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The enthusiasm generated by Oamaru's Victorian Celebrations was perfectly demonstrated by the Can Can dancers of Arrowtown.
Lacking a performance venue on Saturday night, they created an impromptu stage by bringing a pair of cars onto the footpath facing each other with their headlights on and gave an exuberant performance of their customary knees-up.
I wimpishly asked of them: "If the car owner gets busted for a traffic offence, would you share in the fine?" One of them airily replied: "Oh, I'm a lawyer, I'm sure I could get them off."
Running from November 12-16 last year, the Oamaru event had an array of traditional delights, including such un-PC activities as a smoking contest which was held during the Victorian Fete on the last day. The object of this singular and contemplative activity was to see who can keep their pipe going for longest. The contestants sat in solemn concave at a long table and were given a clay pipe packed with a certain quantity of tobacco. They were each given three matches to use in the first few minutes and then they were on their own to last as long as possible. The skill apparently lies in keeping the embers burning gently and evenly across the top , rather than burning a core through the middle of the tobacco.
Dressed as a Chinese coolie, complete with a dead chicken on a pole, Sam McEachern came a commendable third on his first attempt at the competition. His pipe conked out at 27 minutes, while trying to smoke, engage his fellow contestants in banter and take photos are the same time.
This year it was won by local horse breeder and three-times champion, the Amish-looking Richard Vinbrux, who held out for 34 minutes, narrowly squeezing out the previous champion, Ken Mitchell. "The trick is to relax," he said. "If you're too nervous, you puff too hard."
Doyenne of the Oamaru art scene Donna Demente, who specialises in paintings of large heads with sensuous lips and languid eyes, is also leader of a bikie group (push bikes) called the Hydrangeas.
Usually overshadowed by the more spectacular penny farthings, this group whizzed about the town on bikes of antiquated appeal, often festooned with a floral display.
A similar piquant charm is found in the Wizard (aka Ian Brackenbury Channell), once of Christchurch, who has moved to Oamaru and is still much given to practising his wizardly ways. This time he bestowed an award on one of his most faithful acolytes, Sir Barty, on account of his immense talent for being annoying and because in collaboration with Barry the Egyptian, he intends building a pyramid in Oamaru.
For many participants, the ball was the Heritage week's peak experience. It was an enchanted evening - the women in their opulent and dazzling ball gowns, bedecked with bustles and baubles of myriad size and hue. The gentlemen were resplendent in tailcoats and top hats or - even more dashing - military uniforms or kilts. There was a selection of waltzes, fox trots and the military two-steps, culminating in everyone on the floor for the grand march led by the pipers.
Following in the tradition of the great Mrs Beaton, Marise Martin devised a performance entitled The Victorian Domestic Goddess Takes a Husband. Aided by five equally fictitious characters, she dispensed wisdom and guidance to fellow female pilgrims on the vexed question of how to choose and keep a husband.
Certain women, well lubricated with sherry and elderflower cordial, expressed the wish to trade their husbands on the night. The success or otherwise of these wishes is not recorded.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
The Victorian Celebrations are held in Oamaru annually, during the
second and third week of November. For further information
contact historicoamaru.co.nz
