What parish is top parish?

Tu Tangata, Issue 24, 1 June 1985, Page 44

What parish is top parish?

Faith, fun, fellowship and food were in evidence as forty teams of Christian young people from Bay of Plenty and East Coast Anglican parishes and pastorates competed for the title of Waiapu Top Parish at Whakatane recently.

Hawkes Bay were prevented from attending by the closure of the Taupo/Napier highway.

On Saturday morning Mr Geoff Cranshaw, Vicar of Whakatane introduced the theme “Being Young Together’’ and asked God’s blessing on the weekend. Then the fun started at the march past as teams came forward to be judged on their general quality, the amount of noise they made, their enthusiasm and the ease by which their name was recognised. Mr Jack Gow, Mayor of Whakatane, his wife Mrs Bev Gow and Mr Peter Joplin awarded the Cup to Smyff, (St Mararget’s Youth Fellowship), of Kawerau.

Determination to be the Top Parish grew as the games’ sessions started at Whakatane High School field, in the Whakatane Swimming Pool and at Ohope Beach. Playing volleyball with the large colourful earthball loaned by the Whakatane District Recreation Officer brought forth may shouts of excitement. Shrieks of delight were heard from the soapy wet plastic sheet as team members slithered and slid holding on to a swing ball on a length of elastic.

They took turns in poling themselves on Herod’s Chariots (drums) and pushing a team member in a wheelbarrow around an obstacle course. Ever tried filling a tractor tyre with water? Each team did so, pushed the tyre a short distance, then emptied it into a drum to gain points according to quantity in the drum when the whistle blew.

The Kiwanis Club from the Swimming Club ran the pool events. The favourite game was Baby Moses. Spectators were treated to the sight of large boys being rescued in a rubber tyre by three hand-maidens, having a nappy put on and being made to drink orange drink from a baby’s bottle!

Centipedes with 11 legs invaded Ohope Beach as teams tied their legs together to run from one pole to another as they transferred tyres.

Then off to play volleyball in knee deep surf before going in the Highway to Heaven, travelling on a sack, tied to a rope and pulled by team mates.

The seven games at every venue were supervised by marshalls from the Parish of St George and St John, who were hosts, with the help of St Margarets, Kawerau. Many other

parishioners helped with providing and setting up equipment, planning the programme and sending out preliminary information.

The mammoth task of feeding 400 young people plus their leaders and all the helpers fell on the shoulders of several ladies’ groups in the two parishes, ably led by Mrs Kay Ernest. It was no mean feat to supply 900 filled rolls for both Saturday and Sunday lunch and then have such a generous afternoon tea that there was some left over!

As the light faded all those present were young together as they queued for a serving of delicious hangi prepared by Mr lan Castle, Mr Doug Wright and

the Black Power Members. The Diocese was privileged to have a song written especially for Top Parish with the theme ‘Being Young Together'. The Ngati Porou Rohe teams sang it during the concert. They shared the prize for Best Concert Item with Opotiki, who performed a sketch illustrating the bringing of God’s word to people who have not heard about the Bible. A dozen items were presented by participating teams, some of whom encouraged the audience of all ages to join in singing and action songs. The concert, compered by Mr Roger Ward of Taupo, was followed by a ‘Rage’ until 11pm when 450 tired and excited young people and

their leaders headed for bed at one of the four marae which billeted the visitors.

On their arrival on Friday evening the elders had given a maori welcome, which for some was a new and fascinating experience, as was sleeping on a marae.

After only a few hours sleep and Holy Communion on each marae, everyone was full of joy, ready to sing praises and listen to the Bishop of Waiapu, Bishop Peter Atkins, talk to them during worship. Many helpers and other parishioners attended this service of celebration which was well prepared by the four Kawerau teams, ably led by Mr Mark Chamberlain.

Top Parish was drawing to a close. Quiet anticipation leading to mounting excitement greeted the convenor as he took the microphone for the last time. Who was the Waiapu Top Parish for 1985? Nine other prizes were presented by the Bishop and Miss Wendy Davidson of Rotorua, who is the chairwoman of the Diocesan Youth Council under whose auspices Top Parish is run annually. Excitement reached a peak, cheers and roars rose from the back of the hall as St Faiths Team 1, Rotorua, was announced “Top Parish” and their leader received the coveted trophy from the Bishop.

The co-operation of so many people from town and parish was a feature of the weekend and one reason for its huge success. Everything was done with a minimum of fuss and with faith that God would bless the weekend. One person was heard to say that it was very clear that God was working longer hours than we were, and they were very busy hours for many people.

PRIZEWINNERS

March Past Combined SMYFF Teams Best Concert Item Opotiki; Ngati Porou Rohe Teams: Equal Best Turned Out Team Titiraupenga, Taupo. Best Organised Team SMYFF 1. Least Organised Team St. George & St John 2, Whakatane. Top Beach Tolaga Bay. Top Field St. Lukes 1, Rotorua. Top Pool St. Marks 1, Gisborne. Booby Prize Holy Trinity 1, Tauranga. TOP PARISH St Faiths 1, Rotorua.