Time has come to say goodbye

FAREWELL: John Foster (left) and Drago Yelavich, who represented the long-serving Rotarian with a kauri clock on behlaf of the club.

John Foster has taken his leave from the Kaitaia Rotary Club, after setting a longevity record that might never be broken.

Mr Foster, who is moving to Tauranga to be closer to family, joined the club in 1963, and according to long-time friend and fellow Rotarian Drago Yelavich made an extraordinary contribution. He had held almost every club directorship, served as president in 1973-74, was secretary five times and treasurer 10, attended five world conventions and was a member of the board for almost half his half-century.

"He has been at the coal face for a long, long time," Mr Yelavich said, adding that he and his late wife Judy had also hosted exchange students, and had kept in touch with them.

He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1989 and a Sapphire Pin in 2009, and played a pivotal role in the forming of the Kaitaia Probus Club.

"John has served Rotary with distinction," he said. "He has always been one of the keenest volunteers, whatever the club had set its sights on."

There was more to the man than Rotary though, and it was not the only organisation to benefit from his stickability. He had been a main street businessman (owning the local book shop), a Lodge member, a St John stalwart (and zambuck) for 42 years, a coin and stamp collector, a member of the tennis and squash club, a bridge player and much more.

Assistant governor (District 9910) Susan Hamnet was certainly impressed. She said she had tremendous respect for Mr Foster's dedication to Rotary, and that the club should be very proud to have had such a member for so long. She also presented him with a certificate of appreciation for his 'significant and meritorious service', and a Kaitaia Rotary banner.

Born in Wellington in 1928 to Australian parents, Mr Foster's family had moved to Stratford, then New Plymouth, Whangarei, and finally Kaitaia (in 1939). They lived at 2 Worth Street for many years, arriving at a time when the town had a population of 500 and everyone knew everyone.

He had made his first Kaitaia friend, Malcolm Matthews, on his first day at Kaitaia Primary School.

"He took me under his wing, and we're still good friends," he said.

His first full-time job was with chemist Mark Hammond, where he spent six years. He didn't qualify as a pharmacist but was left in charge when Mr Hammond went on holiday.

"As far as I'm aware I never knowingly poisoned anyone," he added.

He subsequently bought the small local book shop (for 900, $1800), and recalled his first day's takings - 27 ($54). He and pharmacist Les Gleave later bought Mr Hammond's property, and he moved his book shop there. It duly transformed into Paper Plus, which he helped establish, under George and Christine Ashworth, and is now owned by Ian and Anne Walker (as Marston Moor).

St John had been a big part of his life, Mr Foster continued. In Kaitaia it was born of the medical section of the Home Guard, which he served with, in 1946. He also played a wartime role as a plane spotter.

He had joined St John as a private, rising to the rank of superintendent, and had been named a Serving Brother.

Golf, tennis, rugby (he played hooker for the Mangonui juniors), middle distance running, ownership of a yacht (briefly), breeding and racing pigeons also featured in his CV, but these days his passions were stamps and bridge.