PONSONBY U3A: FEBRUARY 2023

Dr John Reynolds, the speaker for Ponsonby U3A’s February meeting, evoked memories for members and gave a fascinating insight into early film making in New Zealand.

A retired academic and freelance writer, John has coauthored five full-length musicals and published five novels. He is also the writer and director of Runaway Revisited, a twenty-minute documentary on New Zealand pioneer and doyen of filmmakers, John O’Shea and his 1964 film Runaway. This was produced when there was no government or arts funding.

John Reynolds showcased for members his documentary, highlighting its background, the basic film-making methodologies employed, and the sociological issues of the fifties and sixties when New Zealand was dependent on the United Kingdom economically, socially, and culturally.

Writers such as Dan Davin and John Mulgan became exponents of a new cultural nationalism, rejecting the pervading Eurocentric view. Following this trend, John O’Shea founded Pacific Films at a time when there were no film schools and no films (apart from Rudall Hayward’s 1925 silent film, Rewi’s Last Stand), other than documentaries. O’Shea began with a documentary on the All Blacks and in 1952 produced and directed his first feature film, Broken Barrier. Seeing the colonial parallels between Ireland and New Zealand, his main theme was miscegenation.

Focusing on the ‘man alone’ concept popular with New Zealand writers, O’Shea went on to produce Runaway featuring the chief protagonist wondering what to do with his life. Runaway’s cast included a range of well-known actors and artists including Colin Broadley, Kiri Te Kanawa, Selwyn Muru, Barry Crump, Clyde Scott, Ray Columbus and William Johnstone.

The ten-minute speaker for February’s meeting was Tom Speed. He also took members back in time to 1973 when he and his wife did an arduous fourteen-day hike on Stewart Island. Walking in a westerly direction from their landing on the south coast at Mason’s Bay, they hiked for ten percent of the time on the beach, and ninety percent of the time following the coast on land having at one point to tramp through waisthigh swamp. They never saw another human being on the whole track but they did see plenty of mosquitoes, beautiful birds and wondrous night skies.

Visitors and new members are welcome to Ponsonby U3A. You may be new to the area, a bit lonely or at a point in your life where you are looking for fresh interests and challenges. There is a meeting on the second Friday of each month (except January) at the Herne Bay Petanque Club featuring a guest speaker drawn from diverse spheres of endeavour. Also, a member gives a ten-minute presentation on their life and/or interests.

At the heart of the club are the nearly thirty special interest or study groups that meet once a month. Members are encouraged to join and can choose one or more such groups covering about thirty different topics. Usually held in small groups in people’s homes, this is where the learning and the friendships are made. Topics include gardening, public art walks, gallery visits, dining out, armchair travel, the Ramblers (who gallivant all over the city and beyond), writing, drawing, current affairs, antiques and collectibles, history, architecture to name a few.

Ponsonby U3A welcomes newcomers. If you are interested in attending, first as a visitor, please call President Ian Smith on M:021 130 2330. (CHRISTINE HART)  PN

NEXT MEETING: FRIDAY, 10 March at 9.30am

GUEST SPEAKER: Architect Julie Stout, ‘Working With Dreams’

VENUE: Herne Bay Petanque Club, 19 Salisbury Street, Herne Bay

ENQUIRIES: Ian Smith, President, Ponsonby U3A. M: 021 130 2330, www.u3a.nz

Dr John Reynolds

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