GALA NIGHT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 81, Issue 7273, 6 November 1950, Page 5

GALA NIGHT

WELL ATTENDED FIRE BRIGADE FUNDS AUGMENTED The public turned out in good spirit for the Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade’s annual Guy Fawkes gala night last Saturday. It was practically impossible to estimate how many people were present but a fair portion of the town and some of the country, representing well over the two thousand in numbers, came out to witness the fireworks and help the Brigade to replenish its funds for another year. The night was ideal for the display of fireworks. The sky was clouded and dark and the threatened rain stayed away. The variety, number and quality of the fireworks appeared to be improved over last year’s event, but the lack of the more familiar cracker and jumping jack was noticeable. Not until late in the evening were a few characteristic bangs heard. The main source of fireworks display appeared to come from rockets, Mt Vesuvius and Roman Candles, but these, in many cases, gave a brilliant display, The overture to the fireworks display was a grand parade down the main street of the town to the park by the four marching teams, led firstly by the Municipal Band. Kilties, followed by Ascots, who had already marched victoriously at Waitoa during the afternoon, followed the Band after which came the Te Awamutu and District Highland Pipe Band followed by the Rochdale Senior and Junior marching teams. Colourful Displays

At the park the marching teams launched into displays of their remarkable prowess. Rochdale led with a colourful display, despite the dim lighting provided by a sem-circle of car lights, to music from the Municipal Band. Ascots followed in a like manner to the Pipes, Kilties to the Municipal Band, and finally the Rochdale Juniors marched to the Pipes. Thereafter the spectators followed the various attractions provided by the coconut shies, and other side-shows, the bonfire which was lit just prior to 8 o’clock, various displays of fireworks, items by the municipal Band, a brilliant display of rockets and other fireworks from the top of the Fire Brigade training tower and items by the Highland Pine Band.

(Most noticeable among the spectators were the large number of children brought out for the occasion by their parents who joined in having a good time watching the displays. The Fire Brigade funds will be well augmented by the gala night and will enable it to send a team to Christchurch this year to take part in the competitions with other Brigades, a very important feature in a volunteer Brigade. It provides the incentive to train, improves the standard and provides one of the important social attractions to prospective members. The funds are also used for other purposes on the social side, but no one would begrudge the Brigade that fact when it is considered that the protection of the town is provided by volunteer fire crews. The Brigade was responsible for preparing for the night and members worked throughout the whole day putting up sideshows and completing arrangements for the various attractions which were so run that the public was not distracted_by two major attractions at the one time.