Favourite North Otago Event Makes Welcome Return
New Zealand Historic Places Trust information release
15 March, 2006
North Otago's agricultural past will be celebrated at the annual Totara
Estate Harvest Home on Sunday 26th March with visitors expected to attend
from as far afield as Auckland.
Totara Estate manager Scott Elliffe said the "time honoured tradition"
of celebrating a successful harvest is likely to reach new heights at
this year's event.
"The key theme this year is a revival of North Otago's Caledonian
Games which were popular in the late nineteenth century. The theme was
selected both due to its local connections and, to encourage participation
in events planned for the day" he said.
Both Adult and Children's sections will be held in a programme of events
that includes putting the stone, tossing the sheaf, quoiting, tug of war,
and three standing springs which involves a hope, skip and jump.
A special feature will see a rare demonstration in wheelwrighting, an
all but forgotten art of wheel and wagon making.
Mr Elliffe said the importance of the working horse will be acknowledged
in a Grand Parade of Clydesdales.
Another highlight will be the annual race to the top of the Brydone Monument
by a host of local and visiting Totara Swaggers.
"Following its highly successful introduction last year, local and
visiting chefs will compete to uncover just who makes New Zealand's Finest
Lamburger.
"Add in lunchtime 'hawkers' selling traditional farm fare, skilled
tradespeople - blacksmith, blade shearers, saddlers, woodworkers and cobblers
- demonstrating their craft, young 'peddlers' testing their entrepreneurial
spirit by selling their toffee apples, boiled sweets and peg dolls, and
the pioneer scene is well set," Mr Elliffe said.
Preparations are in hand for visitors to embark on an historic train
ride from Dunedin to the Totara rail siding, recreating a journey that
New Zealand's first export shipment of meat took in 1882 and for which
the Estate is nationally famous.
The day will commence with a traditional Thanksgiving service at the
Estate Granary at 10.30am and continue late into the afternoon.
Organisers are confident there will be plenty to keep visitors entertained
including penny-farthing, horse and wagon rides, traditional children's
games, storytellers, bush bands and roving minstrels.
"Totara Estate has a proud record of hosting its Harvest Home. Despite
the planning behind the 2006 event it may fall short of its 1896 predecessor.
"Then, with over 300 guests from afar away as Dunedin expected,
the west wall of the Barn was removed and a marquee erected before festivities
could begin," Mr Elliffe said.
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