The Phar Lap Statue
When I went out to the Phar Lap raceway in the weekend and saw that magnificent statue and read the story of Phar lap around the fountain and saw the names of all those who had contributed to the dream I must confess it bought a tear to my eye. The tear was not for a piece of bronze on a pedestal it was for it what it would do for the people who live and work in the Timaru district. All the big names in racing were their but for me there is one person that deserves the loudest applause and that is Derek Mayne. Without the dedication and passion of this modest man together with the backing of his wife Marty there would be no Phar Lap statue on the old run down Washdyke racecourse.
Derek Mayne is the Real Hero
In the last few years I have listened and watched Derik Mayne share his passion for his dream. I have seen him give up his job to go full time in a desperate attempt to raise the final cost for this magnificent asset that will benefit generations of people in the Timaru district . I was in the crowd of a little more than a dozen people at the Phar Lap Raceway for the official launch of the campaign but the small Timaru crowd did not seem deter Derik from chasing his dream. He quickly realised that Timaru people were never going to support the idea so the trust launched their appeal world wide and the universe responded to their powerful belief that a bronze statue in the birth town of Phar Lap would be a winner. This surely is just the beginning of this dream and my only hope is that the people of Timaru will rally around and finish the job by lending a hand to restore the Phar Lap Racecourse and making it a real tourist attraction. I also hope that the Phar Lap trust does not ignore the limestone stature at the real birthplace of Phar Lap which to me is a very important chapter in the Phar Lap story.
Phar Laps 80th Birthday
I was one of the half a dozen people who attended Phar Laps 80thbirthday on Phar Lap Road and I took photos and video footage of the occasion. I even published a copy of Photo News to record Phar Laps 80thbirthday. I generously and handed out free copies to the councillors and management staff of the Timaru District Council but true to form these selfish people never gave me as much as a thank you for their free publication. Unlike Derek Mayne I learnt far too late that this generation of Timaru people is never going to be patriotic to their own town which is why I am now on the road helping other New Zealand businesses promote themselves and their towns.
Southland and Otago to Benefit
I did not go to the back slapping party to unveil the this magnificent scupture because my focus is now promoting a far bigger picture for tourism in New Zealand. I have just finished working on promoting Southland and at the time of writing I am now working on promoting Otago. You can join me on my journey www.travellersguide.co.nz or you can see the work I have done in promoting Southland http://www.invercargilldirectory.co.nz/
