Tuesday parade to welcome Shield heroes
NEWS RELEASE
20 September 2008
Tuesday
parade to welcome Shield heroes
The heroic Vodafone
Wellington Lions – and the Ranfurly Shield - will be
paraded before adoring Wellingtonians in a lunchtime parade
along the Golden Mile on Tuesday 23
September.
Acting Wellington Mayor Ian McKinnon
says the parade will offer the perfect chance for
Wellingtonians to welcome the Shield back after 26 years’
absence - and pay tribute to the team.
“Tonight's
game was one of the great tough Shield challenges - the
Lions overcame some terrible pressure from Auckland in the
first half.
"By holding the parade on Tuesday
rather than Monday it'll just give Wellingtonians a little
more time to get over the fact that the Shield is back in
the Capital - and to prepare for a rousing
reception."
The parade will start at 12.45pm
outside the old Government Buildings at the north end of
Lambton Quay, head along the Quay, into Willis Street and
Mercer Street and end at Civic Square just after
1pm.
Cr John Morrison, the Council’s Economic
Development and Recreation Portfolio Leader, says the
Lions’ performance tonight has “ended 26 years of
psychological torment in the Wellington
Region.
“I know that Council staff this week went
looking for local people with experience in organising
Shield victory parades in the Capital – but found that
most have either sadly passed on, or are in rest
homes.
“However I know Wellingtonians will be out
in force on Tuesday and it’ll be a parade to
remember.
“In our heart of hearts we’ve always
known the Wellington Lions are far and away the hardest and
most entertaining provincial side in the country. Now the
long dark years of paranoia and self-doubt are over. Life is
good and we are
content.”
ends