping, skiing, theatre, Free Masons NZ, square dancing, computer club, martial arts and re-enactment groups,” he said.
“Next year, I’d like to fill the entire hall with clubs. We try to keep it affordable.”
“It’s all those weird little things that people do that gets them interacting with other people, that really makes a community,” Evans said.
In the Wellbeing section, Bupa Care Services community liaison manager Sharon Preston was setting up their table with Bupa Health Care field officers Lara Hawkes and Maxine Gillard.
Sharon’s husband Paul Preston was helping trolley in boxes of pamphlets.
The Prestons are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary at the show this year.
“We spent our first wedding anniversary at the Auckland Easter Show as well,” Paul said, smiling at the coincidence.
Stroke Foundation president Bev Depree was an early starter for the set-up and had everything organised by late morning.
She said she has been involved with the foundation for 18 years, ever since her father had a massive stroke in 1996.
After Evans has settled in his 57 exhibitors on Friday, he will morph into his alter-ego “Major Blunder” over Saturday and Sunday.
Blunder is the commanding officer of Alf’s Imperial 5th Waikato Dragoons Incorporated.
“We will train children and adults alike to use a paper sword properly. We then arm them with flour bombs and turn them loose on each other. It will be fun,” he said.
Clubs and activity groups in the Waikato are invited to pre-book their space for next year’s expo, 10-12 April 2015, by contacting Ralph Evans on (07) 855-3851 or email alfs@hnpl.net
