The weather was good and the crowd even better. Several thousand people from the surrounding community and beyond poured into Harrington Park from all points on Saturday, October 14, for the “Our Riccarton, Our Community” fun day.

Free food, activities and entertainment for all ages helped to create a great atmosphere. This was the 6th time the event has been held, with the organisation co-ordinated by Oak Development Trust. Manager Carol Renouf was impressed by the sense of fun and positive attitudes.

“We were aiming to encourage a sense of life and nurture, and we really achieved that,” she said. “There was great connectedness, community, and community building.”

A hat competition brought out the creativity in old and young, with the entries judged by Christchurch hat designer Maria Wright.

Carol Renouf paid tribute to 50-60 volunteers from around the community who worked from early morning to the end of the day, doing everything from cutting up fruit to packing down the tents.

The Fun Day was sponsored by Mainland Foundation, the City Council's Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board, Oak Development Trust, Peeto language school, Whittle Knight & Boatwood, and Community Networking Trust.

 Photos courtesy of Emily Toase, Christchurch City Council Community Recreation Advisor.