The Featherston Sculpture Trust is combining forces with the Featherston Anzac Club Society and the RSA to plan a fabulous birthday celebration for the wonderful Anzac Hall built by the people of Wairarapa in 1916 to provide a venue for entertaining the soldiers at the nearby Military Training Camp.
Celebrations kick off with a Quiz at the Featherston RSA at 7.30pm on Thursday 13 October.
On Saturday 15 October, join us for a Family Picnic at Clifford Square from 11.30am to 2pm, preceded by kids’ storytelling with Adrienne Nunns-Smith in the Featherston Library at 11am. Bring a picnic to Clifford Square and enjoy live music, old-fashioned games, Mini Fell train rides, dress-up competition, a sausage sizzle, and more.
For a gold coin donation you will also have the opportunity to explore the Anzac Hall itself, see the priceless photos from the World War 1 era and beyond, and hear about the hall’s fascinating history with guided hall toursby Diana Donald from 12 noon to 2pm.
And a Featherston WW1 Camp Exhibition will be open in the Kiwi Hall and the Heritage Museum (featuring parts of the exhibition formerly held at Aratoi in Masterton).
A Commemorative Rock from the Rimutaka Hill, which the troops who trained at the Camp marched over before embarking for Europe and Palestine, will be unveiled outside the hall at 5.30pm. This ceremony will feature the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Charitable Trust, and the 7th Battalion Band.
For the grand finale, from 7.00 pm the evening entertainment is to be a Dance with Music Hall theme. This event is based on the first live entertainment put on for the soldiers and will feature a range of very talented entertainers, along with dancing to music of the eras from 1916 to 2016. Come and hear David Dell, Bonnie Allen, Warren Maxwell, DJ Vinyl Burns, the 7th Battalion Band and many more. Full supper and cash only bar. Tickets $30, concessions $20. Available from 5 October from Loco Café Featherston; the Featherston Information Centre; by emailing info@featherstoncampsculpture.org; or buy a ticket at the door.
More information will be posted on our Facebook group’s page.
On Sunday 16 October the official Civic Ceremony, run by the South Wairarapa District Council, is being held from 1.00pm to 3.30pm. Details will be published in the Wairarapa Times Age and the Midweek.
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