Tūātapere history - Tūātapere Hump Ridge Track Official Opening, 2001

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Central & Western Murihiku Southland Archive

Tūātapere history - Tūātapere Hump Ridge Track Official Opening, 2001: Collection of images and records donated by Anne McCracken, a former Trustee, Associate Secretary Hump Track Trust, and Co-Convenor Official Organising Committee in 2001. These items are as listed below: Images 1-3: Official Opening Programme and Ticket (number 500), 3pgs. Image 4: Official Opening Poster for advertising the Track Opening event. Image 5: Official Opening Invitation addressed to Anne & David McCracken. Images 6-9: various items from the opening event - first is an Article from the news about the Track Opening and the School Choir practising the song written by Brian Ringrose; second is an actual photo of the Children singing this song at the opening; third is Brian Ringrose himself with his guitar, after singing his song on the Hump Ridge Track at the opening; fourth is a copy of the words of the song, "Let's Take A Walk", (c) Brian Ringrose. Images 10-13: a selection of photos from the opening events - first is Mayor Frana Cardno speaking at the Official Opening Event; second is a photo of someone else (unknown - can anyone identify this person please) speaking; third is Anne McCracken cutting the Official Opening of the Track Cake; and fourth is an actual photo of the beautiful Official Opening of the Track Cake. Images 14-16: photos of various Official Opening day scenes - first is Anne McCracken with the Prime Minister and her husband Peter Davies; second is David McNay (Waiau Hotel Publican and Track Trustee) outside his hotel with the Prime Minister; third is the Prime Minister being taken for a ride on a horse and cart by Johnny O'Brien, in this photo outside the National Bank. Images 17-19: lists of all entertainment & stalls for Opening event, 2pgs; email letter from Malcolm Garrett covering how the Opening event went. Image 20: magazine article on Tūātapere Hump Ridge Track opening event. THE OPENING EVENT: An 'Official Organising Committee' was set up and this group met twice a month during 2001, to ensure that the Hump Ridge Track opening would be the event of the century for Tūātapere, even though that century had only just begun! Displays, Stalls, Events and more were planned over the two days of the Official Opening. The Prime Minister was to attend, who was at that time, the Right Honourable Helen Clark. Brian Ringrose, previously a member of the earlier popular 'Ray Columbus' band was to both write and perform a song about the Hump Ridge Track for and at the opening event. The school choir practised the song "Let's Take A Walk" and then performed this at the Hump Ridge Track Opening. Audio of this song is coming later. As the year progressed and the Official Opening event drew closer, a draft programme was printed, then 500 of the final Official Programme brochures plus a large array of invitations to all and sundry from the town and region. One of the original Official Programme brochures (actually number 500!) & an invitation (to Anne McCracken and her late husband David) are shown. It was fabulous to also find that Anne had saved a raft of photos of the official opening event as well. Plus a few news articles and magazine features too. On the day itself, the weather did NOT play ball, it apparently rained, the wind was howling and everything and everyone was altogether soaked. But in true Tūātapere style, the locals soldiered on and the event was a success. TRACK HISTORY: The first idea of a Track to be created over the Hump Ridge in Western Murihiku Southland was brought to a Tūātapere Promotions meeting back in late 1986. After much groundwork on many legalities and formalities, the Tūātapere Hump Track Charitable Trust was formed after a public meeting in 1995. By 2000 the required Resource Consent had been granted by the Southland Council and finally the grand official opening of the track was held during 3rd - 4th of November, 2001. The Tūātapere Hump Ridge Track had been opened to walkers on the 1st November 2001, but the Official Opening event was scheduled to be held over the 3rd & 4th of November 2001. It is of note, that nearly 23 years later, on 25 October 2024, the Tūātapere Hump Ridge Track was Officially given 'GREAT WALK' status and again officially opened as the newest and 11th Great Walk of Aotearoa NZ, in an event held at the WTCC or Waiau Town & Country Club at Tūātapere. More can be seen on this on our CWA Facebook page, and further files will be put in these online collections soon. Presently, from 25 Oct 2024 until 30 Nov 2024, a large display of history on the Hump Ridge Track is available to view at our Heritage Hub, which is situated at 48 Main Road, Tūātapere. We are open 10-4 Tues to Fri and the first Saturday of the month from 1-4pm. Contact us to visit at other times. More information about the Tūātapere Hump Track Charitable Trust and the formation of the Tūātapere Hump Ridge Track will be added shortly. In the meantime, please share your memories of this important asset to our local community and stories over the years that you know of, and most of all, do let us know if you have any more photos you can share with us all please. You can do this by adding a comment about at the bottom of the image page, or making contact.