Call to help save Thurso gala
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VOLUNTEERS are desperately needed to make sure next year’s Thurso Gala goes ahead.
The plea for people to commit to help run events comes after organisers Thurso Town Improvements Association issued a last-ditch appeal for new committee members at the end of September as numbers had dropped to an unsustainable level.
Chairwoman Doreen Macleod said that since then the committee has lost another two members but it has been agreed to continue with a core group of just eight people – for now.
However, in order to keep going TTIA needs to build a body of willing helpers. “What we are going to do is stick with eight members but we need volunteers to come forward,” said Mrs Macleod.
“If we get volunteers to help us at events then we will continue. They don’t have to come to meetings if they don’t want to, what we need is a list of people we can rely on to lend a helping hand.”
She added: “We just need that wee boost to help us – especially for the gala.”
Mrs Macleod said appeals for people to join the TTIA committee had borne no fruit. As a result, the group decided the best idea was to encourage people to get involved in the general helping out and leave a core dedicated committee to handle the day-to-day planning for the events and longer-term logistics.
“We have a hard-working committee that is prepared to attend meetings, so what we need is volunteers,” she said, “although we would never stop anyone from joining the committee if they really wanted to.”
Mrs Macleod said that TTIA will hold a meeting early in the new year to reassess the situation.
The group has been struggling for some years now to organise events in the town as the number of people directly involved dwindled and because of a lack of help from the public.
Despite thousands of visitors attending the popular events TTIA has not been able to attract new blood to the group.
In September, Mrs Macleod’s husband, Sandy, also a committee member, said that ideally they would need around 15 dedicated members to avoid folding.
If the help was not forthcoming, he warned, then the gala and the numerous other events that the committee organises would simply disappear.
The AGM in November provided no such support but the determined remaining members were reluctant to simply let years of tradition come to an end.
“Everything we’ve held after gala has been a success as well,” said Mrs Mac-leod. “The Halloween night, family bingo, and senior citizens’ concert were all really well attended. We’re getting really positive feedback – we just need the help for it to continue.”
The group, which is responsible for some of the town’s biggest events, has pledged to honour its Christmas commitments this year, which include the switching-on of the Christmas lights as well as Santa’s grotto and a fun day.
Spaces for fun day stalls are available and can be booked through the committee. Voluntary and charity organisations will be able to bring along their own tables and covers to the precinct on December 3 to help raise some funds and awareness of their work.
The TTIA will hold the switch-on of the Christmas lights on Friday, December 2.
Earlier this year the annual Wick Hogmanay party, which drew thousands of visitors to the town centre, was axed.
The committee which had organised the event annually since 2000 was forced to fold in April after membership fell to just five people.
Wick Gala was also under threat when just five people turned up to the AGM in March. But an emergency meeting boosted committee numbers to over 20.
Willing volunteers can get in contact with the TTIA by Facebook – www.? facebook.com
