WILSON, JOSEPHINE ALICE (JOSIE) nee MacDONALD

Josie MacDonald was born on the 26 November 1932 at Hawera, the daughter of Robert and Grace Eleanor MacDonald nee Kivell. In 1945, Josie worked in Irene Rota (Powdrell)'s photography business as an after school job. Upon leaving school, she worked there full time until 1955 when her and a co-employee, Doris Watts, bought Irene out. Josie operated this business until 1965. On the 3 March 1959, she married Kevin Alexander Wilson, known as Bill, and were partners in a sportsgoods and bag shop in Hawera. Josie loved whitebaiting and fishing, and with Bill, spent many happy hours surfcasting at Kaupokonui Beach and trout fishing from their small boat on Lake Rotorangi. The Hawera Pony Club played a major role during their daughter's teenage years. Their pony, Hi-San giving them all much pleasure in and out of the showring. Josie was a member of the Hawera Astronomical Society and was often out "star gazing" from her back yard or at the observatory. She was also a very keen wine maker, and had won many prizes at local shows. Josie was a charter member of the Altrusa Club of Hawera. She was a quiet unassuming lady who went about her tasks in the same way - always willing. Josie had battled cancer for many years, with major and minor surgery and through her early traumatic experiences found the Cancer Society was in need of a support network for patients and so set the ball-rolling. Through her efforts, the New Zealand Cancer Support Group was put in place. Josie Wilson died on the 30 October 1992 at Hawera aged 59 years. SOURCE Val Stokes, Hawera (friend)http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sooty/josie.htm

Spoilt rotten' in quest for answers

A wave of public support has overwhelmed a Patea woman trying to right a 70-year-old family wrong. Topsy Gardner is heading to El Alamein this year after finding long-lost letters from her father from the frontlines of World War II. The 71-year-old never knew William Wereta, who died on the battlefield of El Alamein when she was nine months old. She, along with her family, believed he had died without writing them a single word. Her story in the Taranaki Daily News last week prompted an outpouring of financial support throughout the country. Mrs Gardner said she felt "spoilt rotten" by the generosity of so many strangers. "People have been ringing me and offering help but I don't know them," she said. "I want to cry every time they talk about those letters." For reasons taken to the grave, her mother's younger sister hid a dozen letters written by Mr Wereta from North Africa. Her mother died without knowing he had written to her. When the letters were found in her aunt's belongings two years ago, Mrs Gardner was left with more questions than answers. Now, she can find closure. "I will be able to bring those letters back to him." One man, who did not want to be identified, told the Daily News he wanted to help because he had made a similar pilgrimage a few years ago. He said her story had touched him and she deserved to go. The $7000, 16-day trip is being funded by the Patea RSA. It was hoped the community would also offer some assistance. Member Jim Baird said so far they had received "a very pleasing amount of money" from the community and Mrs Gardner would be well looked after. Mr Wereta was killed on October 26, 1942, while he was serving with the 28th Maori Battalion in one of the crucial battles of World War II. - © Fairfax NZ News LAIRD HARPER Last updated 05:00 24/08/2012 http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/7538722/Spoilt-rotten-in-quest-for-answers

