South Wairarapa Rebus Club

Our Matariki lunch at Baloos in the SW Working Men’s Club on 28 June had Anne Firmin as guest speaker at the lunch on the work of the food bank service in the area south of Masterton. 

Anne, a long-time Martinborough personality, was well-known to several members and made sure we all left the lunch much better informed about this essential service, now known as The Social Crust, based in Martinborough’s Princess Street. After the meal she left with her car loaded with food items members had donated.

Earlier in May, 14 of our members were privileged to visit Greytown resident Ed Cooke to learn about the making of violins, violas and other stringed instruments. Ed, who took up the luthier’s trade as a hobby when he retired at 70, is well known to NZ professional musicians, having provided a number of them with instruments for public performance. His fascinating slide presentation of the manufacturing process was supplemented by visits to his workshop to view his special tools and procedures.

Our guest speaker on July 26 was Hon Ron Mark, Mayor of Carterton, who talked first about his

recent work in Ukraine, assisting with aid delivery and then regaled us with his life story starting as a ward of the state at age 3 1/2 until joining the army at 16. 

He attained the rank of Captain and served in the Sultan of Oman’s Special Forces for four years. Notable in his service record is a 13-month tour of duty in the Sinai as part of the long-standing ceasefire agreement. 

Also significant were the six terms he spent as a list member for NZ First in parliament, including three years as Senior Whip in coalition with National 1996-1998 and again as Minister of Defence in the 2017-2020 coalition government with Labour and the Green Party. He continues to be driven trying to fix problems that he sees around him and is very proud of his time in public office and the service he has been able to provide both internationally (the Egypt/Israeli cease fire agreement is now the longest standing such agreement still holding today) and his work with troubled youth. 

He still does not yet see a time when he may finally retire.

Our 23 August meeting will be addressed by a representative of the Wool Shed Museum prior to a

club visit the following Wednesday, guided by our own member, John MacGibbon. Wednesday is the day spinners, weavers and other wool crafters meet there.

South Wairarapa Rebus Club https://southwairaraparebus.com meets in the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club at 9:45am on the fourth Friday of each month. Anyone in the retired age group who may be interested in SW Rebus Club is welcome to come along to a meeting as a visitor. Introduce yourself at the door from the West Street carpark or contact John Reeve 021 560 461.

Caption: Musical instrument maker Ed Cooke with Rebus club members Mike and Jo Laing Ed and Linda Gibbs.