October Mid-Week Run

MID-WEEK RUN

WED 5TH OCTOBER//

HBVCC Wednesday Run Oct 5thSTAND EASY// 2022 Or “Stand Easy” Under the guidance of our captain, John Cocking QSM, 12 cars and two students, grandchildren, gathered to take in the challenge before us. All dressed up with Beret, Swager Stick and clip board John set about his duty. Now the writer had to check with Wikipedia to make sure that it was a Swagger Stick and not a Pace stick.

Originally, the swagger stick was a functional implement used to direct military drill and manoeuvres, or to administer physical punishment. Nowadays it is more often a traditional visual attribute. As you all know, if John has anything to do with something it will be presented in the right and proper way, and so it was, the route sheet was complete with some “points of interest” to note along the way. The finish point was where many of us had not been for a long long time. Having instructed all with a good brief we were duly dispatched. The route took us through south Taradale out to Omaranui Rd where we passed a monument in an orchard which commemorates the Battle of Omaranui in 1866 and the year the memorial was erected that being 1916 the 50 anniversary. On then to Puketapu and note St Michael and All Saints church and memorial gate to WW2 on the gate post just 3 names. Out over Seafield and Hedgeley Rd to the Esk Church that was built as a memorial to Lieutenant Percival Beattie who died on 4/11/18, it was erected by his father-in-law, Thomas Clark and wife Annie. Out along the beach front heading to Napier and observe the Pill Box on the beach put there to? hold off the Japanese. Now asking as we drove past, what are the two Beacons? Navigation Lights in conjunction with the “Admiralty Pine” up on the hill top, they gave three points to guide ships through Pania Reef. On now via Corunna Bay past Main St down Hyderabad Rd up Chaucer Rd into Spencer Rd and question “ Why was this area called “suds alley” Wells were situated at the bottom of the hill in the Botanical gardens and used as a laundry for the troupes. On into the city passing the Masonic Hotel and the statue commemorating the Boer Wars, back up to the Marine Pde passing what was the Soldiers Club in 1917 and became the RSA, and is supposed to be the first in NZ. Up Coote Rd passed the drill hall and on up to the lookout for the finish and lunch. A most interesting look and better understanding of what was presented, John giving out the answers at the end, our grateful thanks to John and Lee Anne for an interesting day.