Proud Konini man to the end

PRIDE: Bernie Treder was a proud Konini man. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Bernard (Bernie) Treder was such a proud Konini man that when he was buried last Saturday at the Mangatainoka cemetery his family brought soil from his Konini farm to fill in the grave.

And soon after friends and family who gathered at the Tararua Club in Pahiatua were barracking and cheering as a fairytale ending to Bernie's time on earth unfolded.

Kayzed, a thoroughbred Bernie part-owned having bred the dam Konini Belle, surprised punters by winning at the Levin races at odds of better than 19 to 1, a race ironically part sponsored by Dial A Prayer.

Son Jason Treder said when Kayzed hit the front the crowd gathered in front of Trackside television "erupted".

"A huge roar went up, there were high fives, tears, the lot. It was a fairytale ending to dad's life," he said.

Bernie Treder, 86, was an avid racing fan and horse breeder but had many other interests in life, not the least being rugby.

As a younger man he played in the front row for Konini and represented Bush when it was a sub-union.

He was very proud of his Polish/Irish heritage and was a life member of the Tararua Club, having joined when he was 21.

Jason said his father was a loyal Times-Age reader and subscribed to the paper because he knew so many people throughout the wider Wairarapa-Tararua district and liked to keep up with what they were doing.

Bernie is survived by his wife Margaret, sons Greg, Michael, Jason and Warren and their families.