Beauties unmoved by flying mice

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 2

Beauties unmoved by flying mice

. A barrage of live mice, tampons daubed with red paint, and pamphlets protesting against the exploitation of “wimmin” failed to disrupt a parade of “Miss Canterbury” contestants at the Merivale Mall on Saturday.

The bizarre attack occurred in the course of a swimsuit parade, as the judges were grappling with the task of choosing 15 finalists from the 31 girls.

The assault was launched by a small group of young womejuin the mail’s balcony. Police spoke to the group, and later two women, aged about 20, were arrested on charges of disorderly behaviour. They were later released on bail and will appear in the District Court today or tomorrow.

Miss Jan Vernal was parading at the time, but she remained composed as the objects whistled past her and the show went on, unimpeded. Neither Miss Vernal nor the compere. Biff Urquhart. w-as hit.

The pamphlets bore the likeness of a woman wielding a battle axe. They described beauty contests as “cattle markets,” and asserted that “wimmin” were used as cheap advertising.

“We’ve been forced into the Miss World contest all our lives,” the pamphlet said. “We’ve been forced to use beauty to win male approval by competing against other wimmin.”

However, a spokesman for the organiser. Spotlight Promotions, defended the “Miss Canterbury” contest by saying that the girls were not sponsored; they had responded to direct radio advertising and had entered of their own volition. ’ The 15 finalists in the contest will appear for final judging at the mall on August 12, after being individually interviewed by the judges the previous evening. The finalists are: Helen Bott, Lesley Doyle, Donna Eeringa, Debbie’ Houghton, Nicola Kelleher, Karen Woolley, Fran Stillings, Kerianne Johnson, Sheryl Anderson, Maria Cawood, Maria Gant, Jan Vernal, Sharyn Morgan, Heather Stewart, and Joanne Hodgson.