GAY SCENES IN “POPULAR GIRL” PROCESSION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23024, 15 August 1949, Page 4

GAY SCENES IN “POPULAR GIRL” PROCESSION

A carnival atmosphere prevailed on Saturday afternoon, when a large crowd gathered in brilliant sunshine to watch the procession organised bf the St. John Ambulance “Popular Girl” committees.

Leading the procession was the Gisborne City Band, followed by a float representing the St. John Ambulance. The Public Organisations candidate. Miss Theresa Cameron, and several supporters rode on the next decorated lorry, distributing leaflets among the crowd as they passed. A striking exhibit was the float which, decorated with ferns, carried the Maori candidate. Miss Maata Kingi, and a group dressed in traditional native costume and performing hakas. The Retailers and Combined Trades popular girl, Miss Valerie Salmon, was enthroned on a float in a marine setting. with two attendants. The Country candidate, Miss Suzanne Field, rode on a realistic farm wagon drawn by a tractor, and loaded with bales of hay and a group of attractive haymakers. Burlesque Entries Entertain. The Hill Billy Band played a variety of instruments as their lorry proceeded, followed bv a girls’ marching team. Next came the Gisborne Highland Pipe Band, complete with small canine mascot in a kilt. The Gisborne Fire Brigade turned out in part for the, occasion. and Snake Gully was well represented. Decorated bicycles, tricycles and prams presented some original and amusing ideas, as did the various fancy dresses. The crowd grew as it followed the procession to Waikanae Beach, where many and varied entertainments catered for all tastes. A baby show, display of fancy dresses, comic dog show and a group of performing dogs attracted large audiences, as did an exhibition of midget motor-cycle riding by a Wanganui visitor, who had made his own machine. Much entertainment was afforded by a bicycle specially constructed with eccentric wheels which, it was claimed, was made to counteract the bumps on the local roads. ‘ ,*£ Euthuslastic Crowd at Beach The public entered with enthusiasm. Into the spirit oi the occasion, and flocked to the beach in numbers that made the function one of the' most successful ever held on thp foreshore. The antics of the Darktown fire brigade, the hill-billy band, and, a humorous characterisation of a negro family attracted particular attention on the route of the procession, which was marshalled by Captain L. R. Stichbury.

The enthusiasm was well maintained throughout the afternoon, and large entries in competitions for decorated peramublators, cycles and tricycles produced some really artistic and original designs, one pram bearing an excellent representation of the nursery rhyme; “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary!" Decorative classes were Judged by Mesdames H. C. Gregory and I. D. Bramwell, Miss P. Gregory and Mr. J. Kitchen, .and awards made by them were as under:—

Decorated Cycles.—Boys: Darryl Jeune. Girls; Jocelyn Davy. Special: Trevor and Peter Faulkner. Decorated , Tricycle.—Gibson Greening; special, Derek Allan. Decorated Perambulator.— Raewyn McCullough.

Most Original Costume. —Mrs. and Miss Cook.

Mast Humorous Costume. —Mesdames Single and Blair; special, Neil and Leone Burrows.

Decorated Lorry or Float. —Retailers’ Committee, 1; Country Committee, 2. Most Comical Group In Procession.— Darktown Fire Brigade. A baby show judged by Sister Pritchard drew substantial entries, results of the judging being:—Baby three months to six months; Alison Jean Burborough and Martin Lowe, .equal, 1. Six months to 12 months: Gillian Allen, 1. Twelve months to 18 months: Diane Burrows and Barry Duckworth, equal, 1. A committee special prize went to Alan Horne. Comic Pet Show Awards

Conducted under permit from the New Zealand Kennel Club and organised by Mrs. F. Redfearn, the comic dog show was strongly supported, and was judged by Messrs. A. I. Campbell and J. Cunningham, officers of the district kennel club. Awards were: Longesttailed dog: Gillian Nigro. Tallest Dog: Gillian Nigro. Smallest Dog: Janet Parker. Spottiest Dog: Gipsy Swamson. Longest-coated Dog: Pam Shelton. Fattest dog: Muriel Briggs. Funniest Dog: Noel Thompson. Kindest Dog: Jocelyn Phipps. Ugliest Dog: Elizabeth Aston. Best Trier. Elaine Foster.

A feature of the general entertainment was an exhibition of roller-skating by Miss Rose Callahan, a well-known performer who first demonstrated comic wheeling and later showed exceptional skiff and grace in figureskating. A maze march by teams of girls proved equally successful, with the Gisborne Pipe Band providing the marching music, and the holiday crowd were further entertained by a display by a rider on an eccentric cycle and. by a midget motor-cycle built by Mr. Graham Cantwell, claimed to be one of -the smallest powered vehicles in the dominion. ■

One of the most successful of many sideshows was that enclosing the performance of Mr. Steele’s trained dogs Tip and Flood, their intelligence making a striking impression. . !