Carterton Information Centre

I visited Masterton today and had a fabulous time looking around the Spinners & Weavers popup shop that is open for 3 weeks beside Countdown Supermarket (opposite the Copper Kettle).  Bought some gorgeous felted leaves that could be used for decoration or coasters etc.

Received my latest Tranzit Tours magazine today (called TranzScript – cool name ) and you can now book online with them for their trips and tours and there is no longer any membership fee!  Awesome guys.  They  have so many things coming up – both local,  national and international trips and although some of them  have sold out already there are others just waiting for you to tap in.

They are having a Winter Warmer on Tuesday 18 June where they are visiting the Kaitoke Country Gardens cafe and the ever popular la Bella Italia (YUM).  The are having lunch at the Back Bencher Gastropub (never been there either) and then there is an opportunity to have some retail therapy in Petone with all the lovely little boutique stores along Jackson Street!  and all for only $73.00 which includes all  your food!

They are already advertising for the Wairarapa Garden Tour in November, the WearableArt Awards in September and Operatunity in October and then they offer a trip to Norfolk Island (always wanted to go there) in August, Western Australia in October – you name it they have it!  If you want to find out more then  you can visit them online on www.tranzittours.co.nz or phone them on 0800 471 227.

Coming soon is our Long Fin Eel Display (Rawiri Smith has organised this) and it will be on display at the Carterton Events Centre from 28th May to 4th June – very short exhibition time due to other bookings so make sure you get in and see this.

Remember to follow our radio show as well on 92.7FM – you can also listen online to this on www.arrowfm.co.nz  and this Friday 0930 to 1030 we are interviewing local author Mike Ledingham at 09:30am followed by Ron Mark at 10:00am.

June 7th we have author, Phillip Mann on air for the entire programme and then June 14th an interview with well renowned New Zealand artist, Michael Moore who has recently returned to the Wairarapa (Carterton rules! )  and now has a studio almost ready to open to the public (by appointment).

Leonard Cohen concert, I’m Your Man performance is on tomorrow night – Tuesday 21st at 7.30pm.  If you haven’t got your tickets then be in quick to us or to www.dashtickets.co.nz.

Roger Fox directs the Wellington Jazz Orchestra next Tuesday 28th at 7.30pm at the Events Centre as well for their 40th Anniversary Tour.  Again come by to see us or go to DASH tickets to purchase your ticket.

The new Wai Art exhibition with entirely new work is due to finish 26th May so if you haven’t seen it yet come and visit us anytime between 10am and 4pm.

Well the wind and the rain have arrived and the temperature has plummeted but the South Wairarapa Tramping Club (brave souls as they are)  have just published their latest newsletter for the month……and yikes…..they are proposing to strike out for Sayers Hutt for an over night stay on the Totara Flats on 18/19 May.  25th May sees them doing a skyline walk in Wellington.  Described as a short climb up the ridge and then rolling country with great views.  1st June Stan Smith is organising a walk to Blue Range Hut/ Kiriwhakapapa and says that there is some steep climb but not for long.  The Lamberts are organising a walk to Powell Hutt on 8 June and although the 15th and 22nd June are still to be advised on  - the 29th June, Ed & Juliet Cooke are organising a walk on the Ara Hakeke walkway – Pukerua Bay to Paremata.  They state that is “downhill on formed road”.  After 29 June until late September trips will be run fortnightly and if the weather is bad on the scheduled day the trip will run a week later!  Aren’t they amazing these hardy folks and if you would like to join them – just let us know and we’ll give you some phone numbers to contact.

For those of us who lean toward couch potato status, we have some amazing opportunities coming our way musically with a Leonard Cohen Evening on Tuesday May 21st at 7.30pm. An evening celebrating the words and music of Leonard Cohen in the company of his biographer Sylvie Simmons whose recently published book on Cohen has fast become a NZ bestseller and is one of the most critically received music biogs in publishing history.

Featuring an onstage interview with legendary rock-critic and author Simmons by The Dominion Post’s Simon Sweetman and exclusive interpretations of Cohen’s classic songs courtesy of members of The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, Tui Folk Album Of 2012 nominees French For Rabbits, John The Baptist, Eb & Sparrow (fresh from their support slots with Rodriguez and Anika Moa), Bear Bailey and Brassed Off.

This is a one-off show in New Zealand and is definitely not be missed.

The following week  -  Celebrating the 4oth Anniversary of the Wellington Jazz Orchestra, featuring Rodger Fox – trombonist, bandleader, and jazz ambassador, with his big band and featuring US vocalist Glenn Walters and NZ’s own Erna Ferry.  This will be an absolute delight of a night and with a full orchestra and perfect acoustics here at the Events Centre, certainly a night to remember.

Tickets for both shows are through Dash Ticketing and as an outlet at the Carterton Events Centre we can help you with your ticketing requirements.

Remember there are lots of opportunities for you to participate in events as well with the TOF (The Oversew Fashion Awards) getting ready for their 2014 show. They arealready  wanting volunteers ready to step forward and have a meeting set up at the Events Centre next Tuesday 14 May 7.30 to 9pm so come on down and join us.

