LARGE AUDIENCE AT THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE WANGANUI COMPETITIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 1950, Page 7

LARGE AUDIENCE AT THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE WANGANUI COMPETITIONS

“Tonight marks the end of the Wanganui Competition Society’s revival festival. We have at last reached port after a rough, but not stormy, journey,’’ said the president of the Society (Mr. Eric Lind), prior to presenting special trophies at a demonstration concert in the Opera House on Saturday night. Every seat in the Opera House was occupied and quite of a number ol people were unable to be accommodated. A varied programme was presented in which the winners ol various classes were presented. Instrumental, vocal, elocution, dancing and national dancipg items were arranged to suit the occasion. To permit portion of the programme to be broadcast by the Waiiganui radio station, several items suitable for radio broadcast were arranged in the central portion of the programme, from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m. It was impossible in the time available to include as many in the broadcast" as the society would have liked, but a very pleasing programme was heard, not only by those in the building, but by a wider listening audience, many of whom have telephoned “The Chronicle’’ to express appreciation of the standard of talent the society is encouraging. Mr. Lina said that the society hoped that the competitors had had an enjoyable time, and that they would be back agair next year with more competitors. He reminded the audience that the initial meetings to form the society had been called by Mr. A. C. Seivewright, and it was really due to his civic outlook that competitions wore at last got under way. A great deal of credit for the success of the venture was due to the secretary (Mr L. M. Ht.llas).

“When people saw a man rushing up the street one minute and rushing flown again almost the next, round the Opera House and then rushing somewhere else e short time afterwards, they remembered that it was competitions week and that was the secretary tying the loose ends of organisation together, getting through the work of two men,’’ said Mr. Lind. The president said that the season had been most successful and he hoped that the society had been well founded to continue its good work. He thaniced all who had worked in its interest. “Our helpers are far too numerous to mention,' he said. A special word ol thanks to tne firms and individuals who had donated such an array of special trophies. Trophies were presented to the winners and in some cases bouquets. Madame Shearsby, the official accompaniste, was presented with a bouquet and received an ovation from the many vocal competitors and supporters. In the afternoon a children’s matinee was staged at the Opera House, and was directed by a member of the executive, Mr J. Carr. Winners of eventr whose ages were less than IB appeared at the matinee, which also resulted in a first, class programme, emphasising the high standard set. The classes still remaining to be judged were completed on Saturday morning. Results, with abbreviations (very highly commended, V.H.C.; highly commended, H.C.; commended, C.; were:— Dancing (Judge: Miss Constance Macdonald, Napier). Tap Dance (14 and over): Pamela Le Compte , (Wanganui) 1, Pamela Mosen (Wanganui) 2, Lorraine Burt (Manaia) 3. V.H.C.: Dawn Taylor (Wanganui). H.C.: Rona Wilson (Wanganui). C: Alison Malcolm (Palmerston North). Song and dance duo (10 and undei 16). No jigs, hornpipes or taps: Ailsa Tizard and Jannette Carr (Wanganui) 1, Lynn Elliott and Veronica Morrison (Wanganui) 2, Raewynne Gorrie and Maree Penn (Marton) 3. V.H.C.: Marie and Maurice McCaul (Marton). H.C.': Jacqueline Farrell and Colleen Hawkins (Wanganui). C: Patsy Holdaway and Iriaka Pikimaui (Foxton).

Greek or Central European dance (13 and under 16): Veronica Morrison (Wanganui) 1, Iriaka Pikimaui (Foxton) 2, Valerie Whyman (Wanganui) 3. V.H.C.: Jannette Carr (Wanganui). H.C.: Wendy Henricksen (Whakarongo). C: Alison Malcolm (Palmerston North). CORRECTION. Dance duo (under 10): Cynthia Holt and Rosalie McGonigle 'Wanga nu)i 1. National Dancing (Judge: Mr. Hillary Glasgpw, Turakina). Irish jig (under 8): Dianne Chisholm (Palmerston North) 1, Heather Fergusson (Stratford) and Bruct Armstrong (Inglewood) 2 equal. Sailor’s hornpipe (14 and under 17) Krina Hughes (Wanganui) 1, Pai McDougal (Turakina) 2, Eloise Tito (Pihama) and Jocelyn Waite 'New Plymouth) 3 equal. Sword dance (12 and under 14) Suzanne Armstrong (Inglewood) 1. Jack Learmouth (Palmerston North) 2, Joy Richardson (Wanganui) 3 V.H.C.: Marie McCaul (Marton). H.C.: Dawn Dalby (Palmerston North). C: Alison McArthur (Wanganui). Vocal (Judge: Mr H. Temple White, Wellington). Action song in costume, boys or girls (7 and under 12). Own selection: Peter O'Connor (Wanganui) J, Vaughan Courtney (Waitotara) 2. H.C.: Shona Watts (Manaia), Juno Clark (Wanganui), Colleen Gibson (Wanagnui), Robin Stodart (Wanganui) and Rosalie McGonigle (Wanganui). Vocal solo, boys (7 and under 10) Own selection; Gary Bowden (Wanganui) 1, Stewart Ken ward (Wanganui) 2. Action Song in Costume, boys or girls (12 and under 16). Own selection: Ailsa Tizard (Wanganui) 1. Dobby Scott (Wellington) 2, Dian® Monteith (Wanganui) 3. H.C.: Hazel Hawtree (Wanganui). Vocal solo, girls (10 and under 12) Own selection: Beatrice Kelling (Palmerston North) 1, Pamela Glossop (Wanganui) 2, Vaughan Courtney (WaitotAra) and Rosalie Murray (Wanganui) 2 equal. H.C : June Clark (Wanganui), Mela Moffett (Wanganui) and Robin Stodart (Wanganui).