Waterbourne a big success

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Fred Morin says that the weather is just part of the game and, coming from Tahiti, the cold was more of an issue for him than the rain.

“I thought the whole event was perfect,” he said. “Full respect to Laurence. It’s a lot of hard work. I love the multi-sport association, it’s popular with the athletes and the fans. The more we grow the concept the better. For sure, I will be back.”

Paddleboarding exhibitions proved a popular pastime also, with people between seven and seventy rocking up to have a go.

Laurence says the big marquee at Bishop Park became a key factor because of the weather, as 500 tickets were pre-sold for the Boo Seeka performance on Saturday night. That too, saw athletes and punters enjoying themselves.

“It was a big day on the water, then a great party too,” Morin said. “Great vibes with famous bands who put on a good show.”

“I’d like to thank Tommy’s Real Estate for their wonderful support,” Laurence says, “and I’m hoping that next year the Eastbourne community and Hutt Council will get right behind the project. Let’s get people down there and make it as great as it can be.”

Local windsurfing enthusiast with a vested interest in the event, Bruce Spedding, says that anecdotal feedback from the community has been good.

“For me,” he says, “the smiles on the faces of competitors says it all about the sports and the event. To quote someone who spoke to me recently, “you never see a windsurfer who isn’t smiling”, and I think that applies across the board.”

The ten children of Carl and Wilma Phillips held a weekend reunion recently at Kuratau, Lake Taupo, at the lake house of seventh born, Lindsey Blair.

Seventy two family members were in attendance.

Younger sister, Robin Middlebrook, who resides in Havelock North, says although the ten are now scattered far and wide, ties still bind them to Eastbourne.

“Stephen ‘Snifter’ and Tony still live in York and Lowry Bay respectively,” she says, “and we all attended Muritai School.”

Carl brought his bride to Eastbourne after their marriage in 1930. Initially, they lived on Marine Parade and in 1941, purchased a house at number 15 Puriri Street.

“The property has only recently been sold,” Robin says.

“I was born while we lived there, in fact the family grew from five to ten children in that house.”

Both Carl and Wilma were involved in local community affairs and Carl, upon retirement from the New Zealand Shipping Company, flew the Company flag at the Muritai Yacht Club for many years.

Robin says that the Phillips boys were all into yachting, and rugby and cricket.

“Wilma lived to 97,” she says.

“She became the much loved ‘matriarch’ of Eastbourne.”

Robin says the siblings try to hold ‘decade re-unions’, whenever one or another are turning over both digits.

“This time it so happened that all ten of us were going to be in New Zealand in February,” she said.

“And for no good reason but that we are all still living, it seemed an opportune time.”

“We did acknowledge Stephen turning 80 this year,” she added, “and three other family members who were also celebrating a ‘decade’ birthday.

"A wonderful cake was shared by all after the candles were blown out by the youngest ‘decader’.”

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