Dannevirke: Red hats are fetching in Dannevirke

FANTASTIC FUN: Members of the Plains Dames from Ashburton about to visit the Dannevirke Fantasy Cave last Saturday. Photo / Christine McKay

The Dannevirke Community Board wasn't willing to support the local organisers of the annual Red Hatters Society conference, but despite that setback last weekend's conference was one of the best with huge benefits for the community.

"We've had a fab time, enjoying the shops and finding bargains. It's been fantastilistic," members of the Westie Working Wenches from Auckland told the Dannevirke News.

Almost 200 women from New Zealand and Australia descended on Dannevirke for the three-day event and along with great memories they also took home plenty of purchases from shops throughout the Tararua.

"It's been marvellous. We've been all over the place," Jill Rice of Waipukurau said.

Accommodation was booked out and visitors appreciated the hospitality.

"We're having a great time and we're staying at the camping ground which is lovely and sparkling," the Kapiti Wild Poppies said.

The women had made it their mission to shop, eat and drink in town and Just Gifts reported doing a roaring trade.

Shoe shop Sol also made sales and at Derek's Electrical, red hatters were grabbing gift bargains before they could be unpacked from their boxes.

The women also shopped at the Knox Church mini-market, with some having to return to the money machine, so they could keep spending.

"Your town has come out in force and supported us," Mary Ann Mann of the Hatalicious group from Nelson said.

The women also hunted down bargains in Woodville and Eketahuna.

"We laughed, acted a little bit crazy, ate chocolate and shared smiles with everyone," Kween Chookie (Kathryn Mulinder) of Dannevirke said.

"The community board may not have supported us, but everyone else has. The New World supermarket has been all decked out in red and purple and there was even a sign up outside a local church welcoming the Red Hatters. I've never seen that before and I've been to nine conferences."

Chamber of Commerce members supported the Dannevirke Red Hatters, ensuring the convention was a fun event.

"We received many compliments on the warmth of the welcome our guests were afforded and the friendliness of the people," Mrs Mulinder said. "We sincerely hope the businesses had a good return and know our guests were very impressed with the wide selection and quality of shops Dannevirke has to offer and also the tidiness of our town."