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Orewa Lion Morell Metcalfe has been to more than 20 Big Digs. At this year’s event he started at dawn, measuring the area to be rotary hoed, helping put prize sticks in the sand and erecting the surrounding fence. Zane Pilkington and son Felix of Hatfields Beach were first time Big Diggers and Zane says they will be back. Maya Ward, aged five of Orewa was among hundreds of successful Big Diggers. Let the digging begin! Yoon Jung Lee helps two-year-old Jooeun Lee with the digging.
Hundreds of excited youngsters took part in this year’s Orewa Lions’ Big Dig on Saturday, January 21, putting a lot of energy into finding coloured ice-cream sticks buried in the sand.
A total of 250 sticks were buried in fenced off areas of Orewa Beach for the under five-year-olds to find, with double that in the area for 5–12-year-olds. Each stick received a prize and many diggers found more than one.
As well as digging, some of the younger ones took advantage of the rotary hoed dry fluffy sand to build sandcastles or get covered up.
Although numbers of participants were slightly down, with an estimate of around 500 diggers, Orewa Lions president Mandy Hebben says Lions are more than happy with the total of around $5100 that was raised.
The money goes towards a set of outdoor gym equipment for Orewa Beach Reserve and this will be enough to purchase the first piece.
Lion Laurie Rands, who was one of many volunteers on the day, says that the Big Dig has become more than just a fundraiser and after 34 years has earned a place in local hearts as an iconic Orewa event. “That sure does make us proud,” she says.
Thanks goes to principal sponsors Mike Pero Real Estate Orewa, More FM and Destination Orewa Beach. Hibiscus Matters is a sponsor of the Big Dig.
