FROM THE ARCHIVES
Every week the South Waikato News delves into its archives to see what was making the news 10, 25 and 50 years ago. This week we found stories on a water competition, a fatal car crash and tributes for departing leader.
10 years ago Purely a test of taste at Berkley February 19, 2003 Putaruru water is off to compete against the best of the world again in John Denver’s spiritual home, West Virginia.
Putaruru’s town water was voted ninth by a panel of food celebrities at the 12th annual Berkley Springs International Water Festival last year.
In the scientific pre-judging the town’s water was given the highest score ever awarded at the festival. Pride in Putaruru manager Rob Sykes is hoping the celebrity judges will agree with the evidence.
This year, the bottles of purity were filled out the back by Alf Williamson at his trucking yard on Domain Rd.
Mr Sykes said the site was chosen because it is close to the outlet so there is less chance of contamination from the town pipes. The town supply will travel with bottled water from the springs sent by New Zealand Quality Waters who sell Cool Blue.
My Sykes said the organisers of the festival ‘‘bent over backwards’’ to ensure Putaruru’s water could enter the competition.
The Putaruru Water Festival will hold the first New Zealand water judging competition next month. 25 years ago Horseman dies in Atiamuri crash July 5, 1988 Tokoroa lost a well- known horse trainer when on Friday 91-year-old Allan Clotworthy died in a car accident at Atiamuri.
An avid horse-lover who had spent a lifetime training and show jumping horses, he was returning to Tokoroa from a race meeting at Rotorua at the time of his fatal accident.
Born in Waiotira, Whangarei, horses and the outdoors were always a part of his life. As early as 13 he was driving his own bullock team and he also felled native logs.
As a young man he transported the Colville School in Coromandel to its present position with bullocks.
In World War I he served with the mounted regiment in Egypt and his horsemanship overseas won him a race held among the New Zealand soldiers. 50 years ago Tributes paid to retiring president March 14, 1963
Tribute to the leadership given by the retiring president of the Tokoroa branch of the Country Girls’ Club, Mrs E Rose, was paid at the club’s annual meeting on Monday night.
On behalf of the club, Mrs D Harrington thanked Mrs Rose for the outstanding work she had done in her two years of office.
In her annual review Mrs Rose said lectures conducted at meetings had been on various subjects and she was sure members obtained some educational value from them.