Gisborne Canoeists on the Wanganui

The Christmas and New Year holidays were a time of adventure and excitement for nine young members of the Gisborne Canoe and Tramping Club who travelled over 200 miles down the Wanganui River through some of the North Island's most magnificent scenery. The members of the party were Irvin Openshaw, Gary Barbour, John Carruthers, Gary Gooch, Alfred Luckin, Neville Openshaw, Tony Scott, Stuart Tyer, and Gareth Hannah.

They railed their canoes to Taumaranui in advance, and travelled over by rail on Boxing Day. By New Year's Day they had completed the more difficult upper section of the river to Pipiriki, with only two "spills". There were no difficulties in the section from Pipiriki to Wanganui city.