Sunny side up... and sometimes serious! | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

Looking back to 1968....

? The Stratford 5th grade rugby team finished their season unbeaten and with only 53 points scored against them. The team scored a total of 386 points. Coached by Mr Peter Jones and managed by Mr Graham Cochrane, the team's success was attributed to being good all-rounders. First five-eighth, O Tippetts, ended the season with 66 points, and both P Whittle and P Wellington each scored 12 tries. Captain, David Jones, props B Milne and R Nicol, formed a solid front row while locks, A Ancell, H Forbes and M Instone all played well. The backs, starting from P Mischefski and ending at fullback J Kelly, all played their part.

Commentators were convinced the Stratford Rugby Club had a great future if the calibre of these young players was anything to go by.

The team: B Milne, A Ancell, R Forbes, M Instone, B Sangster, A Evans, J Kelly, P Wellington, B Allen, R Nicol, D Uncles, N Needham, T O'Neil, D Reader, G Jones, O Tippett, P Jones, P Hitchcock, P Whittle, D Gilbert, P Mischefski.

? Stratford wrestler John Rowe brought home the North Island title for the 154lb class. Mr Rowe has been competing in the championships for five years.

? A proposed commercial piggery of considerable size on Beaconsfield Road brought opposition from six farmers in the area. To facilitate hygienic operation of the piggery, effluent would pass into an oxidation pond then into a small stream. The petitioners were concerned that this overflow would affect the drinking water for stock on nearby farms.

? A St Joseph's basketball team that had played together since 1966 had remarkable success. In 1966 the team won the Intermediate Tournament and in 1967 the Stratford B grade. In 1969 the won the Knuckey Shield and at the time of the story (July) had won all games in the A grade competition. Members of the team: Janice Ford, Annette Hill, Mary-Rose Radich, Mary Thame, Debra Whittle, Glennis Skedgewell and Karen Caskey.

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In 1968 The Salvation Army celebrated 75 years of service to Stratford and district.

In 1893 The Stratford Salvation Army Corps held its meetings literally on the move, marching slowly round and round in the same circle. This, and the similar practice of 'Scripture marching, which consisted of reading Scriptures while moving slowly along the road, was the Army's subtle counter to a law forbidding open-air meetings. Much opposition to this law was met by the Army in its early days throughout New Zealand, and in many places its members went to gaol for the principle of the open-air meeting.

As the law stood, however, as long as the members kept walking, they could not be interfered with, so at Stratford, like Ole Man River, they kept going. It was literally the salvation Army 'movement' in those days. The Stratford Corps was founded by two 'lassies', Captain McCormick and Lieutenant Gates and by the end of that first year many permanent soldiers and recruits had been enrolled.

In 1894, Adjutant and Mrs Rollings bought from Mrs C Curtis the site of the present hall on Fenton Street for 140 pounds. It was paid off in eight months. The first hall was erected 15 months later and with it most of the opposition died out.

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A Ford Motor Company newspaper advertisement from the late 60s titled 'Being a grown up driver':

'You give everyone else the right of way - always. You freely wave the impatient honkers on, and smile. You let some chucklehead cut in on you; and give him plenty of room for his next adventure with death. You smile and take it easy, and instantly forget every irritation.

'Being a grown-up driver is a difficult art. It takes character and alertness, decency and good judgement.

'For there is a fool on every road, a deadly menace to you and your children. And there are good people, good drivers, who are foolish for one impulsive moment. For the possible gain of a few seconds they will bet their lives on a highway version of Russian Roulette.

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Some people claim that marriage interferes with romance. There's no doubt about it. As soon as you have a romance, your wife is bound to interfere -Groucho Marx

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Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. "In honour of the season," Saint Peter said, " You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into Heaven on this Holy Day." The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter.

He flicked it on. " It represents a holy candle," he said. " You may pass through the Pearly Gates" Saint Peter said. The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, "They're bells." Saint Peter said, "You may pass through the Pearly Gates."

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties. " What do these symbolize?" Saint Peter asked. The man replied, "They're Carol's."

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One who smiles rather than angers is always stronger. - Chinese proverb.

Have a great week!