Community picnic to mark centenary

The Pirongia Heritage Group are set to host the Centenary Pirongia Memorial Celebrations this Saturday, November 19 from 10am to4pm with a community picnic.

All are invited to come and enjoy local music talent, talks on hall history and view local community displays.

The official party, which includes Mayor Susan O’Regan, will be transported from the Pirongia Heritage Centre to the Pirongia Memorial Hall in Nic van der Sande’s horse and gig and vintage cars on the day.

“This could be the last occasion that Nic’s horse and gig is used or viewed in the Pirongia village as he is planning to move to Cambridge,” says Marilyn Yeates.

Students who are the winners of all prizes for speeches, art competitions and essays will be announced by the Mt Pirongia Lions. The firstplaced speeches will also be presented on the stage within the hall.

Each category of the competitions subjects are about the hall and its significance to the towns history.

There is $750 worth of prize money and koha up for grabs, with the opportunity for prize winners to donate 50 per cent back to a local community organisation of their choice.

All entrants had to include a statement of “if Iwon a prize Iwould give 50 per cent to my selected community organisation, and state why”.

A remembrance message from

RSA will be delivered from Daniel Van der Hulst, then at 11.25am, there will be an Anzac component to the day held outside the of the Hall. Te Awamutu & District Memorial RSA are set to lower the flag, say the Anzac Ode and play the Last Post played on the bugle.

Kapa haka performances from Pirongia and Ngutunui School will perform outside front of Hall.

Lunch is scheduled for 12.45pm, with the option to purchase or bring your own picnic.

Picnic tables and chairs will be assembled on the grass on the Memorial Hall grounds.

Food vendors will be on-site for those that want to purchase lunch of bacon butty, icecream and Donuts, coffee and a free barbecue sausage in bread with onions, and sauce provided by the Pirongia Heritage Centre. Tea will be served in the hall kitchen.

Live music is to be played by Sean Lurman and the Lingman band will play in the afternoon.

The Pirongia Heritage Group want to remind the public that they are able to display any old photographs that you may wish to bring and share on the day.

Local historian and member of the Pirongia Heritage Association, Alan Hall, said this about the upcoming celebrations.

“When we recall and celebrate the times of this centennial, it is also important for us to look ahead at how it shall continue to serve the community.”