“ONCE A KAIERAU. ALWAYS A KAIERAU-KAIWAKA!”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 91, 20 April 1946, Page 3

“ONCE A KAIERAU. ALWAYS A KAIERAU-KAIWAKA!”

OLD RUGBY CLUB’S JUBILEE

The date was Saturday, February 28, 1891, the scene the Victoria (afterwards Chavannes) Hotel. Some thirty-five Rugby football enthusiasts had met with the intention of forming a new club. Of those present Mr W. 11. (“Billy”) McLean—now of Feilding—was elected to the chair, and the bylaws which he read were adopted as those to govern the new club. Mr- George Bullock moved:

“That a new club be formed and that it be called the Kaierau Rugby Football Club.”—The motion was seconded by Mr. A. Hogg and carried with acclamation.

Thus was founded a club which has remained hi existence ever since. It has been a long 55 years, in which faces came into the club, played their parts on and oft the field, drifted away, but the club remained, and this weekend celebrates an adjourned jubilee observance begun in the jubilee year (1941) during the war, and adjourned to enable those overseas to return and participate.

Strangely enough, the maroon jerseys, of which the club is so proud to-day, was the subject of the first amendment being put to the initial meeting. Mr. Bullock moved that the uniform of the club be maroon jerseys and stockings, white knickers, maroon cap, with yellow facings and tassel. Mr. Hogg seconded the motion , but according to the minute book, Mr. Rockeli moved an amendment that the colours be green and black. The amendment was lost and the club became what has been referred to by the Press of then and today as the “Maroons.” MRS I ELEU HON OF OFFICERS First man to be elected to the presidency o£ the new club was Mr. W. J. Peake, and others appointed to official positions were: Vice-presidents, Messrs A. J. Parsons, Duncan Blair and the Rev. H. H. Dewsbury; captain, Mr. W. J. McLean; vice-captain, Mr. E. Peake; secretary, Mr. G. G. Bullock; treasurer, Mr. J. W. Andrew; committee, Messrs. T. W. Copeland, G. Gordon, C. Lockett, J. Blair and R. Craig; auditors, Messrs. R. Ecclesfield and G. Brown. Following the initial election o£ officers, it was decided to join the Wanganui Rugby Football Union as a senior club, Messrs. McLean, Barr, and Copeland being appointed delegates. CREDIT TO FOUNDERS Kaierau throughout the years has met with outstanding success, both on and off the playing field, and to-day stands as an immortal sporting body which is, to say the least, an everlasting credit to those gentlemen of the late 80’s who created it. At the outset it was expected that the membership would stand somewhere in the vicinity of 30 to 40 players, principally old college boys and St. John players. The club, however, was fortunate in that a number of footballers from Gordon and Railway clubs came over, which enabled them not only to field a senior team in their first season, but also two junior fifteens. Both the senior and junior teams won the cups in their respective grades in this first season, this fact helping to a great extent to acquire the respect of other Rugby clubs in the Wanganui district. WORDS OF WISDOM The concluding remarks of the chairman (Mr. W. McLean) at the club’s first annual meeting are of interest. "A greater attention to the finer points of the game, a better knowledge of the rules, and far more dash and combination is so greatly desired," he said. “To secure this, particular attention must be directed to the passing and dribbling of all teams. There is no reason why the club should not win both cups again. We intend to try, at any rate. “We should aim at the perfect tearr

A ground had been laid out at Victoria Park several years before Kaierau was formed, and it was on this ground that the Wanganui Rugby Union representatives played their first rep. match in 1888 against the first visiting English team. This ground was not the best of paddocks in wet weather and could only be used under favourable conditions. About the year 1900 Kaierau carried out their training in Jackson's yards, which were then situated in Victoria Avenue, approximately where Cuthbertson and Lee's premises now stand. An effort was made in 1900 to raise funds for the purpose of building a gymnasium to be erected on Cook’s Gardens. The scheme, however, did not reach maturity, and it was not until 1923 that the club became the proud possessor of its own training shed. HISTORY OF GYMNASIUM After World War I. a great revival took place j n Rugby circles, and it soon became evident that accommodation in the Wanganui Union training shed would not suffice for the large number of clubs playing in the local competitions. Consequently an urgent meeting of the committee of Kaierau was called to determine what steps could be taken to alleviate the position. A new shed was purchased. Subsequent events moved rapidly. The club possessed the new shed as it stood in Taupo Quay, but were at a loss as to where it could be removed to. However, an arrangement was made through the Rugby Union to deposit the building on a specified site on the Recreation Ground, where it stands to this day. “KAIWAKA!” The club had not long been in full swing before a war cry was adopted, a particularly ferocious use of the Maori “Kawaka” being selected. How the "password" originated was that a canoe party of four, two of whom were Kaierau players, was proceeding up the Wanganui River when, on approaching Koriniti, they were hailed in particularly lurid terms from the beach below the pa and warned that they would never negotiate the treacherous Kaiwaka rapids. The word was later used frequently among Kaierau members, and it was not long before it was formally adopted by the club for the express purpose of urging their players to greater efforts.' PLAYING ACHIEVEMENTS The achievements of the club on the playing field and the record of championships and cups are a source of pride among the maroons. The following is a record of the various cups won by the Kaierau teams over the last 50 years:— Seniors: 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1899, 1900, 1906, 1909, 1912 1914, 1915, 1916, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935. Juniors: 1891, 1896, 1897, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1913, 1916, 1920, 1924 1925, 1928, 1929, 1932, 1939. Thirds: 1894, 1899. 1905, 1911, 1915 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1934. Fourths: 1910, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 1925, 1926, 1928, 1935, 1940. Fifths: 1927, 1933. Charity Cup: 1920, 1925, 1926, 1927 1930, 1931, 1933, 1938, 1939. McKee Cup: 1913, 1914, 1921, 1922 11924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929.