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Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Discord over cavalcade funding allocation played down
Goldfields Cavalcade hikers make their way towards Twizel on the Moira's Meander Trail in February. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Cavalcade organisers say a disagreement over fundraising distribution is a needless distraction, despite "concerning" social media posts this week. Goldfields Cavalcade organiser Terry Davis told the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday this year's host town of Twizel had raised a record sum of more than $70,000 for local community groups. On Wednesday night Mr Davis posted an open letter on the cavalcade's Facebook page saying the cavalcade trust was aware of "complaints from six of the 14 cavalcade host town committee members" regarding the planned distribution of those funds. The letter said the complaints had been "thoroughly investigated", and processes found to be "entirely in keeping" with earlier events. The cavalcade comprises a variety of guided horse, bicycle and tramping trails following traditional back-country gold-mining routes, ending at a different shared destination each year. Up to 600 people take part, alongside more than 400 horses, which gather for a fundraising celebration in the host town at the event's conclusion. This year's funds would be distributed to 10 local groups at a celebration in Twizel on Monday. Mr Davis said he had shared the letter on the Twizel Community page to allay concerns due process had not been followed. "We posted it to support the majority of the host town committee that have followed the process. We wanted to share it with the Twizel community after some concerning posts earlier this week." Those posts have since been deleted. Committee chairman Ray Harrington downplayed the disagreement, saying he preferred to acknowledge the efforts of local people in hosting the event. "We had a meeting in April where we had a unanimous vote of the 12 people there to proceed with the distribution, as agreed, for Monday. "I'm not sure why two people, who were not present at that meeting, should now be rocking the boat." Mr Harrington said the meeting was recorded and minuted, and recipient groups were discussed and agreed upon "100%" during an hour-long discussion. "Rather than focusing on the negative, let's instead celebrate the hard work of our community as a whole, which came together to host a great event in February and raised record funds."
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Cavalcade host town raises record sum
Horses enjoy an early morning meal on the Goldfields Cavalcade Les Beattie Horse Trail to Twizel, at Ben Avon Station in the Ahuriri Valley, in February. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Cavalcade hosts will return a record sum to local groups at a ceremony in Twizel next week. Twizel was the host town for the Goldfields Cavalcade in February this year, and event organiser Terry Davis said the host committee was now ready to disburse proceeds from the event finale. Mr Davis said this year's event had been a double success as it not only marked the fulfilment of a promise from 2021, but also a record sum raised by the host town, of more than $70,000. "When I started in about 2010, the cavalcade would raise about $15,000 to $20,000. "That steadily rose until Waikaia made a record sum of $63,000 last year, which we were very excited about. "We had originally intended to come to Twizel in 2021, when Covid intervened, but we promised we'd be back, and back we came in February. "The Twizel committee pulled out all the stops and broke the fundraising record again, so we're delighted for everyone who's come together to make this another world-class event for the South," Mr Davis said. The cavalcade comprises a variety of guided horse, bicycle and tramping trails following traditional back-country gold-mining routes, ending at a different shared destination each year. Up to 600 people take part, alongside more than 400 horses, which gather for a fundraising celebration in the host town at the event's conclusion. This year's finale took place over February 28 and March 1. Previous economic impact reports had shown more than $1million injected into local businesses from the full cavalcade, Mr Davis said. In addition, this year's host committee disbursements would go to 10 local groups, and total more than $70,000. The celebration would take place at the town's Top Hut Sports Bar and Bistro on Monday at 6pm. Mr Davis said preparations were already under way for the next cavalcade, ending in Middlemarch on March 7 next year. "The bar has been set high, but I've no doubt Middlemarch will be ready to put on an amazing welcome this summer."
