On the 3rd of July, 1919, Mr W.H. Field, MP for Otaki and Mr F.W Vossellor “called a meeting of tramp enthusiasts…to consider the formation of a Tararua Club in Wellington”. Almost a 100 years later, the Tararua Tramping Club is gearing up for its centenary celebrations.
As well as a Centenary Dinner, and launch of Leading the way – 100 years of the Tararua Tramping Club, by Shaun Barnett and Chris Maclean, the TTC is holding a Commemorative Tramp. The first club trip was a day tramp up Mt Kaukau, and TTC think that its fitting they make a repeat of that first outing. The commemorative walk from Johnston’s Hill to Mt Kaukau is on Sunday June 30th, and all are welcome. More details on the TTC website.
FMC would like to encourage all our clubs to help celebrate TTC’s milestone, which also marks 100 years of Tramping Clubs by holding your own commemorative tramps throughout 2019.
It’s a great excuse to take a look back into your own club’s history and celebrate what your club has achieved. It’s also a good reminder to re-visit how your club manages and preserves it’s own history. (Take a look at the archiving resource we published on Wilderlife.nz)
It would be ideal if you can schedule a trip on the same date, and to the same location as your clubs first (or first known) trip. However, just going to the same location on a date that suits, or going to a favourite spot on or near the historical date will still be a great way to celebrate. As Autumn begins to bite a little, perhaps the timing is best to schedule the commemorative tramp for the coming spring?
If your club can’t recall it’s original trip, why not schedule your commemorative trip the weekend after the Tararua Tramping Club anniversary (3rd July) in support of their wonderful milestone?
Celebrating the history of your Tramping Clubs in the year of TTC’s wonderful milestone is a great story for local newspapers, and presents a good opportunity to reach out into your local community to attract some new members.
Please let FMC know about the details of your commemorative tramp, so that we can help promote it widely including on our Wilderlife ‘Whats on’ calendar. Contact dan.clearwater@fmc.org.nz with your trips and any questions.
Maybe you could make some fun with the trip, by trying to dress up in the type of clothing they would have worn on that trip back in the day? Don’t forget to take a few photos and jot down a few words that FMC can publish to help the celebration! Perhaps your research into the archives unearths a story or a report about those early trips, which you could share on your club meeting before the commemorative trip, and/or on the trip itself.
For inspiration, check out the series of ‘100 year reminiscence’ talks that the Tararua Tramping club which we’ve summarised on a separate Wilderlife post.
Featured image photo credit: Group on the Waiopehu Track. Adkin, George Leslie, 1888-1964 :Photographs of New Zealand geology, geography, and the Maori history of Horowhenua. Ref: PA1-f-006-319. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22435028
