"The friendly club in the heart of the Bay."
At the close of the season, many of the profiles have been Archived. They can be viewed from the above link, or from the links at the head and foot of each page.
Wilf Southcombe, a Life member of the Club, died recently in Matamata. Several of our longer-serving member, the Wills family and Jim Pratt, have taken the time to profile his work for the club.
Having left the Bay of Plenty in the mid-nineties Wilf Southcombe would be an unknown to many. For a period from 1977 to 1995 though, he was known in the club as 'Mr Fixit'.
Wilf, who was born about 1910, worked for Walter Dickie at Parutu Road, Walton in the 1940s. Our member, Derek Wills, whose parents also farmed in Walton, recalls working with him in those days. As neighbours they worked together, especially during shearing, haymaking and other seasonal work. He later moved to his own farm at Kiwitahi, Morrinsville, close to where Audrey Wills was brought up. He was always busy, both as a farmer and as a shearer. He was a jovial person who loved nothing better than to have a good chat.
He joined our club in 1977 and soon gained a reputation as someone who could mend anything. He became 'Mr Fixit', he always had a crescent spanner and a screwdriver handy. While he did not seek office, he was one of those invaluable people to have around. Most winters he would depart for Australia where he enjoyed visiting members of his family, in fact, he travelled there on his own as recently as last year.
Some of his handiwork is still to be seen in the club. The trophy for the Men's First Year Singles was made by him as was the floor safe in the bar area. He took responsibility for our bore and water tank, making sure they functioned properly, they were essential for the periodic flooding of the greens, the way we did our watering in the good old days.
He was considered a very steady player and won the Champion Fours in 1984/5 under skipper Howard Garner. He was rewarded for his good work for the Club with a Life Membership in 1990. Later, he joined with fellow Life Members Trevor Graham and Darcy Knuckey in sponsoring an Open Fours tournament. A generous person, he was always thinking of ways to save the club money by doing things himself. He had a ready smile, and frequently a story to tell. Although he left Omanu some fifteen years ago, his reputation stays with us.
Wilf, who had been a widower for over twenty years, died in his ninety ninth year.
October, 2009
Our Life Member Val Body was born at Ohakune, one of a family of 10 children, proudly part of NZ Railways. It was in Taumarunui that Val grew up and started work. She recalls a school life where people walked everywhere and staff who encouraged participation in every possible sport. In particular she recalls basketball played in the very unfashionable black gym frocks, stockings etc. Skating also comes to mind as a favourite, as well as her membership of Girl Guides as a Patrol Leader. Following her marriage in 1942 there were years of mixed farming until the family moved to the Mount and operated a camping ground on the Council land now occupied by our Bowling Club and the car park. The buildings of the camping ground were a welcome help to the infant club.
The business left little time for the bowling club being organised, but the enthusiastic urging of Dal Knuckey saw Val involved in the early efforts of fund raising etc and she proudly claims the status of Foundation Player at the club on the momentous opening day 41 years ago. Her 40 years of bowling have suffered a few interruptions but there must have been something in the family genes when we realize that Val's sister is the one-time prominent NZ bowling representative, Judy Howland, plus all her immediate family and a sister-in-law familiar to many of us, Ray Body. A glance at both the old and the new Honours Boards in the club show that Val enjoyed better-than-average success in her bowling.
Above all, Val has enjoyed the challenges of the game and the competitive element. However, she was also active as a very early coach in the club, unofficial maybe, but with some success. She recalls the names of many Omanu people with whom she has played and with whom she enjoyed the game. Val has seen many changes in the conduct of the game and in the laws and accepts most of them. Still, there was a moment of reflection thinking of the older disciplines and the pleasure of seeing two full greens of women with bowlers totally clothed in whites She speaks also, and very comfortably, about the early years and the work of raising fund with coffee mornings, cake stalls on the corner, regular raffles and plant stalls. At that time any money went promptly to the Men's Club to help pay for the early facilities etc. The ladies helped further in a practical way by weeding the new green by hand. The members then seemed to accept the need to help with every part of the activities, but one facet has never changed. "If you want to do well in bowls, give it a go! Try the full range of events offering in the district." Val recalls the pleasure of helping many members to settle into teams she was to Skip and valuing the many friendships that have flowed from that. She is aware of the smaller membership numbers, and understands some of the current reasons, but believes that numbers can be increased, especially through members supporting each other. It is a pleasure for the Club to be able to salute a senior member such as Val and to thank her for her years of service.
