This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
s Wellington Anniversary
A isnt approached Allen and Sue decided on an easier trip after their 10-day Xmas trip in the Arthur’s Pass area and an S-K the following weekend. A memorial service for Bill Cronin, an ex-Tongue & Meat, was planned for Saturday I morning at 9.00 on Mt Hector. This didn’t allow much time for the Friday workers to get up there so we decided to camp at Otaki Forks and take off at an unearthly hour to get there in time.
The weather was fine and calm as we left to make our way up to Kime Hut, arriving by 7.15 am. But you’ve guessed it — by the time we reached Kime Hut it was windy, misty and damp. It was good to meet up with a bunch of older members — Norm Clarkson, Bill Hargreaves, Jim Kettlewell, John Rhodes, Graeme and Karen
Capper. A couple of hours was spent at Kime hoping the weather would improve, as a helicopter was expected. After some time and no sign of an impending improvement in the conditions, the service went ahead with most of us huddled in full storm gear on the sheltered side of Mt Hector. Bill’s ashes were scattered and
Sue Higgine the service ended with people leaving in different directions. As it was only midday, I suggested that we complete a one-day Southern so on we went and slept the night at Kaitoke. I Transport was sorted out on Sunday ~~~ morning. We discovered that miracles do indeed happen — as we were heading out to the main road, Karen and Kevin passed us going in the opposite direction heading up the Eastern Hutt to Renata and Kapakapanui. They wanted their car returned to Wellington so we were in luck!