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An Amazing Connection 30 Years Apart!
Mahe Drysdale And Bob Owens: An Amazing Connection
30 Years Apart!
During a recent spring clean CEO Amy Thaler came across some old paperwork dating back to the establishment of the YMCA in Tauranga. In it she discovered a surprising connection to the present – its first patron was the grandfather of its current patron!
“I was casually casting my eyes over some old document when I noticed mention of the name Bob Owens,” says Thaler. “Knowing that Bob was the maternal grandfather of the Mahe Drysdale, our current patron, I immediately paid more attention.”
To Thaler’s immense surprise, the records, which had been recently taken out of storage by YMCA Tauranga’s founding counsel Bill Holland, indicated that Bob Owens was on hand at the inauguration ceremony on the 29th May, 1980, as the Y’s first patron.
“If I had known that when I first approached Mahe to be our patron, it would have made it an even easier pitch!” says Thaler. “Mahe and I had discussed Bob’s patronage of many organisations during the official opening of the new YMCA building but neither of us at that stage knew that Bob had been the Y’s patron.
“It just goes to show the extent to which the Y connects people and families. In this case it has even been through generations.”
To commemorate its 30th Anniversary, the YMCA Tauranga will be adding a birthday theme to its annual Connecting Families Day by hosting a street party on the 29th of May. Devonport Road between 13th and 14th Avenues, outside the Y’s new premises, will be closed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the big bash. Families are encouraged to come down and enjoy food, music, games, prizes and plenty of kid and family-friendly activities.
While overseas rowing commitments mean Mahe won’t be attending the Y’s Connecting Families Day, a free, national YMCA event held annually to encourage families to engage and spend time together, he and Bob will still be there....sort of.
“Waipuna Hospice contacted me recently after they received a wonderful photo of Mahe with his boat, aptly named the “Bob Owens”, hanging in the background,” explains Thaler. “We have a great relationship with Waipuna and provide scholarships for their clients’ children each holiday, so they thought of us when they received the donation. Waipuna will officially present the David Vernon photo to us at the party...probably just before we cut the huge birthday cake!”
ENDS
YMCA
Building strong kids, strong families and strong communities
The Y has been in New Zealand for over 168 years, building strong kids, strong families and strong communities. There are 48 Y centres across New Zealand.
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