Nine decades of memories, stories and life was the focus of a special birthday bash on September 18 at the Bupa Tararu Retirement Village. But there’s a catch. DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA finds out more
The get-together wasn’t just a celebration for one person, but six of the village’s independent residents who turned 90 this year, plus another honorary resident who turned 99.
The community centre at the village was abundant with friends and people ready to party for the special Nonagenarian Celebration.
“We have six people here that have turned 90 this year, and so we are lovingly acknowledging 540 years of living if you look at it that way,” Chairperson of the Residents’ Committee Althea Hill said.
Everyone was there to celebrate Dawn Holdcroft, pictured front left, Elizabeth Jones, Gwenda Brokenshire; along with Mick De Malmanche, back left, Owen Downes, Tom Handley, and honorary guest and “probably everyone’s favourite man” Ian Olsen, who turned 99.
The festivities kicked off with a few notices and some cheeky jokes about definitions of what it means to be old, followed by a special cake cutting ceremony. While little cakes were delivered out to everyone in the room, resident Dawn Finch played a few songs on the piano and everyone sang along.
One of the highlights of the morning was the True or False Quiz. Everyone was treated to tidbits and facts about each honoree, such as how Tom Handley met his wife while building in Thames, how he was one of the foundation members of the Kerepēhi Brass Band, and how in 1959 while racing motorbikes on the beach he won a trophy.
People learned that Owen Downes was born in Thames, had three sons, lived on Waiheke Island for 23 years and also sailed around the world in a yacht he built.
Gwenda Brokenshire spent time in Timaru where she completed maternity training for nursing, met her husband Phil in Thames and had four children.
And Ian Olsen went to school in Waipakurau, worked in farming in New Plymouth, met his wife in an ice cream parlour and was married for 67 years.
Meanwhile, Dawn Holdcroft, who had two sons and two grandchildren, once won a boomerang throwing competition.
Mick De Malmanche joined the airforce when he was 17 years old, met his wife when he delivered a cake to her, after they were married they had three children and his last job was overhauling propellers at Ardmore.
Elizabeth Jones’ father was an orchardist, she married a man who was born in India, and was a widow for 34 years.
The greatest lesson Elizabeth learned in 90 years of living was simply “being grateful”, she told The Profile.
She had so many opportunities to do different things across her life, such as teaching, working in mental health, town planning, stage performance and as an opera singer, and she was grateful for it all.
Dawn added that another great lesson was also about “having fun” and “being very naughty”, she said.
In her 90 years of living, Dawn put it best: “I’m quite happy being me. I don’t really want to be anyone else”.
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
