Ashburton Courier: December 07, 2023

THE
geraldinenews
NGĀPŪKŌRERO O TE WIKI KI RAUKĀPUKA|EST. 1992
THURSDAY, 07 DECEMBER 2023 |16,000+ copies distributed with the Ashburton Courier
view online at gnews.co.nz
The crowds turned out inforce but the predicted rain stayed away for last Friday’s Christmas Parade. PHOTOS: Deanne Marsden; Geraldine.nz
No rain on Santa’s parade
“The eveningwas cool,inmorewaysthanone,
butthe rain held off,”says Geraldine.nzcoordinator
Betty-Ann Smartofher firstChristmas Parade
since takingonthe job. “Itwas anotherwonderful
Geraldine community eventand agreat opportunity
to gettogethertocelebrate theend of theyear
andChristmas.”
The nursery rhyme theme inspired such
entriesasPeel Forest Preschool’s OldMacDonald’s
Farm, and Snoopy’sChristmas from theGeraldine
Men’s Shed. Local schools, businesses and
churches were represented, ‘big machinery’ was
there, andfirst-timeentrant GeraldineMilitary
Museum createdanewcategoryall of itsown.
Andlet’s notforgetthe guestofhonour, Santa,
whorounded outthe parade with lollies forall
at theGeraldine Domain,courtesyofFreshChoice.
This year’s judges,Community BoardChair
Jan Finlayson, Waitaki MPMiles Anderson,
and Lions representative Alan Watts awarded
Woodbury School and All-in-One Excavation
theBestChristmas Spirit awardfor their Three
Little Pigs float. Haywood Cottage Montessori
wonBestFamilyFocus,and Most Enterprising
went to Hayden MackenzieContractors.
Betty-Ann says,“Thankyou to themorethan
55 exhibitors,floatsand vehicles that brought
along their community festive spirit, to the
crowds that lined the streets, to Santa and his
elves, to all our generous sponsors, and our
volunteers who helped make the event run so
smoothly. We hope to seeyou allagain in 2024.”
HUGH MCCAFFERTY