Dummy of coach punched on nose

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 5

Dummy of coach punched on nose

A life-size dummy of the former ’Canterbury rugby coach, Alex Wyllie, was greeted with a punch in the nose by an elderly man during the New Zealand Holidaymaker train’s promotion of the North Island.

The dummy, and another representing the Christchurch Wizard, was part of the display in a waggon set up by the Canterbury Promotion Council.

The council’s marketing officer, Miss Jan Atkinson, said that while the train was in Hamilton, “Grizz” was positioned in a deck chair outside the waggon to attract attention to it — and he certainly did. An Auckland television crew wanted to film someone punching the life-like model and had no trouble finding a visitor who was more than willing to oblige. “I’ve been dying to do that for a long time, mate,” said the elderly man as he hit “Grizz” on the nose.

The Holidaymaker train was organised by the New Zealand Tourist Federation in Wellington to promote domestic travel, and comprised nine waggons representing areas throughout the country. The models of “Grizz”

and “The Wizz” sat in the doorway of the Canterbury waggon, wearing authentic clothes lent by their namesakes. “We were amazed at how many people knew who they both were and we had lots of giggles. A few little children even screamed when they saw them,” Miss Atkinson said. About 52,000 people visited the waggon during the train’s 14-day tour of numerous towns and cities from Wellington to Auckland and back.

A display named “Ski yourself silly in New Zealand,” and another called “Canterbury — a wizard idea,” were two of its attractions.

Altogether, 120 bottles of Canterbury wine were consumed during wine tasting outside the waggon. Miss Atkinson said many North Islanders were surprised to learn that there were vineyards in Canterbury. She said there was a lot of interest in the Canterbury waggon and people were made aware of the sights and entertainment which the region has to offer.

The train has been stripped and is now in Wellington, although there is some suggestion of a South Island tour later.