Memorabilia on sale at the Centennial this weekend!

Open Invitation to Sunday Centennial Events

The Centennial is upon us, in fact it is only 5 days away. We are looking forward to an exciting and fun weekend celebrating the 100th birthday of our hall.

 

In response to community requests we have changed the format for Sunday’s activities from the original plan.

 

There will now be NO cost to attend the activities on Sunday. Lunch will now be a community pot luck lunch, it will not be catered.

 

Members of the wider Mt Bruce community are all welcome to join us on Sunday for the service and or lunch, see the displays, buy some memorabilia and order your copy of our book on the history of the hall. No registration required, just arrive and join in. Church and dedication service starts at 10am (daylight saving time), Lunch will be about 12:30.

There's a great article in this weeks Wairarapa Midweek page 14 about Maurice Hunt and the commemoration at the hall on Sunday.

Recent Newspaper Advertisement

We placed the following advert in our local papers recently...

Bagpipes at the Wedding.

What local wedding would be complete without a tune or two from the bagpipes?
Pictured are Les Trass and Len Barnes playing at the wedding of  Darragh and Neta Weston's Wedding at the hall 23 November 1956.

Thanks Robyn Weston for the photo.

Dancing at the Hall

The grand Saturday night opening of the hall was an auspicious event.  Music was played by M. Myers. The dance schedule read: waltz, lancers, schlottische, waltz, quadrilles, M. two step, D. Alberts, maxina, hoyland, barn dance, veletta. The "D.Alberts" probably refers to "d'Albert" a Scottish dancer and composer and "hoyland" may refer to "hiyland" or "highland".

Dancing has been a popular activity at the Mt Bruce Hall since it opened and has continued over the years. Some of the current locals attended dance classes in preparation for the Centennial and have "learnt" or "refreshed" the following tradition dances; old-time waltz, fox trot, maxina, veletta, oslo waltz, gay gordons and military two-step. The videos below feature some versions that are similar to those that were taught in the class.

 
•   4VIDEOS

  Dances for Mt Bruce Hall Centennial

Many variations and styles of each dance evolved over the years and around the world. This other playlist shows other traditional, old-time or folk dances with many being distinctly different to those taught in NZ today. Contact Hayden if you come across others that could be added. Apologies in advance for quality and those advertisements.

 
•   17VIDEOS

  Old Time Dancing

Some senior locals remember other hall dances featuring the "broom dance" and the "chair dance" among others. Many other dance styles have come and gone over the years but with the right music the old favourites magically appear.

• 
  
• 
  

Theme Party - Shipwrecked 2014

We're not just about celebrating the past - this event is yet to happen - although it is likely to be yet another fond memory at our Centennial weekend.

Tickets available - details on the poster above.
Please share and support!

Dance Bands

In the 1930's up to the 1960's Saturday night dances were a regular feature in many rural hall though out New Zealand. One popular group who regularly performed at the Mt Bruce Hall was the "Jack Barnes Rhythm Boys".

George Hessell, Maurice Hunt, Bill Ashworth, Clary Jackson, Cril Minifee and Jack Barnes in 1939.

 

 

 

The group evolved over the years and below is Jack Barnes performing with a different line-up in the Mt Bruce Hall.

Mt Bruce Hall musicians 1964. L to R Jack Barnes, Keith Hunt, Russell George and Hilda Lowe

100 Years Ago Today

On 10th July 1914 a meeting of settlers was called and a committee formed to proceed with the building of a hall. Three months later, the Mount Bruce Hall was built and opened!

The Mt Bruce Hall in the 1920's. Note the metalled road now State Highway 2.

80 Years Anniversary - 6th August 1994

Here is a collection of the age group photos taken at the hall during the 80 year anniversary in 1994.

70 years up
Leo Duckett, Murray Daniell, Stuart McLaghlan, Bernie Williams,
Murray Keats, Rata Campbell, Gretta Campbell,
Harold Duckett, Helen Tankersley, Dorothy Campbell, Lil Christensen.

60 years up
Nan Tankersley, Laurie Keats, Dick Pressow, Bill Gray,
Marian Trass, Evelyn Duckett, Jean Keats, Peg Gray,
Lorna Brazier, Ngaire McLennon, Mrs Bernie Williams, Trevor Buick.

