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?.