Bob’s Back At The Helm – Elements Festival

15th February 2007
Bob’s Back At The Helm – Elements Festival

Long time Chairman of next month’s Festival of the Elements in Porirua, Bob Cater, is back at the helm despite serious illness that saw him hospitalised in November.

Bob suffered a bad case of pneumonia, but has recovered well and has not allowed the setback to keep him away from his beloved Festival.

In fact, he said the Festival of the Elements was just the tonic to get him back on his feet.

Bob Cater has chaired the organising committee since the Festival of the Elements began in 1992. He is also Chairman of the festival's parent body, the
Porirua Community Arts Council.

“Last year we smashed our attendance record with more than thirty thousand people turning out for the 2006 Waitangi Day Festival,” Bob said this week.

“Already the interest in next month’s festival is tremendous, so I’m looking forward to another great day,” he said.

He is particularly pleased with the good response this year from volunteers, from teenagers to grandparents, to help with the Festival, and also with the response from the city’s northern suburbs to the call for assistance.

“The volunteer effort is a great demonstration of the wonderful community spirit in Porirua. We need all the assistance we can get because this is a free, no profit Festival. Should there be a surplus, it would go straight back into the Festival for the following year.”

The Festival of the Elements has also attracted support from a local bank this year.

“Sponsorship from our local business community is crucial, so newcomers are always very welcome to come aboard,” Bob said.

Some of Festival volunteers have been already working for most of the past year to help prepare for next month’s Festival.

“This is a Festival centred on cultural and ethnic diversity, so it is very heartening to see the community come together so well to ensure its success,” Bob said.

The Festival is still calling for extra volunteers on the day, especially to help out with the Kapi Mana News Art Action for Kids programme.

Volunteers and prospective sponsors can contact the Festival Coordinator, Margaret Armour, on (04) 2338436 or mobile 027 22456 70.

The Festival website can be found at www.elementsfestival.org.nz

ENDS

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