Tim Calder

Dunedin’s strongest rugby football club marks its 125^th anniversary on Queen’s Birthday Weekend this year – celebrating a distinguished history full of premierships and All Blacks.

The Otago University Rugby Football Club was begun in a Professor’s office in May 1884, and lost its first game two tries to one. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, however, producing indisputably the most All Blacks of any New Zealand club, and winning 49 premierships – the most of any Dunedin club by far.

In 1905 it became the first New Zealand club to travel overseas, sending 18 players to Sydney. And in 2002 it became the first New Zealand club to tour China.

Among many outstanding “A” teams, the 1993 University A team played 18 matches, scored 841 points, conceded 200, scored 128 tries and conceded only 15 tries.

Robert McNab, later an acting Prime Minister and historian who bequeathed a priceless collection of books to the Dunedin Public Library, was the first secretary of the club. He played in the first inter-university club match in 1886, between Otago and Canterbury, scoring a try.

His is one of many famous names to be associated with the club over the years, not just the 65 All Blacks who have come from the club (44 of them to be capped while playing for the OURFC team).

So there will be plenty of happy memories and games to relive for attendees of the Queen’s Birthday reunion celebrations.

After registration on Friday evening, May 29, the reunion will feature three rugby matches and a Jubilee dinner.

University Women’s Blues will play a curtain raiser on Saturday afternoon, followed by University A versus Dunedin in the BNZ Trophy Match.

A Golden Oldies match on the Sunday afternoon will round out the weekend’s events.

Nine farmers, one kiwifruit grower and three lifestyle block owners have been recognised for their sustainable environmental practices and community involvement in the 2009 Ballance Farm Environment Awards announced at Te Puke yesterday.

Supreme winners are Paul and Joanna McCarthy of Galatea, who also won the PGG Wrightson Land and Life Award, LIC Dairy Farm Award and Fish and Game New Zealand, Eastern Region Water Management/Conservation Award.

Bruce and Tessa Calder, Pikowai Farms, Whakatane, won the Ballance Nutrient Management Award, the Silver Fern Farms Livestock Farm Award and the Gallagher Innovation Award.

by Elaine Fisher of the Bay Of Plenty Times

My father was slightly gutted that he didn’t take home the big one but was pleased that he was recognised with four of the best category prizes. My father still works on the family farm he purchased close to 40 years ago with the assistance of our farm manager Tama Murray.