BY RYAN EVANS ryan.evans@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki | Wednesday, 28 November 2007
A Taranaki fishing guru is now fishing the celestial rivers and oceans.
Noel Jack Baty died in New Plymouth on Monday, aged 91.
Born in Christchurch in 1915, he attended St Andrew's College before joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1933.
He married Australian woman Gladys Staples in 1939, before serving in New Zealand and Fiji as a pilot during World War II.
On leaving the RNZAF in 1946, he moved to New Plymouth, and became manager of the Fun Ho! toy factory before training as a primary school teacher.
He taught at Welbourn and Woodleigh primary schools, and was principal of Lepperton primary school for eight years before retiring in 1976.
Fishing was Mr Baty's passion from an early age.
Growing up during the Depression, he would go fishing or hunting to provide food for his mother and four sisters.
He enjoyed trout and boat fishing as well as surfcasting, representing New Zealand in the 1962 World Surfcasting Championships.
For more than 40 years, he wrote fishing columns for The Daily News, The Taranaki Herald, NZ Rod & Rifle and the NZ Fishing News, among others. He also hosted a popular radio show and in 1993 published a book, Hooked On Fishing.
Mr Baty was a foundation member, life member and patron of the Taranaki Surfcasting Club, served on numerous other fishing bodies, and was national president of the New Zealand Angling and Casting Association.
His sons, Max and Spencer, described him as a practical joker, who never did things by half.
They said his life's work was devoted to his wife, who had suffered from polio early in her childhood.
She and Mr Baty spent the final years of their life in the Coronation Lodge Rest Home. Mrs Baty died in 2004.
Mr Baty is survived by his two sons, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Wednesday, November 28
Much-loved music teacher remembered
SHARON MARRIS sharon.marris@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki | Wednesday, 28 November 2007
A Taranaki man awarded a British Empire Medal for his services to music died on Sunday aged 83.
Ernest James Arthur Ormrod (Ernie) was born in Wellington but moved to New Plymouth in the 1950s with his wife Gwitha and children.
He began playing the piano at the age of five, learning brass instruments and joining the Port Nicholson Silver Band in 1938.
In 1942 he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a bomber-gunner but kept playing in military bands. During the 1950s he became deputy conductor of the RNZAF Band, conducting it at Parliament's official opening.
In New Plymouth, Mr Ormrod managed Colliers for many years and became president and a life member of the New Plymouth City Band after administering it for more than 25 years. As well as his British Empire Medal, Mr Ormrod was recognised by the New Zealand Brass Bands Association for service to the band movement. He often performed in the band, the New Plymouth Orchestra and New Plymouth Operatic Society's orchestra.
He told a Taranaki Daily News reporter in 1985: "I would like to think my involvement in all these things has brought pleasure to people and that my teaching has been of assistance to all the young bandsmen."
One of those young bandsmen was Bryce Gordon, who is now the band's conductor. Mr Gordon learned cornet from Mr Ormrod and Ken Martin for about four years. Four words sprang to mind when he thought of Mr Ormrod - dedicated, passionate, sharing and giving.
"Ernie was very patient and he always had plenty of time to give to the youngsters," he said.
"I remember one band practice was cancelled because it was Easter but he'd forgotten to tell everyone so I turned up and he gave me an individual lesson instead."
Mr Ormrod is survived by two children and six grandchildren. His funeral will be held at St Mary's Pro Cathedral tomorrow where Mr Gordon will perform a cornet solo.
A Taranaki man awarded a British Empire Medal for his services to music died on Sunday aged 83.
Ernest James Arthur Ormrod (Ernie) was born in Wellington but moved to New Plymouth in the 1950s with his wife Gwitha and children.
He began playing the piano at the age of five, learning brass instruments and joining the Port Nicholson Silver Band in 1938.
In 1942 he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a bomber-gunner but kept playing in military bands. During the 1950s he became deputy conductor of the RNZAF Band, conducting it at Parliament's official opening.
In New Plymouth, Mr Ormrod managed Colliers for many years and became president and a life member of the New Plymouth City Band after administering it for more than 25 years. As well as his British Empire Medal, Mr Ormrod was recognised by the New Zealand Brass Bands Association for service to the band movement. He often performed in the band, the New Plymouth Orchestra and New Plymouth Operatic Society's orchestra.
He told a Taranaki Daily News reporter in 1985: "I would like to think my involvement in all these things has brought pleasure to people and that my teaching has been of assistance to all the young bandsmen."
