Birds of a feather to flock together

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 2

Birds of a feather to flock together

The call has gone out to all former Westport residents to attend the third convention of Westports from February 28 te 28 next year. The first convention was held at Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, and the second at Westport, New York. The third, at Westport, New Zealand will still be only the start of a round. "We have established 23 communities of the same name in the Western world,” said the Town Clerk of New Zealand’s Westport, Mr Darryl Griffin, yesterday. The bulk of the Westports are in the United States. Westport — the New Zealand one — has been represented at both the Ireland and American conventions, and is already expecting about 188 visitors from overseas for its February gathering. Posters have been sent throughout New Zealand advertising the gathering for former residents.

"The response we have had so far has been exciting,” said Mr Griffin. Among those expected to attend are the present New Zealand Ambassador to the United States, Sir Wallace Rowling who, as member of Parliament for Buller, lived in Westport. The response within New Zealand was illustrated by a letter Mr Griffin received from an Auckland resident who had never been to Westport but intends to do so, because his great-grand-father, Hans Larsen, was a mayor of Westport at the turn of the century. The overseas visitors so far will come from towns of the same name in various states of America, Canada and Ireland.

"So far, we haven’t found one in Australia,” said Mr Griffin.

Plans for the three-day convention will coincide with the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting.