Eric Foster: from horses to space age

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 295, 18 July 1989, Page 10

Eric Foster: from horses to space age

Eric Foster, the Waimarino' s voice on the "old milling day", died on Monday 10 July.

He was bom in 1907 at Ohingaitai. When his

family moved to Ohakune they settled in

Raetihi Road. Eric's father worked at the varied mills in the area. Eric attended the local Primary School, leaving the atmosphere of formal schooling early to enter the work force. His first job was at Napier in a local grocery store. He was in Napier at the time of the "great earthquake." Returning to Ohakune jhe found employment with the Cash Stores at i Ohakune Junction. Later ihe built a truck to carry imetal for the Waiouru

Military Camp, and this later developed into his own Ohakune-based carrying business under his name in 1947. Later, he moved to the Tohunga Road Farm staying there until 1972 when he retired to Rotorua, returning in 1987 when his wife died. Until his death he resided with his daughter Ngaire and her husband Ron Burrows. Very recently he had enjoyed a trip to visit family and grandchildren in Perth, Australia. Eric's main interests were with hunting and fishing. Deep sea fishing took him to Mayor

Island near Tauranga and he was a member of the Deerstalkers Association. Once he received a trophy for the largest blue marlin of the day. As well, he enjoyed outdoor bowls and played snooker - all in

Rotorua. Eric had a keen interest in history, particularly the Waimarino. He spent quite some time as a source person for Merrilyn George as she gathered first-hand information about the early days of our region for her proposed book.

He talked a great deal about the "Old Days", particularly about "milling times". Eric Foster's life spanned a period when the greatest changes ever occurred in the lifestyle of mankind. From the horse and buggy to the moon in a spaceships