Page 20 - pākuViews Summer 2013
Basic HTML Version
Coromandel Real Estate
Photographers
Ltd
Alan Duff
p
021 116 2266 - 07 866 3590
e
• Elevated photos
• Aerial photos
• Int/ext photos
• Twilight photos
• Cost effective
Garden Makeovers
Landscaping
specialising in all �mber work,
landscape design & plan�ng
Tracey Salkeld (Dip. Hort.)
Sam Salkeld (DaHT)
07 864 7820 • 021 240 4437
Tairua Senior Rugby Club 1978
Winners of Blomfield Sheild: Skelton Cup:
Harry Leach Trophy:
Back Row: J. Wana, N. Taylor, D. Hotene,
W. O’Neil, D. Hayward, T. Paul
Middle: Row: W. Brooks (Coach), P. McHardy, P. Mason,
K. Wana, T. Savage, A. Moore, I. Stewart
Front Row: S. Ahu, D. Clark, T. Kingi (Captain),
L. Hughes, J. Ngahau
Tairua Senior Rugby Club 1979
Thames Valley 1st Division Holders of Skelton Cup 1979
Back Row: E. Aro (President), V Niblock (Manager),
W. O’Neil, P McHardy,
P. Mason*, B. Hayward*, J. Needham*, A. Moore, D. Petley (Coach)
Middle Row: D. Clark, W. Sweet, T. Kingi (Captain)*,
T. Paul (Vice Captain)*, N. Mason (Asst. Coach), E. Quigg
Front Row: K. Jury, R. George*, R. Jacobs, L. Hughes
(Absent: I. Stewart, N. Taylor. C. Adams)
*Thames Valley Reps
Our 2012 Spring issue asked you to
imagine what Tairua life was like in the
late 1800s – few houses and fewer or no
roads, making travel to even nearby towns
a challenge. Yet within 25 years of the
establishment of the sawmill and the first
homestead on Paku, the Tairua Rugby
Union was formed. Talk about priorities.
The year was 1888, when the only way in
and out to compete was on horseback or
the twice-monthy boat.
We explored Tairua’s rugby world with
articles, interviews and photos of what it
was like to live and play rugby after the
union formation in 1888 until the 1940s
when, with WWII and the demise of
the gold, kauri and timber booms rugby
became dormant.
Rugby and the town itself began to revive
with the completion of the Kopu-Hikuai
Road in 1967. This section of the rugby
series looks at this period that included
the building of the Rugby Club rooms
and extensions that was celebrated with
two thrilling exhibition games.
(Articles researched, written and
edited by Claire Fitzjames, Carol
Wright and Tovi Daly.)
Many more hours of research, interviews and phone
conversations continued to reveal more about the colourful
history of Tairua Rugby – one of the oldest teams in New Zealand.
A big thanks to everyone who contributed time, stories and photos
including Neil & Annette Taylor, Phil Mason and the Rugby Club
for the use of the newspaper clippings collected by Jim Farley.
. We plan to continue coverage of Tairua’s favourite sport in
future issues leading up to the 125th jubilee next October.
Rugby Field goal posts
sprout history as well
Sawmill, roads and
population growth spur
renewal of rugby action
When WWII started, official rugby throughout New Zealand
came to a standstill; and in our area, low population also had a
stifling effect. From 1945 to 1971, Tairua’s population did not
exceed more than 250, and the club became somewhat dormant for
over 20 years. Rugby was still played between players of Tairua,
Whenuakite and Whangamata, but mostly at a social level.
In the late 1960s and ’70s, Tairua’s population doubled and
gained momentum economically due to the saw mill and the
awaited completion of the Kopu-Hikuai Road and a boom in
holiday makers.
The saw mill was vital for not only the town’s economy, but, with
a workforce of over 70 men, as a source for keen rugby players.
Local character, rugby fanatic and mill foreman Doug Petley
(shown in the team photo from 1979) was known for having a
slight bias when hiring new men: If they were also rugby players…
well…they went to the top of the list, and who could blame him?
by Claire Fitzjames
The Tairua Rugby field goalposts represent more than
where the tries are scored. The replacement of those posts
have become a symbol of renewal for each new generation
of rugby players.
Neil Taylor remembers, “Tairua was always well known
for having the best field, with the worst goal posts!” (As
evidenced by this vintage newspaper photo, probably
appearing in the ’60’s.)
The notorious set of wooden posts, or were they trees,
were replaced in the early 1970s by local engineer and
rugby player Noel Mason. He created them after hours at
the factory and erected them with the assistance of several
players including brother Phil.
Last year marked another symbolic replacement of the
posts. Before the beginning of last year’s rugby season, the
rugby field’s goal posts were replaced by representatives of
the next generation of players, with Cam Taylor in charge
of the operation.
18
PAKU VIEWS
ISSUE 6 SUMMER 2013
