Fourth Fizz Gig fireworks display this weekend
Collingwood firefighter and Fizz Gig member Peter Watkins . Photo: Neil Wilson.
This weekend will see the fourth annual fireworks display at Collingwood.
If the weather is suitable, the display will take place on Saturday night at 9pm and its organisers, a group of volunteers called Fizz Gig, are hoping for a dry still night or at least only a gentle breeze from the right direction. The Aorere estuary, which is the preferred site, provides a natural amphitheatre for viewing. The tide will be high at the time of the display, enabling the organisers to deploy some "water fireworks". They fall into the sea and ignite when they float to the surface.
Pete Watkins, a spokesperson for Fizz Gig, said the team first organised a fireworks display for the millennium but really got going for Collingwood's Trafalgar commemoration celebrations.
"I got involved then as a spare body. Barry Wigzell and Terry Hull are the main drivers of the displays. It's great because they have the appropriate firing tickets and that means our displays can be pretty spectacular. Barry fires the things that go up and Terry does all the signage and static display stuff. Those spitfires of his were great last year."
"We get donations from Sealord and a grant from Pub Charities and ITM helps us out with construction materials. We don't do anything we can't afford. We spend virtually every penny on the fireworks themselves. The display has become really popular. We had a huge crowd here last year."
The display is an ideal opportunity for the Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade Trust to raise some funds. Members will be moving among the crowd collecting gold coin donations. The proceeds are used by the trust to provide the brigade with equipment not provided by the New Zealand Fire Service. This year the funds will go towards medical equipment.
Pete explained that the idea of organised public firework displays sat very nicely with the Fire Service's policy on fireworks.
"The Fire Service is opposed to the sale of fireworks to the public and they encourage everyone to attend a properly organised display. We do everything right in terms of informing boaties, whitebaiters and people in the motor camp - anyone who's likely to be affected. Also the fire brigade takes care of fire safety in the firing zone. A full crew of firefighters will also be on standby in case of other callouts, but we obviously hope they won't be needed."
Pete said that the theme for this year's display was Guy Fawkes. He was coy about details but he hinted that the original Guy Fawkes was attempting to make a political point that might be seen as relevant in the light of things happening here in the near future.
Fizz Gig is the ideal name for the organising group because, as Pete explained, not only is it a nice name for a fireworks party, but it is also an Old English name for a firework.
Neil Wilson
Weather days are 26 & 27 October.
