The first organising committee for the Christmas Carnival consisted of these six men.
Back Row. - E.Bygraves, Mel Loveridge, T. Atkins,
Front Row. J Handley, A. D. Turner, Bert Wrigley
Matamata's Grand Christmas Carnival: A Helicopter, Marching Girls and a Gala Day
At a special meeting reported in the Matamata County Mail of 7th October 1955, Matamata's business community approved a Christmas Carnival for the town. The meeting brought together the Chamber of Commerce, the newly formed Public Relations Committee, the Jaycees and the Businessmen's Association. The proposed carnival would run for nearly three weeks, from Monday 12 December to Saturday 31 December.
The biggest attraction was to be a helicopter visit during Christmas week. The chairman, Mr A. E. Wrigley, told the meeting a helicopter could be hired for £54. The plan was to bring it from Hamilton by truck, assemble it on the Matamata racecourse, fly it over the town and land it on the Domain.
The programme
Week one
Mon 12 Dec: Window guessing competition begins
Tue: Swimming carnival
Wed: Marching girls' street display at lunchtime
Thu: Grand dance
Fri: Coloured lights and welcome signs go up
Sat: Usual sports fixtures
Sun: Band contest, carol service at 7.30pm, and band concert
Week two
Mon 19 Dec: Window dressing competition begins
Tue: Special shopping day, dance at 8.30pm
Wed: The helicopter visit
Thu: Music and advertising by loudspeaker
Fri: Children's procession at 12.50pm, band at 8pm
Sat: Sports programme
Sun: Church services
Week three
Mon 26 Dec: Sports fixtures
Wed: Shopping day
Fri: Open-air Māori concert and band selections
Sat 31 Dec: Gala day at Waharoa Aerodrome, with air displays, sports and car events, tractor competitions, sideshows and children's events
The whole programme was expected to cost £100 15s, including the helicopter.
The P.R.A. Hostess - Miss Marie Rigney, whose appointment was made at the marching girls dance. Matamata County Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 51, 13 December 1955, Page 1
Who would organise it?
The Public Relations Committee couldn't find anyone willing to organise the carnival or serve on a committee for it, which is why the meeting was called. "The whole programme will have to go by the board if we cannot get an organiser," Mr Wrigley warned. Mr Bygrave agreed that a paid organiser was essential.
Mr K. N. Gouk admitted there were "a lot of doubts and ifs and buts" in the project. Even so, he was confident an organised programme would get solid support. Mr Wrigley pointed out that Christmas was a busy time for business people. His own commitments would keep him out of action for the next three months.
After a long discussion, the meeting:
adopted the programme, except for the gala day
decided to ask the Piako Aero Club to run the gala day, since it was expected to be the biggest event to organise
agreed to advertise for a paid organising secretary, leaving the details to Mr Wrigley
Mr Wrigley admitted the committee was disappointed by how little support it had received from the town's businessmen. He was still hopeful: "When it comes down to tin tacks, we will probably get their support."
The appointment of Mr A.D.Turner as organising secretary was reported only one week later! Matamata County Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 34, 14 October 1955, Page 1
Just one week later, the appointment of Mr Turner is proving worthwhile. Matamata County Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 36, 21 October 1955, Page 1. But still not everyone was happy about the plans. Mr Turner wasn't afraid to publish his disappointment. Matamata County Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 46, 25 November 1955, Page 1
And some of the general public were disapproving.
Matamata County Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 29, 27 September 1955, Page 1
The first annual report of the Public Relations Association by Mr Wrigley summed up the event. Matamata County Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 178, 13 April 1956, Page 8
The highlights
A helicopter visit. It cost £57, paid from membership fees, so admission was free. Crowds came, some from long distances, to see the machine. Few paid for a flight, though, and the association's commission was only £6 5s instead of the £15 it had hoped for.
A Hostess competition. It drew six entries, and the winner, Miss Rigney, "carried out her duties admirably."
The band contest. Was one of the main events and drew a large crowd.
Marching girls led by the pipe band. Their street display attracted wide notice.
A church service. It was well attended and judged worth including in future carnivals.
Aero club sports. They were popular and well attended despite bad weather.
Competitions. The window-dressing contest was especially popular and got favourable comments from the judges.
A lollie scramble and procession. Both were a hit with young children and drew many visitors into town.
Credit and lessons learned
The organiser, Mr Turner, was highly praised by committee members and the public.
Mr Wrigley was also frank about what went wrong. Most public criticism had been helpful, and the committee knew its planning had weaknesses:
advertising
the children's procession
the Hostess function
too little income from the events it sponsored
All photographs are from M.H.S. album 2026.26 which is labelled Christmas Carnival 56/57. It is my belief this has been incorrectly labelled and the photographs are from the 1955 event. See PDF below for rationale.