'Sleepy' Eltham waking up

A trip to Eltham is like taking a step back in time. Historic buildings line the town's two main streets and murals of times past decorate public places. Some buildings have been lovingly restored to their former glory but many sit empty and neglected. An informal survey of the main streets showed roughly 30 shopfronts were open and 20 were empty. Until recently this ratio was even worse, Eltham Business Association president Judith Rodgers said. "The place was looking quite dead," Rodgers said. But Eltham had transformed itself into a haven of boutique secondhand and craft shops in recent times. "It just did its own change into this lovely, crafty, recycling treasure trove of shops," Rodgers said. While this unique town identity was important, Eltham industries were the glue holding the town together, she said. "The industry here is great. "That's what keeps it all together I think." With two huge cheese-making plants Eltham is regarded as the cradle of the Taranaki dairy industry. Fonterra is the town's biggest employer with 700 staff, followed by the Riverlands freezing works which employs about 500. In the 2006 Census Eltham had a population of 1980 - two less than its 1951 Census population. Eltham Business Association president Rodgers said of the 92 businesses around Eltham 51 were members of the association. After eight years as president of the association Rodgers was now stepping out of the role. Eltham likes to think of itself as a town of firsts. It was the first town in New Zealand to have tarsealed roads and the first place to export butter to England and claims to have held the first ever World Axemen's Carnival. And now it's about to have another New Zealand first - a cheese-themed toilet block. Architect Bill Jackson said the concept was a homage to the town's cheese industry, arts culture and heritage. Another person preserving the heritage of Eltham is The Bank owner Barbara Valintine who owns an "eclectic vintage and retro chic" shop - one of many in Eltham. The former New Plymouth woman was drawn to Eltham by the building she now lives and works in. "This building seduced us," Valintine said of the bank her and husband Mark Bellringer restored. Built in 1916 the grand old bank was like "living in a little chateau", she said. Eltham was very much a destination town recognised for its secondhand and vintage boutiques, she said. Ad Feedback "I suppose it's a different style of shopping." Where that "style" came from she couldn't say. "I think it's just evolved somehow." Business had been steady since opening The Bank four years ago, she said. "This is the first winter I've noticed there has been a bit of a downturn in number of people but it's still ticking over." Like Valintine, Rhubarb Cafe owner Annette McGregor was also lured to Eltham by an old house she fell in love with and turned into a bed and breakfast. She then opened Rhubarb in June last year, shortly after her son, Brett, won MasterChef New Zealand, she said. Rhubarb's location on Eltham's High St was the perfect possie for a cafe, she said. "Foot traffic is amazing," McGregor said. Her only gripe was a lack of parking in Eltham. Eltham residents and New Plymouth visitors made up the majority of her business but there were also many from outside the region, she said. Winter was far busier than the summer months with Rhubarb's homely atmosphere and old fashioned baking enticing customers through its doors. About 90 per cent of the food sold at Rhubarb was made on site, she said. "It's just a nice warm atmosphere to come into and I think most of the shops reflect that in Eltham." She loved the current vibe of the town. "Eltham has a great spirit and we have some funky shops. "It's just a small town but it's a lovely town." While many shopfronts on the southern side of Bridge St may appear empty there is actually a hive of activity going on behind the paper-covered windows. Carac Couplings LaserJet NZ managing director John Burling has transformed numerous buildings into parts cutting and production plants. He now owns nearly a whole block of Eltham, slowly buying up the old buildings. Burling said Carac Couplings has the largest collection of presses in New Zealand and has 3500 products and parts in its production range. "We export all over the world," Burling said. "I would say there's no-one set up like us in Australia or New Zealand." He supplies metal parts to all sorts of industry from motor to services to dairy to oil and gas, he said. "We're purely into mass production and engineering." After 24 years in Eltham Carac Couplings now employs at least 40 people. Another two started last week "but we're always looking for more", Burling said. Burling's wife, Yvonne, and his three children help run the business. The best thing about working in Eltham was the low overheads, he said. "Overheads are always much less in a rural area." Property was cheap, transport easy and distribution to the rest of New Zealand fast and efficient, he said. "Everything for everybody is a lot less hassle." The downsides of living in Eltham - none according to Burling. "There's no disadvantages." Burling said he could not see business at Carac Couplings slowing down any time soon. "We've got huge growth rates for the next three to four years." Viv Scott, of McDonald Real Estate Eltham, said the house market in Eltham was slow at present with the average house priced between $120,000 and $130,000. But things were looking up with a few new faces about town. "There's still quite a bit of activity in Eltham," Scott said. "We're seeing a lot of strangers in town which is really cool. Things were a lot more positive in the village now than they had been for some time, she said. ELTHAM STATS Town population: 1980 (2006 Census) Number of Taranaki Chamber of Commerce members: 4 Shop fronts on High St and Bridge St: 30 tenanted, 20 empty Average house price estimated by McDonald Real Estate: $120,000 to $130,000. - © Fairfax NZ News JOHN ANTHONY Last updated 07:41 20/08/2012 http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/business/7508324/Sleepy-Eltham-waking-up

