‘Two-for-one’ couple get community recognition
Ted Guy was Waharoa through and through – and if Ted was, then so was Eva.
The pair were married for 56 years and spent much of their time together working towards a brighter future for the town. Ted even came to be known as the Mayor of Waharoa and the community was devastated when he died suddenly in 2010.
The positive influence he had in the town can still be felt and has been commemorated in a bench seat dedicated to both him and Eva.
Ted was born in Matamata and, apart from three years spent living in Cambridge, spent his entire life in Waharoa.
He and Eva were married in 1954 and they moved into their house on Carroll St on Guy Fawkes Day in 1955.
Over the years, they were involved in everything from the Waharoa Mainstreet and Community Committee to the Waharoa Tennis Club.
Their two daughters Elaine and Sandy attended Waharoa School (now Te Kura o Waharoa) and Ted was on the school committee.
He also had a strong involvement in the Waharoa Athletics Club for 50 years and Eva for almost as long.
‘‘Wherever Dad went, Mum wasn’t far behind. They were a two-for-one deal,’’ said Sandy.
They looked after and promoted the St David’s Church and decorated it for Christmas for 17 years.
‘‘I always mowed one side of the church lawn and Ted did the other side,’’ Eva said.
Ted was a volunteer for the budget advisory service and the chair of the Matamata Community Chest.
The couple also dedicated time to the Matamata Harriers, Keep Matamata Beautiful, the Waharoa Domain Board, the Waharoa Memorial Hall and St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
Ted’s contribution to Waharoa was recognised with a Queen’s Service Medal in 1992.
Eva is still committees.
She has also kept up a tradition started by Ted called the ‘‘emu walk’’ otherwise known as picking up litter.
‘‘Waharoa was our home and I think you have got to look after your home,’’ said Eva.
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Crafts, knitting and gardening keep her busy and she uses them to raise funds for St David’s Church, which is in need of earthquake proofing.
Eva said she it was a surprise to have her name on the bench alongside Ted’s.
Sandy said she was ‘‘ really, really proud’’ of her parents and everything they had contributed to Waharoa.
The bench is being unveiled at 1.30pm on Saturday at the rest stop in Waharoa.