The passing of Wayne Penn Life Member
It is with great sadness we report the passing of Wayne Penn. Wayne passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family at around 10.00am on Sunday 5 June 2022. The club extends condolences to Wayne's wife Carolyn, his children Tony and Alayna, and his extended family.
Wayne Penn was awarded Life Membership in 2010 in recognition of 20 years plus of massive contributions to Tukapa as a player, coach, and administrator.
Wayne began at Tukapa as coach of his son Tony’s midget team back in 1983, a role he continued with for numerous subsequent seasons. He then went on to become coach of Tukapa’s first-ever women’s team in 1989 and continued as coach of this side for another three seasons until the TRFU women’s competition folded in 1992.
As a player, Wayne began with the Senior Fourths in 1990 and carried on solely as a player in that team until stepping up to a new challenge as player/coach of that team (by then re-branded as the Senior 3rd B’s) in 1998. It was when he started as player/coach in 1998 that Wayne first combined in partnership with his long-term team manager Eoin MacDonald.
What followed was an era in which Wayne’s Senior Thirds team became Tukapa’s most successful ever afternoon grade side playing in 14 championship finals between 1998 and 2013 for a total of eight title wins over that timeframe.
After their last title win in 2013, Wayne carried on as coach of the Senior Thirds for another two seasons, meaning that after he stepped down at the end of the 2015 season, he had equalled a Club record of being an afternoon grade team coach for 18 consecutive seasons, matching the record set by Charlie Brown, who was Senior A coach for 18 straight seasons from 1922 till 1939.
Wayne was first elected to the Tukapa Executive Committee in 2000 and he remained as a member of the Executive enjoying an unbroken stint of 17 years including being Chairman in 2008.
Apart from huge contributions on the playing field and on the Executive, Wayne had also been a key man for the Club in his work on such important tasks as Clubrooms maintenance, playing field maintenance (such as getting the goalposts up and down each season) plus player recruitment (getting jobs for new guys) and organizing social events.
In 2008 Wayne was instrumental in the formation of the Tukapa Cricket team, consisting in large part of many of his Senior Thirds players, who represented the Club in the local Fourth Grade competition for a total of four seasons before going into recess.
Right up until recently, despite his illness, Wayne has continued to follow the fortunes of Tukapa teams firsthand and continue his long-held passion for discussing the sport he loves over drinks with mates at the Chookhouse bar.
Chairpersons Update
Sorry guys with Penny’s funeral yesterday I am running behind with the newsletter. This week we have 3 buses heading to Rahotu and our Snr 3rds on the bus to Stratford’s Page street to play the Steven Needham led Stratford/Eltham boys.
For the 1st time for a while we have a stand-alone supporters bus leaving the club at 11.15am with a stop for lunch at the Rahotu Taven, please feel free to join us. The bus will return to the club after speeches at Rahotu, leaving about 5.30pm.
After having to watch our B’s and Colts win last week by text message, I can’t wait to see what they can do this week. These two teams have been working really hard and now it is starting to show. Our Premiers have a few fellas with the winter bug (not Covid) and will be waiting until the 11th hour to see who is fit before giving out the jerseys. See teams below. Being the the only unbeaten team in the premier competition means that everyone wants to knock us over. Hopefully with the squad depth that we have built this year, the boys will put their hands up and get the job done.
NZ Forestry Bantams
Last Monday we had our NZ Forestrys Bantams head to Te Kuiti to play College Rifles. Between hungover players and covid hit players we managed to get 19 on the bus and strip for the game. Again I watched this game through text messages and our boys managed to get the win with some classy rugby played. The next game will now be at Tukapa in August against Karaka Rugby Club.
The club will be open from 2.30pm this week and hopefully the live steam will be on for the premiers game. Also there is both under 13 teams and a whole lot of other midgets at home so come up early and check out our up and coming players as they do battle.
Next week we are all at home to Southern, which is also Sponsors Day, and will see the return of crab racing. Book the babysitter now and come have some fun at the club. More info to come out next week.
Netball Finals
Our Tukapa Diamonds are in the final on Saturday against Marist at the TSB Stadium at 12.30pm. If you’re not off to the rugby be sure to get up and show your support. They may be around the club for a drink Saturday night as well.
See you all down the Coast. Go well Tukapa teams.
Your Chairman Scotty, Blue and White for Life
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