Bachelor hearts where their art is

8 June 2004

Bachelor hearts where their art is

Fieldays Rural Bachelors will put their hearts where their art is with the results of a canvas-painting heat auctioned for a good cause.

The ‘Bachelor of Arts’ heat will see the seven bachelor contestants demonstrate their artistic abilities with a canvas painting representing rural New Zealand. The heat will be held at 11am, Thursday 17 June on the Village Green at Fieldays.

The one-off bachelor artwork will be auctioned during Fieldays with money raised donated to Mobile Surgical Services, the specially equipped mobile operating theatre that brings day surgery facilities to small rural hospitals, and a national and international exchange of expertise to larger hospitals.

Mobile Surgical Services general manager Maryanne Sweeney said the donation raised form the Bachelor of Arts heat will be put to good use in rural communities.

“We’ll consult with members of those rural communities and invest in a piece of equipment that benefits them all,” she said.

The seven Fieldays Rural Bachelors representing those communities from Balclutha to Morrinsville will compete in a number of heats as they battle it out for the Golden Gumboot title and amazing prize package. All heats are designed to test both the finalists’ rural abilities and “bachelor skills”.

“The heats test bachelor lifestyle skills and bring out the attributes of a good Kiwi bloke,” Fieldays competitions coordinator McGowan said.

The bachelors will be building fences, driving diggers, dog trialling, chainsawing and riding a bucking bull (mechanical style). They will also take part in a rugby training drill with Waikato rugby legends, cook up a storm on a BBQ, deliver pick up lines to members of the crowd and show their sensitive side in a bloke’s pamper “product test”.

The important job of judging the bachelors over the four days has been appointed to a group of people that represents male, female, rural and urban, young and mature members of society. Judges include Fieldays volunteer Mrs Jan Kerkin, 2003 Bachelor winner Tim Stafford, President of Rural Women NZ Sue Saunders and two young urban females from Fieldays’ strategic partners ANZ and Telecom.

“I believe the mix of judges will ensure the best decision is made as to which bachelor will take away the title,” Miss McGowan said.

Bachelors will compete during Fieldays, 16-19 June.

Visit www.fieldays.co.nz to view the finalist and vote for your favourite.

ENDS

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