The Events Centre is hosting a Bridal Expo on Saturday 27th April from 10am until 4pm with entry being FREE!  If we all say our prayers and keep our fingers and toes crossed then Holloway Street might be finished.

The Pickalily girls have organised this fabulous extravaganza and there will be something for the blokes as well with Peak Brewery and a bbq with sausages.  I know the stallholders would LOVE to see as many people as possible who are in the planning stages or are supporting someone else in the planning stages and have a look to see what they have to offer.

Anzac Day will be celebrated as per normal with the parade starting at Holloway Street, up to Memorial Square and then returning down to the Events Centre for a service.

Saturday we are also celebrating a very rare event – OPEN DAY at RICHMOND GARDENS – $10 entry fee per person and all proceeds from this are going to the Keep Carterton Beautiful Group.  They are open from 10-4 (same as the bridal expo) so it makes sense to head down to Carterton this weekend and have a peek at all the wonderful things that this part of the Wairarapa can offer!

This weekend – watch out for the famous WHEELBARROW race in Carterton – starting at 10am from Memorial Square.

Mobility Scooter race is first up, kids scooter and kids wheelbarrow races are soon to follow and all entries for these are free.  The kids races are open up to 15 years of age and BIKE helmets and running shoes are required for the Scooter Race.

11.00am Judging to Decorated Barrows  - Again Free Entry and there is a parade at 12.30

11.30am onwards the ‘pub to pub participants’ start arriving in Carterton.

12.30 Decorated Wheelbarrow Parade

12.00-1.00  Adult Open Races

1.00 Prizegiving

These times are approximate only and may change on the day.

SUNDAY -

Wairarapa Word – OPEN MIKE NIGHT
Wairarapa Word, Carterton, 7 April 2013 – 1 December 2013

When:
Sun 7 Apr, 3:00pm–5:00pm

Sun 5 May, 3:00pm–5:00pm

Sun 2 Jun, 3:00pm–5:00pm

Sun 7 Jul, 3:00pm–5:00pm

Sun 4 Aug, 3:00pm–5:00pm

Where:Almo’s Books, 42 High Street, Carterton
Restrictions:All Ages

Admission: Free

What could be better than spending the weekend here with us in Carterton.

Good Friday tomorrow and although there may not  be any sight of Easter bunnies romping through the fields with chocolate there are a range of fabulous activities for all of us to participate in.

On Saturday at 2pm Trevor Lamb’s exhibition opens accompanied by the roar of motorcyles coming through from Masterton.

Sunday we can celebrate with the Vintage Cars up at the Solway Showgrounds but remember to access through FLEET Street and it’s really affordable – Adults are $2 and family is $5.  Along with the cars there will be the New Rags market and lots of stalls with unique handcrafts.

Noticed on Dash Ticketing that we are selling for a range of shows at present as well – This weekend is the Tora Tora Tora Music Festival as well as Comedy in the Vines out at Gladstone Vineyard.

In May here at the Events Centre we have “The Gunslingers Ball” , followed swiftly by ‘I’m Your Man (celebrating Leonard Cohen and his works)  and then Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloured Dream Coat in Masterton.

I intend to thoroughly enjoy my weekend and hope you all do too – please make sure you stay safe out there and watch out for any rogue Easter Bunnies!

I just came back to work today after a week’s leave and see how Carterton is really starting to take on the Christmas Spirit.  There is a fabulous selection of gifts in the shops.  I have bought a number of items already, but I keep eating the choccies that are to accompany the gifts.  I may have to rethink this.  The Last Night of the Proms is over but not forgotten – what a wonderful experience that was for one and all.

Tonight is a public meeting for Cartertonians and Featherston on the Governance Issues.  People are really serious about attending and ensuring that their opinions are heard and it’s important for the normally ‘silent majority’  to make sure that they speak now and hear the options. 

On  a whole other subject – our lovely Event & Project Co-ordinator (known from hereonin as Jeanine the fabulous) has designed some wonderful pictures for children to colour in and then add as a decoration to our Christmas Tree in the foyer!!  There is a folder of these pictures on our Information Centre Counter – so come on in and bring the kids and get them to choose something to display here at our wonderful Events Centre.

Wow, it really is just awesome all the things that have been happening in Carterton.  I have just seen the front window of Sew Carterton today where all the fabulous five dollar holiday  competition mystery objects were created.  Violet bought hers in to show me and it looks fabulous!!  Every mystery object was different and almost every creation is so different as well.

We have had three young men in over the school holidays teaching Breakdancing to anyone who wants to learn and all for free.  Amos, Luke & Ep enjoyed themselves so much they are coming back in to do some more.

The Midwinter Christmas exhibition has just finished and it was like walking into a christmas winter wonderland – just gorgeous.

Now we have the The Oversewn Fashion Awards coming up in August, rehearsals starting for Blood Brothers through Limelight Theatre, The OE Ball coming up 4th August (not long) and the Big Wai Art Sale starting at the beginning of September.

If this all seems a little exhausting then we have someone locally – very local who can ease those knots and bumps out of your tired little limbs.