Farewell to Rangataua couple

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 502, 7 September 1993, Page 5

Farewell to Rangataua couple

Long-term Waimarino identities Tim and Ivy Whale farewell the region after seven decades, taking with them a lifetime of memories. Born in Feilding, Tim moved to the Waimarino when he was 1 1 and attended Rangataua School where he earned his proficiency award. He carried on to Ruapehu College, eventually finishing his secondary schooling after just two years when the institution was closed temporarily by an influenza epidemic. He joined his father share-farming, milking cows on 200 acres of land, then later went on to beef cattle. He spent a time logging in the area, as well as 25 years on the Rangataua School Committee as chairman.

Tim joined the Ohakune Mountain Road committee and in 1953 was a member of the work gang that began the lengthy and arduous process of grafting the road from volcanic rock. The works committee endeavoured to complete a mile a year and worked on its construction through the summer months. During the winter the committee ran fund-raising functions to finance the work. "It was back-breaking work", said Tim. "The old pioneers were a wonderful people. You don't see that sort of spirit these days." The couple raised nine children, all of whom attended Rangataua School and later went on to Ruapehu College. Living in the

Waimarino for more than half a century, Tim and Ivy have observed and taken an active part in the development of the land. With his father, Tim helped clear trees from neighbouring land to make way for pasture and has witnessed the area turn from saw-milling to farming. Development of the land and the provLsion of improved roading saw the demise of the steam trains that were an integral key to Rangataua' s pre-war prosperity. The couple have several cherished old photographs of the township in its 'hey day', showing rows of boarding houses, shops and amusement parlours. The decision to leave their family home of 56

years was a hard one to make, but thrice being the victim of burglars has unsettled the couple. "Forty years ago you could go to bed without locking a single door", said Ivy. 'These days you have to nail everything down." The grounds containing lawns, hedges, shrubs and flower beds have also become too demanding. Care of the house and accompanying property passes to the couple 's grandson when they leave next week bound for Taupo, and a cottage with a workshop big enough to house Tim's wood-turn-ing equipment, on a son's property. Tim's intricately carved bowls and wooden vessels grace a number of Waimarino homes as well

as his own. "I don't sell them - just give them away as birthday and Christmas presents", he said. Ivy intends to further her love of gardening in Taupo, with a selection of bulbs taken from their Rangataua garden. The couple were farewelled by a crowd of

around 100 friends, relatives and well-wishers who packed the Rangataua Hall last week. They were presented with an oil painting by local artist Monica Battersby, depicting the famous Rangataua Boarding House, and a television set. When the

Bulletin spoke to him, Tim was unsure whether he wanted to take up television watching after a three year break, describing it as an "unsociable habit". "When would I get to watch it?", he said. "There's too much to do."