50 years up
Henry Christensen, David Weston, Alan Buick, Shirley Meyer (Trass),
Isabel Campbell, Neta Weston, Dawn Barlow (Buick),
Mary Buick, Robin Weston, Janet Campbell, Ian Campbell.

40 years up
Barry Colquoun, Ed Campbell, Mike Wyeth,
Marilyn Campbell, Caroline Colquoun, Val Scarr,
Dorothy Christensen, Ian McEwen, Di Wyeth.

20 & 30 years up
Hayden McGrail, Katrina McGillicuddy (Christensen), Gary Compton, Tim Campbell, Neil Potter,
Phil Brazier, Gill Potter, Lorraine Campbell,
Lyn Tankersley, Judith Brazier, Dianne Brazier, Karen Gregory (Campbell).

Up to 20 years
Philip Wyeth, Lynley Campbell holding Stephanie Campbell, Anna Christensen, Pip Campbell, Daniel Wyeth,
Angelene Colquoun, James McGrail, Adam Wyeth,
Sarah Colquhoun, Riki Potter, David McGrail, Campbell Potter, Daniel Gregory (on Karen's legs),
Brendon Campbell, Kelsey Scarr, Kirianne Potter.

Fun at the Hall in the 50's

In the 1950's a very memorable event was held in the hall that was even reported in the local paper!

 

And yes these are some of our local "men" at the time...

Tony Inaugural Cup Winner!

The Mt Bruce District Cups have engaged the community in a wide range of activities over the years. Pictured is young Tony Hunt receiving the Alan Trass Memorial Cup - Children's Competition with Marion Trass and Ian Campbell. The paintings on the wall behind were some of the entries. Tony entered a painting of a sailing ship and it was bought by Marion in the auction.

The Mount Bruce Community

The way rural communities like Mt Bruce, "look after their own" is well illustrated in this recollection of Howard Nicol who grew-up in the area.

Howard, now living in Australia, recalls an incident at the Hall around 1945 when he was 12 years old. Apparently a young, earnest, policeman from Masterton turned up at one of the regular Saturday "socials". As was the custom of the time there was no drinking in the hall so a tent out the back provided the important "watering-hole" for the men. Howard says all the men in the area appeared to have nicknames which they seemed to use all the time and he often did not know what there real names were.
The most forthright of these was 'Mot' Walsh and it was he who quickly and decisively dealt with the policeman's question, "So what's going on here then?"
"Have you had any complaints?" asks the self-appointed spokesman.
"No", came the timid reply
"Well you won't be getting any neither. You've no business 'round here. What happens here is our affair and we look after our own around here."
So with that stern "telling off" the young policeman duly departed and no repeat visits were ever made.

Howard Nicol 2014

The exact words may be in doubt but it is clear the community was used to looking after itself and doing things their own way. These social events were a way of bonding the community and catching-up on the comings and goings in the district. The community halls in the wider area took monthly turns at hosting the Saturday night socials - so there'd be a "Do" to go to most weekends.

Mt Bruce Tennis Club

The hall hosted a very strong tennis club for many years as can be seen by the number of supporters during this game around 1946. The clay courts were of a very high standard.

With a thriving club at Opaki just down the road and sealed courts at Miki Miki School just up the road playing at the hall gradually came to an end.

Women's Institute at the Hall 1936

This photo shows a group of locals attending a Women's Institute meeting held at the Hall around about 1936. The Mt Bruce WI have been regular users of the Hall.

1 Ngaire Campbell, 2 Ngaire McLachlan, 3 Maureen McLachlan, 4 Maggie Daken (nee Campbell), 5 Mrs Claude Welch, 6 ?, 7 Olive Campbell, 8 ?, 9 ?, 10 ?, 11 Isla Campbell, 12 Grannie Campbell (nee Blatchford), 13 Ida Reader, 14 Marge Reader, 15 Male Visitor, 16 ?, 17 Mildred Te Tau?.

Masterton Harrier Club

The Masterton Harrier Club was one of many outside groups who made regular use of our hall.

Provincial Championships - Hutt Park 1927

Standing from left to right; A.O'Donnal, T.Smith, R.A.Rose, N.Trass, L.Smith, W.Winhall, L.Trass, L.Emery, N.Winhall, J.Bradbury, J.Kitchener.
Front Row: E.J.Heffer, R.Campbell, A. Keats, J.J.Hunter, S.Carr, S.Spicer, B.Peters.

Apologies for any errors. More information on other groups using our hall would be appreciated.