Recreation Week Begins Tomorrow

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 10

Recreation Week Begins Tomorrow

The importance of making full use of leisure time for recreation cannot be over-emphasized. And never was it more important to bring efficiency to a maximum than at the present time. Efficiency is inextricably bound up with the ability of the people to work, and irrespective of occupation or profession it cannot be maintained unless the body is kept in a physically fit condition. That objective is the aim in Recreation Week, which is being held in Invercargill, beginning tomorrow and continuing until Thursday of next week.

The purpose of Recreation Week is to show to the public what is being done in the community in the way of recreation. It is not a week just for young people, it is for adults also. As may be expected sports events play a big part in the programme. The week actually begins at 8.30 o’clock tomorrow evening; the venue is Dee Street, and there memories of Invercargill’s successful Mayfairs will be revived by the frolics of young and old in their competitive efforts in the open air.

The following events will be conducted:—

Citizens’ walking race. Children’s roller skating and tyrebowling races. Musical instrument championship (any instrument). Post entries will be accepted. PAGEANT AT RUGBY PARK On Saturday afternoon at Rugby Park a gala pageant in which schools and colleges will take part will be held. The pageant will begin with a march past by 18 teams of girls, followed by displays of drill by pupils of the Southland Technical College, a demonstration of women’s “keep-fit” exercises by members of the Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, folk dancing, Highland dancing and Boys’ Brigade work. An athletic programme has been arranged as follows:— 100 yards race (open). 100 yards race (secondary school pupils). 440 yards (open). 440 yards (secondary schools). Women’s 75 yards race.

In addition there will be an exhibition of dodgeball by several teams. The Southland Boys’ High School Bugle, Drum and Trumpet Band will also give a display of marching and playing. Sunday’s programme is confined to a railway hike The destination of the train excursion is being kept a mystery by the organizers. The train will leave Invercargill at 9 o’clock on Sunday morning. .On Monday night at the Victoria

Concert Chamber of the Town Hall a display of indoor physical activities has been arranged. Exercises to music, folk dancing, table tennis and fencing have been included in the programme. Another sporting feature has been arranged for Tuesday night when swimmers will hold the stage and give displays. A learn-to-swim film will be shown at the baths during the evening. An attractive programme of competitive events has been arranged and it is expected that most of Southland’s best swimmers will be seen in action.

Music and drama are features of the programme arranged for Wednesday night. The items include special pieces by the Southland Boys’ High School choir, the Southland Girls’ High School choir and the Glee Club. The programme will conclude with a play produced by the Invercargill Repertory Society. Recreation Week will be concluded with a public meeting in the Victoria Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Thursday night. Officers of the recreation department will explain the

work of the department and the nature of modern physical welfare and recreation work, and the new community sports centre, to be established in Invercargill, will be given its public launching at the function. After Recreation Week other important events have been arranged. On Tuesday, October 24, the first regular meeting of the newly-formed Boys’ Club will be held. This is a new club for boys up to 20 years of age organized under the auspices of the recreation department. Many attractions in the fields of recreation and sport have been arranged, among the most interesting of which is the proposed camp at Halfway Bay at Christmas time.