Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 30, September 1986
JOE AND IRIS WEEDON
Joseph Weedon and Iris Pearse were married at Te Aroha on 31 March 1936.
Joe, born in England, came to New Zealand in 1921. His schooling was in Waihi and after an apprenticeship with the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, passed his wiremans examination. Later he became lines foreman at Paeroa.
Iris, born in Henderson, later lived in Hamilton and Thames. For a period she worked as a pay clerk with the Thames Valley Electric Power Board.
HARRY AND JESSIE STAPLES
50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Harry and Jessie were married on 14 April 1935 at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, and came to New Zealand in 1950. After a year in Paeroa, Harry built a home at Karangahake and they moved there in 1951. Harry spent most of his working years in New Zealand, at Paeroa Hardware.
In the early years of the Paeroa Historical Society, both Harry and Jess were committee members.
50 YEARS MARRIED
ERIC AND EDITH DUNSTAN
Eric, better known as Dixie, and Edith were married on 8 January 1936 at St David's Church, Kyber Pass, Auckland. They have lived in Paeroa for 35 years.
Eric was born in Waihi and was a saxophone player in the Dixieland Boys Band. As a lad he was also mascot of the Waihi Federal Band which was, at that time, New Zealand A Grade champion. Eric's father was conductor. Eric also progressed through the Band to become conductor himself for some 20 years and from 1953 to 1960 conducted the Paeroa Brass Band. Unfortunately support for this Band and others in the area at that time declined and it eventually went into recess.
Eric, keen on dancing, met Edith Neilson at the Dixieland Ball Room in Auckland and the chance encounter blossomed into more than friendship when Eric and Edith became husband and wife. They came to live in Waihi where Eric was employed in the grocery trade and during this 16 year period, they raised a family of three.
The Dunstan family moved to Paeroa where Eric and his brother, Bill set up a signwriting colour shop. When Bill left, Eric took over McCready's Fabrics, which he managed for some 8 years. Following a period of semi-retirement, Eric worked for the Hauraki Catchment Board's stores depot in Paeroa, after which he finally did retire.
Edith, before her marriage, was employed at some of Auckland's big department stores of the day, including Milne and Choyce, and was quite happy to leave city life behind and live in the quieter rural towns of Waihi and Paeroa. She has been an enthusiastic member of the Paeroa Croquet Club for a number of years.
CECIL AND ELVA HESLOP
GOLDEN WEDDING
On 20 June 1986, Cecil and Elva Heslop celebrated their Golden Wedding. Cecil and Elva were married in the Methodist Church, Paeroa, and settled on their farm at Wani Road, Awaiti, which Cecil had drawn in a ballot in 1933, all unimproved land. Building a cow shed, plus a one-bedroom home, hand milking - no power - plenty of mud and water, stumps to clear, no car, they were isolated but they "made it" their home. In later years, Cecil served on the Hauraki Plains Council and became a Justice of the Peace.
Elva, nee Gubb, was born in Thames and attended the Thames High School, going by train from Hikutaia, where she then lived. She is a member of the Paeroa Choir and the Netherton C W I, the Recorded Music Club and the Presbyterian Fellowship. They have retired to live in Paeroa and both enjoy golf and holidaying at Whangamata. They have 3 married daughters, Raewyn, Janice end Phyllis and 10 grandchildren.