Katikati Marching Girls
Collection Details
DescriptionThe Debonairs were formed in July 1967, with the elected officers of the Katikati Marching Association being Mrs. Shirley Wood as Chair, Mrs. Pat Wilson as Vice-President, and Mrs. Marie Appleton as Secretary-Treasurer. The Committee wasted no time in organising fund raising events, the first being a fashion show aptly named "The March of Spring" held on August 26th at the Katikati Memorial Hall. The money raised paid for the smart new uniforms for the team, this being a dress with a low waistline and a short pleated skirt topped by a pageboy hat. The colours were royal blue and white. Then in April 1968, Mrs. Edith Honeyfield, wife of the prominent business leader Arthur Huia Honeyfield, agreed to become patron of the team. The marching girls continued their good form, the team winning the Uniform Cup at a competition in Waihi, and Shelley Gifford winning a medal for Best Novice Leader at Tauranga in 1968. They delivered a very polished performance at Katikati's Christmas Carnival and the A & P Show. In December 1968 they qualified for the North Island Marching Championships held in Hastings after placing second at the Bay of Plenty Marching Champs held at Taupo. Sadly the Committee were forced to make the heartbreaking decision not to go due to lack of funds.
However, good news was on the way when in March 1969 a marching championship was held at the Uretara Domain. The Debonairs were to be joined by the junior team, the Cardinals, to represent the local contingent while other teams came from as far away as Tokoroa. It was the teams from Rotorua which swept the board and took the trophies that day and shortly after this, many of the original members of the Debonairs left the district, and the decision was made in July 1969 to disband the team, leaving only the Cardinals and the Midgets to march on.
The Korero of Katikati notes that there was a marching team going by the name of the Katikati Ulster Guards which competed at Rotorua in April 1970, but by August 1970 the writing was on the wall and the Association went into recess. All the remaining funds were donated to the St. John's Ambulance Association.
Western Bay Community Archives were fortunate to receive The Katikati Marching Association's archive of financial records, correspondence, membership records and minutes from the Western Bay Museum in 2019. These are available to view at the Katikati Archive Room.
Collection dates Between 9th July 1967 and 16th August 1970Donor or SourceWestern Bay Museum
However, good news was on the way when in March 1969 a marching championship was held at the Uretara Domain. The Debonairs were to be joined by the junior team, the Cardinals, to represent the local contingent while other teams came from as far away as Tokoroa. It was the teams from Rotorua which swept the board and took the trophies that day and shortly after this, many of the original members of the Debonairs left the district, and the decision was made in July 1969 to disband the team, leaving only the Cardinals and the Midgets to march on.
The Korero of Katikati notes that there was a marching team going by the name of the Katikati Ulster Guards which competed at Rotorua in April 1970, but by August 1970 the writing was on the wall and the Association went into recess. All the remaining funds were donated to the St. John's Ambulance Association.
Western Bay Community Archives were fortunate to receive The Katikati Marching Association's archive of financial records, correspondence, membership records and minutes from the Western Bay Museum in 2019. These are available to view at the Katikati Archive Room.
Collection dates Between 9th July 1967 and 16th August 1970Donor or SourceWestern Bay Museum
Related Information
PlacesKatikatiPersonWILSON PatAPPLETON MarieWOOD ShirleyHONEYFIELD EdithHONEYFIELD Arthur Huia QSMEventKatikati A&P ShowOrganisationsKatikati Marching and Recreational AssociationSource (Link)Marching New Zealand
PersonWILSON PatAPPLETON MarieWOOD ShirleyHONEYFIELD EdithHONEYFIELD Arthur Huia QSMEventKatikati A&P ShowOrganisationsKatikati Marching and Recreational AssociationSource (Link)Marching New Zealandloading google map....
Katikati Marching Girls. Western Bay of Plenty Community Archives, accessed 15/12/2025, https://westernbay.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1846
