We’re going on a bear hunt

Lions Family Picnic Day!

By Cynthia Daly

If you go down to the Whitianga Bike Park on Sunday, 5 March, you’re sure of a big surprise; if you go down to the Whitianga Bike Park you’d better go in disguise! For every child that ever there was, will gather there for certain because, that’s the day the Lions Club have, their Bear Hunt family picnic!!

So, Mums and Dads, Nannas, Poppas, favourite Aunts and Uncles, bring your own yummy treats, cool drinks, picnic basket, picnic blankets, sun hat, sun screen and come and join the activities at the Whitianga Lions Family Picnic Day.

It’s being held on the Day of the Child with good reason. As our ‘late summer’ starts to warm our hearts, it’s time to make some special memories with the ‘little people’ in our lives. To help get things underway, Matilda the Time Travelling Fairy is going to bring her fairy friends to ensure there’s lots of magic. Your little one can be transformed into a beautiful butterfly or perhaps a super hero with a lick of face paint. They’ll be transfixed by giant bubbles drifting by and balloons squeaking into shape as cute creations.

Whitianga Lions Club Project Mammogram co-ordinator, Mike Brown says, “You can’t beat a chilled-out family picnic and the Whitianga Bike Park is the perfect location with its own activities and shady trees to hide teddy bears for the Bear Hunt. There’s heaps of room for everyone to gather and watch the egg and spoon races (wrapped chocolate eggs of course). The Lions Club members will be sizzling sausages, and you can grab an ice cream and a coffee. There’ll be some great music from the Whitianga Dixieland Band, Soul Sax, The Rocking Realtor and from the CFM caravan. Tina Clark from The Bike Man will show the parents and kids how to correctly fit their cycle helmets and Whitianga’s community police will be on hand to help and explain the importance of wearing helmets on bikes and scooters.

“The Lions couldn’t have organised this day without the generous support of this community and we’d like to thank everyone involved, including our major sponsors CFM and Robert and Julie Denning-Kemp for helping make this event happen. All proceeds from the day will go to Project Mammogram.

So, mark the date - Sunday, 5 March, but don’t tell the littlies, remember it’s a surprise! The gates in Moewai Road open at 9.30am and the Lion’s picnic will roar into life at 10am finishing at 2pm. Bring some cash as there will be limited eftpos available at the gate for entry sales only, and two lines for cash sales.

Cost of entry is $10 for a family of four and $3 for each extra person. Some of the activities and the food and drinks will require cash as well. See you there… and if by chance the late summer turns a bit damp, it will be held the following Sunday, March 12.