6 News
RSA REVIEW • WINTER 2016
CHESS CLUBS ATTRACT BROAD SPECTRUM Caleb Wright Chess has proved a consistent conduit to youthful and family members for the Mt Maunganui RSA. The chess club was founded in April 1999 by Rick McGuiness and Caleb Wright, who gathered up local chess players looking for a home after the local chess club had become defunct. Chess players are a special breed, traditionally playing an intense game requiring dead-quiet conditions. But there is also more casual side – “pub chess”, where a drink or two is believed to make one play stronger, or, at least, bolder. The Mt.Maunganui RSA made an early decision to support the chess club via equipment, as the benefits in terms of membership potential were fast becoming realised. The chess club promised to grow and attract players from all walks of life, providing it could offer a sustainable programme. Thanks to the Mt.Maunganui RSA movers and shakers, this was now possible. With a pool of members established, attention turned to allowing those under 18 years to come to the RSA on a regular basis. Co-founder Rick McGuiness led the charge. These were the days when smoking in pubs and bars was allowed, and it was out of the ordinary for young people (possible future members) to see the inside an RSA.
The chess club put a plan to the RSA, which led to a trial period of allowing under 18-yearolds into the chess club, providing behaviour standards were met and supervision was taken care of. The chess club passed the test, and the RSA celebrated more business as the parents of the under-18s slowly became accustomed to seeing the inside the club. For the chess club to survive, it was important to have flexible and simplified streamlined systems. The final ingredient is maximising the time that players can commit to. The club’s early-evening programme now contains a basic teaching unit; all players are welcome, and attendance is optional. The late-evening programme has two groups of players – the top group who must play every game, and the casual group where attendance is entirely optional. As the Western Bay of Plenty region grew, it became clear another chess club was needed in the Tauranga area – “across the other side of town”. In December 2012, a chess club – founded by a few Mt Maunganui RSA chess members – was formed as part of the Tauranga RSA. For many years, the Tauranga RSA had allowed its venue to be used for school-based events, and the new club, which meets on a Friday evenings, was an extension of that. The Tauranga chess club has been set up to be complementary – in location, day of week, and an entirely casual programme – to its parent Mt Maunganui RSA club.
Raveen Saily, left, Werner Corbe and Sean Kim deep in thought during a RSA chess tournament.
This allows players to belong to both clubs, and there is minimal competition for members. A plus is that some key people are on the committees of both clubs. Both chess clubs find the lifestyle of members can create logistical issues in club areas. As younger people, many have families and are often working or studying. Spare time to do anything apart from go to club meetings is limited.
The two chess clubs have had immense support from their parent RSAs. The pay-off for the RSAs has been in new members. Their chess clubs have attracted people of new ethnicity, different age groups, and backgrounds. The key has been reasonably simple and flexible systems of operation. Once people have a reason to visit an RSA, they see what it’s really about and what it has to offer. The word spreads. Recruitment of new chess club members has worked best from outside the RSA. For example, at pupil-based chess tournaments, both RSAs are promoted and players are encouraged to visit, and take part in events held at an RSA. Photos – Far left: Yvonne MacDonald (front left) and John Finlay (front right) match wits on a club night. Left: A schools tournament involving players from the Mt Maunganui RSA and Tauranga RSA chess clubs.
WAR HORSES DEBUT AT HAMILTON’S ANZAC PARADE Sue Russell When Hamilton horse lover and Waikato Equestrian Centre founder Noeline Jeffries approached the Hamilton City Council with the idea that horses and riders could form part of the cities Anzac Day civic parade this year, she was delighted with the enthusiastic response. “We had thought for some time it would be wonderful to commemorate and honour the place of horses during World War 1 by having them included in the parade. It was wonderful how enthusiastic Tracey Wood, Hamilton City Council events manager was.” Once the green light was given, War Horse Memorial March Group members set about planning and rehearsing. With safety paramount, they decided to limit the number of horses to 25. “We also decided that every rider must be 18 years of age or older, and that if any horse seemed unsettled and wasn’t coping with the crowds, it would be withdrawn along with a ‘buddy horse’.” Come the day 22 horses and riders took part.
War horses on parade (from left), Delwyn Izod, Chris Davies, Vikki Madgwick, Rae Whitley, and John King
Riders wore black jackets and a purple sash with ‘War Horse’ emblazoned in white lettering. Along with the riders from the Waikato Equestrian Centre, the Waikato Mounted Rifles had four horses and riders in the march. A symbolic riderless horse with riding boots turned backwards
Veterans swap yarns with governor general On his last visit to Dunedin as New Zealand’s governor general, Sir Jerry Mateparae took time to call and see some old friends at the Montecillo Veterans Home & Hospital at St Kilda. He addressed the residents, presented a formal photograph to Maj (Rtd) Fred Daniel – his former commanding officer back in the days when he was a junior officer in the army, and now chief executive officer at Montecillo, swapped stories
with residents, and sought their advice on what to say to Queen Elizabeth II during his farewell visit in May.
Right: Cpl Phil Smith (left), NZ Dental Corps World War 2 1941-1946 and a long-time resident at Montecillo, enjoys a joke with governor general Sir Jerry Mateparae, while principal nurse Beverly Brook RN looks on. Photo: John Cosgrove
signifying the death of a soldier on active duty walked before the Mounted Rifles. “It was wonderful to experience just how well they coped,” says Noeline. “Our horses were kept towards the rear of the parade and we had five wranglers with us to help.”
Council feedback received on the day indicated the public had enjoyed having horses included in the commemoration, and Noeline says there is every intention to be involved again. “The war horses that served were magnificent animals, and the bond that formed between soldier and horse was so strong. For the soldier, his horse was his constant companion. If we can in some small way honour that bond and the sacrifices horses and riders made during the war, it has been all worthwhile.” When Noeline spoke with the RSA Review late May, she was also waiting to hear whether a $100,000 Lotteries grant application made by Hamilton’s War Horse Memorial Sculpture group had been successful. “If we get all or part of the Lotteries grant we have applied for, we’ll be able to make an immediate start on the project.” The group, in partnership with the Hamiltonbased TOTI Charitable Trust, has been fundraising and planning for the erection of a bronze, life-size war horse sculpture at Memorial Park. The sculpture has been designed by former New Zealand Defence Force artist Matt Gauldie.