Rangers gather at Reefton

Press, 14 January 1986, Page 2

Rangers gather at Reefton

Greymouth reporter Guides and rangers are popping up in all parts of the West Coast, after setting out yesterday from their international camp, Westrek, at the Reefton racecourse. The 700 rangers and their leaders, including 75 from overseas, set out on five-day expeditions. For some it means cycling through the Buller Gorge to Westport, and then down the Coast Road to Greymouth before travelling a further 80km back to Reefton. Others are involved in white water rafting, flying, gold panning, rifle shooting and trout fishing. The New Zealand Chief Commissioner of Guides,

Mrs Joye Evans of Palmerston North, presided, and Miss Jackie New, of Auckland, of the National Ranger Council, declared the camp open on Saturday evening, after the national flags of participating countries and the world guide flag were raised. The visiting guides were welcomed to Reefton by the chairman of the Inangahua County Council, Mr Alf Cleaver. A pageant using local rangers and showing the history of the West Coast was given before the Guider-in-Charge, Miss Paula Stevens of Greymouth, made her official welcoming speech and a Greymouth ranger, Pam Brown, read a prayer.