from left, Mayor of Furudono Japan; David Parker, event organizer; John Law, Mayor of Rodney District in New Zealand; and George McCleary who was Mayor of Trent Hills at that time. Photo taken in Warkworth, New Zealand during the twinning in November, 2003
170th Anniversary Celebration Invite to Trent Hills Citizens
…will be hosted for the three day event
Article by Sue Dickens/images submitted
Warkworth – Would you like to take a trip to Warkworth, New Zealand and be hosted there for a three day festival?
Dave Parker, chairman of the organizing committee for the 170th Anniversary Celebrations in Warkworth, New Zealand is asking that question.
The city was twinned with Warkworth in Trent Hills in 2003.
In the copy of a letter received by Trent Hills Now, Parker writes, “As part of the 170th Anniversary Celebrations this year, Heritage Mahurangi Inc has planned a Heritage Festival “to which we extend a very warm invitation to any Trent Hills citizen who may be visiting the North Island of New Zealand and may like to come stay with us for three nights of a special and unique weekend, Nov. 17 – 20, 2023. We will be very pleased to host any who may come and who may represent your region, particularly Warkworth.”
George McCleary, retired educator, and former mayor, spoke to Trent Hills Now about how he, along with a few others, travelled to Warkworth, New Zealand for the official twinning ceremony in 2003.
“Twenty years ago we attended the official ceremony. They hosted us for about three days,” he said.
“Our group had six people, Ken and Brenda Partridge, David Lyon and Elizabeth Heon, and myself and my wife Anne McCleary. A fourth couple, Bob and Ann Bennett from Campbellford, were touring New Zealand and arrived in Warkworth for part of the celebration,” McCleary told Trent Hills Now.
“Dave Parker, who is organizing the 170th anniversary celebrations for this November, has been to Trent Hills and now is asking if anyone would like to make the trip to join their 170th event in New Zealand,” McCleary added.
Attempts have been made to see if anyone from Warkworth including members of the current Trent Hills council will be able to attend but no luck so far.
“It’s a long way and it’s a costly trip,” admits McCleary. “When you get there in November it’s their springtime…we’re hoping that by publishing the letter it will spark somebody wanting to go. ..it would be great to have an official person from Warkworth there.”
In 2014 this writer wrote about Warkworth in Trent Hills, when they welcomed a couple from their sister town.
The flag of New Zealand was flying at the War Memorial in Warkworth, as the community celebrated the visit by the couple from the village’s sister town. Jim and Jenni McGlashan, who were touring the area from July 28th to July 31st, were welcomed officially by the then Trent Hills Mayor Hector MacMillan and local councillors, in downtown Warkworth.
The McGlashans operated a marina in picturesque Bay Of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand and recently moved to Warkworth, New Zealand. They had been touring North America for three months.
The following is the letter from Parker which includes contact information for anyone who may be travelling to the twin city in New Zealand, this fall.
WARKWORTH NZ AWAITS YOUR VISIT……
“Our Warkworth like, we believe your Warkworth, was found by a Northumbrian from the Warkworth of UK who ventured the world finding places to settle. It was in 1853 that our founder John Anderson Brown discovered our tranquil valley, purchase 153 acres and so named it Warkworth after the township in which has family lived in Northumberland UK. (Our ‘mother-town’ ) There is another Warkworth in Singleton New South Wales Australia.
INVITATION…. As a part of our 170th Anniversary Celebrations this year, (in Warkworth, New Zealand) Heritage Mahurangi Inc has planned a Heritage Festival to which we extend a very warm invitation to any Trent Hills citizen who may be visiting the North Island of New Zealand and may like to come stay with us for three nights of a special and unique weekend i.e. 17th – 20th November. We will be very pleased to host any who may come and who may represent your region, particularly Warkworth.
History records that my first contact was with Mrs. Wynn Platt who was a former Parish Council Clerk of Trent Hills back in 1984. That communication has continued through the ongoing friendship with many local folk, resulting ultimately, with the signing of an official Twinning Proclamation in 2003. We recall the wonderful occasion when a delegation, headed by former Mayor George McCleary, paid us a visit on the historic occasion of our 150th Anniversary. There will be a number of ‘locals’ who will no doubt recall that happy occasion. Since then we had a number of individual visits by great friends from Ontario along with some of own locals (Jim & Jenni McGlashan in 2014) who have thoroughly enjoyed their visits to your beautiful region. In 2007, I personally had the privilege of visiting Trent Hills. The reception by both Mayor, Council and local citizens, I shall always treasure.
For further information and detail, kindly contact our co-ordinators ie E: jim.jenni@xtra.co.nz
We keenly await your interest.
Dave Parker QSM JP
CHAIRMAN
