By Emily Norman
Featherston dressed to impress on the weekend as hundreds of youth group members flooded the South Wairarapa town.
It was all go last at Card Reserve where more than 400 youth participated in an annual Anglican Youth Ministries games event for the Wellington region.
The event comprised about a dozen youth groups from as far afield as Wellington City and the Manawatu region.
Featherston’s Alan Maxwell, the Anglican Youth Co-ordinator for Wairarapa, said the groups went “head-to-head” in a Top Town-style series of challenges, followed by a barbecue and a swim.
“We do this every year so that Anglican youth can see that they’re part of a bigger community and not just on their own,” Mr Maxwell said.
It was the first time the event was hosted in Featherston – previously it has been in Waikanae.
“Hosting it in Featherston has allowed more of our youth to participate, and the Community Board, Council and local businesses have been amazing in showing their support.”
Mr Maxwell said the groups were amazed at the standard of the facilities there were in Featherston.
“They were also blown away by how the community got involved,” he said.
“Each group usually has to bring helpers to do the event but we had over 30 volunteers from the area come and get involved.”
Mr Maxwell noted the support of Tranzit, Breadcraft, South Wairarapa District Council, CLM, Wairarapa Building Society, Featherston Community Board, Hansells, Park Vale Mushrooms, Loco and Featherston’s Own in creating a successful event.
