Friends put best foot forward

F-words can be heard more and more around Masterton these days, together with the resounding blast of the whistle and the rhythm of marching feet.
Social marching team Golden Marches, under instructor Marlene Kawana, has been reformed with the emphasis very much on members having fun, improving fitness and, above all, forming and maintaining friendships.
"We actually got together for the first time again last year," Kawana said. "Ladies who used to march wanted to restart under a new name. That's how it all got under way".
Team member Yvonne Burcher, who started her marching career at the age of 10, agreed. "I couldn't wait to get the phone call," she said.
Kawana has nine women in her team, ages ranging from 42 to spritely 78-year-old Sadie Teal, with a further three women arriving soon to complete the full complement of 12.
New uniforms have been delivered and, with the aid of three successful grant applications, the team recently participated in the National Open Day in Tauranga, an event involving 52 leisure marching teams from all over New Zealand.
While each team took its own turn in the spotlight seriously, the whole event was based purely on participation and was not judged.
"We followed our 3F principles to the letter at open day" Kawana said. "You don't have to be 18 to have fun or be able to perform. There was great camaraderie. I was proud of the girls."
Golden Marches practice every Monday and is one of two marching teams in Masterton - the other being Whoops A Daisies - who are looking towards the warmer summer days to get out and enjoy themselves, and being able to attend as many other open days around the North Island as possible.
Members are getting back together next week after the Tauranga excursion and will be refining a routine they hope to display at the Christmas parade in December. An open day in Taita beckons after that.
While the emphasis remains on staying a social team, the basics of marching still have to be followed. "Even for leisure marching you need discipline and be able to count. You have to be a team player," Kawana said.
She couldn't envisage a resurgence of marching to the levels of years gone by - "youth spend their time doing other things nowadays" - but is willing to help anyone else wanting to form a new squad.