Fairburns Armistice Day Picnic

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 14, 16 November 1948, Page 6

Fairburns Armistice Day Picnic

The Armistice picnic was held at Fairburns on Saturday 13th. There was a good attendance from the district. The weather was ideal and a happy day was enjoyed by all. In the morning most of the children’s races were run off. Then all gathered near the church where Mr. Guy McPherson welcomed everyone. All stood in silence for a few moments in remembrance of those who had paid the supreme sacrifice in both world wars. Rev. E. D. Grounds then gave a short address, suitable for the occasion. He stressed the need to be prepared for any emergency that might arise. Young folk to'day need to be fit and strong in mind as well as in body. They need .to be prepared spiritually. He mentioned Paul’s faith in times of shipwreck, and how it gave courage to other's. He stated that a life-belt was of no use unless one knew how to use it, and that we must know how to use life as well as a life-belt. He closed with the hope that the disunited nations of the world would become the united people of the world, and then closed his remarks with a prayer. After grace lunch was served by a band of willing workers. After lunch the remainder of the children’s races were run and then the adults’ events took place. Afternoon tea brought the day’s cuting to a close. The success of the day was due largely to the efforts of an energetic committee with Mr. G. McPherson as chairman and Mrs. T. Wallace as secretary. Next year will be 30 years since the first picnic was held and it is hoped to make it an event of outstanding success. Races resulted as follows : Boys, 6 and 7 years—Winston Buckingham 1, Peter Durbin 2, Clarence Foster 3. Girls, 6 and 7 years—Mavis John--son 1, Ann Fisher 2, Durbin 3. Boys. 9, 10, 11—Roy Hansen 1, Brian Gardiner 2, Terrence Buckingham 3. Girls, 8 and 9 years—Ngaire Dennison 1, Bunny Smith 2, Valrai Wallace 3. Girls, 10 and 11 years—Joyce Fish - er 1, Ngaire Hansen 2. Florence Fisher 3. Boys, 12 and 13 years Taylor Smith 1, Barry Bradley 2, Kenneth Buckingham 3. Girls, 12 and 13 years Elaine Johnson 1, Rosalie Rogers 2, Tuku Smith 3. Boys, 14 and over—L. Gardiner 1, Cecil Wilson and Douglas Johnson 2. Girls, 14 and over—Haru Smith 1, Huia Smith 2, Mary Carson 3. Boys, 3-legged race Raymond Dennison and Joe Crandle 1, Lloyd Gardiner and Peter Durbin 2. Girls 3-legged race—Mavis Johnson and Ngaire Dennison 1, Olive Hansen and Rosalie Rogers 2. Tiny Tots, boys Douglas MacPherson 1, Reynold MacPherson 2, Simon Foster 3. Tiny Tots, girls—R. Smith 1, Valina Foster 2, Beverley Foster 3. Boys’ relay—Roy Hansen, D. Johnson, B. Bradley, T. Buckingham, Dennis Johnson 1. Girls’ relay Huia Smith, Shirley Tracey, Elaine Johnson, Olive Hansen, Rosalie Rogers 1. Sack race, boys—Dennis Johnson 1, Lloyd Gardiner 2, Douglas Johnson 3. Sack race, girls Huia Smith 1, Mavis Johnson 2, Julie Dennison 3. Single ladies Valrai Wallace 1, Florence Fisher 2, Ngaire Hansen 3. Single men—P. Jones 1, J. Wells 2, L. Fisher 3. Married ladies Mrs. Hansen 1, Mrs. Dennison 2, Mrs. Johnson 3. Married men W. Murray 1, E. Hansen and W. Johnson 2. Thread the Needle —men —R. Dennison 1, A. Foster 2, W. Johnson 3.

Tug-of-war—Fairburns and Mangatoitoi 1. Stepping the chain—L. Fisher 1, Teddy Clark 2. Nail driving : Ladies—Miss Haru Smith 1 ; Men—E. G. MacPherson 1.