Standing ovation for Jim Brunton

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 26

Standing ovation for Jim Brunton

From J. J. BOYLE Wellington Mr Jim Brunton, of Dunedin, yesterday attended his forty third and final annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference. Delegates gave him a standing ovation after the Conference President, Mr Bernie Kelly, thanked him for an outstanding contribution to racing and its administration. Mr Kelly said Mr Brunton had served for four years on the Conference Executive, had been president of the Otago Racing Club for four

years, a member of the Otago Hunt committee for 50 years, and president of the club for 30 years. “He more than anyone else kept me on my toes and I enjoyed sparring with him,” he said. Mr Tim FoOkes, the conference’s legal adviser, said of Mr Brunton yesterday: “It’s sad to think he won’t be here next year — but I am also greatly relieved,” Mr Fookes added. Mr Brunton recalled that he had taken three years to get one of his arguments accepted by the conference.

It all added up to the fact that one had to be persistent and do the homework. Mr Kelly was reappointed <. yesterday as conference -? president and Mr Jim Bull.an continues as vice-president. ’•». The new executive committee is: Messrs L. J. Eccles (Auckland), J. A. G. Fulton (Canterbury), L. J. R. — Tucker (Hawke’s Bay), R. M. Hall (Otago), A. G. Henry .. (Southland), D. Myers (Taranaki), K. S. Browne ? (Waikato), H. G. Higgie ~ (Wanganui), C. M. D. Kerr (Wellington) and R. L. - Williams (West Coast).