Flourishing senior citizens’ club

Press, Issue 33842, 14 May 1975, Page 7

Flourishing senior citizens’ club

Shipping News

By

JOHN LESLIE)

It may he the salt air—Lyttelton’s senior citizens are not only the most active in New Zealand but extremely mobile. For many years now. some members have “come alive’’ in a big way, and as a result have toured most of New Zealand in groups.

It al! started in 1963, tvhen three Lyttelton women decided to do something for the elderly people of the port.

The tno consisted of the late Nurse Mary Cheyne, a Shetland [slander, who was then the district health nurse; Mrs S. W. Blerkin-

sop, then a Lyttelton resident; and the Mayoress (Mrs J. B. Collett). With others, they were concerned about the loneliness of ageing people and the lack of communication between such people with their own age group. Thus, the Port Citizens’ Club came into being, in October, 1963. Today, it is an accepted thing for port senior citizens to meet socially each month, often with entertainment provided, and also to have an outing once a month. Their annual subscription is 50c.

They also have a bumper Christmas party at Lyttelton each year.

A hardy Scot, Mr W. Craigie, aged 89, who is often seen striding briskly on the waterfront, comparing today’s ships with those he served in as a young man, is one of the group’s “shock troops” which tour New Zealand by motor coach, on occasion, about 40-strong. As far as is known, the Lyttelton group is the first to undertake nation-wide travel in a big way. Mrs Jessie Huston, aged 94. and Mrs Margaret Hannah, aged 86. both regularly attend social gatherings at Lyttelton. All members get on extremely well together. All have the common interest of the sea and shipping, but cosmopolitan Lyttelton generally is a cheerful place. The Port Citizens’ Club has achieved miracles with senior citizens’ welfare. Others have been moved to assist. For instance, the Lyttelton Working Men’s Club not only lends its premises for meetings but has also made donations. The Lyttelton Lions’ Club is another, which has helped, and last week-end held a “Las Vegas” night to raise more funds for senior citizens. The official membership of Lyttelton’s citizens group now stands at 120. The Resident Naval I

Officer at Christchurch (Lieutenant-Commander B. L. Clough), advises changes in the dates for public visits aboard H.M.N.Z.S. Canterbury', due here tomorrow morning. The frigate will now be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Sunday next — not Saturday, as previously announced. On Saturday, the frigate will be closed to all but a television crew which will take film sequences.

After considerable interest in a recent item in this col-1 umn about two former New! Zealand Shipping Company! vessels, both named Horo-i rata, an inquiry has been' made for a photograph or! negative of these distinguished vessels, for reproduction. A telephone call to “The Press” office at Lyttel-. ton would assist. ARRIVALS Hawea <5.58 a.m.h 2926. Capt. M. B. Deane, Wellington (U.S.S.). i Rangatira (6.42 a.m.). 9387.: Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.). Athelviscount <8.56 a.m.), 12.592, Capt. D. C. B. Lochhead, Marsden Point (U.S.S.) (tanker). DEPARTURES Hawea (3.45 p.m.), 2926. Capt. M. B. Deane. Dunedin (U.S.S.). Rangatira (8.7 p.m.), 9387, Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.). EXPECTED ARRIVALS I Kapitan Gribm, Timaru, today. (Coastal Trader, Dunedin, today. ; H.M.N.Z.S. Canterbury, Auckland, May 15. Rangatira, Wellington, May 15. Viminale. Wellington. May 15. Hawea, Dunedin, May 15. Holmdale, Chathams.'May 16. Rangatira, Wellington, May 17. Bayernstein, Wellington, May 13. Tunisian Reefer, Auckland, ‘Mav 19. Baron Dunmore. Port Sulphur, May 19 (Bulk). Straat Cumberland. Suva, May 19. Union Sydney, Dunedin, May 20. PROJECTED DEPARTURES Sinklang. Tauranga, today. Coastal Trader, Auckland, todav. Kapitan Grlbin, , today. Athelviscount, Bluff, today. Rio Grande Maru, Dunedin,! today. Rangatira. Wellington, today. Hawea, Wellington. Mav 15. Rangatira, Wellington, "Mav 17 (daylight). H.M.N.Z.S. Canterbury. Auckland, May 19. Union Sydney, Wellington. Mav ; 20 - Vitninale. Timaru. Mav 20. (Straat Cumberland, Auckland. May 21. Tunisian Reefer, , May 21.1 VESSELS IN PORT Rio Grande Maru, No. 4 West. ! Sinkiang. No. 7 East. Athelviscount. oil wharf.