Unfortunately, but we believe wisely, the 125th Golden Bay A&P Show has been postponed until January 2023. The silver lining is that this gives the council more time to work on the Grandstand restoration and now it looks like the Grandstand will be re-opened somewhere around the middle of 2022.

In the meantime we, the Golden Bay Grand Stand Community Trust, find ourselves near the close of Chapter 1 and working to pay off the loans that enabled the Grandstand to still be here today.

To this end we are selling places on a Thank You sign to be on display outside at the showgrounds – for $100 your name, or a name of a loved one who has passed away can appear on a silhouette of a person seated in the Grandstand. Gift vouchers are also available.

We are also beginning Chapter 2 – preparing the content for six heritage signs documenting the history of the showgrounds on which the Grandstand was built 122 years ago. Thank you to Pub Charity Ltd and their local partner the Collingwood Tavern for funding for the signs.

We would love to hear from anyone with connections to the showgrounds at Takaka. We can be contacted at gbgrandstand@gmail.com, 03 525 9099 and PO Box 18, Takaka.

The photo is of two of the three little old ladies with the mock-up of the Thank You sign in front of the Grandstand herself in all her scaffolding. It truly is happening and, as always, we thank you all for your support that helped to make it happen.

We wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

Three Little Old Ladies