A giant tin shed played host to Royalty and more than 500 invited guests when the Synfuel synthetic petrol plant was officially opened in February 1986. Faced with the task of transforming an on-site warehouse into a venue suitable for the Duke of Edinburgh, V.I.Ps and a swarm of international media the plant’s public affairs manager Graeme Connell looked close to home for help.Chris Mitchell, the wife of a Synfuel engineer, and Mr Connell’s wife Lois, were charged with designing 84 fabric wall banners which featured the Synfuel plant, the construction site, and various New Zealand scenes. The Motunui branch of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers (WDFF) were also enlisted to cut and hem the banners along with hundreds of smaller flags and table flags. The oldest member, who was in her 80s, used her vintage hand operated machine as part of a mammoth sewing operation that lasted about 3 months and netted the WDFF $500.This project was one of many community initiatives which aimed to counter controversy surrounding the plant and the banners were a much admired feature during the opening celebrations.