Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Pupils gear up for Picton Cup parade
‘‘It’s great to include schools that are outside the town centres. They were so happy to get the flag and are very proud of Team New Zealand and Joseph, of course.’’
A special welcome for Picton’s own Joseph Sullivan and his America’s Cup-winning teammates has been signed, ‘sailed’ and delivered.
Primary school pupils across Marlborough have been scribbling messages of support and congratulations on a large donated sail, ready to be handed over to the rowing stars when they arrive in Picton next week.
Team New Zealand is planning a parade of the town on October 12, arriving on the 5.55pm ferry before a police escort through the streets.
Picton is the only town in the top of the south to get a parade, partly down to its past support for 2012 Olympic gold medallist Sullivan.
While Sullivan may have attended Queen Charlotte College, in Picton, parade organisers said it was important all schools in Marlborough were part of the celebrations.
The sail, donated by KJL Sails, had made its way from Picton all the way to the Wairau Valley, west of Blenheim, where pupils fought for what little white space there was left on the once clean sail.
Wairau Valley School was the last stop for the sail and rural councillor Cynthia Brooks said it was good to ‘‘share the love’’ around the schools.
‘‘It’s great to include schools that are outside the town centres. They were so happy to get the flag and are very proud of Team New Zealand and Joseph, of course.’’
Picton Smart and Connected member Chrissy Powlesland said the sail was so popular KJL Sails had to donate a second one.
‘‘By default, we’ve touched the hearts of 4000 kids in Marlborough with this sail,’’ Powlesland said.
‘‘We ran out of room on the first sail so Kevin Luxton and his team [at KJL Sails] donated a second flag to us. Which has been amazing.’’
Powlesland had been in touch with Team NZ and said they wanted to mix and mingle with their fans in Picton.
‘‘They really want it to be a town event.’’ Powlesland said the route was simple, after the team arrived on the ferry about 6am.
‘‘They will get a police escort when they arrive at the police station, and that’s where the parade’s going to start.
‘‘Then down High St, and down London Quay to finish up on the foreshore.’’
The three schools in Picton - Queen Charlotte College, Picton Primary and Waikawa Primary – had planned a kapa haka and po¯whiri for the team. Young sailors from the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club would hold the sails during the parade, before giving them to Sullivan.
‘‘This is not just a Picton event, it’s a Marlborough event,’’ Powlesland said. ‘‘And Team NZ is really looking forward to seeing all the kids who signed the sail for them.’’