Fundraiser to help build new trail
Celebrating the good beginnings on the Waimate Trail are organisers (from left) Peter Patterson, Rob Smith, Peter Collins, Clare Saunders-Tack, Glenda Begg, and Jo Sutherland. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Waimate men will swap gumboots for high heels when they strut their stuff for a fundraiser next month.
Money raised will go towards the construction of The Waimate Trail.
Miss Waimate 2025 has attracted 10 entrants, including farmers, vets, and builders.
Event organiser Jo Sutherland said the participants were from all walks of life.
"All getting dressed up for a good cause."
Mrs Sutherland said organisers wanted to hold the event before calving.
Ticket sales had proved popular with 200 tickets selling within two to three days.
Only 50 tickets remained, and Mrs Sutherland hoped the event would sell out.
"That's my goal."
Money from ticket sales was earmarked for stage one of the trail, from Waimate to Waihao Forks.
She said construction through the gorge was nearly complete and was shaping up to be a "wonderful piece of trail".
There would be stories and information boards about the old Waimate branch railway along the way, as well as interactive sculptures on fauna and flora.
Organisers had divided the trail into four sections, so work on it could take place over a staggered amount of time as funding became available.
As each of those sections were finished they would be usable, she said.
As for the bridges, they would be reusing the abutments but new bridges would be built.
Waimate Lions Club members had built one and Rotary Club of Waimate was taking charge of the other one.
"All the community are getting on board."
She said alongside the trail, organisers were developing a "Foot Steps of our Ancestors" sculpture trail that intertwined the narrative of the landscape and the history of its people, past and present.
As the trail was constructed, a lot of tidying up was being done, too.
The Miss Waimate 2025 event will be held on June 14.
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Fundraiser to help build new trail
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