9 July 2008
Terry Christensen  R.I.P.  3/7/08
There would be few club members who did not know Terry Christensen. Her bright outgoing personality and her forthright manner meant she was not easy to miss. If you couple these characteristics with hard work and deep commitment Bowls Taradale was fortunate to have had her as one of its members. Terry moved to Hawkes Bay from the Hutt Valley in 2000 and within a year she offered her services on the committee. For the next five years she was a tireless Treasurer and even when declining health forced her to throttle back on her workload she still did more than her share. For eight years she gathered a group of volunteers around her and organised the highly successful dinners for the annual Emirates Tournaments -  including one only two months ago. She was also active in the wider Taradale Club community. She enjoyed the company of others and Brenda, along with the Taradale Club Management, remembers her dearly as one of their beloved dinner ladies. Thank you Terry for the way you touched each of us. May you rest in peace
John McLaughlin

17 May 2008
Bob Gray R.I.P. 17/5/08
I knew Bob only as a bowler but he is best known in the local community as a golfer.  Anne Fortune was the celebrant at Bob's funeral service and I am  grateful to her  for the following summary of Bob's life. (John)

Bob was born in Christchurch - 31^st March 1936.  He had two brothers , Bill & Jock and three sisters, Barbara, Margaret & Helen. After Bob had completed his schooling in Christchurch, he went at the age of 15 and began an apprenticeship at the NZ railways as a fitter & turner. Bob was a natural sportsman, he enjoyed many sports and at one point Bob was the Canterbury Under 19 Table Tennis Champion, and it was through the table tennis that Bob met Dorothy -  Dorothy was from Wanganui and she was in Christchurch attending the Teachers Training College. The story goes that Bob commented to another person at the table tennis "Whose that chick with the big behind?" and then challenged Dorothy to a game.  Bob beat Dorothy 21 - 12, and then with a wink said, "let's have another game and this time I will play with my right hand". 

Bob & Dorothy were married on the 14^th January 1956,  together they raised their four sons - Andrew, Glyn,  Rick  & Ashley  - sadly Ashley died in 1997, so together Bob& Dorothy enjoyed 52 yrs of marriage. As mentioned, Bob was a natural sportsman, he played and enjoyed darts, squash, indoor basketball, ice-skating, golf and more recently bowls.  When Bob decided it was time to take up golf, it was less that 12 months before he had a handicap of 12, and at the age of 70 Bob's handicap was 7. Bob had served on the Maraeanui Golf Committee for over 30 years.  He has held the position of Club Captain and President , Bob was well respected  and people knew that Bob had the best interest of the club and the game at heart.  

Following the family's move from Upper Hutt to Napier in 1961, Bob continued with the Railways until in 1970 he took up a position with the Harbour Board as engineering foreman, then some five years later Bob worked at Freightways, then in the early 1980's Bob & Dorothy moved to Australia before returning to Napier, where they ran the Bernina Sewing Centre for close to 20 years. 

Bob knew that he was blessed with the love he received from Dorothy and the family, the grandchildren and great grandchildren made his life complete,  and so today we gather to honour Bob, and pray that his gentle loving soul is this day at peace.
Anne Fortune