Birnie Wolstenholme

A "Photo News" Continuing Feature.

Life Member

Recognising Outstanding Service to the Community

Life Membership is an honour which is not conferred lightly or at random; indeed it is granted only in recognition of long and valued service. We feel that there will be much interest in this series, to be published monthly, dealing with Life Members of local clubs and organisations.

The man who could be called Gisborne's "Mr Rugby", Birnie Wolstenholme, was elected a life member of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union recently.

Mr Wolstenholme has been president of the union for the past 13 years, retiring this year in favour of Mr Arthur Toye. For many years he was senior referee of the union.

He began his long association with Rugby football in Napier, where he was educated, and where he played for his primary school teams. At Napier Boys' High School he became a member of the First XV, and later, in 1938 and 1940, he represented Hawkes Bay as a lock forward. In 1947 he began his career as a referee.

Moving to Gisborne in 1949, he brought his great interest in the game with him, and was soon one of the union's most valued referees and administrators. These were the days when the big move to acquire the present Rugby Park was being born. As president of the union, Birnie played a full part in the negotiations and the actual work culminating in the opening of this fine ground in 1955. Later on, in 1965, when the grandstand was destroyed by fire only a few months before the Springboks were due to play here, he was the mainspring behind the provision of a new stand in time for the game.

Birnie has worked tirelessly for the good of the game in Poverty Bay; he has brought distinction to his office as president, and presided with dignity over the many notable occasions which have marked his term. It is fitting that the new grandstand at Rugby Park has been named in his honour.