Jack Stark - 2001

An Eltham ‘hero’ was honoured at Wednesday’s official opening of Stark Park. The pocket park in the heart of Eltham is named after long-time Eltham shopkeeper Jack Stark.Councillor Alex Ballantyne told the 70-strong crowd the park was a fitting tribute to a wonderful man and family who had given so much to the district. Mr Stark’s acts of generosity to people in need were legendary and he made the world a nicer place to everyone who walked through the door. “We don’t get many heroes these days and it’s even rarer to celebrate them when they are still alive,” Alex said.Mr Stark’s health prevented him being at the ceremony, but he was represented by his sister Gilca Pickford and her daughters, who cut the ribbon, Miriam Key, Helen Pickford and Jackie Cassels. Former long-time employees George English and Nigel Alexander also attended

18 August 2006 Passed away 2006

Grocery owner remembered for generosity, innovation
One of Eltham's most well-known personalities, Jack Stark, died on Wednesday, aged 89.
Mr Stark owned Eltham's dairy and grocery store on High St for 55 years, where he pioneered the concept of discount shopping in Taranaki.
Shoppers travelled to Eltham from all over Taranaki for the prices.
Mr Stark was also legendary in Eltham for his generosity, delivering boxes of fruit or vegetables to families facing tough times or helping customers get their groceries to their cars.
His generosity earned him a Queen's Service Medal for community service in 1998.
But this generosity was taken advantage of. The shop was burgled dozens of times and shoplifting was a problem.
The cost of this dishonesty eventually caused Mr Stark to close his business in 2001.
On the day of the store's closure, Eltham business people organised a morning tea – and more than 200 people turned up to pay tribute to Mr Stark.
A memorial service for Mr Stark will be held tomorrow at Stark's Park, in High St, from 2pm. The park was developed from a carpark and named after Mr Stark.