Coral’s a gala day veteran

Coral Loomb

When Te Awamutu’s Coral Loomb tells you she often marvels at how much the St John’s Anglican Church Gala Day has grown – and changed – over the years, she knows what she’s talking about.

In between manning a stand at which she was selling cookies at this year’s gala on Saturday, Coral told The News of her 60-year association with the day.

It was, essentially, the gala’s sense of community which initially drew her in all
those years ago.

And she’s stayed since.

“I enjoy it very much.”

This year’s gala was organised by a fiveperson committee – Els Brown, Jill Webber, John and Linda Littlemore and Warren Tims.

And, as The News took a quick tour of the gala with Els on Saturday, there were seven tables placed end on end outside the church building.

Everything from Coral’s cookies to plants, books and Judith Megaw’s various
homemade marmalades were among the items on sale.

There was even a petting zoo featuring sheep and kunekune pigs.

Funds raised at Saturday’s gala via gold coin donations go towards refurbishment
work required on windows at both Old St John’s Church in Te Awamutu and St Paul’s Church at Rangiaowhia.

The gala raised $4000 – and the stained glass window in St Paul’s was scheduled to be removed on Tuesday morning.

The parish project – first revealed by The News in August – is estimated to cost nearly $150,000.

Coral has had a number of roles at the gala across her subsequent six decades –
including organisational responsibilities in past years.

“Looking around and seeing how muchthe gala has grown and changed, and what it looks like today, amazes me.

“When my involvement with the fair first started, my youngest child was just three months old.

“It’s almost hard to fathom that it has been as long as it has now,” she said when
reflecting on those 60 years.”

Coral has also been a member of the church’s vestry – essentially its organisational committee as she called it – for the past few years.

Vestry members essentially function as church elders.

And Coral is always delighted to see the many ways in which the gala builds
connection with the community.

Te Awamutu St John’s Anglican parish priest Reverend Julie Guest, alongside her husband Andrew, manned the barbecue and handed out the sausages for much of Saturday.

“It’s wonderful seeing everyone out and about,” Reverend Guest told The News.