Stoat Trappers' Ball

On Saturday, 23rd August 2008, Wainuiomata was the focal point for our inaugural Stoat Trappers' Ball. The event was a fundraiser for the Rimutaka Forest Park Charitable Trust and it was a real hoot for all who attended!

The funds raised will be presented to the Trust to enable them to maintain and extend their rat and stoat trapping network and so help to protect our recently released kiwi and other native birds.

Stoats are a fearsome introduced predator and are rated the number one pest threat for baby kiwi and kiwi eggs. Their larger mustelid cousins, ferrets, are a deadly threat even to adult kiwi. (You might recall that, earlier this year, at least 4 kiwi were killed by ferrets at Pukaha Mt Bruce Wildlife Reserve in the upper Wairarapa district.)

The STB Photo Gallery

(Click each picture for a larger image:)

The "Golden Kiwi" brooch prize crafted especially for the event by Maureen Kemp, of Wow Jewellery Designs was won by RFPT Stoat Trapper, Maarten Vink.

Gotcha!! Trev of Wainui gloats over his capture of "Stitch" the Stoat! Photo Credit: Peter Cooper

The Stoat Trappers' Ball

The Stoat Trappers' Ball organising committee are extremely grateful to the following people and organisations for their invaluable support and assistance over the past two months:

Hutt City i-SITE
The Blue Lily Cafe
Councillor Ray Wallace
Take Note, Wainui Mall
Wainui Pet & Farm Supplies
Kevin Ikin and The Jimmies
All the staff at the Wainuiomata RSA
Maureen Kemp, Wow Jewellery Designs
Susan Ellis & Melody McLaughlin (RFPT)
National Bank of New Zealand, Wainuiomata
Roy Yee and the team at Harbour City Caterers

ABOUT THE JIMMIES

The Jimmies (formerly The Jimmy Cook Band) have been at the core of Wellington's Celtic music scene for more than twenty years.

The Jimmies were formed in 1986, well before the Irish music explosion hit this part of the world.
In an environment which has seen a bewildering array of bands come and go, they are still counting the beat as Wellington's longest-surviving Celtic music group and the city's leading Ceilidh and Barn-dance band.

The Jimmies have taken their distinctive brand of Irish and Scottish music beyond the city too, playing at music festivals, concerts and in pubs in many parts of the North Island.

As The Jimmy Cook Band they have also featured as support act for Don McLean ("American Pie") and Ralph McTell ("Streets of London").

The band has recorded for National Radio and released an album, "Bold Endeavour", in 1993.

Anyone going to a Jimmies ceilidh or barn-dance can be assured of a rollicking good time. You will get to learn classic dances from the Irish, Scottish, American, NZ & Australian traditions which the band will teach and then call as you step them out, to the accompaniment of blood-stirring jigs, reels and polkas.

Driving the music for the dancing is one of Wellington's leading Celtic music exponents, Ruairidh Morrison, on flute, whistles, concertina and fiddle.

When you feel like a breather, the Jimmies will treat you to some great songs. As well as Irish and Scottish songs, you are likely to hear country, Cajun, reggae and swing, the band's own songs and tunes, and Kiwi songs, old and new. And as the mood or occasion demands it, the band can transform itself into a rock and roll combo, with a full repertoire of standards from the 60s and 70s.
In fact, we are finding an increasingly popular arrangement for dances and social events is a combination of ceilidh dances, interspersed with some good old traditional songs and then a strong dose of classic rock for those who want to "boogie". Truly something for everyone!

The Jimmies are:

Mary Hubble: Vocals, flute
Kevin Ikin: Tenor banjo, mandolin, guitar, vocals and percussion.
David (Ned) Knowles: Guitars (Murray Kilpatrick, Dance Caller and Guitarist, will stand in for Ned at the Stoat Trappers' Ball)
Ann McChesney: Keyboard and backing vocals
Ruairidh Morrison: fiddle, flute, whistles and concertina
Bob Silbery: Bass.

Folk dancing is fun, isn't it?!