Club's closing chapter

UPPER HUTT LEADER

Upper Hutt's Hapai Club came to the end of an era on Thursday when it finally closed its doors after more than half a century of operations in the community.

About 150 people farewelled the club with singing and dancing from the venerable Wesley Revue and an address from Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy.

The club's final meeting closed the doors for good and transferred the ownership of the club's Fergusson Dr headquarters to the city council as a gift to the community.

Hapai club president for the past 43 years Mary Richardson said the club came about from the efforts of two women in an Upper Hutt community, which was "growing and changing from a rural community to an urban one".

"The needs of the older members were what concerned Nellie Slacke (wife of the mayor, Dick) and Rita Hosking."

Mrs Slacke (1957-60) and Mrs Hosking (1960-66) were early presidents before the tenure of Mrs Richardson, which began back in 1966.

"Right from the onset the community were behind their efforts and soon dreams were becoming a reality," Mrs Richardson said.

"After much questioning" about the group's name, Hapai - Maori for "to raise or lift up" - was seen as "fitting nicely with a club aiming to help folk that may be feeling lonely or forgotten."

A social afternoon, once a month, became routine in various halls "but they became too small and the old rugby gym at Maidstone Park became home".

"Cars were big and people were able, in a lot of cases, to take time off work to transport people," said Mrs Richardson in her final address.

"The gym would be transformed.

"Swept, chairs put out, the stubborn piano coerced from its cupboard, flowers arranged, food organised and then the guests would arrive dressed for the occasion.

"They were great afternoons, full of fun and laughter."

Expanding and eyeing the future, the Hapai club moved to a Station St house (next to Jina's and where the Woolworths car park is today).

"We opened at 10am and closed at 4pm and we were busy from go to whoa.

"It was a 'drop in centre' par excellence ... people loved having somewhere to go they could call their own," Mrs Richardson said.

"Dreams of our own building large enough for social afternoons became a reality after much discussion, debate and fundraising.

"The latter involved wonderful stalls on Fridays on the Main St and Pine Ave corner."

"Mrs Campbell Lindsay with her baking, Mrs Spratt with her sweets and oh, what a selection. Mrs James and her dolly clothes and Ida Roil's aprons, Francie Haye's knitting and sewing and on it went.

"Of course we had raffles.

"I recall one year when a dressing gown was 'nicked' by 8.30am."

''When our building was opened it was debt free as we had a subsidy from the government.

''We had to have our money before we got theirs.

''I think we had a $1000 mortgage to cover the furnishings.

''It was repaid in the first year and we have been debt-free ever since, thanks to the wonderful support of our community.''

The club's membership was high and its activities many in the 1960s and 1970s especially, Mrs Richardson said.

But changes came in the late 1980s.

''TV was part of life, women were returning to the workforce, and so volunteers were becoming less.

''Lifestyle changes meant people's needs were different and we as a community were affected.''

It has been a long, community-based story.

But now, as Mrs Richardson concluded, ''the time has come for the club to fold its wings''.

And today was ''a celebration and nothing to feel sad about''.

Mr Guppy, after presenting Mrs Richardson with flowers, spoke of the importance of the Hapai to Upper Hutt's history.

''Everyone here has played a part and your history is an example of exactly why this community is so strong,'' Mr Guppy said.

''The city will look after [the building] and make sure it's used for the purposes it was set out for in 1966.''

There was time for a few reminiscences from the floor and the Wesley Revue dancing and singing (My Fair Lady and an Abba medley) before a final rousing ''For She's a Jolly Good Fellow" for the stalwart Mrs Richardson.