Discord over cavalcade funding allocation played down
Cavalcade organisers say a disagreement over fundraising distribution is a needless distraction, despite "concerning" social media posts this week.
Goldfields Cavalcade organiser Terry Davis told the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday this year's host town of Twizel had raised a record sum of more than $70,000 for local community groups.
On Wednesday night Mr Davis posted an open letter on the cavalcade's Facebook page saying the cavalcade trust was aware of "complaints from six of the 14 cavalcade host town committee members" regarding the planned distribution of those funds.
The letter said the complaints had been "thoroughly investigated", and processes found to be "entirely in keeping" with earlier events.
The cavalcade comprises a variety of guided horse, bicycle and tramping trails following traditional back-country gold-mining routes, ending at a different shared destination each year.
Up to 600 people take part, alongside more than 400 horses, which gather for a fundraising celebration in the host town at the event's conclusion.
This year's funds would be distributed to 10 local groups at a celebration in Twizel on Monday.
Mr Davis said he had shared the letter on the Twizel Community page to allay concerns due process had not been followed.
"We posted it to support the majority of the host town committee that have followed the process. We wanted to share it with the Twizel community after some concerning posts earlier this week."
Those posts have since been deleted.
Committee chairman Ray Harrington downplayed the disagreement, saying he preferred to acknowledge the efforts of local people in hosting the event.
"We had a meeting in April where we had a unanimous vote of the 12 people there to proceed with the distribution, as agreed, for Monday.
"I'm not sure why two people, who were not present at that meeting, should now be rocking the boat."
Mr Harrington said the meeting was recorded and minuted, and recipient groups were discussed and agreed upon "100%" during an hour-long discussion.
"Rather than focusing on the negative, let's instead celebrate the hard work of our community as a whole, which came together to host a great event in February and raised record funds."
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