Opunake People J - L
| Judson, John |
| One of Opunake's oldest citizens, John Judson, wheelwright, died in 1947 at the age of 86 He was well-known throughout Taranaki and the Dominion as a great sportsman. He was well-known in boxing circles and he gave I exhibition bouts with the best lightweights of, the time. He was an expert rifle shot, and in 1887 he was the Canterbury Pigeon Shooting Champion. He was also an able miniature rifle shot. Mr Judson was a Life Member of the Opunake Bowling Club and formerly a keen cricketer .Back to top |
| Julian Emma |
| Emma was one of a family of eight children. Her father who came from the Isle of Man spoke several languages, and was one of the few " remaining people who could speak the Manx language. Emma's parents often hosted Sir Harry Atkinson when he came from Wellington on business trips to Taranaki. He was a man who liked to cut his own bread, and always drank milk. He enjoyed playing charades with the family in the evenings-and his visits were always anticipated with pleasure. The family's chief joy was riding, and when Emma's sister "Cis" married a man who owned racehorses, the girls used to exercise them on Oakura Beach. On one occasion when they had been visiting friends, "Cis" was given a young rooster (alive) in a Maori kit, and when they I were heading for home, along the beach, the two on. horses decided it was time to race, an took off at full speed. The young rooster struggled half- way out of the kit, flapping its free wing and squawking madly. The girls were very capable horsewomen and they enjoyed the action, but admitted later that they must have made a rare . sight, and sound, as they sped along the beach with the flapping, squawking rooster, the girls' long skirts billowing out in the wind, and their hair streaming out behind them. Emma married Frank Julian in 1889. Apart from raising a family of ten children, she helped with farm chores, and it was not unusual for her to take a three-week-old baby to the shed where she helped with the milking, no machines of course. During the influenza epidemic of 1918 Emma and Frank travelled around their district by horse and gig, visiting sick people and taking temperatures, often arranging for patients to be admitted to one of the several make-shift hospitals which had been established in various parts of the district. After they retired in Opunake Emma became a stalwart of St Barnabas' Church. She was always in charge of the sewing stall at the Annual Church Bazaar, and during the year she would purchase Fuji silk by the bolt. This she would make into night-dresses and underwear, complete with lace edging and embroidered motifs-to be pre-sold so that she could buy more material for children's clothes, embroidered supper cloths etc. By the time the bazaar took place, Emma always had a substantial fund in hand. She worked enthusiastically to have a Cottage Hospital built at Opunake, and when it became a reality it was Emma Julian who made all the sheets and pillowslips for the establishment. She was a foundation member of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, and one of the regulars who turned up at "the yards" with quantities of cooking to cater for the farmers on sale days. A keen gardener, Emma could always be relied upon to supply masses of flowers for church or hall decorations whenever special celebrations were held Back to top |
| Harvey, Leonard Manson q.s.o. |
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Len Harvey was born at Sawyer’s Bay Dunedin in 1912. He was a member of the Opunake District High School Committee from 1950 - 1956, and chairman for the last three years. From that time he was Chairman of the Opunake Primary School Committee until 1961.
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| Karena, Sally b.s.m |
| Sally has had a long-standing involvement with the Maori people of the district. She was Secretary of the Maori Committee and delegate to Aotea District for many years. She was also President of the Taranaki Northern District Council and President of the Parihaka Fund-raising Committee. She also became involved in family budgeting, and was already a grandmother when she trained as a Playcentre attendant Back to top
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| Leahy, Pat |
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Pat, a farmer on Eltham Road, joined the St Johns Ambulance Bridge during the war years. He was trained in first aid by the founder and first superintendent of the Opunake Bridge, Mr. R Croke. |
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