Click go shears, boys, for 50th year

Don Farmer | 5th March 2010

The greatest shear on Earth kicked off in Masterton yesterday with the opening of Golden Shears' 50th birthday bash.
In what will be the biggest event in its history, apart perhaps from the opening of the inaugural shears in 1961, the event yesterday got straight under way doing what it does best _ putting forward a programme for competitors throughout the industry at all levels, culminating in the selection of a Golden Shears Open Champion.
For president Mavis Mullins, this year's opening was the final chapter in months of careful preparation and planning that could see thousands of visitors hit town.
The expected overflow from the birthday shears is to be catered for in a marquee erected in Queen Elizabeth Park, adjacent to the War Memorial Stadium, from where spectators will be able to watch the action on a large-screen television.
Mrs Mullins has been at the helm of the Golden Shears organisation for about 18 months and in a candid moment yesterday admitted to its feeling more like 18 years, such has been the recent workload. That aside, she has enjoyed the hard work and preparation she and her ''cool team'' of organisers have put in: ''I am really just the glue that keeps everything together.''
Mrs Mullins said everything had pulled together nicely, despite times when it might have seemed fragmented.
''We have had our times when a certain project has come along and three people have put their hand up to take care of it, then next minute there's no one and suddenly there's 10 of them.
''But I would rather have 10 organisers than no one at all.''
Though the format has undergone tweaking over the 50 years, the basic format of the competition has changed little.
Organisers said it had been a case of ''if it ain't broke, don't fix it'' and subsequently the shears had developed a loyal and growing following.
When the rural economy looked a bit fragile a few years ago, sponsorship got tougher and finances were a little shaky.