Plenty of help for Lanterns by the Awa

Bronwyn Paul of UCOL and Jan McLeod of NZ-China Friendship Whanganui have been blown away by the community’s input for this year’s Lanterns By the Awa event to be held this Friday.

Friends in China have donated four big boxes of lanterns, toys and decorations, which children can take home afterwards.

Year 10 girls at Girls’ College are giving their “Ad Astra” community service time to assemble the flatpack decorations.

Council workers such as Tim Crowe of Civil Defence have enlisted Scouts to help hang lanterns, and the guest dancers from Palmerston North Chinese School have a proper stage thanks to Fergus Reid of Venues and Events.

Mainstreet is lending their sound system and skills, and Christina Emery from Mediaworks will compere.

The NZ Chinese Association lent its big drum, and Billy Chen from OCGGI will drum up the atmosphere.

Zhang Yang and her family are organising festive food offerings from China, such as the sweet Yuan Xiao dumplings which proved so popular last year.

Dave Sergent from The Water Truck is providing mineral water for the flower-scented dumpling “soup”.

Cindy from Bai Jia Asian Mart and Mr Xu from the Produce Centre are supplying ingredients for tasty treats. Other East Asian cultures have also been invited to celebrate their food or art.

Whanganui Camera Club and the Chinese Hometown Group will video the event.