March 2009
Joe Procter is the 12 year Omanu bowler who recently drove an 8 dog sled team across the snowy wastes of Alaska - Mendenhall Glacier - in the mountains way beyond Juneau. No surprise there! But Joe is better known as one of our valued volunteers, usually seen helping with greens maintenance etc. Born at Orini, Waikato in 1935, Joe rode a horse to school, unless it was lame, in which case it was 'shank's pony.' He has a lasting memory of the ghastly malted milk they were supposed to drink daily. He was not terribly keen on school, anyway! It kept him indoors!
But before school there were two house cows to milk. His Mum made butter to sell during the war years. After school there were always farm chores - pigs to feed with the skim milk, bringing in the wood, going round the sheep, feeding dogs, gathering eggs . . . . . ! Joe recalls that everybody seemed to go to the pictures in the local hall Saturday nights although they also made their own entertainment with mates eeling in the local drain. The eels were given away or cooked up for the chooks. Calf Club days are another memory, fully supported by the whole district. Christmas holidays were regularly spent at Raglan, swimming & fishing off the bridge. Then came Hamilton Technical College! Joe enjoyed Wednesday afternoons most - sports day!
After leaving, school, Joe worked at home on the farm, steadily developing an interest in hunting. Pigs, deer, ducks - whatever! Sadly, he says, those days are over. Hunting activities took him to such places as Waikaremoana, Coromandel, Waiouru & Taumaranui. What Joe doesn't say is that he still manages a daily trot up the Mount with his mate John Snelling and once or twice a month clearing the trapping lines on Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust. (Too much for most of us, Joe.) In the '40's & '50's Joe and his father would walk cattle to the rail at Ohinewai, leaving at 4am, to catch the noon train, a journey of 18 miles. Dad used to walk in front of the mob on his white horse, a scary position on foggy Waikato mornings. Joe's own successful farming with sheep and beef included some years driving his own stock truck. Joe admits to being in 12th Intake, CMT, a gunner in tanks with the Armoured Corp, and he enjoyed every minute of it.
Barbara and Joe raised 5 children and now enjoy 15 grandchildren. He is enthusiastic about his bowls and as well he and Barbara regularly travel abroad. Thank you Joe.
October, 2008
John Snelling is another member entitled to be known as 'Gentleman John.' An 8 year bowler at Omanu he is best known for his valued help to the club on greens maintenance and any other task put to him. He is rarely seen without that quiet smile.
Born 1936 in the Waikato and growing up in Pukemiro, a little town in the heart of the Coal Mining district, he knew from an early age that he wanted to be a farmer. John's grandfather was a Mine Supervisor and his parents ran the local grocery store in Pukemiro. So, John and his sister & brother knew everyone in the district. He was an active rider in local Pony Clubs and there was a period of racing a motorbike on local dirt tracks. Being in Pukemiro there was a "bit of Rugby League."
Hamilton High and Hamilton Technical were followed by active earth moving work with large machinery. At only 18 years of age, John purchased a 'rough block' of 250 acres at Te Akau, Waikato, with an option of the adjacent 250 acres. John continued to work at a variety of jobs, including the coal mines. He improved his block as and when he could afford to. It is quite rightly referred to as 'breaking in'. By his very early 20's John had moved onto his land and had begun what proved to be 50 years on the same property, including the adjacent block. He farmed in sheep and beef. It was a long road but like all farmers John speaks fondly of "days at the saleyards in Frankton or Waingaro".
In retirement John potters with a small property just out of town, with his son - a mere nothing! Then there are those regular early morning runs (yes - I said 'runs') to the top of the Mount with his mate, Gentleman Joe Procter. John and his wife enjoy their near-beachfront home with glorious views. There were 2 sons & a daughter plus 2 very special grand-daughters. He continues as a regular supporter at Omanu where he enjoys his bowls. Thank you too John.
October, 2008