Two more sleeps until the Khandallah Park Annual Picnic

Nicola McFaull from Onslow Residents' Community Association

Two more sleeps until the Khandallah Park Annual Summer Picnic which ORCA is coordinating.

It is being held this Saturday, 22 February from 11:00am - 1:30pm coinciding with the opening performance of Khandallah Arts Theatre's Play-in-the-Park that starts at 1:30pm. This year KAT is performing Mean Jean the Pirate Queen. We are encouraging all members of our community to bring their picnic basket and come along with their friends, kids and grand-kids and to let other members of the community know. See our attached flyer.

The theme of the day will be pirates fitting in with the play and there will be a pirate fancy dress parade, a treasure hunt and (fake) tattoos for would-be-young pirates. Pirates can also get their photo taken in front of the Pirate Photo Board. There will be free entry to Khandallah Pool, food stalls, old fashioned races such as the egg and spoon and activities such as bubble blowing. Live lunchtime entertainment will be provided by the Onslow College Music Department with two rock bands performing, Onslow ROck Band and Pandor's Box. Brock a talented young singer from Onslow will also be performing. Predator Free Khandallah will be there and showing their traps.

ORCA offered to coordinate the event last year, after the successful inaugural picnic that celebrated the centennial of the Park. We wanted to create a new tradition for our community. This year the event shows great community spirit with community groups such as Khandallah Presbyterian Church, Predator Free Khandallah, Khandallah Arts Theatre, Onslow College, Rotary Kauakau, Kaukau 100,Healthy Futures Trust, Cancer Society Sun Programme and ORCA members all involved. Our local politicians have also stepped up with Brett Hudson, our Pirate Master of Ceremonies and Greg O'Connor helping on the bubblemaking stall. Diane Calvert will also be helping staff the Information Table and we may get a visit from our new Mayor - Andy Foster!

Local businesses have also stepped up to support the event with Khandallah New World, Khandallah Trading Company, Mitre 10, Murray Potts from Harcourts and Mike Pero all providing support. We also have an artist painting the backdrop for the pirate photo board.

So we are now hoping for good weather as the picnic will be cancelled if it is not. Cancellations will be on ZB Radio and on our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com... and on our website - onslowcommunity.org.nz.

We encourage community members to come along and bring their kids and grand kids and help make this a tradition for our community.