Leading from the front issuu

PAT’S SPIRIT
CENTRAL TO THE
YMCA AT THE TIME
by paul le gros,
lawyer, nelson
President YMCA:1996 — 2006; 2009 — 2011
OH THE PLACES HE
WENT AND TOOK US
ALONG TOO
YMCA walkabouts — for the Downtown Y, numerous
Napier to Hastings walkathons, there were
two around Lake Waikaremoana, two hikoi from
Taupo to Napier, and numerous Te Araroa Offers
Hope hikoi.
For Pat, the YMCA was about supporting people
in change and he knew the environment was one
of the best facilitators for change. “I look at all our
walks as alternative Outward Bound schools. The
most needy I have ever met always respond to the
environment. You can see how the kids light up,
you can see that they’re inspired, invigorated and
restored by the roar of the sea. On our Downtown
Y walks we took mobsters’ wives, their children,
Iwi and Police on the long trail and after a while
you see surprising relationships develop. We took
Russian diplomats on the Taupo-Napier walk in the
early 1970s. We should be doing more of that. As
well as raising funds and awareness, they’re fun”.
I was appointed to the national board in 1978 or 1979. In
those days we had a large board of at least 20 people
and Pat was clearly a key player. He was one of those
people who had an immense influence on me as a
30-something trustee. He had a clear social heart and
he impressed me as someone who really lived the spirit
and humanity of what the YMCA was trying to achieve.
It’s very hard to express in words, or bottle up the little
essence of Pat. He had an amazing influence on the
YMCA at the time; the community programmes where
we worked with unemployed and started addressing a
variety of biculturalism issues that were coming to the
forefront.
Someone who also led us down that pathway was
Wally Hunt. I remember playing a game of cards with
them both in a Wellington hotel until all hours, probably
with a bit of Gin I would say, and that was a huge education
in life. Sadly, you lose touch with people but those
sort of memories linger on.
And of course Pat has continued his work, helping
people in need, and with the various walks he has arranged
for peace. I know this must have come at quite a
financial cost to him as well.
Thinking about the YMCA spirit that flows through
people like Pat, leads you to hope that there are still
some people around who want to follow those same
philosophies of caring for those in need, and through
inclusion, help build stronger communities.
In training for the YMCA Taupo to Napier fundraising walk in 1971, “Bodi” Reti, Te Otane Reti, Pat, Henei Reti and Pat Morton, stepping
it out along Westshore Beach; editor (the youngest walker) speaks to Ena Sharples of Coronation Street fame, at the Municipal
Theatre before the 100-strong team of walkers leaves for the five-day YMCA Taupo-Napier fundraising walk. Selwyn Toogood
officiates and soon after Kel Tremain spoke with Albert Tatlock. Heady days!
Napier YMCA transformed and the Downtown Y is born 81