SAM GEMMELL: A TRIBUTE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 33, 23 February 1937, Page 6

SAM GEMMELL: A TRIBUTE

4 (Contributed by N. A. McKenzie^| Samuel W. 'Gemmell, chosen as one , of the contingent to represent •' the pr Maori race at the Coronation celebra, tions in England, is one of the moet colourfui * native personalities in 'Hawke's Bay. • At the age of 16 he heard the war drums in Europe and over there saw years of service. At |i) ^ every opportunity when back of the lines he followed his favourite sport— * Rugby. With the Armistice signed Sam inw mediately looked out his football gea* and joined np with the Maori Pioneer Rugby team, touring England and Wales. The Pioneers gained many no- - table victories during the winter of , ' 1918-19. ' m He returned to New Zealand in 192Q, In 1921 he was a fetudent at Te Auts, College and gained his Bay Rugby cap, i A dashing forward, he continued to re» ^ present Hawke's Bay continuously t« 1931 and in between represented the New Zealand Maoris in two toffrs to Australia and to England and France in 1926-27. In 1923 he gained his Al| _ Black cap, a W He took tip farming on his own aecount in 1930 and in the following vear married Miss Edna Maude, of m Sydney. All Hawke's Bay will rejoice atSam's selection, and it. can be said that he is indeed a worthy representative of the native *race. Despite his 38 years,- he still enjoys his Rugby and last year was captain of the Wairoa J, sub-union representatives. Mrs Gemmell and her three sturdy sons are at present on holiday in Sydney. "m-