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Past and present members of the Leigh fishing community are invited to a special afternoon reunion at the Rodney Rams clubrooms in Whangateau on July 25.
Organisers say it will be an informal celebration of the town’s fishing heritage and is designed to reconnect fishermen, families, friends and supporters of the industry.
It will also be an opportunity to remember those who have “crossed the bar”.
An organiser Robyn Kellian says attendees will be able to catch up, reminisce and share memories from years gone by in a relaxed social setting.
There has been a fishing industry based in Leigh for nearly a century.
“We had our first reunion in 2018 when probably more than 100 people attended,” Kellian said. “Fishermen are never short of a good yarn, and the reunion is also an opportunity to capture some of those tall tales and memories while we still can.
“This reunion is really about bringing people together again – whether you worked on the boats, grew up in the community, married into it or simply have ties to the industry, we’d love to see you there.”
Community members are encouraged to bring along photographs, albums, newspaper clippings, flash drives, fishing memorabilia, and personal stories to help preserve and share the history.
In the lead-up to the reunion, organisers will also post historical material online, including tributes to former fishermen in a feature titled “Davey Jones Locker,” along with vessel lists, historical photographs and community memories.
People are invited to contribute by commenting on posts, tagging former fishermen and families, identifying missing names or vessels, and sharing stories and corrections to help build a more complete record of Leigh’s fishing past.
The reunion is being organised entirely by volunteers from the Leigh fishing community, and koha or donations towards costs are welcomed to help make the gathering possible.
Organisers are encouraging anyone connected to the Leigh fishing industry – past or present – along with their families and friends, to attend and spread the word throughout the wider community.
A cash bar and bar snacks will be available during the event.
For catering and planning purposes, attendees are asked to RSVP by July 1. Contact Robyn on 022 122 0722 or email robynkellian@gmail.com.
Further updates can also be found on the Leigh Fisherman Reunion Facebook event page.
