Moniaive Gala

Updated 30/8/10

LATEST GALA 2010

The eighteenth Moniaive Gala was a great success thanks to the community who threw themselves into the events of the week.
    With a very small committee this year there were fears that it could all go horribly wrong! But the community pulled together when they were needed most and our calls for help were answered. Everything from the Institute... tables, chairs, tea urns and yes, even the fridge were loaded up and delivered to the marquee and unloaded and set up by the committee. Generator hooked up and lights and power sorted. Drink delivered and stored plus all the other paraphenalia needed to run a gala. Then we were off...
    We started with the Bingo on Wednesday evening which was held in the Three Glens restaurant and raised an amazing £147.
    Thursday we held the Cream Cracker eating contest in the Craigdarroch and also the ever popular Car Treasure Hunt. All gala results have been posted in the window of Watson’s Store.
    Friday saw the pet show, five-a-side football and our Family Fun dance in the marquee. Dancezone teacher Mary had us all up doing the salsa, swing and Macarena which the kids really enjoyed... oh but how us adults suffered! Lots of prizes given out and a great success compared to previous ‘family’ events.         During the dance, Chloe (9), Maia (9) and Finn (8) ran a cake and lemonade stall to raise funds for charity. The kids had been baking all day and raised £50 for cancer research... well done guys!
    Saturday Gala day.... faced with an empty field at 8am was daunting but they came... those who said they’d help build the obstacle course turned up on time and set to work, delivering bales, stabs, machinery, ropes etc etc. Building the water feature, blowing up the giant inflatable ‘human ball’, decorating the stage, building the rope feature, delivering the ‘crazy’ bikes, building the kids obstacle course, setting out the arena, building goals, setting up the PA system, delivery of the stalls, horses, axe throwing and archery. The gala committee really cannot express how grateful we are for all the help we received because without it there really wouldn’t have been a gala.
    Thanks to all those who dressed up and made the fantastic wheelbarrows and floats again this year. I thought the kids fancy dress costumes this year were better and more imaginative than ever and I’m sorry my pictures don’t do them justice. The judges – Julie Swift, Jean Stewart and Wendy Wall had an unenviable job selecting winners. The floats were amazing with an unbelievable amount of work going into making each and every one of them. Led by the Buccleugh and Queensbury Pipe Band and the Queen and Attendant in the car driven by Jim Gordon, they all made their way to the Macara Park.
    At the park Chairman Duncan Saunderson welcomed everyone and announced the winner of this years ‘Guid Citizen’ Mrs Edwina Fletcher. Last years’ Queen Tilda Borrow then crowned new Queen Rebecca Frame. Attendant Anya Borrow then spoke on behalf of herself and Rebecca. Followed by Nan Tait who kindly opened the Gala with a lovely speech.
    In the arena we once again had our obstacle course with a smaller course for ‘wee ones’. These proved to be popular and we were lucky enough to be able to borrow the ‘crazy’ bikes, human ball and various pieces of machinery needed. Fewer adults took part this year but the kids loved it! We may need to remind parents to bring a change of clothes for their kids as  many of them fell in and got wet (although more adults fell in than kids!).
    We were able to provide loads of free events this year: horse riding, axe throwing, digger driving, archery, crisps and juice on the stage, the gyroscope, lots of bouncy things, sumo suits and the obstacle courses.
    In the tea tent the SWRI had obviously been up since dawn making filled rolls and cakes. They had a successful gala and raised much needed funds for the Rural.
    We rounded off the day with penalty shootouts, tug of war and the lorry pull. Again children reigned supreme with teams in every event. We’d like to thank all the children who attended and who threw themselves into the events... you made it a great day for us all.
    Finally the day ended with the gala dance with Dumfries based band ‘Cruiser’. This was a great night with no trouble, lots of dancing and a chance for the committee to relax a little.
    Sunday saw us move everything back to the Institute, clean up, deliver items back to their rightful owners and then fall in an exhausted heap.                                     Moniaive Gala Committee

2007January 1st 2011 - New Years Day Ceilidh with traditional ceilidh band and bar.

February 2011 - Duck race, watch 1,000 plastic ducks race down the burn and hope yours stays afloat. Followed by teas and soup and prizegiving.

May  - Barn Dance (end of lambing, start of silage)

July   - Car Treasure Hunt; Bingo; Moniaive World Cream Cracker Eating Competition.

July  - Moniaive Pet Show;  Five-a-side Football; The Generation Game; Family Disco with Yard of Ale Competition.

July  - Gala Day with traditional stalls, sideshows, bouncy castles and teas.  Fancy Dress and Floats; Parade; Opening and Crowning of Queen; Sheep shearing including the 'Shear Off' & Pipe Band in arena; arena entertainment; Sumo wrestling (audience participation); Penalty Shoot-out; Tug of War Adults & Kids; Lorry Pull; Presentation of Prizes.  Gala Dance with live band and full bar.

November 5th - Bonfire and firework night for the community.

We run other events during the year and provide the bar and staff for other events and galas.

Contact Sue Grant sue@badpress.demon.co.uk