Fifty years a couple

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 555, 27 September 1994, Page 11

Fifty years a couple

A dinner at the Country Classic Lodge on Saturday, 3 September was to celebrate Alec and Edna MacLean's Golden Wedding anniversary, with over sixty of their family and friends attending the celebration. They were presented with a bouquet of golden coloured flowers from the family. Their marriage took place in a marquee at 'Okura' Kakatahi, at the home of Mrs MacLean' s parents, on 1 2 September 1 944, while Alec was on a fortnight's leave from the Air Force. For the next 12 months they lived in Blenheim and Christchurch. After leaving the Air Force the MacLeans came to Raetihi and set up a farming partnership at Hukaroa and farmed there until 1979, living on the farm until 1988. Alec and Mrs MacLean have a family of two daughters and two sons and 1 1 grandchildren. All the family have a strong musical background. Alec started to play the saxophone in 1937 and the first band he played in was led by Gus Large and then with Lill Leckie, as well as the Taihape Musicians Club, not forgetting the times that Alec helped out other groups if an extra player was required. 'Macsound' started in 1948 and has

supplied the sound system for the Raetihi A & P show since. The local Rodeo is another that has benefitted from this local business. The 'Macsound' system has also supplied the sounds for various local amateur shows as well as professional visitors to the area over the years. Many A & P shows, rodeos and operatic societies around the country have had the benefit of Alec and Mrs MacLean, who haveenhanced the performances with their expert hands on sound systems. Other functions have been the Royal Horse Society, the TeKuiti New Zealand Shearing Championships and the Tauranga Jazz Festival for 29 years. They have been involved with shows such as Superstar, Joseph and Annie to mention just a few. Performers have had recordings done with 'Macsound' and have gone on to make music their profession, ' Macsound has helped many of the music clubs and groups with their systems making the difference between amateur and professional shows minimal. The MacLeans shifted to the township in 1988 and are still involved in the sound business and any spare time is spent leisurely at home with Mrs Mac in the lovely garden and Alec helping where necessary.