North Canterbury News: February 13, 2020

Pair chalk up 77 years
By ROBYN BRISTOW
NEWS
North Canterbury News, February 13, 2020
5
Chub and Rita Fisher celebrated 77
years of marriage in Rangiora this
week.
Chub, aged 101, and Rita, 96,
married in the Holy Trinity Church in
Greymouth on February 10, 1943, after
meeting at one of the regular dances at
Schaefers Dance Hall.
They say enjoying each other’s
company and sticking together in
times of strife and sickness has made
their marriage well worth each day.
The couple, originally from the West
Coast, now live at Northbrook Villas.
Chub was born at Rewanui and Rita
at Blackwater.
The young couple lived in Rununga,
where Chub joined the Rununga
Volunteer Fire Brigade, which was
formed in 1943. Today, he is the only
surviving life member.
They later moved to Christchurch,
where they bought adairy.
Chub worked at asawmill as there
was not enough work for two at the
dairy, before moving on to abread
delivery round.
He also delivered the Christchurch
Star and Sport Extra in the evenings.
They sold the dairy after seven years
and built ahouse in Emlyn Place, off
Avonside Drive. Chub continued his
early­morning deliveries for the
bakehouse and worked at a
sheetmetal factory in the afternoon.
They owned acaravan and abach at
Kairaki Beach, and moved into a
townhouse in St Martins, which
became avictim of the Canterbury
earthquakes.
On retiring, they spent up to six days
aweek at the bach, enjoying
Remarkable milestone ... Chub and Rita
have been married 77 years. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
whitebaiting and salmon fishing —
activities their adult children and
grandchildren now enjoy.
Travel played ahuge part in their
lives, spending every winter for 12
years in Australia.
Chub and Rita had three children,
Sandra, Jill and Peter, and have seven
grandchildren and five great
grandchildren.
Up hill, down dale ... Competitors in last year’s Farm Race.
PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Hilly challenges await
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Afundraiser to boost the OmihiSchool’s
coffers willtake participants up hilland
down dale.
The annualschoolFarm Raceon
Sunday, March22, over aneighbouring
farm can either be tackledonbike or by
foot.
Thereare courses for walkers, runners
and cyclists, withaclimb in everyrace,
with the longest in the 26km bike race.But
the bonus will be some stunning views.
Thereisaclimb and some technical
partsinthe 18km bike race, while the 12km
bike raceismore suited to beginner or
intermediate­level riders.
The two running courses are 12km and
18km,whilethe walk is 12km.
It is the thirdyear the eventhas been
run, with$12,000raised for the school last
year,when more than 300 peopletook part.
PrincipalMaree Lucas saysitisa
fantastic event.
‘‘Thewhole community gets involved in
the runningofthe event, and we welcome
locals and entrants from far and wideto
enterthe race.
‘‘Therace is overusuallyunattainable
land,soit's apretty specialplace to be able
to walk, bikeorrun, and there are some
spectacularviews,’’ she says.
All entrants receiveahot sausage or
soup at the end of the race.
To learn more, visit omihi.school.nz/
bikerun.
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