Big entertaining day out in Otautau

Money raised during a busy weekend at Otautau will be poured into community needs, Otautau Promotions chairwoman Alison Paulin said.

Eight events were held in Otautau on Saturday, with more than $8000 being raised on the day.

A car show and wood chopping event at Holt Park attracted about 2000 people.

The $7045 raised at the car show by its organisers, the Otautau Promotions, would be spent on the Christmas street parade and Paulin said.

Other activities were displays of quilts and floral art, an art exhibition, craft and gardening competitions, and a flower show.

The $1000 raised at the other events on Saturday was earmarked for the Otautau Plunket and Community Garden, Otautau Flowers, Quilts and Crafts chairperson Suzie Best said.

‘‘These events bring communities together.’’

The four venues used for the quilts, artwork, crafts and flowers were St other community needs, Joseph’s Church, Parish Centre, New Life Centre and the old courthouse. Best and other volunteers tidied up St Joseph’s Church late into Saturday night to have it ready for the service on Sunday.

‘‘We packed things away to get the church back together,’’ Best said.

Winners in the flower show were Mavis Te Maro (cut flowers), Lynette Foster (roses) and Michelle Stamp (dahlias).

‘‘The flower show was hotly contested ... lots of people bringing in 20 or 30 entries [each],’’ Best said.

A 1949 Ford Custom, owned by Alan Sadler, of Otatara, won the top car award, with the runner up being a Plymouth, owned by Graham Baird, of Gore. The Plymouth won the people’s choice section.

Ernie Tyler, of Colac Bay, won the top motorbike award with his 2002 Boss Hoss. Winner of the top commercial vehicle was a 1955 Original Land Rover, owned by Colin Bailey, of Winton.

Alison Paulin said 197 car entries were received.

‘‘It was an awesome day and got quite warm at one stage,’’ she said.