Thursday 26th September, 2013
Volume 23, Issue 19
LONG LOST SHIELD TO BE RE-INSTATED
The T. A. Stephens Challenge Shield For Most Points in School Competition Ellesmere District is to be re -instated after spending many a long year gathering dust in the A & P offices. The shield was last presented to Dunsandel School in 1949 and will be given THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE ELLESMERE ECHO WILL BE OUT ON THE 16TH OCTOBER WITH THE DEADLINE OF 11TH. THIS IS TO COINCIDE WITH THE ELLESMERE A & P SHOW What’s coming up Sept.27-Southbridge Netball AGM & Prize Giving Sept.28-Angllican Church Spring Fair Oct. 9-Dunsandel Sports Centre AGM Oct.10-LUDF Focus Day Oct.13-Combine Harvester Derby. Starts 1pm. Oct.19-Ellesmere A & P Show Oct.22-Leeston Swimming Club AGM Oct.29-Lakeside Reserve AGM
Photo shows: Warwick Boon (right) with T. A. Stephens, Great Grandson , Stuart Stephens and the T. A. Stephens Shield. back to them in hopes that the challenge between the schools will rekindled. The shield was presented to the local primary schools by Thomas Andrew Stephens, who at the time
HILL LEE & SCOTT 36 Sir William Pickering Dr Burnside, Christchurch Contact Peter Quinn or Brian Palliser at our Christchurch Office on
3797-780
pquinn@hlslegal.co.nz bpalliser@hlslegal.co.nz
Serving the Ellesmere district for over 50 years
was President of the Ellesmere A & P Association. The current President Warwick Boon found the shield while clearing out some of the shelves at the showgrounds. The shield holds a written history of its own with the names of several primary schools that once were in the district but that have long since shut down and amalgamated into the 3 primary schools we have today. Schools such as Lakeside, Killinchy, Leeston Convent School and Brookside, names that will no doubt bring back memories for a lot of people. Thomas Stephens was a man that encouraged furthering peoples education and was very involved in community concerns. It is believed that he at one time was also a councillor with the Selwyn District Council. He ran a sheep and crop
farm in Irwell “Waipuna” running Ryeland sheep. His farm was the second registered Ryeland sheep farm in New Zealand. He was a strong exhibitor at the Agricultural and Pastoral shows. Thomas Andrew Stephens was born in Brookside and moved to “Waipuna” to set up home with his family. The farm is still owned by the Stephens family with his grandson and great grandson developing it into growing black currants for Rybena juice. The Stephens family have a strong connection with the show with great grandson Stuart Stephens being on the present committee. The shield will become part of the Agrikids challenge that has been running now for 6 years. With the three local primary schools in the running to win this prestigious award.
Presents its 143rd Annual Show “OFF THE SHEEPS BACK” 19th October 2013 Gates open at 8am Admission: $12:00 Adults children under 12 free. Parking is free. For further details see page18 of this issue.
Thomas Andrew Stephens