School gets new home, new name

An old South Taranaki school is to get a new name. Belmont Christian Academy has chosen a new name for the old school buildings they will be moving into by the end of the year. The name will be Hawera Christian School. In April the new leadership of the Highway Church had asked the 36-student school to leave their old South Rd homestead so the building could be made a full church. After a search of premises around Hawera the trust representing Belmont has chosen the old three-classroom Tokaora School property, three kilometres out of town. Belmont principal Clare Rowan said the New Zealand Christian Proprietors Trust has signed their approval for the new venture and they are just waiting on the go-ahead from the Education Ministry. Mrs Rowan said trustees welcomed all name ideas for consideration, including those from the school children, which led to some quirky options. "We did have ‘Spiderman Christian Academy' as a suggestion, which we didn't go with," said Mrs Rowan. Another was "Kids For Christ" - aka KFC - but this was also turned down. The Hawera Christian Education Trust wants to start refurbishments at Tokaora in October, with the main project being fixing the school's toilet block, which has suffered from vandalism. Things should be ready by December for the start of the 2013 school year in January, Mrs Rowan said. The school has also received a donation of art supplies and tables from the now-closed Ngahuru Home, as a parent of one of the students was a former staff member there. - © Fairfax NZ News ARED SMITH Last updated 05:00 24/08/2012

Fulton's last flutter

Hawera man Fulton Harvey McClenaghan, who died on Sunday aged 61, will be remembered as a man who did things his way. And, true to that mantra, he has asked mourners to give the flowers a miss and take a $3 TAB Easybet in his honour. Born and raised in Hawera, Mr McClenaghan loved his sports but more so loved sharing tall tales and making friends. Brother Dennis said the larger-than-life character would be sorely missed by all who knew him. He said Fulton would head to Hawera's Rough Habits Sports Bar and Cafe every day at 4pm, almost without fail, for a good old-fashioned chin-wag and a punt. "If he wasn't going there, he would ring up and tell them he wasn't coming. "Because otherwise they would wonder where he was." Rough Habits co-owners Brent and Adrienne Cudby said he was one of a kind. "He would only come in for a couple and still be here five hours later talking to people," Brent said. "He could talk to anyone." Mr McClenaghan is survived by his five sisters and brother, daughter Kelly and two grandchildren. His funeral will be held today at St Mary's Anglican Church in Hawera, and should be over before the first race at the Timaru gallops, timed to go at 12.23. Ad Feedback - © Fairfax NZ News He loved a chin-wag and a punt LAIRD HARPER Last updated 05:00 24/08/2012 http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/7538736/Fultons-last-flutter

Hawera pie named one of NZ's best

A Hawera bakery has again proved being small is no barrier to winning a top 10 spot in the Bakels New Zealand Pie Awards 2012. The Tun's Bakery seafood pie ranked seventh in its category at this year's national competition. Baker Andy Tun said while there were no real special ingredients inside the pastry, it has always proved popular. "We make about 80 seafood pies a day," he said. That makes up almost one-fifth of the 500 pies he makes daily. The pie shop has entered the awards for the past three years. In 2010 it received top 10 placings in four categories. This year, its entries were among 4578 pies from 446 bakeries across New Zealand. Mr Tun said it had never changed its recipes and would continue entering the awards each year. There are 12 categories and four placings in each as well as the Supreme Pie award. Other Taranaki bakeries that entered were Piccolo Morso, 3B Bakery, Anderson's Pie Shop, Andre's Pies, Batemans, Broadway Bakery, Dan's Bakery and Town and Country Food. PETRA FINER- SOUTH TARANAKI STAR Last updated 09:40 16/08/2012 Andy Tun gets ready to enjoy a seafood pie, ranked one of the top 10 in New Zealand http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/south-taranaki-star/7488793/Hawera-pie-named-one-of-NZs-best