One of those young bandsmen was Bryce Gordon, who is now the band's conductor. Mr Gordon learned cornet from Mr Ormrod and Ken Martin for about four years. Four words sprang to mind when he thought of Mr Ormrod - dedicated, passionate, sharing and giving.
"Ernie was very patient and he always had plenty of time to give to the youngsters," he said.
"I remember one band practice was cancelled because it was Easter but he'd forgotten to tell everyone so I turned up and he gave me an individual lesson instead."
Mr Ormrod is survived by two children and six grandchildren. His funeral will be held at St Mary's Pro Cathedral tomorrow where Mr Gordon will perform a cornet solo.
`We are irrigating ... a lot goes straight through'
By LIZ ST GEORGE liz.stgeorge@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki | Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Farmers in South Taranaki's coastal areas are only days away from a drought as strong, dry winds and cloudless skies sap their farmland.
Many are predicting they will be in serious trouble if there is not substantial rain within a fortnight - some say earlier.
While Metservice is expecting showers for the South Taranaki area on Friday, these are not likely to be substantial.
Many farmers are reporting an unusually dry spring with coastal areas hardest hit. Opunake farmer Joe Carey says his farm is the driest for this time of year since 1991 and the dry spell is one of the worst he has experienced in 30 years
"It is the lack of rainfall in September, October and this month," he says. "I guess there is a window of about a fortnight before it gets reasonably serious. It is not just the fact it is a bit dry, it is the effect on the crops, the turnips and maize, it is further down the track."
Taranaki Farmers Opunake Livestock rep Bryan Goodin said he had noticed water levels in the drains and rivers had dropped in the area and farms were suffering under a drying wind as well.
Taranaki Farmers Hawera livestock agent Garry Johns says the south and western sides of SH 45 where the farms have sandy soils are the most affected.
"It is certainly dry.
"It is not desperate yet. It will be another 10 days before we start to say they are in trouble."
Mark Schrider, who farms in Patea, has been irrigating since September. Normally he starts in December.
Richard Julian, who farms south of Opunake, has also resorted to irrigating earlier than usual. "We're pretty dry. We are irrigating a lot of the farm, a lot goes straight through."
Mr Julian has farmed in the area all his life and thinks it is one of the driest Novembers he has had.
Otakeho farmer Alaister Murdoch says he is more concerned about the Waimate West water scheme.
South Taranaki District Council water supply manager Peter Cook says the reservoir for that scheme is hovering around the 50 percent mark.
"The reservoir, at full capacity, only holds about two to three days storage. Unless people get the message and start conserving we may be faced with a situation of not having enough water to go around," he said.
Farmers in South Taranaki's coastal areas are only days away from a drought as strong, dry winds and cloudless skies sap their farmland.
Many are predicting they will be in serious trouble if there is not substantial rain within a fortnight - some say earlier.
While Metservice is expecting showers for the South Taranaki area on Friday, these are not likely to be substantial.
Many farmers are reporting an unusually dry spring with coastal areas hardest hit. Opunake farmer Joe Carey says his farm is the driest for this time of year since 1991 and the dry spell is one of the worst he has experienced in 30 years
"It is the lack of rainfall in September, October and this month," he says. "I guess there is a window of about a fortnight before it gets reasonably serious. It is not just the fact it is a bit dry, it is the effect on the crops, the turnips and maize, it is further down the track."
Taranaki Farmers Opunake Livestock rep Bryan Goodin said he had noticed water levels in the drains and rivers had dropped in the area and farms were suffering under a drying wind as well.
Taranaki Farmers Hawera livestock agent Garry Johns says the south and western sides of SH 45 where the farms have sandy soils are the most affected.
"It is certainly dry.
"It is not desperate yet. It will be another 10 days before we start to say they are in trouble."
Mark Schrider, who farms in Patea, has been irrigating since September. Normally he starts in December.
Richard Julian, who farms south of Opunake, has also resorted to irrigating earlier than usual. "We're pretty dry. We are irrigating a lot of the farm, a lot goes straight through."
Mr Julian has farmed in the area all his life and thinks it is one of the driest Novembers he has had.
Otakeho farmer Alaister Murdoch says he is more concerned about the Waimate West water scheme.
South Taranaki District Council water supply manager Peter Cook says the reservoir for that scheme is hovering around the 50 percent mark.
"The reservoir, at full capacity, only holds about two to three days storage. Unless people get the message and start conserving we may be faced with a situation of not having enough water to go around," he said.
Tuesday, November 20
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)