Re-enactment

The majority of those people I've spoken to think a re-enactment could be a great idea. After some investigation as to the tide suitability, it was reported that the tide in June 2013 might be in our favour for a re-enactment. Thanks to Des for hunting that down.

Of course boats and willing people must be found. The Mahurangi group has expressed interest and maybe they can come up with some ideas about boats --- we do not need the "Queen Mary." The "Jane Gifford" maybe a bit presumptuous?

It is important that Maori play a significant part in this as they conveyed the original settlers up river in 1863. Pioneer and Maori traditional dress would be appropriate and respectful.

The land below the hall used for 125th celebrations is now probably unsuitable because trees having overgrown the site. Maybe the new wharves would be ideal with a welcome ceremony taking place there (depending on the weather), followed by a parade or a welcome meal.

Suggestions anyone?

Music from Ohaupo?

Does Ohaupo have a current traditional band? How many players do they have? What instruments do they play and how much toe tapping goes with the band?

If there is an Ohaupo band, prepare it for the 150th --- it's all go for then.

Catering then and now

Catering for crowds of people now-a-days is different from what it was in the old days. Back then everybody brought a plate and shared food. This method is no-longer applicable or acceptable.

Consider the situation at present.
1. Hygiene is foremost and requires some deep thinking.
2. With no vehicle access to the Puhoi Centennial Hall kitchen, catering on a large scale in the hall is a dilemma.
3. The Puhoi Hotel is limited as to seated dining space.
4. Consider feeding the crowds on a cold winter's day, maybe in a marquee? If so, where?
5. Registration will control numbers up to a point but remember all the casual visitors who may flock to the celebrations.

In the old days most families contributed sheep, bullock and poultry - resulting in several hundred people fed!

So who will play for the celebrations?

Some names of the early band players include Yesensky, Bill Tolhopf, Jim Rauner, Charles Becher, Annie Rauner, the Dennis and Paul families and several members of the Wech, Bayer, and Lambert families.There are too many to name individually. Many of you will remember Joe Tolhopf, Phillip Wech and his sisters Dorothy and Kathleen, Laurie Rauner, and Ben Lambert. All gone now.

So who will play for the 150th celebrations? The current little group of those descendants of the above make a mammoth attempt to keep up tradition and they travel from near and wide to oblige and remember "the good old days”.

Down the years the music has been the life and bread of the heart of Puhoi. Now it is all but a skeleton of the enthusiastic past.

Dedicated and inspiring past musicians have to a certain extent handed the talent down to a mere few who now play on special occasions: Diane with the Dudlesack, Coralie, Brian and Mark play accordions and Fred, the senior surviving player, leads them with his accordion.

The live music tears at the heartstrings of those who know it's vibrant history.