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East and Bays Courier : May 18th 2012
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www.aucklandnow.co.nz Friday, May 18, 2012 Rifles' patron reflects Rifles patron: A painting of College Rifles Rugby Football Club life member Bryan Trembath hangs in the new pavilion which is named after him. Photo: ESTHER LAUAKI By ESTHER LAUAKI Clubhouse: The Royal Akarana Yacht Club Building was dismantled and rebuilt at the Rifles' property in Remuera. ' I think you're telling porkies if you say every minute was enjoyable. I've seen the good times and the bad. ' College Rifles Rugby Football Club patron Bryan Trembath THE College Rifles Rugby Football Club wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for Bryan Trembath and a few of his mates. The 84-year-old life mem- ber was charged with finding a home for the club when he first served on the executive committee in 1949. Mr Trembath is now patron and the club's new pavilion which opened last month is named in his honour. There was no official gath- ering place for the young men in the early days, he says. The Royal Akarana Yacht Club building was bought for £560, dismantled and rebuilt at the Rifles property in Remuera. While the men cleared the land and mended the roof on the refurbished clubhouse their wives would feed and water the workers, he says. After a game we'd all go to the local hostels and have a noggin or two. There was no club ground. One of our senior players' father was the publican at the Britomart Hotel on Cus- toms St in the city, and in those days, that was about where the shore came up to. We'd all sit down in the cellar and have a few drinks after a game.'' Mr Trembath and com- mittee members developed the property in Remuera which was formerly owned by the Auckland Rugby Union. It used to be Lake Waiatarua and it was all scrub and farmland. I found the property and developed it. You'd look out and all you could see was bush and we cleared it all. We wanted to develop these grounds for the com- munity so...we aimed to have more than rugby here. After a good dumping of rain it was a mess to play on. It was nothing compared to this all-weather turf they play on now.'' Membership consisted of about four teams back then compared to the 1150 regis- tered rugby players now, half of which are women. College Rifles was orig- inally a military unit in 1897 that enlisted boys from Auck- land Grammar and Kings College who served as volun- teer corps during World War I, II and the Boer War. The chosen motto was, vir- tus pollet'' meaning, manli- ness prevails''. All but two members from a possible 100 players for the rugby team had gone off to war in 1940, Mr Trembath says. I've been here since we rigged showers up in the old sheds and seen two major fires where everything was burned. I think you're telling por- kies if you say every minute was enjoyable. I've seen the good times and the bad.'' Amcal Panmure Pharmacy We specialise in the sale and rental of a large range of mobility and medical items designed for community use; • Wheelchairs • Crutches • Nebulisers • Breast pumps • TENS machines • Blood Pressure monitors • Circulation Booster -- as seen on TV • Vapourisers Call us today on (09) 527 7719 to discuss your needs or visit us at 74-76 Queens Rd Panmure. We are open 7 days a week for your convenience. 4603165AA Amcal Panmure Pharmacy OPEN 7 DAYS • 74-76 Queens Rd, Panmure • Ph: 527 7719
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